1. I think Americans like the arenas because they are a tad more intimate. I have seen them in both settings, and don't care one way or another. I haven't seen an outdoor U2 since ZooTv so this time around I'm glad they are doing stadiums.
  2. Originally posted by germcevoy:There seems to be a different mindset to gigs in Europe and in America. Europeans go to be part of the gig and Americans tend to go and 'watch' the gig.



    Exactly. In Europe, the whole stadium is like a living organism - the band, the stage and the crowd together. While in America, people seem to be just observing.
    A friend of mine worked in the US during the summer and went to see Depeche Mode and U2 and said the people around him were just standing and watching without any major participation.


  3. very true...but usually arena = higher ticket prices which means that the people who are buying the tickets most likely really want to be there....I;m not saying this is my reason for preferring arenas, but i noticed alot less people sitting at the concert i saw in an arena than the two stadium shows i attended. (Not that anyone should be sitting but just what goes on in America)
  4. Originally posted by Doc32:[..]

    but i noticed alot less people sitting at the concert i saw in an arena than the two stadium shows i attended. (Not that anyone should be sitting but just what goes on in America)


    law of ratio. I'll do an American gig sometime and call it myself
  5. Originally posted by germcevoy:you Americans love your Arenas. I've been reading a lot of 'I want Arena's, smaller gigs etc'. Part of me thinks its because parking is easier, hotdogs are more accessible etc but I could be wrong.

    Although I have not yet to attend a U2 gig in America, I do feel that those gigs don't match the romanticism of European shows (and other places). There seems to be a different mindset to gigs in Europe and in America. Europeans go to be part of the gig and Americans tend to go and 'watch' the gig. Until I attend an American gig these will remain theories.

    PS - I am heavily generalizing with my comments about Americans above and i'm well aware that there are many many die hards out there at those American gigs. But with 70 thousand at a gig each night . . .generalizing can kinda work. I also remember a certain American's face and words at Croke 2 when viewing a monster GA bounce down below. . .. . 'wow, it just isn't like this back home'


    They way you describe it,shows in America suck>You are of course wrong,and I see very young.The band have been very,very popular here in NYC since day 1.They played 79 shows in America on Vertigo,32 in Europe.Why is that??..And why do they continue to release live shows from America if we only "watch them".The romanticism of Europe is a bit much.I have been to Europe many,many times.I love it.I do think the shows are louder there.In Spain and Italy they are the best.I saw Oasis at Wembley July 2000,it was amazing.Until you see a show here,yes you are generalizing,that is all.


  6. That makes me wonder. Boston and especially Chicago DVD suck.
  7. Originally posted by EDDMB:[..]

    They way you describe it,shows in America suck>You are of course wrong,and I see very young.The band have been very,very popular here in NYC since day 1.They played 79 shows in America on Vertigo,32 in Europe.Why is that??..And why do they continue to release live shows from America if we only "watch them".The romanticism of Europe is a bit much.I have been to Europe many,many times.I love it.I do think the shows are louder there.In Spain and Italy they are the best.I saw Oasis at Wembley July 2000,it was amazing.Until you see a show here,yes you are generalizing,that is all.


    Americans do not suck. Those 32 shows in Europe were all in stadiums rather than 20k seat arenas in the US so the attendance figures would be pretty similar. U2 are happy to be 'watched'. Bums on seats + $$, doesn't matter if they are lively are not. I am not slagging off Americans and admit to heaviily generalizing so no need to take anything personal

    Age has nothing to do with it.


  8. Keep in mind though that these DVDs are U2's first arena DVD releases. Everything else up to this point had been stadiums/outdoor venues. I know you love to hate on America, but maybe it has more to do with the type of venue than the country.
  9. Originally posted by haytrain:[..]

    Keep in mind though that these DVDs are U2's first arena DVD releases. Everything else up to this point had been stadiums/outdoor venues. I know you love to hate on America, but maybe it has more to do with the type of venue than the country.


    Rattle and Hum wasn't bad. They were a better band back then though. Its a debate for another topic I guess. Who cares to open the European vs American audiences topic?


  10. agreed. I just think it's hard to get the atmosphere of an arena show to translate to a DVD....but this conversation is probably better suited in one of the DVD topics.
  11. Originally posted by haytrain:[..]

    agreed. I just think it's hard to get the atmosphere of an arena show to translate to a DVD....but this conversation is probably better suited in one of the DVD topics.


    edited my post above. . .