1. I've searched around a fair bit, and haven't found a topic like this, so I decided to start one. Let me give a bit of history first:

    I listen to bootlegs viciously. One a day, if I can, and sometimes portions of more. I'm currently working through my 71st show, and it's getting trickier to find shows that look interesting instead of just pointing and clicking, and hoping that I get a good one. This thread is meant to throw a heads up at other users who are looking for something interesting to listen to without....

    a) waiting every month for the Show of the Month
    b) looking at every U2-starter's profile to see what shows stand out to individuals
    c) aimlessly searching (which is what I'm doing now)

    So here's how we can do this. Post anywhere from 1-5 of your favorite, but still unique, shows. Everyone loves the Dublin RDS show from '93, and everyone thinks the Slane gigs of '01 were fantastic- that's not really anything new. What'll be cool to hear is why Joe Schmo thought that when U2 played Phoenix in '05, it was spectacular for some reason. Also post why that show was great for you- like a mini review.

    I'll start, as an example. I really hope this takes off; it's a great way to share shows that you've heard for any random reason, or a hometown gig that really was special that nobody else might ever check out.

    2001-08-15: Birmingham

    This was the last show I listened to. The inclusion of "Discotheque" right after UTEOTW is an Elevation twist that didn't happen too often, and I personally find it awesome to hear glimpses of Pop other than "Gone" after the PopMart Tour. "All I Want is You" from this night is also a spectacular performance, and "With or Without You" includes a "Love Will Tear Us Apart" snippet. U2's career is so well represented in this show, and the performances rock. The sound quality isn't fantastic, but it's easily ignored with such spirited performances.

    So c'mon, whatcha got?!
  2. 1993-05-11 - Rotterdam

    The band are heavily hungover (or still drunk) from the night before. Lyrics are messed up, cues are missed and everything is loose. But it just works and out of it all comes I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. Words can't describe the performance Bono delivers on that song. Great show.
  3. As I've told you on the PM, I will send you a detailed and long list tomorrow, but from the top of my head I recommend you:

    1982-02-11 New Orleans - one of my all time favorites. Great audience sound.
    1982-12-06 London - exactly the same as above. Great performances!!
    1985-03-21 Chicago - the same. Great TUF bootleg.
    1987-09-28 New York - famous for ISHF (included in R&H), but whole show is amazing.
    1989-12-01 Osaka - the backwards setlist. Great show and bootleg.
    1993-06-04 Dortmund - speechless. One of the best Zooropa's.
    1993-12-10 Tokyo - amazing performance, and the end of Zoo TV tour and era.
    1997-07-31 Manheimm - one of the best Popmarts, widely accepted.

    I don't have the time for more. Good night you all
  4. Opening night of tours are always great. Vertigo and Elevation especially. Santiago 1998, 2005-03-30 - San Diego, California - San Diego Sports Arena. very interesting show (WOWY is in the 7th slot!)
  5. Originally posted by Genaro92U2:Opening night of tours are always great. Vertigo and Elevation especially. Santiago 1998, 2005-03-30 - San Diego, California - San Diego Sports Arena. very interesting show (WOWY is in the 7th slot!)


    I downloaded that show for that exact reason, what an interesting spot! And yeah, I've got the opening night of the Vertigo Tour on DVD, I think...Have to double check, but that was a good show too. I think Vertigo had much better moments though.
  6. 1984-11-06 - Glasgow, full of energy.
    1990-01-06 - Rotterdam, one of the best Lovetown shows.
  7. 3 that spring to mind

    2001-08-19 - London, England - Earl's Court Arena
    Good quality and probably my fave elevation gig. Great vocal performance on 'kite' and 'out of control' doesn't get much better than this.

    1989-11-18 - Sydney, Australia - Entertainment Centre
    Not the best quality but an electric show(probably due to a bomb-scare and evacuation)

    1990-01-10 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Sportpaleis Ahoy
    So good it hurts. Im sure everyone is aware of this gig if your not download immediately.
  8. Here are a few I costantly listen to:

    1986-06-15 - East Rutherford, New Jersey - Giants Stadium
    1986-06-04 - San Francisco, California - Cow Palace
    1987-11-07 - Denver, Colorado - McNichols Sports Arena
    1989-12-27 - Dublin, Ireland - Point Depot
    1990-01-10 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Sportpaleis Ahoy
    1992-04-21 - Tacoma, Washington - Tacoma Dome
    1992-06-11 - Stockholm, Sweden - Globen
    1993-08-28 - Dublin, Ireland - R.D.S. Arena
    1997-07-31 - Mannheim, Germany - Maimark
    1997-08-28 - Leeds, England - Roundhay Park
    1998-02-11 - Santiago, Chile - Estadio Nacional
    2001-10-25 - New York, New York - Madison Square Garden
    2001-10-10 - South Bend, Indiana - Joyce Center
    2001-11-18 - Las Vegas, Nevada - Thomas And Mack Arena
    2005-03-28 - San Diego, California - San Diego Sports Arena
    2005-09-21 - Chicago, Illinois - United Center
    2006-11-11 - Sydney, Australia - Telstra Stadium
    2006-11-29 - Saitama, Japan - Saitama Super Arena
    2009-06-30 - Barcelona, Spain - Camp Nou
    2009-07-07 - Milan, Italy - San Siro
    2009-08-20 - Sheffield, England - Don Valley Stadium
    2009-08-15 - London, England - Wembley Stadium

    Hope this helps.
  9. Please dont post complete lists.

    Pick one or two and describe why. We have plenty of topics for huge lists and I think Matt wants some more discussion in this thread
  10. Originally posted by Risto:Please dont post complete lists.

    Pick one or two and describe why. We have plenty of topics for huge lists and I think Matt wants some more discussion in this thread


    Thanks Chris

    Yeah I was sort of hoping this would be more of a place to post 2 or 3 shows (I think the OP says 5 at most) and comment on why you liked them, so that if someone else has similar tastes or they look for similar things in a show that you do, they have some reccomendations.
  11. From the list you've sent to me on the PM, I can see that you definitely need some 1982 and 1989 boots!!

    1982-02-11 New Orleans is an excellent bootleg, and an important datet too: just before that show, U2 met Anton Corbijn for the first time!!
    1982-12-06 London is one of the epics. It's technically more of a War show than a October one, but it definitely rocks.
    1982-05-11 (I think) Hattem is another great one. Full of energy and Dutch crowd, what else?

    Regarding Lovetown, I definitely encourage you to download and listen to 1989-12-30 Dublin. It's one of the best bootlegs I ever heard. The best of the 4 Point Depot nights for me, and probably their best 87-89 bootleg!!! It's full of great performances (Running To Stand Still+Dirty Old Town, Love Rescue Me with the famous speech, probably the best WOWY ever) and the sound, of course, rocks.
    1990-01-10 Rotterdam is also a great one, it features the best Desire-All Along The Watchtower combo ever


    You also lack some late Joshua shows. By the time they left Europe, the tour was already a great success, and they lose some of the spark they had during May-June-July; anyway, there are several great performances and bootlegs. For example, 1987-09-28 New York and 1987-10-28 Chicago make as Excellent Audience examples, and 1987-11-18 Los Angeles and 1987-11-07 Denver for Excellent Soundboards. They all are great shows with great energy and some funny anecqdotes. 10-28 Chicago features an awesome WOWY as well, extended guitar intro

    I might also recommend you to listen 1997-06-15 Edmonton, one of the best Popmarts. Oh, and 1997-11-14 Miami, I'm not sure why but I love that bootleg



    The rest of the tours seem to be pretty well covered
  12. Little add to the list from me:

    2009-10-28 - Vancouver, British Columbia - B.C. Place Stadium

    I always paid special attention for opening and closing nights of the tours - and this is great last show for 2009. Listen to Breathe (Edge had some technical problems with guitar but listen to the part he plays before guitar solo and closing guitar notes - your speakers will explode!), then we have The Unforgettable Fire on which Bono added some never sung (on 360 Tour versions) parts of the lyrics "Come on , take me away..." , Vertigo is partially sung totally different - listen to the verses, Crazy Tonight is energetic as always and last but not least Ultraviolet - one of the best vesions of this song i've ever heard (and i've got almost all U2 bootlegs in my collection) this version is also sung differently and Bono add beautiful "in Ultraviolet..." part before chords - listen to this version and You will love it! (i hope)

    It's a great show - for me it's the best one from second leg of 360 Tour.