Joshua Tree tour hits London - All discussions

Originally posted by Timk68:[image]
Love this pic , can just see my hand and arm (black leather watch strap) about 8 rows back towards the right

Originally posted by badirishcharlie:[..]
I was close to tears during Bad last night...stunning rendition and the crowd on the pitch up near front with us were phenomenal

Originally posted by Caledonia:[..]
Assuming that's Saturday, and I'm 99.9% sure it is as I recognise a lot of the faces there, then I'm in there but hidden away behind the guy 2nd row with the blue/yellow t-shirt on the right hand side. There is a girl just behind him to his right and I was to her left. I can see one of the guys I was chatting to in the queue another Chris about 3 rows back over on the left enjoying himself, we had a good chat about some of the shows we've seen down the years, he was a competition winner for the 2001 Astoria gig!

Blast of a weekend, met many new U2 friends and shared our experiences.

That sun though... I had a major case of heat exhaustion / dehydration going on between Noel Gallagher and U2 on the Saturday - it's never gotten the best of me before, but I think I was pretty close to having to go over the front barrier lol - so major major thanks to a top bloke who spotted I was struggling a bit and made sure I got some water (I'm one of those sorts who never asks for help - but sometimes... errr... you can't make it on your own ;-) ), and then another top bloke in front of me who very kindly gave me a couple of those squishy Capri Sun drink thingies - if either of you are on here - guys you were an absolute lifesaver - very much appreciated - want you to know that - thanks for looking out for me - I could barely get any words out my mouth was so dry. some nasty sunburn too - cloudy weather my backside BBC Weather! Guess a lesson learned... just get some suntan lotion on in June/July/August.

So have to say I've been doing stadium gigs for nearly 30 years now, and as much as I enjoyed Saturday night up in the thick of it at the front and seeing Bono up close and personal (missed out on a rail spot - 283rd or something in the queue at 7.30am or thereabouts), it might be time for me to retire to enjoying the show from the seats or more relaxed GA from the mixing desk area. These things become more and more of an endurance test as the years go by, and half the audience seem to be getting younger and more energetic - good for them for sure.

Noel Gallagher was absolutely blinding both nights, hadn't got high hopes, but he was rock solid. I was an Oasis fan when the first album came out, then went off the boil with them - largely because of Liam and his antics with other peoples wives shall we say. They cancelled a gig as support to REM in 1995 so missed out on seeing them then, so it's really nice to have caught Noel, who let's face it - was always the real talent and genius behind Oasis, and as someone in the crowd so eloquently put it after 'Champagne Supernova'... "much better than his f...ing brother" - classic, and I reckon Noel might just have heard it too! High Flying Birds material was top notch and to hear the likes of Half The World Away was great.

Saturday night, just wow. So good to get up close and personal again, just to the left of Bono's mic stand about 3 rows back, great to catch loads of looks from all the band members and Noel too, its always a surreal thing to make eye contact with your heroes. I think we can lay the "what's wrong with Bono" thing to rest now, he was his usual heart on sleeve self, giving it all, but I will say it's the most unusual performance I've seen from them - there is something in the air - can't quite put my finger on it. Also there was a bit of an awkward uncomfortable moment between Bono and Adam when Bono made mention of Adam's missus expecting a child, Adam looked immensely displeased, but I think they kissed and made up fairly quickly - a surprising slip from Bono there, but he's human and probably only said it as he was bursting with happiness, we all muck up now and again don't we? It's allowed.

Highlights were probably the ones that I was expecting... the opening, Bad, Streets, WoWY (Bono's vocals sounded gorgeous), Bullet, IGC, One Tree Hill, Trip, Exit, Mothers - very strong, emotional stuff as to be expected. I was taken aback with Miss Sarajevo, not so much the performance as I think it was quite understated - but maybe deliberately so - so as to let the imagery take centre stage - I found myself with a major lump in my throat watching the young girl talk about her ambitions in life - everyone should have a chance in life to fulfil their ambitions, especially when they are the most humble or noble ones - so yeah don't mind admitting I found myself welling up there. I loved the concept for Ultra Violet, tastefully done and fabulous choice of womenfolk up there on the screen - The Land Army one got me - my grandmother was in the Land Army. Loved Little Things and the Slide Away collaboration although Bono didn't really do too much on it, Edge had obviously been rehearsing for it.

Sunday, had a lazy day and lie in (3pm - dont judge lol). Seated ticket up in the heavens (Adams side, upper tier towards the back). Whilst as to be expected the band were like microdots on the stage, the performance was top notch.and you do see things that you might otherwise miss - lighting fx over the crowd etc, plus the atmosphere was just as electric near the back with everyone getting into it, young and old, and just losing themselves in the music - dancing away, letting themselves go, and not caring about what other people think, Exit and Bad were the highlights of night 2 and I'm even going to mention the overplayed Vertigo as a highlight of night 2 - it was bang on - with Bono doing one of my favourite Vertigo snippets - It's Only Rock And Roll. Bit of a flat ending with One, and still think that whole part after TJT could have been so much better with a few more tunes in there and a little added variety, but it was still top notch.

Getting back into central London was a laugh a minute. A funny lad from Manchester who was a bit worse for wear was keeping our train carriage smiling with his banter.

Yep one of those mad mad weekends! And here's to the next one!

Originally posted by deanallison:Obviously it's always a different case having been there in person, but having watched YouTube videos as well now from the first night (haven't heard anything from the second yet but I assume crowd was similar) it seemed the crowd engagement was so much better than the majority if not all of the shows in America. A lot of people have mentioned already the crowd seemed better. I'm interested to hear what people who attended both an American show and the Twickenham show(s) think about it? I know Remy was at a few shows in the states and also the London shows what's your take on it Remy? Have to say it was the most impressive crowd/atmosphere I've ever been a part of.

Originally posted by Remy:[..]
It's a non-discussion. For me.

It almost exclusively depends on where you end up in the crowd and how you yourself experience it. I've been at shows where many people were saying the "best crowd ever", while I was in an area (sometimes seated) where no one seemed to care.

My favourite show so far was Miami, where there were many South Americans present and the whole vibe was just amazing. There was something in the air. But the person next to me could judge otherwise.

For me, even the fact that it's broad daylight means that the crowd engagement "feels" a bit less than at other shows.

It doesn't matter anyway, which crowd is more engage and which one isn't. As long as we enjoy our shows and as long as the spots we end up make us feel like everyone is there with the same level of excitement as you are

Originally posted by SlammerKenya:Any idea what the attendance at London was each night? Its for a bet

Originally posted by Remy:[..]
It's a non-discussion. For me.

It almost exclusively depends on where you end up in the crowd and how you yourself experience it. I've been at shows where many people were saying the "best crowd ever", while I was in an area (sometimes seated) where no one seemed to care.

My favourite show so far was Miami, where there were many South Americans present and the whole vibe was just amazing. There was something in the air. But the person next to me could judge otherwise.

For me, even the fact that it's broad daylight means that the crowd engagement "feels" a bit less than at other shows.

It doesn't matter anyway, which crowd is more engage and which one isn't. As long as we enjoy our shows and as long as the spots we end up make us feel like everyone is there with the same level of excitement as you are

Originally posted by Remy:[..]
It's a non-discussion. For me.

It almost exclusively depends on where you end up in the crowd and how you yourself experience it. I've been at shows where many people were saying the "best crowd ever", while I was in an area (sometimes seated) where no one seemed to care.

My favourite show so far was Miami, where there were many South Americans present and the whole vibe was just amazing. There was something in the air. But the person next to me could judge otherwise.

For me, even the fact that it's broad daylight means that the crowd engagement "feels" a bit less than at other shows.

It doesn't matter anyway, which crowd is more engage and which one isn't. As long as we enjoy our shows and as long as the spots we end up make us feel like everyone is there with the same level of excitement as you are

Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
There's also the option of you being who carries the crowd around you and get them into the show. Clapping at the precise times, jumping (trying not to bother) and of course cheering and singing out loud helps the crowd around you to get into it and actually participate a bit more, instead of just watching the show as if they were at the cinema.