OMG I haven't seen U-2 since the '80s! I may have to go to this one just because. Though no alcohol? Shit.

According to reviews, this tour is seriously, rockingly awesome. The stage is weird/powerful and "works". The sound is huge and clean, and Bono's voice is likewise strong.

According to YouTube videos from the Euro shows, the above comment is true.

According to me, Barrett is very, very, very jealous of Mr. Paul Hewson, as am I and every other 30 to 45 year-old male in the Western world.

barrett, i think that's only because it seems like only yesterday that Bono was a mulleted irish rocker on MTV. New Year's Day...

I saw the same vid.

"if you walk away walk away I walk away walk away ... I got my pencil."

Once I was at a U-2 concert in Philly in the late 80s and Bono had broken his arm or something, it was in a sling. So he says to the crowd, "Who would like to play my guitar? Would Bruce Springsteen like to play my guitar?" And BRUCE came out and sang some songs with Bono! The crowd went wild, remember this is Philly, and half the crowd was really from Jersey. I think Springsteen sings U-2 songs pretty damn well. And he doesn't wear a black turtleneck and make his fingers into little praying-like tents in front of his lips. And he's The Boss. Amen.

I, Vicarious, also concur that Bruce Springsteen is awesome. I recommend the video oh Bruce and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine doing "The Ghost of Tom Joad".

I do have a bit of trouble with the Sting-Clapton-Collins-Bono comparison. Clapton-Collins-Sting or totally irrelevant culturally and artistically.

But, I feel that U2 still makes interesting and relevant music; while all of their records post-Joshua Tree have had smatterings of pop ickiness, deeper listening reveals the familiar "depthy dryness" of October, Unforgettable Fire, War, etc. Their latest, No Line on the Horizon, has the usual two or three big-sound, radio-friendly shmaltz hits. But it also has meditative, beautiful melodies with interesting arrangements, as well as full-on modern, skillfully written and produced rock songs that you aren't hearing on the radio.

Of course, U2 could put out a country Christmas album and I would probably like it.

I first saw U2 in 82 at the Northrup Auditorium and they were amazing. Great music on the first few albums.  Saw them several years later in the St. Paul Civic center and I nearly feel asleep. No alcohol, assigned seats and that was last big arena show I have ever paid to see. I left in disgust and went to the Uptown Bar (RIP) to drink and see a kick ass local band, reaffirming my faith in music. From that point on I only see music in small venues.

There last few U2 albums are good, listenable but do not inspire me to see them.

Bruce is good and great doing Nebraska and weird solo stuff. He did jump on stage with fellow Jersey boys The Gaslight Anthem at some European dates this summer. I would pay to see that anytime.

Yes, Phil Collins, Sting, Clapton and others were and are terribly annoying.

The first thing that popped into  head when I saw this post was the Replacements song "I Bought a Headache". A rant against big arena shows and begs the question how much is a ticket to see U2?

I'll admit I'm a bit biased, being a U2 fan since I first saw them in '87 at the Civic Center (Joshua Tree tour). 

I saw U2 for the fourth time (first time since '97 at the Metrodome) at FedEx field in D.C. a couple of months ago.  I had tickets through the fan club ($50, but with all the fees/charges, they ended up being close to $100) that were field tickets (standing on the field, but you could go as close to the "Claw" stage as you wanted, not including the inner circle).

The show was over the top in effects, but pretty amazing to see.  My significant other came with me (seeing U2 was a first time) and said the concert was the best live show ever attended. 

I also saw the band at Iowa State in '93 during their outdoor stadium tour for Achtung Baby.  This tour reminded me of that somewhat, although the stage and everything was so much more this time.

If you like U2 and can get tickets through the fan club (which probably go on sale pretty soon) I think the show is worth the money.

To clarify: I said that Clapton, Sting, Collins, etc., were NO LONGER musically or culturally relevant...I was not implying that they never were.

BTW: I will give someone $1000 if they can splice David Lee Roth cleanly into "Lemon".

clapton, like sting, are two among a growing list of really awesome artists who've lost their teeth, so to speak. 

collins...i'm on the fence with the guy. mad mad props to the guy for no other reason than he can play any. thing. you put in front of him. i tried to like genesis. i really did.

bono going down the same road? maybe. but moreso to my kids, if anyone at all...clapton for instance, was one of the most prolific musicians in the 60's and 70's, and nowadays you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a clapton tune on the radio.

given the opportunity though, i'd probably forego a U2 concert for a lot of the same reasons i'd opt out of seeing the Pink Floyd or any version of Led Zeppelin or even Iron Maiden *with * Bruce Dickinson...or the Dead. superconcerts with supergroups just don't offer as much return on my investment as they did when i was 23.

I'm talking to you, Chase. I'll be wearing black.

Maddox from 2004, still holds true today:

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11worst