U2's 360 Tour: 'One of the best stadium shows of the last decade'

The arena spectacle that is a U2 show won't arrive in Los Angeles for a few more weeks yet. The band's "360 Tour," dubbed so due to the 90-foot tall, four-pronged canopy that serves as a mega in-the-round stage -- a look that calls to mind a giant alien spaceship plopping down in the center of a football stadium -- launched its North American leg this weekend in Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot took in the festivities and labeled it "one of the best stadium shows of the last decade" in a video review on his Turn It Up blog. U2 will touch down in Los Angeles on Oct. 25 with a date at the Rose Bowl. The U2 site lists the concert as sold out, but Pop & Hiss was able to find single tickets available via Ticketmaster searches. If you're still on the fence about attending, here's an excerpt from Kot's review:

On its previous tours, U2 had started to resemble its generation’s answer to the Rolling Stones: a band that had started to become predictable, a stadium act rolling out decades-old hits as its songwriting stagnated. This time, the band reconnected to deeper themes in its music and reinforced a recent development in its sound: groove.  

There was also the inescapable Godzilla in the room: that much-hyped mega stage, which splits the difference between silly contrivance and weird, sometimes awe-inspiring art object. It literally dwarfed everything, and reached out to all corners of the stadium, allowing the four ant-sized band members to play to the crowd on all sides. The setting often made for compelling theater, though it wasn’t on par with the band’s 1992-93 Zoo TV tour, a multimedia barrage that mirrored the chaos and anxiety harnessed by its 1991 “Achtung Baby” album. Ever since, U2 has been searching for the right mix of spectacle and intimacy, pizzazz and poignance on the big stage, but Zoo TV remains the finest supersized tour mounted by any band in the last two decades.

The centerpiece of this year’s stadium model, dubbed the 360 Tour in honor of the circular stage, was the Irish quartet’s latest hit-and-miss studio album, “No Line on the Horizon”; seven of its songs were performed, out of 23 on the set list. Though there was no salvaging thin material such as the brash but empty “Get on Your Boots” and the convoluted “Unknown Caller,” the atmospheric yet expansive tone of the title track connected U2 to the spiritual quest of its 1984 album “The Unforgettable Fire.”

In the days leading up the concert, the Chicago Tribune provided in-depth, behind-the-scenes coverage. An earlier post on Kot's blog discussed just what goes into creating that sci-fi-inspired contraption at the center of the field. It's most striking feature is its 54-ton cylindrical video screen, and the monster takes four days to build. More details are here.

And for those concerned that such a device may not exactly be green friendly, Kot also wrote a piece about U2's environmental plan, details of which are expected to be made public by the end of the year.

The Rose Bowl concert is currently the penultimate date on the band's 360 Tour. The Los Angeles Times will run the full text of Kot's review in Monday's Calendar, and Pop & Hiss hopes to cover the local date of the tour.

-- Todd Martens

Photo: U2 in Chicago. Credit: Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune

Comments

[Missy]

Ticketmaster had the Chicago dates listed as sold out for months, too. Don't let that stop you from trying to go anyway!

Sometimes, they release more tickets very close to the date of the concert, or even on the show date. Keep checking! I bought my tickets to Saturday's show at Soldier Field on FRIDAY! On the bus into Chicago, no less. Checked on a whim (a prayer? a glimmer of hope?), and I'm so glad I did.

It was a phenomenal show. The blisters from dancing all night? Worth it. And for the love of Pete, don't skip the opening act. Snow Patrol played a great set, and they're genuinely thrilled to be touring.

[shapechanger]

I was at the Saturday show and it was the second worst concert I have ever seen. The worst show I ever saw was the Wallflowers at the Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee back in '97. I am a huge music nut and have seen hundreds of shows in every different sized venue imaginable. I know a good show from a bad show and this show was the worst. The venue probably had a lot to do with it. Seeing a band play music in a place that holds 70,000'ish people is just silly to begin with. The sound was terrible. The terrible sound was especially evident during the songs that no one knew. The stage set really was there to make up for a band that is obviously past their creative prime and does not have enough firepower to entertain without it. This tour is simply a cash-grab for a bunch of washed up musicians. I think my wife said it best as we walked out of the show ... "U2 should be embarrassed for themselves. This was all about the money and not about the fans."

The funny thing was listening to a few random people who thought the show was "great" or "amazing." These people obviously do not frequent live music shows. Yes, they're entitled to their subjective opinions (as am I) but come on, there is no way that this show was anywhere near great or amazing. Maybe if you were able to stand in the tiny little area directly in front of the stage, that might have been pretty cool. Especially if you were a huge U2 fan. I can only imagine what the sound was like down there.

Lessons (re)learned:

1) U2 is worse live than I ever anticipated. (I mean really, it's not like their music is technically challenging to play.)
2) Large venues are terrible places to see live music.

I'll be attending the Alice In Chains show in Milwaukee this weekend. Hopefully (fingers crossed!) with better results.

[Merritt Hopper]

Have there been better shows? Sure. Did the show lack intimacy due to the fact it was in a GIANT stadium? Sure. Was it U2, playing to the massess because they're the most popular band on the planet, thrilling the audience with some new hits and a ton of great songs from the past 25 years - YES!

Anyone can nit pick a show. The overall consensus in that giant stadium is that U2 is and will always be one of the best bands of all time.

[David]

ShapeChanger,

I was at the North American opener on Saturday too, and couldn't disagree with you more. It was, without a doubt, an amazing show--not just visually, but musically.

I watched the week when U2 was on Letterman, and was horrified by how atrocious the new music sounded.

The new album was only slightly better than their live music on the Late Show.

This concert injected life into those new songs, an electric jolt to music that I thought was stagnant before I saw the show. They blended the new songs into the old songs during the show beautifully. And because they were able to do that, it shows U2's understanding that the music needed even more from them when 70,000 people gather in a stadium to hear it. The ability to readapt their music to the venue like that was exceptional. While the sound quality isn't like being in an intimate venue with them, it was without a doubt the BEST I've ever heard in a stadium venue. You can't compare apples and oranges.

U2 played for over two hours nonstop. That, in itself, is a qualifier for an amazing show. Even being in the 400 level section in Soldier Field, I felt close to the stage because it was more than a stage. It was designed to capture you, and it did just that--in a stadium with tens of thousands of fans, that is incredibly impressive. When they broke into acoustic during Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of, and the whole stadium sang along, I felt connected not only to them, but also to 69,999 other people. That's what makes a show great. That's what makes it....magnificent.

[Roy McLean]

I attended both shows in Chicago. While the opening show was great, Chicago 2-there are no words to describe it. The best I can do is say that the experience was transcendant. The sound was perfect, and the stage design takes your breath away, even after seeing the show Saturday, I was blown away on Sunday. The show lacked something Saturday that was more than made up for on Sunday. Bono and the band were on fire. The roar before With or Without You, as the entire Soldier Field was bathe in purple, was deafening. The remix of "I'll Go Crazy" turned Soldier Field into a disco. Bono in the center, with Larry on portable drums and The Edge jumping was amazing. I take issue with the dissing of Unknown Caller. That is an incredible song, and really comes alive, especially if you're singing your heart out. This is an amazing concert, but you have to do your homework. If you go there expecting them to entertain you, then you will be sorely disappointed. But if you are prepared and know the songs, you can have the most magical night of your life. The Rose Bowl show will be my third time seeing a concert in LA, and it will be my sixth 360 show. I cannot wait. Thank you U2 for once again being there for your fans when we need you.

[Drew]

I was in Chicago at the second concert, on field level. The sound quality was excellent, the set a stunner, and the band in top form. In short, the show was amazing. The new music sounded good, and the old favorites electrifying. The 60,000 fans at Soldier Field on Sunday night got a great show to remember.

[Waybackwhen]

I was at the Sunday U2 show and it was GREAT! The stadium has a few spots where slapback echo is bad, but most locations in Soldier Field are good, so maybe Shapechanger got unlucky - obviously Shapechanger doesn't follow U2 because he doesn't understand how U2 pours their hearts into their efforts with intention and inspiration. Washed up musicians don't earn more grammy's than any other band in history!

[ColinMcDonald]

Shapechanger,
Were you perhaps seated in section 121 at Soldier Field? There was a miserable couple behind my girlfriend and I who looked they had absolutely no idea how to enjoy themselves. 69,998 can't all be wrong, but 2 people certainly can.

[TORRY MARRS]

Look into 'ClearChannel,' "Live Nation's' mother ship parent company. About to absorb 'TicketMaster' next in it's bid to monopolize the media markets from all angles. Think about it. The music you listen to on the radio they own, the only place to you can buy concert tickets, the concerts they promote and what they charge, the clubs that decide who can play there based on there freedom of speech and humor in challenging a corrupt presidency for 8 years. ALL owned by 'ClearChannel' and running the U2 tour for sheer profit and greed to continue there quest for media power and political clout in there right wing favor, anti-womens rights issues in which you support every time you buy a ticket, a concert t-shirt or various over priced swag(when did a baseball hat cost $35.?) I don't care who's name is on my lid made in China, $35. is an outrage! Right into the 'Live Nations'' coffers to buy more right wing political clout for the next presidential election, anti anything in Congress they don't agree with. STOP supporting this megla-maniac company and this U2 tour as well. Sorry fellas, but you've gotten into bed with the wrong blokes this time mates, just like that disasterous '?POP/Lemon tour you dropped on us back in 94.' People, BOYCOTT now, stay home, do the right thing with your conscience. Do some research, find out the facts, it's all there baby! We boycott officially tonight in Boston/Gillette stadium. Bring your placards and banners in protest. Support the music and the musicians, but not the right wing politics which fuel this tour and that atrocious last album. POWER TO THE PEOPLE! RIGHT ON!" SPREAD THE WORD!" And I love U2 like no one does. It use to be my religious experience, but now, I'm saddened, discouraged in that I must go down this road, but it has to be done, for the sake of justice and equal rights for all. If your a woman, you should not attend or support this tour in general. Read the facts on 'ClearChannels' policies. Thank you. Peace! Torry Marrs/Newport, RI

[Mary Anne]

Of course it is going to be difficult, if not possible, to create a sense of intimacy in a 80,000+ seat stadium. But U2 came closer to doing so than I ever thought possible. 3/4 of the way through the first show in Chicago, I felt amazingly like I was in a much smaller venue. The stage was quite the spectacle, but it never, ever distracted me from focusing on the music, which was moving, heartfelt, and had wonderful sound quality. I've heard it said that U2 is definitely a "live" band, rather than a CD band, and this is very definitely the case.

The thing about 7/8 of U2's music is that it is multi-layered and unveils itself over time. I find this to be just as much the case with the old stuff as with the new.

I am not a fan of "Get on Your Boots," but as U2 often does, it reinvented its own material and put on a conga drum version of that song that had the crowd absolutely raving mad and on its feet the entire time. I only wish they had performed "40" and "Your Blue Room" the night I was there.

And the Edge was absolutely incredible.

This was my first U2 concert after being a huge fan for 25 years, and it will definitely not be my last.

[John]

Correction: U2's 360 Tour: 'THE Best Stadium Show EVER!'