Jealous Haters Since 1998!
Home | News | Reviews | Day In Rock | Photos | RockNewsWire | Singled Out | Tour Dates/Tix | Feeds

U2's Magnificent Tour Opener

09/14/2009
.
(antiMusic) antiMusic's Anthony Kuzminski was on hand for U2's tour opener on Saturday, here is his report from the show! Four songs into U2's opening night of their US tour at Soldier Field in Chicago, the band's more prevailing side shined through as the "Magnificent" lifted off like a rocket ship into space. If a ship had appeared, I wouldn't have been surprised as the latest stage by U2 is the most mammoth, audacious, and insane playground ever designed for a rock show. With a moving bridge, an intense desire to bond with the crowd and a chorus that seemed to be sent from the heavens, the band took flight. "Magnificent" was the fourth song to be performed in a row from No Line on the Horizon. The previous three, the rippling "Breathe" led by a thunderous drum attack by Larry Mullen Jr, the distinctive "No Line on the Horizon" and the jagged "Get On Your Boots" were audacious yet failed to elicit much of a reaction from the crowd of 65,000. But with "Magnificent" the band spectacularly connected with each of the 65,000.

"Magnificent" is the type of song that lifts souls, embellishes them and turns your insides outward in a rare display of emotions. The overwhelming majority of people were there to see the hits, of which there were plenty but what U2 brought with them was more than a night of nostalgia, but the Willy Wonka factory of rock productions.

Lasting for two-hours and ten minutes, the twenty-three song set were full of stadium ready anthems and bold juxtapositions. The rhythm section of bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. held the line keeping the concert on track throughout the entire evening. These two forces of nature may not have the charisma of Bono or the flash of The Edge, but they are the foundation upon which U2 is built. Both poured their hearts out on the opener "Breathe", which for as great of a song as it is, doesn't quite achieve what it should as the evening's starter. In fact, it loses some of its impact due to the mid-tempo nature of the song. This is where "Magnificent" should be, as it would allow the band to achieve starlight status immediately with a song that elevates everyone and everything that comes in touch with it. Even though the new material was a tough sell to the crowd, I would be lying to you if U2 didn't fight for their lives in presenting this material to the masses. "Boots" was initially well received but the screams faded fast. However, the stage and screens elevated "Unknown Caller" to sing-along-status proving that U2 uses their glitzy production to their advantage. The biggest re-working of any song in the band's catalog came from "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" reworked in a disco dance beat version which found all four members scowling the entire stage. I was lost at first, but this is a song where the translucent energy of the crowd and the drive of the band worked. - more on this story



Click here to read today's full report

Preview and Purchase U2 CDs

U2 Tour Dates/Tickets

U2 MP3 Downloads

Was it Good for you? Please Fark it!, Stumble It, Digg it or more!
Fark
Stumble Upon
Digg
Facebook

AddThis Feed Button

tell a friend about this article

know of a news item we should cover?

antiMUSIC News featured on RockNews.info and Yahoo News

.


...end


.
News Reports
.
Day in Rock:
Elton John Hospitalized- Sebastian Bach's Bandmate Dies- Aerosmith Set New Album Release- Slash Reveals His Final Words To Axl Rose- Lars Ulrich Keeping His Day Job- more

Day in Pop Britney Spears Walks Off X Factor Set- American Idol Phillip Phillips To Have Urgent Surgery- Chris Jericho Almost Arrested- Donna Summer Blamed 9/11 For Cancer- more

Yesterday's Day in Rock: Aerosmith Debut New Song- Michael Anthony Doubts Van Halen Postponement Reason- Roger Waters To Build Massive Final Wall- Spinal Tap Star Hit By A Car- more

 Subscribe To Day in Rock

.
 
Reviews
.

The Beach Boys Live at Chicago Theater May 22, 2012

George Harrison - Early Takes Volume 1

First Look: Dot Dash

The Cult - Choice of Weapon

Remembering Robin Gibb

The Rolling Stones - Some Girls Deluxe Edition

Road Trip: Jefferson City, Missouri - It's a Gas!

Kasabian - Velociraptor!

Kaiser Chiefs Live

Passport: Drunk Souls- Slim Loris- Rooftop Runners- Monks of Mellonwah

Wilson Phillips - Dedicated

The Who - Quadrophenia: The Director's Cut

MorleyView: Darin Bennett & The Requiem


.
.
.

Search for Tickets

Or Browse For Tickets

.
.
Today's Rock News
.

Elton John Hospitalized

Sebastian Bach Bandmate Dies

Aerosmith Set New Album Release

Slash Reveals His Final Words To Axl Rose

Metallica's Lars Ulrich Keeping His Day Job

Reunited Chiodos To Play Dirt Fest

Ripper Owens, Paul Di'Anno and Megadeth's Poland on New Iron Maiden Tribute

Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger To Give Fans A Summer of Ska

Spinal Tap Star Checks In Following Accident

Beastie Boys Want Park Renamed For Adam Yauch

Blink-182 and Red Hot Chili Peppers Stars In The Other F Word Movie

Aimee Mann Guests On New Steve Vai Album

Sammy Hagar Gives Back

A Hero A Fake Set New Album Release

Lou Reed Added To Meltdown Festival

Wolfmother's Stockdale Denies Tyrant Charge

Elvis Costello Jams With Russell Crowe

Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Bridge Identified

Marillion Legend Fish Calls Out High Cost of Playing London

Mars Attacks The Skull and Kill Devil Hill

Subscribe to Day in Rock Report by Email

.
.
Today's Pop News
.

Britney Spears Walks Off X Factor Set

American Idol Champ Phillip Phillips To Have Urgent Surgery

WWE's Chris Jericho Almost Arrested

Donna Summer Blamed 9/11 For Her Cancer

Siegfried & Roy Star Threatens Over Alleged Sexual Assault Footage

Teen Mom Asks Judge To Put Her In Prison

American Idol's Jessica Sanchez Added To National Memorial Day Concert

Hank Williams Jr. Giving Away New Song

Rihanna Performs New Single on Idol

Kelly Clarkson Delivers Dark Side Video

Macy Gray Touring With Seal

Kim Kardashian Fighting Back Against Drug Story

Afrojack Expands Jacked Tour

Jennifer Lopez Performs New Song on Idol Finale

That 70s Show Star Vs Neighbor Over Partying

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard Had Nothing To Do With Coach Firing

Real Housewives 911 Call Goes Online

Bobby Long Releases His First Book Of Poetry

More News

.
 
anti Worthy Links
.
The Screen DoorsuperLOUDA Journal of Musical ThingsLloyd Zeffler blogDemolish MagNightwatcher's House of RockCJ ChilversDeja VoodooThe 1st Fivethecopycat.bizDay in Rock @twitter


New Mystery Book from
antiMusic's Dawn Marie Fichera!

.
  .
.

Click Here to Buy T-Shirts!
Click Here to Buy T-Shirts!



 

Tell a Friend about this page - Contact Us - Privacy - antiMusic Email - Job Postings - Advertising - Why we are antiMusic

Copyright© 1998 - 2012 Iconoclast Entertainment Group All rights reserved. antiMusic works on a free link policy for reprinting of our original articles, click here for details. Please click here for legal restrictions and terms of use applicable to this site. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms of use.