U2 at the Rose Bowl

PJB

- Went to three of the PJ shows (every tour is fewer, someone has to have a talk with my wife about this, yes, I have explained my problem in detail for a friggin decade - 5-7 shows is quite reasonable)
- Have tickets to U2 but cant seem to get at all psyched to go - has anyone seen them this tour? I only got tix cause I have seen all of the others and have not even bothered to get the album.
- should have gone to more pj, this working thing is so overrated.

any thoughts? (thanks for putting up with the random post, 20 hour days and 3 hours sleep for the last few days and I am totally fried...)

ACCBootlegGoddess

I saw them here in Toronto and you're in for a treat!! I REALLY enjoyed the show. Ok its no PJ but the staging and their sound....OUT OF THIS WORLD!!

You WILL enjoy the show! I promise!!

potnik

Saw them in Chicago for the two opening nights of the US tour. They were quite good. The stage is something to behold. Don't need to tell you this since you have seen them every tour, totally different then Pearl Jam. This show is so polished it is crazy, with all the cameras around the place it kind of has to be. Some of the songs remind me of a giant music video that you are watching live.

I would suggest you get the album before you go so that you at know the new songs. They have been playing virtually the same songs every night with 4 or so being mixed in and out. I had a blast, hope you enjoy the show.

U2 setlist link

datfly

Hey
You will love the U2 show. Awesome. Saw the Tampa show on the 9th. Amazing. Do not forgo this show just because you love Pearl Jam. Yes Pearl Jam does things differently, but U2 Rocked 72,500 people at Raymond James stadium in Tampa. They are both awesome in their own way. I have come to appreciate the differences in the way the two bands approach their fans. Be open minded and experience U2 as U2 is meant to be. I can't
wait till PJ comes around. I know they will rock the house as well.

Sharon W
PJ fan since 1991
U2 fan since 1981

jrnyc

I went twice, long time U2 fan since 87, awesome show, the set-list was average though, they dont go deep enough, some of the older songs are tired. I like the new stuff, but some of it was misplaced during the show. Also the encore is the same every night, thats weak, in past tours they mixed up the encore.

PJ fans dont know how lucky they are with the totally different set lists every night, even the mighty U2 only seems to have 2 set lists for the tour with minimal changes.

CristianB

I was happy to see this post and the comments here. I have tickets to this show too but really haven't been all that excited for it and was actually considering selling my ticket. Seeing 6 amazing Pearl Jam shows over the last few weeks has spoiled me. I'm happy to hear that it is a good show. Sounds like I should keep my ticket.

ACCBootlegGoddess

CristianB wrote:

I was happy to see this post and the comments here. I have tickets to this show too but really haven't been all that excited for it and was actually considering selling my ticket. Seeing 6 amazing Pearl Jam shows over the last few weeks has spoiled me. I'm happy to hear that it is a good show. Sounds like I should keep my ticket.

OMG do NOT sell the tickets!! It is a REALLY good show!!!!!

norm

yeah i have tix to this show...huge u2 fan and have seen them a few times but i'm not really feeling this show...but i haven't really been focusing on it since i just finished with 5 pj shows

never been a fan of stadium shows but i didn't go to the zoo tv tour and i've never seen them in a stadium plus the rose bowl is a few miles away so i really should go

csilver22

I was at the last three PJ shows here in Southern California, and will also be seeing U2 in Vegas and here at the Rose Bowl. I know it'll be a much different experience than the PJ shows, and probably not quite as "rock n roll" as I'd like, but really excited about the shows nonetheless. See you there!

Sheets Of Clay

Not to be opposite of everyone...but I just finished my 4 PJ shows and went to the U2 show in Atlanta and thought it was pretty average. The opening act (Muse) was way better. The setlist is so predictable, especially if you hate the new album (which they play 6 songs from). I still have tix for the Rose Bowl and I have hopes that with 25,000 more people there it will be better.

My only advice is that if you have GA tix whatever you do don't go in the pit. They smash so many folks in there everyone looked miserable. Go stand back near the soundboard so you can take in the whole thing.

bigbadbill

I'm only 3 miles away from the Rose Bowl. It feels good to not have to park down at the Rose Bowl in the golf course ($20) when I have someone dropping me off/picking me up.

SOLAT319

Last time I saw them live was Elevation tour. Too much distraction from the music if you ask me. i want my music served to me in the most direct way possible. Don't need a freakin laser show in order to enjoy a piece of music. That said, you should experience it once at least I guess since there seems to be quite a U2 following around here apparently

jammergirl

I saw them in oct of 2001, and it was definitely one of the most moving concert experiences ever. being right after 9/11 people were pretty emotional to begin with, but when they started playing "one" and had the names of all the victims scrolling down this huge screen, i'm not exaggerating EVERYONE around me started crying. i looked over and even the security guards were wiping away tears. it was like this big cathartic moment for everyone there, it was weird. the entire show was pretty jaw-dropping actually. i'm not too familiar with their new album, but i'm sure you won't regret going.

SOLAT319

jammergirl wrote:

but when they started playing "one" and had the names of all the victims scrolling down this huge screen, i'm not exaggerating EVERYONE around me started crying.

I start crying when I see the video clip for that song even on youtube. I'm pretty sure that song has secret powers that make people start bawling their eyes out immediately.

NewmanUSPS

Saw them in Tampa on Oct 9th, good show.... hope you like the new stuff, cuz there is tons on songs from the new CD, which I think is one of their worst. The stage is outragous. The Hawaii U2 show was MUCH better.

dharma69

I completely understand how you feel about not being psyched for the U2 show post-PJ amazingness. My situation was exactly reversed, though: I wholly admit to pretty much hating No Line On the Horizon (about to overtake Pop and my least favorite U2 album) but still favor the band. got my tix for NYC shows way back during the fan club pre-sale so I was in but even as the tour started, I just wasn't feeling it. Still going to the shows, but just hoping I would dig this monstrosity of a stage set up and hoping the new songs would at least sound better live.

Went to NYC for the two U2 shows with Muse and came away feeling like this: U2 @ Giants Stadium Was A Little Like.....

I was officially whipped again. So much so that I wound up feeling like this U2 Pulled The Plug...Through Pearl Jam I Reconnect And I still have Las Vegas and Pasadena to go .

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

SomethingCreative

Go, be stoked, it will be good. The difference is that U2 are definitely worth seeing...once a tour.

Pearl Jam, on the other hand, is worth seeing as many times as humanly fuckin possible on any given tour.

Wilds

Here is a random question.... How clear is the audio from outside the rose bowl. I'm going to walk over there with my 2 year old and my 5 year old and just soak in some of the atmosphere and sound without going in.

We will probably listen for an hour or so..... any thoughts on this?

SOLAT319

SomethingCreative wrote:

Pearl Jam, on the other hand, is worth seeing as many times as humanly fuckin possible on any given tour.

:idea:

quasi

Saw PJ at LA 1 and LA4 and I'll be going to U2 in LA and Vancouver. Throw in Sunny Day Real Estate in between and this has been one of the best concert going Octobers I've had in recent memory.

ledbetterman4pearljam

My wife and I went to 8 PJ shows this tour. The most we've ever been to. It still wasn't enough for either of us. We were both a bit depressed after the San Diego show (our last of this tour).

We have tickets for next Sunday at the Rose Bowl. I said to her, "at least we have U2 to look forward to." And that didn't really cheer her up. I totally understand how you feel.

I have seen U2 one time in 1992. Until I saw Pearl Jam at Randall's Island II in 1996, the U2 concert was the best concert experience of my life. I went last minute with a friend who had nosebleed seats at the Tacoma Dome. We ended up getting moved because our seats were in the way of a spotlight. We ended up front row in front of the Edge, slapped hands with Bono at the end of the show. I'll spare you the other details, as the story is unbelievable.

U2 puts on a huge production that is nothing like a Pearl Jam show. I don't think it's really a fair comparison as they are totally different. That said, I am looking forward to the show. I got some friends flying in from NYC that went to the PJ MSG II show with me last year. It sounds like U2 has this show dialed in. I have not looked at the set lists for this show because I am sure they will be nearly identical to the show we are seeing. I saw part of Rattle and Hum a couple months ago on tv. That got me more excited to see U2 again. You might rent that, or just listen to some of their live stuff. Or go see It Might Get Loud with the Edge, Jack White and Jimmy Page.

Have a great time at the show. Let me know if you want my wife to call yours to talk her into more PJ shows next time around.