Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

My brother is awesome. Two Sunday’s ago, I got to see U2. This last Sunday, I saw a mind-blowing Springsteen show.

Now while U2 is just fine, I am a long-time fan of Bruce. He turns 60 today! and he is still going strong.

Bruce and the band rocked for almost three hours on Sunday. Unlike other shows—even though they always put on a great performance—this one had no filler, no pauses, no ballads, no breaks. They just blasted and pleased all night long.

Don’t believe me? Read on:

• the most fantastic concert I have ever seen. -Daily Herald
• many in attendance now consider their favorite Springsteen concert -Los Angeles Times
• The band responded with an inspired performance -Chicago Tribune

An extra special treat was the playing of the break-out album Born to Run in its entirety. right? Right?!

Awesome.

I’d like to note that the stand-up bass player, Richard Davis, you hear on the original Meeting Across the River was there tonight on the song. My boyfriend’s stand-up bass teacher was his student. So now I’m four degrees away from Bruce. Yay! Heh.

Bruce and the band are very wise in their stagecraft by now. Their live shows are legendary and built their reputation. It’s easy to see why.

They warmed up nice and solid, hit Born to Run, and moved right in to the hits off the more current albums. It’s as if they drew the fans of the older stuff out and said, “Hey, you’re still going to dance, sing, and rock with this new stuff.”

I have to think they gained some more regular concert goers that night.

There were also a lot of fist pumps and wide grins from the younger people there. Come to think of it, which of today’s music stars can put together a straight up rock show like this?

Ok, so after the newer songs, they hit audience requests. We got Da Do Ron Ron, Rockin’ Robin, and I’m Goin’ Down. It was as much fun seeing them try to figure them out (except for Down obviously) as it was to hear them.

One final note—While the United Center is obviously not Soldier Field, when Bruce wants to get connected to the audience, he simply goes for a stroll through them. Or he pulls them on stage with him.

He doesn’t need a giant claw.

Set List:
Seeds
No Surrender
Johnny 99
Cover Me
Outlaw Pete
Hungry Heart
Working on a Dream
Thunder Road
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Night
Backstreets
Born to Run
She’s the One
Meeting Across the River
Jungleland
Waitin’ on a Sunny Day
The Promised Land
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
The Rising
Badlands
* * *
Hard Times
Raise Your Hand (instrumental)
Da Doo Ron Ron
Rockin’ Robin
I’m Goin’ Down
American Land
Dancing in the Dark
Rosalita

Tags: Music by Ms. SP
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Check out yesterday’s post if you’re looking for more pictures of U2’s Claw stage.

I went to the U2’s 360° Tour stop in Chicago on Sunday, September 13, 2009. Truthfully, I could really take or leave U2. I’m not a massively dedicated fan so please take what’s ahead with a grain of salt.

The main draw (because their new album is not doing that great) is the massive, weird stage. I can see how it started out as an idea to get the audience more involved with the show. The final execution, however, is a bit hit and miss.

It certainly is impressive to arrive at your seat with this strange and gigantic caterpillar-colored spider sitting in front of you. When the show starts, and the bridges start to rotate, allowing the band members to stand over the interior standing-room crowd and walk over to the outer ring, it does seem very cool.

As the show went on though, the stage seemed too big for the band and their show. There are only four of them, and Bono is the only one that runs. If you had the chance to see Garth Brooks back in the 90s, you know what I’m talking about when I say “run the stage.” And Bono does not measure up to Garth’s abilities.

Since the drummer is stationary, that leaves a lot of stage to be filled by three guys. And really, does U2 have that many arena anthems?

The stage does some very interesting things like in the picture above. But, and here I am again with the other hand, a lot of these things seem superfluous. Go ahead and click on the picture above of the expanded screen. Can you find the band mates?

Bono and U2 have so admirably positioned themselves as one of the most intelligent, caring, and conscientious stars of today. They do a lot of great work and increase the visibility for so many causes. That’s why I can’t help but think about the waste in terms of money and resources created by this stage.

I would think differently if there was a function, a reasonable exchange in terms of entertainment and artistic statement. But I don’t think the smoke, mirror balls, and flashing lights are worth it.

I’m sure there are those out there who would disagree with me though. As a non-fanatical fan, I may have missed the point. There were certainly moments when I was impressed and even very, very moved. I just expected my overall experience to be stronger than it was.

Tags: Music by Ms. SP
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There’s been a lot of coverage and talk about U2’s massive stage set up for the North America leg of their 360 Tour. Here are a few pictures from the Sunday, September 13, 2009, show in Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Laying dormant before the show:

This is Snow Patrol on stage:

More tomorrow.

Tags: Chicago, Music by Ms. SP
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