Last night, we got together with several friends to go to th U23D show on the IMAX screen at the Science Center in Baltimore. And, friends, if you can't go to a U2 concert, this is the closest thing.
First of all, let's make sure you understand what I mean by "3D." This is no Captian EO, people. This is the latest in 3D technology. Yes, you felt like the band was about to grab you, yes, the microphone stands and fans raised arms were there right in front of you, but there was more. I like to call it 3D layers. Sometimes there was a layer seemingly floating 10 feet in front of the screen on which there where words, images, whatever, sort of transparently. Then there was the regular screen with 3D effects as well. It was like looking through one 3D screen onto another. So you'd be looking at Larry playing the drums, then look through him at Adam's bass--which was about to hit you in the head each time he turns. Very cool.
As far as the actual concert, there were a few surprises. I was not surprised to see them do all their political stunts and songs. When we saw the Vertigo tour in D.C., one whole section in the middle was dedicated to ending poverty, hunger, and servitude among mankind. This movie was no different except that those songs took up about 3/4 of the show. They didn't do their newest songs, they DID do most of their most popular songs, and they didn't do some of their best songs. But it seems they were trying to please. Here were the songs included:
— “Vertigo”
— “Beautiful Day”
— “New Year’s Day”
— “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own”
— “Love and Peace (or else)”
— “Sunday, Bloody Sunday”
— “Bullet the Blue Sky”
— “Miss Sarajevo”
— “Pride (In the Name of Love)”
— “Where the Streets Have No Name”
— “One”
— “The Fly”
— “With or Without You”
— “Yahweh”
That makes only 4 songs from the newest album, and Yahweh was actually during the credits. And we're looking at New Year's Day, Love and Peace, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, and One which were politically charged. (Although I must admit that One was rather tame, but I've seen concerts so I know how they slant it these days). But as friends pointed out a the show, you may not totally agree with Bono's politics, but at least he's doing something good with his power. And yes, the man has power. If you are surprised at how political U2 has become, you weren't really listening from the beginning. This is a band who cannot NOT talk about politics.
It was fun and rather surprising to hear The Fly, although I had expected Mysterious Ways if anything from Achtung Baby. But I was having Zoo TV tour flashbacks, and it was fun to see them not forget their love/hate relationship with propoganda in all of their ultra media-enhanced politics. I think it was confusing for many of my lay-fan friends who may not have picked up on the irony.
What I most missed was City of Blinding Lights which would have been seriously cool in 3D, and Original of the Species, which I consider to be probably their best song ever.
My favorite parts: Larry's drums and his total unbreakable concentration, the buffaloes during One, Bono's operatic attempt at Miss Sarajevo, and the basic concert atmosphere.
Overall, I consider this to be a very successful U2 creation, very typical and fun.
