Wow. August has been a pretty hectic and exciting month. My Birthday’s around the corner and the celebrations have already begun, starting with a surprise gift last week. A Nintendo Wii. I had another surprise in store as I was gifted a U2 concert. Not just that, I got two Wii games as gifts as well, (Guitar Hero: Rock Band & Ashes 2009). Thanks people, for all these wonderful gifts.
Anyway, the U2 concert was a killer experience. It was the biggest concert I have ever attended. Going by the previous day, when U2 claimed the record for highest audience with 88, 000, I am very certain that this was no less. The main reason why Wembley could accommodate so many fans is because of it’s radically designed £15 – £20m worth concert stage. The giant claw shaped structure has a 360 degree view and unlike most gigs is centrally placed to ensure it’s wider field of view within the statium. It also has a 360 degree screen providing the audience with live close-up feeds of the event. This meant that most parts of the stadium could be used for audience. This also meant that the concert is possible only in Tiered stadiums. Apparently, the structures, which take as many as 60 trucks for transporatation, are to become gig venues in parks around the world.
U2 360 Concert at the Wembley
The Giant Claw Stage
The gates were supposed to be open at 5.00 PM yesterday and we only got there around 6 PM. There was a support act on. I have forgotten their name, but they were pretty good. Then we had Glasvegas, a Glaswegian band belting out a few good numbers. Then the U2, the longest serving and successful full band were on stage and they transported the audience to a different world. The beginning itself was fantastic with a count down being run on large 360 degree screen, before the U2 band men, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton and Edge taking up their signature positions, followed by Bono. During the concert, couple of metal bridges on the sides of the stage started moving to the middle and Bono and Edge frequently walked the bridges encouraging the crowd to croon with them, occassionally joined by Adam.
It was an incredibly exhilarating brilliant experience and one of the best concerts I have ever been to. U2′s Wembley 360 Degree songlist for the Wembley night:
- Breathe
- No Line on the Horizon
- Get On Your Boots
- Magnificent
- Beautiful Day
- Until The End Of The World
- New Year’s Day
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
- Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
- Unknown Caller
- The Unforgettable Fire
- City Of Blinding Lights
- Vertigo
- I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- Pride (In The Name Of Love)
- MLK
- Walk On
- Where The Streets Have No Name
- One
- Bad
- Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
- With Or Without You
- Moment of Surrender