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U2
September 25, 2005
The Bradley Center
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
Photos by Terry
Mayer
Review by Robyn Cook
On
Sunday, September 25, fans of U2 braved the
elements to travel to the Bradley Center to witness
the
sold out Milwaukee leg of the Vertigo Tour 2005.
About the only thing they could have been disappointed
in
was the weather...U2 put on a show that was packed
with
music from start to end and covered the band's
catalog from their beginnings to their current album.
The
stage set up consisted of a simple stage and a
runway that looped out into the audience and circled
back
to the stage. The runway encircled General
Seating ticket holders, allowing them a 360 (view of
the
show. The runway allowed Bono to interact with his
audience which he did enthusiastically. Even audience
members in the seats in the rafters were acknowledged
by
the energetic performer throughout the show.
The
concert opened with guitarist The Edge, drummer
Larry Mullen
and bassist Adam Clayton taking their
stances on the stage while Bono chose to emerge from
below the tip of the runway between the audience that
surrounded the inside and outside of the circle. Bono
started his slow motion strut around the circle and we
were
off, rocking to the opening song “City of Blinding
Lights”
from
the band’s current album.
They
smoothly segued into “Vertigo”, the crowd on their feet where
they
remained for the majority of the evening. U2
dedicated songs to the U.S. military, doctors and nurses
and
old friends. Each dedication was greeted with a
tremendous, positive roar of a response from the
audience.
In
his trademark shades, Bono circled the runway while
telling his stories. He strutted, stalked, sauntered
and
strolled his way through the evening. This is a
band
that works together without seeming to think
about it. Bono pointed out that the band started 29
years ago that Sunday in Mullen's kitchen. The
interaction between The Edge and Bono is that of two
old
friends who banter back and forth like old friends
do,
swapping thoughts and memories of their past
together.
Fans
who fondly remember U2’s first forays on MTV were
not
disappointed. U2 offered solid, rollicking
performances of “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “I Still Haven’t
Found What I'm Looking For”, “Where The Streets Have No
Name” and “Pride” that kept the audience on their feet
and
their voices singing out. They were even treated
to a
rich performance of “Miss Sarajevo”, with Bono
covering Luciano Pavarotti’s part in a clear, strong,
almost operatic tenor voice.
In
the past, Bono has been criticized for interjecting
too
much politics into his performances and Sunday
night did not pass without references to Ireland,
Africa
and the Aid's epidemic. However, all were
mentioned in a positive, upbeat nature. And keeping
with
the tradition of lighting a lighter to show their
support of the band, Bono asked everyone with a cell
phone to turn on their phones so that the darkness of
the
Bradley Center was dotted with the blue glow of
cell
phone screens. It was a move that was smart and
effective in that the audience was also asked to text
message their support to the One Campaign.
The
evening was memorable for all, I am sure, but one
young girl from the audience will remember Sunday
night with awe and wonder for the remainder of her
days. Plucked from the audience, she was brought up to
the
top of the circle to cling to Bono as he sang “With
Or
Without You”.
It was a moment that inspired envy
among many young ladies to be sure but also
demonstrated Bono's abilities as a true showman. He
drew
his audience to him, whether they were 11 or 61,
and
kept them enthralled throughout the night.
After over two hours of almost solid music and two
encores that included “Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild
Horses” and “The First time”, the show was done and a
satisfied crowd dispersed into the rainy night. |
