The Moon Has Turned “Scarlet” Over One Tree Hill

In the shadow of One Tree Hill Domain in Auckland, New Zealand, U2 kicked-off the fourth leg of its worldwide 360 Tour. Arriving at a somber time for the country, the band balanced joy with sadness, rock with remembrance as Kiwis mourned the 29 Pike River miners who died in a recent coalmine disaster.

Before the start of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” Bono reflected, “People deal with grief in all sorts of ways. In Ireland, we sing.”

Perhaps U2’s most bittersweet song, “One Tree Hill,” brought out emotion in the crowd of nearly 50,000 as the names of the miners scrolled on the video screen. Written as a tribute to the band’s friend Greg Carroll who died in a motorcycle accident, “One Tree Hill” captures some of the Maori’s end-times mythology, and generally celebrates life and death. The song has been played almost exclusively in New Zealand since the Joshua Tree Tour.

No other band can shepherd its fans through such emotions like U2. The night was far from a somber affair. Although somewhat rusty from the lag between tour legs, U2 rocked Mt. Smart Stadium with new songs “Get On Your Boots” and “Magnificent.” The big surprise of the night was the playing of “Scarlet.” Opener Jay-Z joined U2 onstage for this rarity; it had been almost 30 years since its last live performance.

Despite the traffic jams and public transit headaches that accompany a large concert in Auckland, fans had a great time and welcomed U2 back after exactly a four-year absence. Previously, U2 had missed playing New Zealand for more than 13 years.

U2’s second Auckland show, promises more setlist changes and surprises before the band travels to Australia to continue the tour.

Setlist

25 November 2010

Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, NZ

1. Return Of The Stingray Guitar
2. Beautiful Day
3. I Will Follow
4. Get On Your Boots
5. Magnificent
6. Mysterious Ways
7. Elevation
8. Until The End Of The World
9. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
10. One Tree Hill
11. Pride (In The Name of Love)
12. In A Little While
13. Miss Sarajevo
14. City of Blinding Lights
15. Vertigo
16. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Remix) / Relax (snippet) / Two Tribes (snippet)
17. Sunday Bloody Sunday
18. Scarlet
19. Walk On / You’ll Never Walk Alone (snippet)

Desmond Tutu speech

20. One
21. Where The Streets Have No Name / Amazing Grace (snippet)

22. Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
23. With Or Without You / Shine Like Stars (snippet)
24. Moment Of Surrender

As usual thank you to U2Gigs, U2Log and the many Interference members at the show for their contributions. Photos by Dean Halvorson and Brad Heap.

By kramwest1