Happy X-Mas, This Leg of The Tour is Over

The season for holiday snippets at the U2 shows is over. As the band completed the down-under dispatch of the 2009-2011 world tour, many meditations on the meaning of the journey and bountiful holiday greetings were due.

As John Lennon clips and rarely-heard tracks from Rattle & Hum were rendered,  we’re reminded that back in 1988 around the time of the movie release, U2 performed a brilliant acoustic version of Lennon’s famous holiday peace prayer on television.

Brief breaths of “Happy X-Mas, War Is Over” found the show this past weekend, just as “Instant Karma” and “Happy X-Mas, War Is Over” were performed five years ago as a Vertigo leg ended.

The tour resurfaces in 2011 for many more shows.

U2 in Brisbane, Night One

The band continued their 360 adventure in Oz with a trip to Queensland. There are rumors that Adam was turned away from a bar because he was wearing a sarong and sandals. Bono called Brisbane “Amazing.” Edge responded, “It’s okay, if you like that tropical paradise thing.” The new song “North Star” made its debut outside of Europe.

The night was a sort of memorial on the 30^th anniversary of the death of John Lennon, and the set was peppered with Beatles and Lennon snippets.

Bangers of Triple M Australia 104.9 FM reports:

U2 Rocket Ship Mesmorises Brisbane Post

The U2 International Space Station took over Suncorp Stadium for the night. Yes, U2 are genuine, bonefide rock stars.

And yes.. U2 rocked Brisbane.

The set list was peppered with old and new hits… I will Follow, Mysterious Ways, Vertigo, Where the Streets have No Name, Elevation, Ultraviolet and so on.

With a massive catalogue there was always bound to be the odd song missed out (no Desire, Even Better than the Real thing, New Years Day) but how much can you cram into 2 hours and 15 minutes?

Bono got the gig of to one hell of start praising his Brisbane fans.

“Allow us to let us kiss your arse for one moment. Thank you for the life you’ve given us.”

Bono strutted around the stage, his natural domain with the Edge and Adam Clayton more than happy doing the occasional lap as well.

A brief sprinkle of rain was all we got, enough though for a mechanical umbrella to deploy and cover drummer Larry Mullen Jnr. Yep, this stage has got it all.

You knew all the words, all the songs (perhaps fumbling through of the lyrics of the newer ones) and the crowd was in fine voice.

A criticism? Hmmm….It should have finished one song earlier… With or Without you would have been perfect.. but, not unlike the monstrous stage they just had to go that one step further.

Reposted from:

TripleM Australia

8 December 2010

SunCorp Stadium Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Setlist
1. Return Of The Stingray Guitar
2. Beautiful Day
3. I Will Follow
4. Get On Your Boots
5. Magnificent
6. Mysterious Ways / Rain (snippet)
7. Elevation
8. Until The End Of The World
9. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For / Stand By Me (snippet)
10. North Star

11. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
12. In A Little While
13. Miss Sarajevo
14. City Of Blinding Lights
15. Vertigo / Thunderstruck (snippet)
16. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Live 360° Remix) / Two Tribes (snippet)
17. Sunday Bloody Sunday
18. Scarlet
19. Walk On / You’ll Never Walk Alone (snippet)

Desmond Tutu speech

Encore
20. One
21. Dear Prudence (snippet) / Where The Streets Have No Name / All You Need Is Love (snippet)
22. Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
23. With Or Without You
24. Moment Of Surrender

Thanks to U2Gigs, TripleM Australia and Interference Setlist Partiers for the info.

Photos by Brusca and Jerry Aurum.

Review by kramwest