May 7, United Center in Chicago

[dsmith2904]

Please post your reviews of the May 7th show here.

[hluvslmj]

WAKE UP YOU FIRST SHOW PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am dying here. Please let us know ASAP how the show went - all the details!!!!
Also need info on the whole GA experience from beginning to end.
TIA!!!!

[hluvslmj]

WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

[U2WOJO]

Didn't do GA (I'll let you know how Tuesday night works though, lol). My lasting impression of the show is how good Bono's voice sounded. Loved Bad being in the set list. Sunday Bloody Sunday seemed to have a new life to it. Suprised by Kings of Leon as well. They sounded much better live than either of their studio albums. Still think they could/should find someone bigger better for the third leg.

[niallyb]

Bad made me cry ! It felt like being at an Ireland football match (soccer to you americans) at some points with all the crowd chanting.

It was also great to ssee "Everything You Know is Wrong" back up on the screens. I got some good pix of it. The texting thing was magic too. Did anyone see the sheer number of staff manning the lighting rig?

I think I preferred this to the Slane castle gigs from the last tour because the venue was much smaller. However I still dont think its as good as the Zooropa tour gig from Parcaigh Caoibh in Cork. From an A/V perspective the show looks more advanced than the last tour but simpler than Popmart or Zooropa.

They played for about 2 hours 15 minutes with 2 encores.

Kings of Leon sounded much heavier than their albums. They mean much more in Europe than here so no one really knew anything about them.

[BEVERLY56]

It was an awsomemazing show! Can't really tell you what my favorite song was because they were all just so good. By now you've read the set list and know they mixed it up, opening with L&POE instead of COBL, still used the flashlights in the dark thing, Very cool! Arrived around 3:00 and stood for a couple hrs in the area that looked like the best shot to meet them, but they never came back out, and it was COLD! Everyone was dressed for the 70* weather but it was 50! Im from Cleveland, and met people from all over the country, in fact hardly anyone I personally talked to was from Chicago! St Louis, California, Miami, NJ and Dallas to name a few. We sure are a great group of people! Cant wait til Cleveland 12/10! Might try to get to Pittsburgh! SEE THIS SHOW NO MATTER WHAT $$$$$$$$.[

[isabelle_guns]

Yeah bad made me cry on this tour as apposed to when it was played on elevation.

[Roland of Gilead]

There is no question in my mind that Bad will be a DVD highlight from this tour. It is taking on a whole new life that was never obtained during the last tour and I thought Bad from Elevation was pretty good.

Thank God I was able to get a UF vintage shirt. Bad and Pride from this tour have been amazing!

[CloserToKnowing]

Overall, I'd give it a B-..... here are the highlights...

Bono's voice was very strong - - as good as he has sounded since zoo tv! He hit most of the notes on BAD, Pride, NYD - - only holding back on a couple of occassions.

No surprises on the setlist after the week off - - - curious why the film crews (assuming filming of the DVD) set up prior to the show behind the sound desk, then were mysteriously gone after a few songs.....I completely missed what happened there.

I was disappointed in Vertigo - - - Bono was singing off beat most of the song...no flow to it.

Aside from that there was also quite a few obvious screw-ups during the first half of the setlist...took them a while to get Miracle Drug cued up - - Bono even commented "YOu can play now, Terry"

Best performance of New Years Day and Pride in many a year - - - They really rocked the house the 2nd half.

Happily, Bad was in the setlist...I'm still not sold on the ending and transition - - - not one of the more creative ones over the years....but nonetheless, played and sung very well.

Adam seemed really into the show toight, swaying and moving about the catwalk more than I've ever see him - - - does Chicago or this date have any meaning to him??? Bono even commented "What has gotten in to this man tonight?" and gave him a hug.

Anyone have anything else to add?

[CloserToKnowing]

Oh, Forgot about Kings of Leon.....this was the first time I had heard them, live or studio. They have a good sound, but not much charisma on stage.....the lead singer seemed almost disintrested for the first 2/3 of the set. He started to move around a bit and seemed more comfortable the last 3 or 4 tunes.

[shari schultz]

IMO the show rocked last night! The crowd was on it's feet before the "Everyones". The whole audience stood and danced for the whole 2 hours fifteen minutes.
Bono was in good voice and Adam, was the happy roamer. Bono and company seemed to play to the rear stage and side stage an awful lot and seeing as I was side stage nosebleeds I loved it. The sound was amazing and you could just feel the bass. Vertigo did seem a little tangled up, don't get me wrong here, it was still good, it was just not all that it could have been. The rest of the show was
No one was brought up on stage although Bono did catch a blue scarf/flag that was tossed to him from the rear stage by some one. He wrapped it around his shoulders for awhile.
My highlights: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, New Years Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Streets, Bad-oh my God, that song was amazing last nightLove and Peace and 40-I got to see 40 performed live, a happy, happy girl here. I think I am still in shock that I finally got to see them perform live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[knox]

I think it's agreed that Bad was the highlight of last night, though I have to admit that New Year's Day was also amazing.

[knox]

Originally posted by CloserToKnowing
Adam seemed really into the show toight, swaying and moving about the catwalk more than I've ever see him - - - does Chicago or this date have any meaning to him??? Bono even commented "What has gotten in to this man tonight?" and gave him a hug.

I know! How often do we see sights such as this, with the whole band on the stage except for Adam?

[miss becky]

Just got back into Florida...what a show!!

I got to the UC about 10:30. I was number 194 in line. Did not get beeped into the ellipse, but I was four people back from the rail.

First off, the bad stuff. Of which there is very little. I admit to being disappointed that there were no new songs. I had really hoped for UTEOTW. Miracle Drug got off to a rocky start. Edge seemed awfully quiet, not really venturing out onto that catwalk much.

The good stuff...all the rest! Bono and Larry were right in front of me during LAPOE. Adam was roaming the catwalk, smiling at fans and very clearly enjoying himself. Bono's voice sounded great! I was extremely impressed with the power he had...he was holding notes far past the point I expected. He hit a sour note in SYCMIOYO, but the "Can you hear me when I...sing?" brought me to tears. Bad sounded amazing, and The Fly was incredible. Bono did a good job remembering lyrics...he got them all right in Zoo Station, and the only one he really botched was An Cat Dubh, and a single line in The Fly.

But the highlight for me was Yahweh. Bono stood directly in front of where I was standing. And during the first verse, we made eye contact. I smiled. He smiled back. And then he read a sign that Miroslava had made (she was standing right in front of me), and he smiled even more. And you had better believe, my night was made. I can die a happy woman now.

All in all, an absolutely amazing show. I can't wait for this one to come out, so I can hear it and relive it again.

[cmaly]

Here I'm doing Pans and Kudos of the May 7 show:

PANS:
Bono's "Bullet" bandana speech... kind of psychotic... didn't really work, for me.
Vertigo was horrid.
The show stalled after Vertigo, then picked up amazing speed.
Kings of Leon's sound was horrid, as well.
"Vintage" reproduction shirts are 90 dollars... you're going to tell me about starving children and then sell a shirt for 90 bucks? lame.

KUDOS
Bono's bash on Bush during psycho bandana rant, "Read my lips"
THE LIGHTING AND STAGE FOR THIS SHOW IS AMAZING...
THE RHYTHM SECTION OF THIS BAND FLOURISHES... LARRY PLAYED HIS BRAINS OUT AND IT SOUNDED AMAZING.
Bono's energy was infectious and amazing... great front-man.
Use of "ZOO TV" screens during encore... thanks for including the ridiculous pic of Bush... not quite "We will rock you" but it's one step closer...
Coldplay in the house
CHICAGO CROWDS ARE THE GREATEST
This show is now finding its groove...
The Vertigo Tour is legit... the greatest band in the world.

[Eidolon Bird]

Originally posted by CloserToKnowing
curious why the film crews (assuming filming of the DVD) set up prior to the show behind the sound desk, then were mysteriously gone after a few songs.....I completely missed what happened there.

At one point the screens show a video of Bono that zooms in and becomes a montage of videos of people in the audience. Given the rather bored look on the faces of the people filmed, and the fact that the faces changed from one concert to the next, I assume that they are shots taken before the concert starts. That could possibly explain the disappearing film crews (but the people I noticed filming in Phoenix were in very small bunches, not the large crews I would expect they'd have around to film a DVD).

[Harry Vest]

It's great to hear that "Bad" is evolving at a greater speed than even I imagined. My prediction is that by the third leg it'll be the best "Bad" in the history of the band. I just have a good feeling about this.

[mads]

well, it was my first show, and it was everything i hoped it'd be and more. i can't believe i finally got to see them...

seemed like they got off to a bit of a rough start (vertigo ), but i was so excited to be there that i just couldn't possibly have cared less, and jumped right along to it anyway. it didn't take them long to find their groove though, and holy crap...
the highlight of the show was definitely bad, which i didn't expect to hear. oh my god. incredible.

one thing i realized after actually being at a show is that while you're there in the moment, the sound quality, the little fuckups and technical problems, and even the setlist, just don't matter. just being in the audience jumping around and going nuts is a feeling like nothing else.

adam was hilarious last night! i don't know what got into him but i loved it!

the only downside to last night was the guy sitting next to me. he stood there with his feet cemented to the floor, and didn't do anything. no clapping, singing, cheering, dancing... nothing. just stood there, except for the THREE times he pushed past me to get more beer. i had hoped that by his 4th, he'd be a little more loosened up, but no such luck. very strange. the crowd was so hyper last night that anyone who wasn't going crazy looked awkward.

hmm, yeah. the more i reflect on it, the happier i get. an absolutely priceless experience. i just can't wait till december when i get to do it again, but with GA.

[kawai17]

My random thoughts:

I got to be honest with you... I liked how Bono sung Vertigo offbeat. It was definitely odd but interesting. I think maybe he's sick of the usual way he sings it.

Highlights:

I thought LAPOE was awesome! Had not heard any bootlegs of it yet just to save it for my first time hearing it live.

ZooStation and Fly so good

Miracle Drug did get off to a rocky start...the backing track stopped and had to be relooped in the beginning i think.

People around me in sec 204 sucked. I agree with you mads, the crowd was hyper but my section was dreadful!!!

[U2ElevatesMe415]

Adam must have been like he was @ PHX 2 from what i've read on the reviews..Bono said "Adam Clayton..gone on walk-about..dont know whats got into the boy..but I like it!" and later went on to say "Follow follow follow follow follow the yellow-brick road " [while skipping]


..what an amazing part to see live

Oh gosh..here I go talking about Phoenix again