Uff – difficult topic, because such a thread might turn into a "What? So many shows ... How can you afford? etc.". But I try it, nevertheless, because you asked for a in depth information:
So, I've attended a real bunch of shows in different countries & continents so far, from the heydays of ZOO TV through all the tours until now, some special dates of Bono solo etc. included. My personal top 12 shows were:
1. Glasgow II, 08.08.1993
(Edge's birthday show, pure fun on stage & in the audience. Edge is forced by the other three to perform his 1987 classic "Lost Highway" – with fighting himself solo through the lines, and the others laughing. A brilliant setlist with a ton of snippets, one of the best U2 shows ever, I guess ...)
2. London II, 12.08.1993
(A political show, more meaningful than U2 have ever pretended to be in the 80ies. Sarajewo was under siege, with U2 live in the city of hell – ZOO TV between obscene voyeurism & information. Moments, where the rock show became "Zeitgeist" and everybody attending was in shock and awe. That's, what didn't give only U2 its long missed face of the missionary men back, but did really change the world a bit. Sarajewo got the attention by U2's satellite links, that was denied by the politicians. And that's why U2 played some of the best versions of "Bad" & "Bullet The Blue Sky", I've ever got to know ...)
3. Dublin II, 28.08.1993
(A celebration: ZOO TV - ZOOROPA came to an end, and the whole U2 community was home, in the heart of Dublin. A great, great concert full of atmosphere – near to perfect song versions and the last to date performances of "When Love Comes To Town" & "Ultra Violet". And what a "Light My Way" it was ...)
4. Modena, 12.09.1995
(A family party, Bono & The Edge away from the big extravaganza, semi-private, attending not as head-liners, but as guests of the Maestro and his eternal voice. The versions of "Miss Sarajewo" and "One" belong to the best music, I've heard from any artist.)
5. Tempe, 09.05.1997
(Popmart is a hard chapter for me, but this show gave a hint, where it might have headed for. A nice setlist (incl. the best & last "Do You Feel Loved"), great song versions ("With Or Without You" in all the uncertainty. And to hear "Streets" or "Found" in Arizona's desert might be enough as a reason)
6. Mannheim, 31.08.1997
(The complete crash: Heavy rain destroyed the plastic & HiTech world. Edge's guitar didn't work, keyboards didn't work. And all the anger led to one of the mst inspired gigs of the tour – away from the routing, singing T.Rex "Children Of The Revolution" )
7. Vienna II, 27.07.2001
(An astonishing crowd, an astonishing gig with U2 in playful mood: "All I Want Is You" full band electric, "The Ground Beneath Fer Feet", "Sweetest Thing" with Bono on piano – and, yes, a three piece middle of the show, that beamed you back in the early 80ies, only that the tunes were played better: "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" – played by a fan's request – "Out Of Control" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday")
8. Miami, 02.12.2001
(The end of, what has become maybe U2's most important tour. In the aftermath of 09/11 the band played a thunderous, solemn tour closer – with "In God's Country", "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", "Please" and a perfect rocking "Walk On - '40'" among the many highlights)
9. East Rutherford II, 18.05.2005
(The brilliant 1st leg at its best: "Gloria", "The Ocean", "Found" as a punk rock version played with guys from the audience, and so on and so on ...)
10. Dublin III, 27.06.2005
(The longest U2 night ever – the golden closer of their triple homecoming in "Dirty Old Town". A stellar setlist from "Stories For Boys" to '40', from "Sunday" to "Bad", from "An Cat Dubh" to "Gloria", from "Vertigo" to "Yahweh". In Europe only Amsterdam III played in the same league as this concert, but obviously on spot #2 ...)
11. Melbourne, 18.11.2006
(The first of two brilliant shows, that closed the Australian leg. Perfect voice, perfect band. "Stuck" better than ever, "Streets" incredible, only topped by one of the most beautiful "With Or Without You" ever ...)
12. Auckland, 25.11.2006
(Full circle, I guess: The whole gig was full of great song versions and setlist surprises. Beautiful as it is the country and its people. Three words: "One Tree Hill")
... anybody here, wanting to tell about personal experiences & impressions from the 80ies' gigs, by the way? How did they stand the test of time in your memory?
They really are the luckiest, download virtually any Rotterdam bootleg and you know you're in for something awesome.
