U2
London Wembley Stadium
14th August, 2009

View: press box

An impressive setting for U2’s 360-degree stage, which featured a giant central quadripod and antennae reaching the roof, and a rotating, rising, colossal video wall. Beneath, support act Elbow and their string quartet were rather dwarfed, though their Peter Gabriel-meets-Keane seven-song set was welcomed by the masses surrounding the central stage. The group closed with a rousing One Day Like This. The British-Irish quartet hit the ground running at 8:20 with Stay and served up another 21 cuts, new and old, over two hours, often dazzling in its aural and visual intensity. Energetic rhythms and chiming swathes of guitar marked out the opening salvoes, with The Edge and Adam Clayton using rotating walkways to address the baying fandom at their feet, while It’s A Beautiful Day said it all, five songs in. Other crowd-sung highlights included the joint-jumping Elevation, Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For and the drum barrage and guitar distortion of Unknown Caller. Surrender, Sunday Bloody Sunday and Pride were adrenaline-rushes into The Streets Have No Name, before an encore included Bono romping in a laser-suit and a gripping With Or Without You.

Reviewed by Tim Jones
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