16th November Tampa - St. Pete Times Forum

[dsmith2904]

Please post all reviews of the November 16th show here.

[Anu]

Just plucked this better than usual mainstream review off the net. Tomorrow is my night.

St. Petersburg Times, 11/17/2005

by Sean Daly
TAMPA - There is no greater rock frontman than U2's Bono.

And there is no one who believes this more than U2's Bono.

Part shaman, part carnival barker, part politico obsessed with saving the whole world, the vainglorious singer of the world's biggest band led the Irish quartet through more than two hours of fist-pounding anthems, soul-penetrating ballads and over-the-top rock-god posturing at a sold-out St. Pete Times Forum Wednesday.

A massive crowd of 21,353 fans - so hungry for the band that moves them like no other - reacted to almost all of the 20-plus songs as if high-priest Bono were blessing them with something far more powerful than rousing radio hits.

And who knows? Maybe he was.

When U2 is finished spanning the globe in support of 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the band is expected to gross more than $300-million worldwide, a figure that will far surpass earnings by 2005's other whopper tours, including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen.

So it was more than appropriate that one of the most talent-stuffed concert seasons in Tampa Bay history would conclude with the year's hottest (and toughest-to-get) ticket.

And don't you know U2 loves being the cherry on top.

Proving that a quarter-century of togetherness has made them one of the tightest outfits in rock 'n' roll, Bono, guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. opened with the new City of Blinding Lights, a crescendoing piece of uplift that makes you want throw your hands in the air and holler. Long, tall drapes of light bulbs acted as blissfully blinding backdrops, and confetti rained from the skies.

Although it's always fascinating listen to Bono work out his issues with The Man Upstairs - a friend once theorized that all of U2's songs are directed at God, and she might be right about that - the band's true heart is the Edge, whose tingly, shimmering riffs and piercing solos are the stuff that goosebumps are made of.

A true musical magician, the Edge can make his instrument sound raw and raunchy as he did on the thunderous punk rage of Vertigo. He can unleash truly wicked solos as he showed on a slinky, sexy Mysterious Ways. And he can whip up a thick wall of chugga-chugga doomsday punch as he did on Until the End of the World, one of the best cuts from U2's best album, 1991's Achtung Baby. (Bring it on, Joshua Tree fans. I'll debate you all day long.)

Ultimately, it always comes back to Bono, of course. There he was, prowling the oval ellipse that enclosed the stage and a few hundred fans, leading the charge of Sunday Bloody Sunday like the good Christian soldier that he is. ("This is your song now!" he screamed.) There he was, crawling on the floor during Bullet the Blue Sky. There he was, busting out opera - in Italian, no less - on Miss Sarajevo, originally a duet with Luciano Pavarotti.

That lovely song was followed by a short film on human rights - which in turn was followed by epically minded Martin Luther King tribute Pride (In the Name of Love). Say what you will about U2's speechifying, but these boys sure know how to make a point and make that sucker stick.

Of course, for all his egomania, Bono can also be a charming dude. "Where are we?" he asked at one point. "Ah, yes, Tampa." He remembered playing a club here way back in 1981. "The End Zone," he said, before adding the oh-so-Bono-esque: "The Beginning Zone is more like it."

Without missing a beat, the band then kicked into the gospel-edged bliss of I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, which naturally turned into a glorious sing-along of lost souls.

That moment right there was the night's highlight ... well, until Edge plucked out those life-affirming opening notes to Where the Streets Have No Name, which still gets me all weepy almost two decades later.

The show's six-song finale was relatively sobering after such a thoroughly rocking show. But that's just my opinion. I'm sure the young woman who slow-danced with Bono to With or Without You feels a wee bit differently.

(c) St. Petersburg Times, 2005.

[kellyahern]

From the Tampa Tribune:

[The Disciple]

Amazing.... met beautiful people.... I'll have 2 write later....

[YBORCITYOBL]

Kelly were you in attendance last night? I really liked the show but the crowd at least where we were sitting seemed very subdued. The concert was wierd for me because the crowd noise level wasn't up to par, like Boston, Meadowlands and MSG. Did you get that vibe? I mean the boy's sounded incredible and PLEASE don't think I'm bitching maybe just in a quiet section.

[kellyahern]

Originally posted by YBORCITYOBL Kelly were you in attendance last night? I really liked the show but the crowd at least where we were sitting seemed very subdued. The concert was wierd for me because the crowd noise level wasn't up to par, like Boston, Meadowlands and MSG. Did you get that vibe? I mean the boy's sounded incredible and PLEASE don't think I'm bitching maybe just in a quiet section.

No, I agree with you. It's hard for me to judge, especially since this was only 2 days after Miami 2 (which was the loudest crowd I ever heard ). It seemed the sound at the forum was really loud too, so it was hard to hear the crowd. Did the sound seem kind of off, like almost too loud to you? It seemed most of the people were standing, but I couldn't really hear the crowd as much as usual.

[LemonMacPhisto]

Oh man, this was the first concert I've ever been to, and words just cannot describe its awesomeness

I did have the pleasure of sitting behind the fattest people in the whole arena though, so when they stood, I had to stand.

It didn't matter, I was jumpin, dancing, fist-pumping, and singing the entire time.

I would've loved to have seen The Fly, Electric Co., Bad, and Wild Horses, but I would not trade my experiences last night for anything else in the world

highlights: Sunday Bloody Sunday, Streets, ISHFWILF, Mysterious Ways, COBL, Love and Peace, Elevation

[kellyahern]

Originally posted by LemonMacPhisto Oh man, this was the first concert I've ever been to, and words just cannot describe its awesomeness I did have the pleasure of sitting behind the fattest people in the whole arena though, so when they stood, I had to stand. It didn't matter, I was jumpin, dancing, fist-pumping, and singing the entire time. I would've loved to have seen The Fly, Electric Co., Bad, and Wild Horses, but I would not trade my experiences last night for anything else in the world highlights: Sunday Bloody Sunday, Streets, ISHFWILF, Mysterious Ways, COBL, Love and Peace, Elevation

ISHWILF was really great last night . One thing people in Tampa have down, we know how to clap in unison . It was fun looking around the arena during that part, everyone was "taking it to church."

[YBORCITYOBL]

Originally posted by kellyahern No, I agree with you. It's hard for me to judge, especially since this was only 2 days after Miami 2 (which was the loudest crowd I ever heard ). It seemed the sound at the forum was really loud too, so it was hard to hear the crowd. Did the sound seem kind of off, like almost too loud to you? It seemed most of the people were standing, but I couldn't really hear the crowd as much as usual.

I couldn't have agreed with you anymore. That was it...... the sound level of the band did really drown the crowd out. ISHFWILF was excellent, I must admit. I'm going to both Boston shows and the Hartford show. I hope to grab a better vibe at those.

Another point, and this may be because of where America was and me personaly but the Tampa show during Elevation tour was fantastic. But let me say this again, because of 9/11 there were people around me that were actually weeping during Walk On when the victim's names were scrolling down. What an emotional concert that was and maybe it's unfair of me to compare them. It's really too bad I wasn't able to meet any Blue Crack Addicts either last night but we got such a late start because of work

[UltraVioletMofo]

Had the good fortune of seeing the tampa show last night.

It was well worth the funk of many different people to be a part of it. I thought it sounded super clear and really good. So much better than I was expecting after Institute played. They seemed really mumbled.
When the chorus for COBL came my whole section started bouncing in time together like complete fools. It was a lot of fun.

Overall the show was awesome and I loved it and will cherish it but it also taught me I'm too old for GA anymore. Time to go sit in the stands with the old farts.

Highlights were probably Love and peace,Until the end of the world, COBL, SYCMIOYO(take off those fucking glasses!), and I thought they nailed vertigo.

I felt really cheated by the bullet the blue sky version, there wasnt any peeling off of those dollar bills and no slapping them down.(I live for that moment) I also missed not being thrown a bone of electric co or even I will follow. the lack of Bad really left me empty.
But then they gave me 40 at the end and all was forgiven

Heres a quick avi of the view we had last night if anyone might be interested.
http://s54.you .com/d.aspx?id=3D4DRHPVPLKGF3I8DG237BLHJ0

[U2 addict]

Arrived at the arena at 9:30 AM, got a seat in section 109 (row D) at 11AM from the box office. As for the show, there was the good and the really bad-

The good-
1)Seeing the band arrive at the arena with the police escorts.
2)The seats were really good, well worth the $169.75 ,Could see all the effects and lighting from my seat, just amazing, stunningly beautiful.
3)The band was on fire, fantastic performance throughout, the sound was much better too.


The Bad-
1)The Crowd was ATROCIOUS!!the people in my section only stood for a few songs(saw this all over the arena), and even when they did , they had a look a though they were doing the band a huge favor.
2)The floor was half empty!! There were only a few rows of people outside the ellipse and they weren’t really into the show at all.
3)There were a few great guys who came out and tried to get the crowd doing a Mexican wave, but the poor guys failed miserably. The lady on my right went and complained to security for them to “stop annoying her”.WTF??!
Then during COBL she starts doing some weird Cryptic alien sign language with her hands, it was freaking me out! Luckily, there was a seat empty 2 rows ahead, as COBL ended, I shifted to that seat. The people there were a bit better, many of them left after the first encore though!
4)Seeing people sitting down and leaving in droves during an amazing, beautiful and haunting version of OOTS.
5)People on the floor taking walks with their hands in their pockets during “Pride” and “Streets”!
6)No “Wow”s from Bono after Streets due to poor response.
7)Before “One” Bono gave a really touching speech about how 36 of the poorest African countries have had their debt completely erased due to America and other countries and he said ” Last year there were no Africans on Anti-AIDS medicine, this year there are a quarter of a million Africans are on them, thanks to America, we want to salute this great country”. At this the girl behind me goes “Just play some f**king Music!” ,her face twisted in an unimaginable rage. She shouted this out 4 times and added-“Stop your Godd**n ranting, just play some music , is that so hard?!”
Later, during “Yahweh”, her boyfriend yells out-“Enough with the “Coexist “already; get on with the song” (After seeing the “Coexist” animation on the screens).
8)The people in my section were completely frozen, many of the people in the arena were like zombies for the most part, no singing, dancing, interaction, nothing!!People were looking at me funny and telling me to “calm down”, when I was jumping and clapping.

Sorry about the long rant, but I really had to get this off my chest. I was really disappointed with the crowd yesterday, as the band gave it 200% as always. The show I attended at Miami on Sunday was infinitely better. I’m not the only guy raving about this, check out the reviews at U2tours.Com. I’m seriously considering going to another concert just to wash the bad taste from this concert out. I really think U2 should not come here anymore, just take an additional day off guys, or play an extra date at a place where they really appreciate you. As for me, I’m not gonna attend another concert here in Tampa even if anyone pays me to do it.

[ramblin rose]

I'm afraid that after Miami every show will be a let down for me.

I hope I'm wrong.

[one4u2]

Originally posted by ramblin rose I'm afraid that after Miami every show will be a let down for me. I hope I'm wrong.

New York is in days, the bar will be lowered!




*Goes back to Gloria chant*

[u2rulesmyworld]

Originally posted by ramblin rose I'm afraid that after Miami every show will be a let down for me. I hope I'm wrong.

Are you F'n nuts?

Boston here we come!

I have a friend who goes to ALOT of shows in Tampa and he tells me the same stories, evidently Tampa people are losers lol

[ramblin rose]

Originally posted by u2rulesmyworld Are you F'n nuts? Boston here we come!

You're right, I won't lose hope just yet.

Maybe I should start packing for my trip to Atlanta.