U2
U2
Reliant Stadium
Houston, Texas
A massive world-wide tour, gracing two Rolling Stone covers in a span of one year, a newly-released album quickly climbing the billboard charts, and numerous televised appearances are just a few things U2 has managed to achieved within the past year. For many they are one of the hottest rock bands on the planet right now.
Over the last 30 years, Grammy-award winning U2 has produced a whopping 13 albums, filled stadiums all around the world with 15 tours under their belt, and have graced the covers of many magazines. With the release of their recent album, No Line on the Horizon, U2 paid a long awaited visit to Houston’s Reliant stadium to showcase new and old material.
A line of people had already started to accumulate as early as four in the morning waiting for hours underneath the hot, Houston sun. As soon as the doors opened at five in the afternoon, it was major mayhem; a stampede of people running and yelling with excitement trying to find the best seat in the house.
Anticipation and anxiousness seemed to fill the stadium seconds before the band was scheduled to hit the stage. Lights were dimmed and smoke filled the air. All of a sudden the crowd had filled the room with screams and applause as soon as all four men stepped onto the elaborate stage. Standing 164 feet overhead, the stage, nicknamed “the claw,” filled the stadium, resembling that of a spaceship.
The group opened with the hard-hitting “Breathe” with heavy, pounding drum-playing from Larry Mullen Jr. and fast-talk vocals from Bono. U2 followed with the lyrically abstract and fast, catchy commercially-appealing “Get on Your Boots.” As soon as Achtung Baby’s dance-worthy “Mysterious Ways” busted out of the speakers, a huge shriek of joy erupted from the crowd. Bono himself brought a woman to the stage to show off his dance moves and after that getting on his knees and planting a kiss on her hand. The crowd went wild.
The crowd went wilder when U2 pulled out classics such as “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “With or Without You” from their fifth studio album, Joshua Tree. Bono’s voice was almost overcome by the loud chants and roars from the audience. More recent works such as “Beautiful Day,” “Elevation,” and “Vertigo” also gained massive sing-alongs from the audience.
However, once Edge’s infamous guitar-picking intro of “Where the Streets Have No Name” started, the audience began jumping and singing along, making the stadium shake and rumble. Probably the most visually appealing performance of the night was the laser and light show displayed during “Light My Way.” Moving like Tarzan, Bono hung high from a swinging microphone with red, bright lights bouncing off his embellished jacket, almost falling into the crowd. People watched on with open mouths and fascinated eyes. To end the night, the group performed the slow-paced yet hard-hitting “Moment of Surrender,” a ballad from their most recent album.
For three hours, it seems U2 had put many people in a music trance and many were still trying to get out of it. It seems U2, once again, had done their job.
by Bianetth Valdez
Reliant Stadium
Houston, Texas
Over the last 30 years, Grammy-award winning U2 has produced a whopping 13 albums, filled stadiums all around the world with 15 tours under their belt, and have graced the covers of many magazines. With the release of their recent album, No Line on the Horizon, U2 paid a long awaited visit to Houston’s Reliant stadium to showcase new and old material.
A line of people had already started to accumulate as early as four in the morning waiting for hours underneath the hot, Houston sun. As soon as the doors opened at five in the afternoon, it was major mayhem; a stampede of people running and yelling with excitement trying to find the best seat in the house.
Anticipation and anxiousness seemed to fill the stadium seconds before the band was scheduled to hit the stage. Lights were dimmed and smoke filled the air. All of a sudden the crowd had filled the room with screams and applause as soon as all four men stepped onto the elaborate stage. Standing 164 feet overhead, the stage, nicknamed “the claw,” filled the stadium, resembling that of a spaceship.
The group opened with the hard-hitting “Breathe” with heavy, pounding drum-playing from Larry Mullen Jr. and fast-talk vocals from Bono. U2 followed with the lyrically abstract and fast, catchy commercially-appealing “Get on Your Boots.” As soon as Achtung Baby’s dance-worthy “Mysterious Ways” busted out of the speakers, a huge shriek of joy erupted from the crowd. Bono himself brought a woman to the stage to show off his dance moves and after that getting on his knees and planting a kiss on her hand. The crowd went wild.
However, once Edge’s infamous guitar-picking intro of “Where the Streets Have No Name” started, the audience began jumping and singing along, making the stadium shake and rumble. Probably the most visually appealing performance of the night was the laser and light show displayed during “Light My Way.” Moving like Tarzan, Bono hung high from a swinging microphone with red, bright lights bouncing off his embellished jacket, almost falling into the crowd. People watched on with open mouths and fascinated eyes. To end the night, the group performed the slow-paced yet hard-hitting “Moment of Surrender,” a ballad from their most recent album.
For three hours, it seems U2 had put many people in a music trance and many were still trying to get out of it. It seems U2, once again, had done their job.
by Bianetth Valdez
