Opening Act(s): Kings of Leon
Setlist:
City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, New Year’s Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Bad, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Original Of The Species, 40.
Remarks:
The concert begins (and ends) late due to last-minute work for the film cameras on hand to wrap up the ‘City Of Blinding Lights’ video shoot that began a day earlier. It’s the first (Vertigo) show in Canada, and Bono uses it to challenge Prime Minister Paul Martin, who recently broke a promise to raise Canadian spending on foreign aid. Bono brings a group of fans on stage (all are wearing ONE campaign t-shirts). Gavin Friday is also in attendance.
Media Review:
Canadian Press
Martin booed at U2 concert; fans sign Bono’s end-poverty petition to PM
by Amy Carmichael
VANCOUVER (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin was booed at a sold-out rock show by thousands who have sided with U2’s Bono, a rock star who won’t let Canada beg off the fight to end poverty.
Bono is speaking out against the embattled leader for breaking a promise to raise Canada’s spending on foreign aid. But at his first Canadian show of the Vertigo tour in Vancouver on Thursday, Bono asked the crowds not to give up on Martin yet. “I think we’re going to figure this thing out. I think he’s a great leader for Canada and that he can do what we want him to do, to lead the world out of despair and poverty, this year.”
Bono, a long-time crusader for the relief of Third World debt, challenged Martin to deliver on a commitment to raise Canada’s spending on foreign aid to 0.7 per cent of the gross domestic product by 2015.
He flashed a phone number on the jumbo screens above the stage asking people to call the prime minister and give him the strength to write the cheque Martin now says Canada can’t afford.
“If you people believe in it, I believe Paul Martin is the kind of person who will listen to you. Let him know. Get out your phones. Dangerous little devices, these cell phones. We want to make poverty history,” Bono screamed. “This is the year!”
The stadium, a rocking temple of Bono worship, was lit in the cool glow of dialling mobiles and the band, inspiring the crowd to make a difference with One.
“One love, one life, when it’s one need, in the night,” the audience cried along with Bono.
“This audience, this generation, has had enough,” he screamed back.
“Enough! Enough! Enough of despair! No more! So Paul Martin, I’m calling you!”
Some fans said they thought Canada’s prime minister should listen, but not because it was a rock icon screaming.
“Bono wasn’t elected,” said Kieran Kennedy, who camped out a 6 a.m. to get the best spot on the floor when the gates opened at 6:30 p.m.
“Paul Martin should give more money to the Third World, not because Bono says so, but because he himself promised to.”
Others, taken with the trendiness of the cause, would follow the star wherever he wants to go. Girls wriggled into the fad, snapping up white rubber bracelets being hawked at the show that say Make Poverty History.
The bangles are part of a campaign backed by Bono, Sarah McLachlan, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, and Bob Geldof.
The Make Poverty History group launched TV ads Thursday that will air in prime time on CBC, CTV, and Global Television. Print ads featuring McLachlan will also run in major newspapers.
The campaign is active in over 50 countries, with the Canadian effort set to begin Friday at a downtown Vancouver church, which will be wrapped in a white band.
The ever-symbolic Bono lavished praise on the city while rocking on stage with a bandanna wound around his head emblazoned with a star of David and a cross. He rounded out the look with his signature shades and a bulky black leather biker jacket.
Vancouver has been lip-locked in a big screen kiss with the self-described biggest band in the world for days.
U2 filmed writhing locals during a free show Wednesday, when they arrived in town to begin shooting their latest video. Rumours were rampant that the Vancouver shows on Thursday and Friday would be filmed to make the official tour DVD.
An announcer asked the crowd to be patient before the start of the concert as crews set up on stage to shoot the show.
Fans shrieked as the announcer confided, “We’re making a video!”
So many had made like pilgrims, travelling across the country and the world, camping out at the stadium 12 hours before the performance for a chance to get close to the stage. The ecstasy was palpable, begging to be filmed.
Pulsing his body forward and back, Bono exploded in joyous karate kicks as fans proclaimed their love for him, or simply held up signs that said, Thank you.
“See the world, in green and blue, Vancouver right in front of you!” the frontman sang, tweaking the lyrics of Beautiful Day at the start of the concert.
With his arms and legs spread like he was riding a surf board, Bono jumped up and down, daring the crowd to bring it on.
“I first came here, in a building that’s knocked down now,” he sang in a low voice.
“Just watched the city grow and grow. From the first, I always liked walking the streets of Vancouver. Taking a dip in the bay, freezing cold.”
Cryptic and deep, Bono told the thousands in the stands that “the community of unity goes on and on and on.”
Flags of African countries streamed down from the ceiling and the United Nations declaration of human rights played on video screens, all the way through articles one to seven.
Couples swayed together as the band crooned through Where the Streets Have No Name, New Year’s Day, beginning a string of the group’s romantic classics.
The new album, Vertigo, has what U2 considers to be an up, all-out rock and roll sound for “these nervous times.”
The sold-out crowd of some 18,000 was evidence of the 80’s band’s ongoing relevance. U2 has a new generation of young fans. They stood side-by-side with Generation X’ers and Boomers, all die-hard fans and many of whom will say this is the only band they wanted to see this year, or even in the past five years.
Arguably, the best band in the world.
Copyright © 2005 Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Images:
U2Station.com on Facebook
U2Station.com on Flickr
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I was lucky enough to score decent tickets in the 11th hour ( and not at extortionist prices) to go to the first Vancouver show! My 3rd U2 show (though I wish more). Another great show...They rocked the house & spirit, and were awesome!!! (what else?!) Great music, performance, sound, staging, graphics... pared down from past shows but intense and dynamic still. Everyone on their feet groovin', a big sweatfest! The band connected with fans and a handful of lucky ones got to dance and get hugs from Bono. Nice to see him take off the shades for a bit too. The call-Paul-Martin thing was done twice, a bit of overkill but what the hey. Local papers give a good rundown on the show and setlist. Kings of Leon weren't my thing at all (piercing loud) but better sound mixing would have probably helped them. All in all, a big injection of full on U2 was nothing short of exhilarating and energizing. If you can score tickets and not go broke, go for it! Its well worth it! And consider going to one.org, makepovertyhistory.ca. and any good charitable cause, for that matter.
cheers, love & peace.
By a minor miracle we found ourselves in the ellipse, fifteen feet from the stage. I had been completely bummed to find that we were on the outs, being 5'7" and my wife half a head less. I kept it to myself, but man, I was sad. Prospects were looking good that we'd take in most of the show from the screen.
Several thousand were already crushed against the ellipse, unable to move, more or less and not that many had resigned themselves to the back as we had, my wife thinking we'd ultimately have a better angle. Then, out of the blue, someone we'd been talking to pointed out that a stadium person was handing out wristbands very coyly with very few people coming up to him. Later my wife mentioned that she'd offered her one, but she didn't take it due to a broken limb. She thought it'd be too crushy in there.
Suddenly we have wrist bands, are sent down the side and in fifteen feet from the stage and I just went from zero to a hundred!! I walked in like I'd just entered heaven. My eyes were like saucers, "I can't believe it. I can't believe it! Oh, my God!!" I felt like we'd walked right into a miracle, which we had.
Not to mention, the poor women with the broken leg was wrong. The ellipse was kept at about 75% full. There was enough room to bounce around and dance in manic wonderment, close as you could want to be.
Thank you mystery of grace!!
When Bono sang the Ocean,
I felt like a star
I thought the world would go far
if they
just listened to what I said..
its a brilliant choice, so apropo that he draws our attention to those early words.
The band was completely exciting and brilliant, despite a few mistakes (I heard three from Edge) and I was deeply impressed by the humanitarian and ecumenical message. All mankind, whatever religion, etc., is one.
I also saw the power of Bono's commitment to his role within the band, specifically as singer, with the responsibility to hold up his end, give it his all.. and its a great relief and thrill to revel in the durability of his voice.
After making it to the video shoot the night before, where U2 gave us a third of a show, I was so pumped for Thursday. The miracle of making it into the ellipse, the chance to dance to live U2, and the rapturous spirit of U2 as music and presence has lit our days since.