Bittersweet U2's Final US Show Tonight

U2 360 Tour / Mark Peterson 2011 PITTSBURGH – 7 million spectators, 110 shows, 30 countries and today the 2^nd to last show. U2 arrives tonight to Heinz Field. This is the last U.S.A stop for the boys.  Craig Evans completed the media peek yesterday by running down the normal details of the stage the massive size, the fact that this stage has three versions and takes about 8 days to build. Craig Evans uses one word to describe what Pittsburgh will see tonight at Heinz Field when it hosts U2’s 360 Tour: ambitious.

“It was very ambitious for us to think that two years ago, we could put together a production of this scale, and take it to 30 countries around the world,” said Evans, U2’s tour director, as work crews assembled the last pieces of the mammoth stage set-up on Monday. “And it really required for its success a 360-degree configuration at all these venues to make it all work for the band visually for what they had in mind. But here we are, 108 shows later and it’s been a magnificent success.”

The boys will finalize the set list a few hours before the show to be able to react to any late breaking news events. Tonight’s show songs will be selected with Pittsburg in mind so you can expect a tribute to Steelers chairmen emeritus Dan Rooney, the U.S, Ambassador to Ireland who is said to played a roll in getting U2 to play in Pittsburgh.  

As of Monday evening tickets are still available and attendance is expected to exceed  60,000  

On Monday, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravensthal declared Tuesday “U2 360 World Tour Day.”

“We are honored that U2 has chosen Pittsburgh as their last U.S. stop in what is now the highest grossing concert tour of all time,” Ravenstahl said in a statement.

Amazed and Delighted Rain Soaked Fans

Rain could not keep U2 from rocking the TCF Bank Stadium this past weekend. The road crew has started the removal of the stage, fans crushed in traffic and yet a hush of peace has gently taken over the crowd. 

Some fans as one of the best shows have considered the Minnesota show thus far; Bono delivered a performance as if rain was not even a concern. Fan having waited for this show had concerns that it may never happen, yet in the end Bono did provide the fans what they expected to hear, some where impressed others just happy to see them back again for one more time. A few surprises over all a show this large has very few surprises, set changes, comments customized per city and events, that sort of thing.

Opening the show with Even Better than the Real Thing, and the set list was packed with all of the fan favorite hits, including many from the album Joshua Tree. The band dedicated Stuck in a Moment to the late singer, Amy Winehouse, in a heartfelt tribute. Stuck in a Moment was originally written for the late INXS lead singer, Michael Hutchence, who sadly took his own life.

Fans enjoyed the video appearance of astronaut Mark Kelly from space! Prerecorded a message for his wife, which made the performance “Beautiful Day”.  

Fans had no fear of rain, lightening did some people for cover, who wants to be hit by lighting at U2 concert.

We are close to the finish line, we can see the end and its as clear as today, U2 will wrap up its US tour later in the week, fans that traveled the country this summer to see every show will head back to their normal lives and begin remember the summer of U2.  How do you remember it ? Did you travel the country in search of the best U2 show ? Do have photos and videos that you want to share ? Post your comments on our facebook page.

U2 Amazed, Fans soaked, Adam Shirtless

U2 360 Tour / Nick Walker 2011 U2’s 360 Tour pulled into TCF Bank Stadium last night with the 170-foot stage none as the “The Claw” stadium filled with 60,000 fans that came to see the largest outdoor concert in 30 years.

Neither road construction, nor rain could keep fans away from the University of Minnesota brand new stadium.

We are closing in on the end of this massive tour, this was the third to the last stop on the world tour, or the second to last USA stop, which started more than two years ago.

The boys jumped into songs from “Achtung Baby” rain starting to fall, which gave way to Bono breaking into a verse from the Beatles “Rain.” Later on, he gave a nod to prince with “Purple Rain”

The set list was packed; with the biggest hits, including “I Will Follow,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Elevation.” The band downplayed material from its most recent album, 2009’s; “No Line on the Horizon,” probably because it was the band’s weakest seller in 15 years.

A dedication to Amy Winehouse with “Stuck in a Moment” which was dedicated to Michael Hutchence (INXS) a friend of Bono’s.  The band covered “ Stand By Me” with the help of Somalian/ Canadian rapper K’naan. Bono was a bit chatty throwing out comments about the stadium  “handsome place for us to be hanging out in” Adam Clayton stripped off his shirt let the rain just fail down.

No matter what people will say about the stage and all the equipment, U2 gave a performance that was both over the top and intimate, epic and purely amazing.

Bono Focused on Somali Community

Minnesota’s Somali community learned Saturday that Bono is one big-mouthed rock star who can really talk the talk.

Before Saturday’s concert at TCF Bank Stadium, the U2 frontman met with representatives from locally based Somali-centric organizations to discuss efforts to curb famine in the African nation through ONE, the global antipoverty charity cofounded by Bono.

Among the half-dozen local attendees were leaders of the American Refugees Committee and Neighbors for Nations. Somali pop star K’naan — who briefly called the Twin Cities home in the ’90s — also was on hand.

“This is the beginning of a conversation that is going to go on,” Bono said at the end of the meeting, just an hour before taking the stage.

Last week, the U.N. official in charge of humanitarian aid in Somalia stressed that parts of southern Somalia are experiencing famine from widespread drought. The World Food Program estimates more than 11.3 million people need aid across drought-hit East Africa.

Asked afterward how the local meeting came about, Bono said, “We were having conversations last week about what to do about all this. Somebody said, ‘Don’t you know you’re going to Minneapolis next week?!’”

The Twin Cities area boasts the largest Somali population outside of Somalia.

Bono and other ONE representatives listened to K’naan and a handful of community leaders and college students talk about the troubles in Somalia and their often-difficult efforts to get aid to the right places.

Bono pledged the support of ONE, which makes a point of raising awareness and not asking for money. He did not hide his frustration

Fans Ready in Minnesota

Bono / Mark Peterson/ U2TOURFANS/2011St. Paul, Minn. — GA ticket holders have been streaming in since 6 a.m. at The University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium. General admission will open today at 4:30 pm. We can expect about 60,000 fans to attend tonight’s show. Scott Ellison (athletic director) has extra staff in place. Many people are arriving to the stadium for the first time. Do not expect to catch the show from outside the stadium that is going to happen.  Weather could be a problem tonight, its still to early to tell what we can expect from the weather.

So if you have not arrived yet. Consider taking public transportation leave the car home, arrive early and remember NO ALCOHOL will be allowed – As that means no to Smoking weed.  Security will be checking bags as you enter. School campus rules across America have a dry stadium rule for many years to avoid fan injury.

 Send your photos and videos into our facebook site and remember if your not attending the show tonight we will stream it live.

University of Minnesota Policy for U2 Fans

U2 Concert: Campus and Stadium Policies

The University of Minnesota is pleased to welcome U2 concert-goers to campus and to TCF Bank Stadium and expect everyone to have a great time.
As guests to the university, it is important to be familiar with university policy and ordinances. Please review the following to make sure you know the policies before you come to campus.
Parking lots will open at noon. Fans arriving early to line up for field tickets are encouraged to use the Oak Street ramp 6:00 a.m.
Stadium gates will open at 5:00 p.m.
Guests holding Field tickets can only enter through the entry doors at Lincoln County.
There is NO RE-ENTRY to the stadium at any time. There are no exceptions. TCF Bank Stadium is a non-smoking facility.
No tailgating is allowed and will be enforced.
No camping will be allowed.
Gates A, B,C,D, and E will be open for entry into the stadium. The premium entrance will be available for premium seatholders (DQ Club, Loge Level, Suites). The doors at Lincoln County will be the entry point for field level tickets.
The use of a ticket to an event authorizes an inspection at the point of entry to ensure the absence of prohibited materials. Admission will be denied to anyone carrying any of the prohibited items.

U2 at U of M: Traffic Mess in the Making: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

The following items will be prohibited from TCF Bank Stadium for the U2 concert:
Aerosol cans
Alcohol
Animals (except assistive animals for people with disabilities)
Backpacks, luggage, grocery bags, duffle bags, large bags, large purses, or large camera cases.
Balloons
Beach balls, footballs, baseballs, etc.
Banners or signs
Beverages, beverage containers, or liquids.
Camcorders and tripods
Cameras with lenses over six inches long.
Cans, bottles, thermoses
Chairbacks
Coolers
Fireworks
Food
Illegal Drugs
Laser pointers
Markers or paint
Noisemaking devices
Objects that can be used as projectiles (sticks, bats, clubs, poles, etc)
Strollers
Tobacco products
Umbrellas
Weapons
Any other items that security deems to be dangerous.

Minnesota Readys for U2 and Storms

Mark Peterson 2011 /U2 Tour Bus St. Paul, Minn. – Where can you find 60,000 people on a Saturday night? This Saturday U2 returns to Minnesota, to perform in University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium, which will host its first concert, what a way to start out. Go for the biggest tour of the season, which has the largest crew, equipment and fans out on tour this summer. As we all know by now U2 was to play here last summer.

Of course Bono is feeling better, “Let’s face it: he’s got the best doctors in the world, and he’s come back a better man for it, but us Irish are pretty tough you know,” said Rocko Reedy, who has been U2’s tour manager for the last 20 years.

The tour is about to finish up, and No Line on the Horizon is just that a faded memory of the past. The musical set has changed a bit since the last swing around the US. This time the boys elect to support some of their older songs and go for the crowd pleasers, which has seemed to work very well.

University officials are ready for everything, which includes bad weather. The chance for severe thunderstorms on Saturday run high, the boys will play thru as they have in the past. 

So, who could stop the show? Well Rocko simply said “I have four Irishmen that are my bosses, but there’s one boss above them, and he’s up there and he calls the shots — especially when it comes to rain. “But I’ve seen these guy play in the driving rain, and the energy level just comes up.”

Minneapolis is the third to the last stop, so the tour will come to close as most tours do, this one is special over 400 crew members started this tour 2 ½ years ago and its been a rollercoaster ride of enjoyment.

Bono Does a Throwback Classics

Bono / U2TOURFANS / Mark Peterson 2011 Bono described himself as a man of simple tastes: “200 tons and an army of trucks to put on this show.” Thirty years and 23 appearances after their Asbury show, they still remain the greatest show on earth.

‘New Jersey, hot summer night, where you gonna take us?’ asked Bono. Jumping aboard the U2360 spaceship, you never know where you’ll be taken just that you’ll never come back the same.”Where we gonna go, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey.’

The band took the crowd through an eclectic mix of songs from three decades. Yes, obvious crowd pleasers like “Elevation,” “Vertigo,” “Pride,” and “I Will Follow.” “Still Haven’t Found what I’m Looking For” had Springsteen’s “Promised Land” stitched into it tonight as a tip o’ the hat to The Boss, who was reportedly in the house. “Thank you, Father Bruce, for tonight’s altar and many other things.”

There were songs included in tonight’s set list that represents a massive re-haul from the set list played 2 years ago. “Miss Sarajevo” makes her debut onstage before a slinky, sexy read of “Zooropa.” “Stay,” a track from Zooropa that is one of the most soulful things the band have ever produced in this humble reviewer’s opinion (and Bono’s), was stripped to just an acoustic guitar, producing a rare quiet moment that brought the most goose bumps.

Maybe it was The Boss or maybe it was the hot weather, but Bono’s mind was on the Jersey Shore tonight! He told a story about how thirty years ago they were playing the Fast Lane in Asbury Park.

So much has changed, so much hasn’t’, mused Bono. ‘Four Irish boys, out of control…’ It led to a read later that night of ‘Out of Control’,  in the set in 1981  that Bono says included “The Ocean,”11 O’Clock Tick Tock,” “I Will Follow,” “An Cat Dubh.” Imagine being at that show!

Bono prowled the stage with a large green guitar before gently strumming Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” a spine-tingling start to a goosebump-inducing “Where the Streets with No Name.” It produces one of those magical moments that makes pushing through the stadium traffic so worthwhile. 

The band tipped the hat to Clarence Clemons with “Moment of Surrender,” a sentimental track from the newer No Line on the Horizon. “Clarence was a beautiful man and a symphonic personality,” Bono said.