Thunderface
Senior Member
U2 put on an amazing show at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis tonight, playing through downpour and steady rain. They played and the 55,000 people in attendance stayed until the end. One of the best shows I've ever seen.
U2 was amazing in Minneapolis (now with photos)
- Thread starter Thunderface
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Dr. Spivey
Senior Member
Re: U2 was amazing in Minneapolis
I saw them at Arrowhead stadium on the Zoo Tour. Arrowhead has horrible acoustics, their sound crew worked with it throughout the first set until they got the best sound I'd ever heard there. When U2 came on stage the temperature was in the upper 80's, when they left it was below 40. They took it like troopers, even doing an acoustic set near the end, which was outstanding. Glad you got to see them,Thunderface. 8)
I saw them at Arrowhead stadium on the Zoo Tour. Arrowhead has horrible acoustics, their sound crew worked with it throughout the first set until they got the best sound I'd ever heard there. When U2 came on stage the temperature was in the upper 80's, when they left it was below 40. They took it like troopers, even doing an acoustic set near the end, which was outstanding. Glad you got to see them,Thunderface. 8)
Thunderface
Senior Member
Re: U2 was amazing in Minneapolis
I saw them on the Zoo TV Tour as well, inside at Target Center in 1992, and I thought that was a spectacle. Outside, in the rain, was amazing. I kind of got turned off a little by their unabashed desire to be the biggest band in the world, but on a night like last night, when they deliver the goods, it makes me think ambition isn't a bad thing when you can back it up with the passion and performance.
I saw them on the Zoo TV Tour as well, inside at Target Center in 1992, and I thought that was a spectacle. Outside, in the rain, was amazing. I kind of got turned off a little by their unabashed desire to be the biggest band in the world, but on a night like last night, when they deliver the goods, it makes me think ambition isn't a bad thing when you can back it up with the passion and performance.
Dr. Spivey
Senior Member
Re: U2 was amazing in Minneapolis
I found the hoopla of the Zoo Tour distracting as well, but the music was great that night. I left that show a bigger fan than I arrived, so the band did their job.
I found the hoopla of the Zoo Tour distracting as well, but the music was great that night. I left that show a bigger fan than I arrived, so the band did their job.
Thunderface
Senior Member
Some shots of the U2 360 stage. Unfortunately, we were too far up to get decent band shots, but you can see Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton as they were walking in on the big screen in the second shot.
And here's a review by my paper on the show...
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/126071808.html
And here's a review by my paper on the show...
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/126071808.html
Thunderface
Senior Member
I just realized that I've seen four outdoor shows in my concert-going career, and only one, Nanci Griffith at the Minnesota Zoo amphitheater in June, didn't involve lightning and torrential downpours.
Aug. 21, 1999 -- R.E.M. w/Wilco at Midway Stadium in St. Paul. An online reviewer posted: As it got dark, it began to rain. It rained lightly for several songs (prompting "Have You Ever Seen the Rain"), but it wasn't bad. When Michael came on stage to do "Hope", for the encore though, it started to get ugly. He went off on Nike, Wal-Mart, etc. for a while, then there was a VERY bright lightning strike nearby, which made him apologise and retract everything bad he'd said! He got through "Hope" perfectly, making no mistakes on the guitar. Due to the lightning, they skipped a big chunk of the encore (no "Why Not Smile") and finished with old favorites. Occasionally, it seemed like the lightning and rain were part of the show! It turned into a torrential downpour during "It's The End of the World As We Know It" and the band signed off. In the mad dash to the exits, lightning struck nearby, which caused the stadium lights to go out. Everybody got soaked blindly groping for the exits in the cold, hard rain. It was a really good time.
June 12, 2003 -- Pearl Jam w/Idlewild at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Bonner Springs, Kan. "A lovely day turned to dark skies, lightning and a torrential downpour starting during Idlewild's set. During the set change, the first row of seats is flooded with water pouring from the upper sections. Mike comes out and tosses several shirts out to the crowd. The stage is mopped, equipment is covered and the band prepares to play as the downpour turns to steady rain and the lightning becomes less threatening." While singing the line "oh dear dad, can you see me now?" line from show-opening song "Release", a bolt of lightning cracked behind the stage, to which Eddie responded "Hi, Dad." At the end of the song, Eddie says, "Welcome to the wettest show on Earth."
Saturday, July 23, 2001 -- U2 w/Interpol at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. It started raining about three songs into U2's set and toured to downpours at least twice, but the band never stopped and the people never left. Bono did snippets of "Singin' in the Rain," "Rain" by The Beatles and "Purple Rain" by Minneapolis' own Prince.
In each case, I think the rains made the shows even more memorable, and at least I was smart enough to bring a rain jacket to the Pearl Jam and U2 shows.
Aug. 21, 1999 -- R.E.M. w/Wilco at Midway Stadium in St. Paul. An online reviewer posted: As it got dark, it began to rain. It rained lightly for several songs (prompting "Have You Ever Seen the Rain"), but it wasn't bad. When Michael came on stage to do "Hope", for the encore though, it started to get ugly. He went off on Nike, Wal-Mart, etc. for a while, then there was a VERY bright lightning strike nearby, which made him apologise and retract everything bad he'd said! He got through "Hope" perfectly, making no mistakes on the guitar. Due to the lightning, they skipped a big chunk of the encore (no "Why Not Smile") and finished with old favorites. Occasionally, it seemed like the lightning and rain were part of the show! It turned into a torrential downpour during "It's The End of the World As We Know It" and the band signed off. In the mad dash to the exits, lightning struck nearby, which caused the stadium lights to go out. Everybody got soaked blindly groping for the exits in the cold, hard rain. It was a really good time.
June 12, 2003 -- Pearl Jam w/Idlewild at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Bonner Springs, Kan. "A lovely day turned to dark skies, lightning and a torrential downpour starting during Idlewild's set. During the set change, the first row of seats is flooded with water pouring from the upper sections. Mike comes out and tosses several shirts out to the crowd. The stage is mopped, equipment is covered and the band prepares to play as the downpour turns to steady rain and the lightning becomes less threatening." While singing the line "oh dear dad, can you see me now?" line from show-opening song "Release", a bolt of lightning cracked behind the stage, to which Eddie responded "Hi, Dad." At the end of the song, Eddie says, "Welcome to the wettest show on Earth."
Saturday, July 23, 2001 -- U2 w/Interpol at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis. It started raining about three songs into U2's set and toured to downpours at least twice, but the band never stopped and the people never left. Bono did snippets of "Singin' in the Rain," "Rain" by The Beatles and "Purple Rain" by Minneapolis' own Prince.
In each case, I think the rains made the shows even more memorable, and at least I was smart enough to bring a rain jacket to the Pearl Jam and U2 shows.
fearless
Member
Is this the reason for for the "Thunderface" name, lol?
I remember seeing Eurythmics at Sweetwaters, an outdoor festival in NZ in about '83. Annie had just started singing Her Comes the Rain Again when, you guessed it, the rain came again. Eurythmics surprised my with an excellent show. U2 were booked for that festival and cancelled, but I did catch them the next year in a small (2,500 people) venue. It was just before the release of Unforgettable Fire. Fantastic gig - one of the best I've been to.
I remember seeing Eurythmics at Sweetwaters, an outdoor festival in NZ in about '83. Annie had just started singing Her Comes the Rain Again when, you guessed it, the rain came again. Eurythmics surprised my with an excellent show. U2 were booked for that festival and cancelled, but I did catch them the next year in a small (2,500 people) venue. It was just before the release of Unforgettable Fire. Fantastic gig - one of the best I've been to.
Thunderface
Senior Member
fearless said:
Maybe you're onto something there!