http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/ The Latest in Retail, Entertainment, and Development in Raleigh Mon, 14 Sep 2015 21:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-24039
Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:31:01 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-24039
To add to the comments about the 1997 tour, I remember that the Raleigh date was for Carter-Finley, not Walnut Creek. It was indeed canceled because the video backdrop was damaged in a wind and rain storm in Washington, DC at RFK Stadium during the proceeding show. The repairs would take 3 days that included Raleigh’s date so Raleigh was canceled/skipped. However, only 20,000 tickets had been sold so this was a convenient excuse to not bother adding Raleigh back to the schedule at a later date.
I attended the recent show and was in GA Inner Circle. This was the best concert and best U2 show I have attended to date.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-24004
Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:48:46 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-24004
I wonder why they didn’t play “Until the End of the World.” Wikipedia says it’s their 14th most frequently played live song.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23984
Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:44:44 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23984
Bruce, check out this YouTubr clip of Hysteria. WHOAAAA!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcodpCm8c4g
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23981
Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:29:31 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23981
Is it heresy to say I went to this concert specifically to see Muse? They put on a great show! I wonder if their late start caused them to nix a song or two that I thought they would have played. I’ll have to check playlists from other shows. It was nice of U2 to close for them.
I am really glad I saw U2 as well. The set, the weather, my seat were just great. I feel bad for those that did not get to the show due to traffic. It is a real shame and requires official review and improvement otherwise word will spread that Raleigh can’t handle the big shows.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23952
Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:19:55 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23952
Those of us living in the Raleigh area were really lucky. I just read in the N&O today about the traffic nightmares on 40, and how some people never even made it to the show. Being that I was able to take backroads to the stadium, I had no idea this was happening and it explains why I was able to just pull in to a largely empty parking lot. I feel so bad for those people coming from the West, no wonder Raleigh rarely gets really big acts if we can’t plan ahead for this.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23934
Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:44:09 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23934
I was there when they opened for Todd Rundgren back in ’82. They were good. But I mostly remember Rundgren. That was something.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23924
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:19:28 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23924
Yeah, I was there at 3pm. So no traffic issues going in for me. I think the traffic problems going in were for those coming in from 40E/Wade, probably at 7pm. I came in from Blueridge/Trinity and exited on Westchase.
Like I said, I’ve been to some full house football games (55k people) on fair night, which is usually a cataclysmic traffic situation and it did not compare to this. I grabbed an extra beer, and walked around for a little while. I was surprised to find that there weren’t any parking attendants helping to move people through the lots. It was every man for himself. There’s usually people helping with traffic around the RBC service roads, as well as Westchase, but nothing Saturday night.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23922
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:21:51 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23922
Muse was amazing! I was so bummed that half the stadium was still empty while they played. I thought Muse was a pretty well known band but I guess not, and they didn’t seem to fit well with the typical U2 fan. I agree though the mix was off, it was difficult to hear the vocals. We had forgotten our earplugs.
I arrived at 6:00pm as well, thinking we were too late, but I found getting in and parking to be relatively painless. We also left right after With or Without You and got out pretty easily.
All and all I’m really happy we got to experience this in Raleigh, even though I personally think U2 hit their peak with the Joshua Tree.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23919
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:33:19 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23919
The show was great, but Muse really rocked the house. I would never say they were better than U2, but they would have had the whole crowd moving if everybody was in the stadium. Seemed like U2 had a hard time getting everybody amped up.
Parking Lot traffic was a nightmare and I think we do have McLaurin to thank for it. Why wouldn’t the promoters use the same system in put in place for NCSU Football and Hurricanes hockey? Makes you wonder why Meeker is pushing so hard for a downtown stadium when McLaurin, who controls most of the downtown parking lots, does such a horrible job? Oh that’s right because he is married to a McLaurin and he would personally benefit.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23916
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:40:05 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23916
Kevin,
This event involved almost 4X as many people as a hockey game, which typically takes over 30 minutes to clear. When we left at 12:30, the RBC Center lots were totally clear. We’ve sat for over 45 minutes in Cary leaving a 10,000 seat venue.
What’s up with this story about people who didn’t make it to the concert due to traffic? We waltzed in at 6pm for a 7pm concert. Of course, readers of gogoraleigh’s twitter feed were privy to insider traffic info 😉
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23909
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:58:23 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23909
I thought that their 1997 tour was axed here not due to poor ticket sales, but one of the background video screens was damaged due to foul weather at a previous tour location. Pretty sure of that.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23907
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:40:52 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23907
My amazement for “The Claw” was quickly eclipsed by my amazement for the traffic situation leaving that show. We sat there over 2 hours, without anyone directing any traffic onto Westchase. Ever see 5 lot lanes trying to merge into one, to get into three lanes of stopped traffic? It’s a disaster. I should have seen it coming when they hired McLaurin parking, who has nearly zero experience at that venue. But at least I got to see it, unlike some of the last minute folk who couldn’t find parking.
Rants aside, it was a pretty good show. I agree with the criticism of the setlist, it could have been stronger. I saw Jerry Cantrell and Stone Temple Pilots at a Charlotte Center City Fest several years ago, and the two together put on an amazing show, with a crowd pleaser of a setlist. No special effects, but it’s still my favorite concert to date.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23900
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:22:17 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23900
Pride, definately, and what happened to Desire??? Excellent show, beautiful song at the end, but not a great way to end. Great review, pretty spot on.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23891
Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:43:19 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23891
Alright, a few things:
* Thanks for the clarification, Neva. After watching a few YouTube clips today, it is apparent that the sound was better up high and down low toward the sides than it was really low at my angle. I heard him say something like “you have the face I once had”, but since I am COMPLETLY not a lyrics guy, I haven’t really absorbed the meaning of that song.
* Not only do I need my ears checked, I need my eyes checked, too! So they weren’t kids. I guess that speaks to the enormity of the set?
* Neva rules
I hope that people don’t misconstrue my criticism of the show. It really was phenomenal, but I think the song choices down the stretch kept it from quite reaching its potential. I’d strike “MLK” and put “One” there in the main set. Then close with “All Because of You” or “Pride”. That would have sealed the deal.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23883
Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:19:08 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23883
Oh, also, they were not kids on the stage for Walk On. They were all adults. They had come out of the Red Zone. I saw them all leave a few minutes before and wondered where the heck they were going!
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23878
Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:14:18 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23878
Hey Dana – great review. Loved the show. Wanted to clarify some parts as I understood them. First, I wore earplugs at the show (first time ever). And, although I felt like an old fart it really helped with discrimination of the sounds and made it sound much better actually. I think I heard more of Bono talking than you did. I loved that he said. “We’re in North Carolina ya’ll” at the beginning.
And, to answer about Ryan and the City of Blinding Lights. When he brought him on stage he said something to the effect of I need to see the beauty I had before the world changed and I think it alluded to the lyrics..
“The more you know the less you see
The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then than I do now.
I want Time…time…time…time…time
Won’t leave me as I am
But time won’t take the boy out of this man.
I think he found a young boy to represent his younger self. Also, I think they decided to run because it seemed like a kid thing to do. They were over near us when they started running. Ryan looked totally in shell shock and confused about what to do so Bono said, “you want to run with me” and he nodded. It was really touching.
I think they are a band with amazing talent and really good hearts.
My favorite part was the acoustic “Stuck in a Moment”. Highlighted the beauty of gorgeous guitar chords and lyrics. They held the attention of 70,000 people with just one guitar player and a voice (or two).
I did miss Pride though.
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http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/comment-page-1/#comment-23875
Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:23:40 +0000 http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/u2-brings-magnificent-show-to-raleigh/#comment-23875
i was one of those people who drove 2.5 hrs in 1997 to a cancelled show at walnut creek…enjoyed the concert last night but didn’t feel the intimacy as i was soooooooo far away…the video show both for muse and u2 was awesome…and your write up of the venue is right on…
