On Saturday night, iTunes-invading Irish rock superstars U2 packed Soldier Field to the brim to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. The group’s sixth studio album, The Joshua Tree transformed Bono and the boys from political Irish punks to international superstars.
The show opened with “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (from the group’s 1983 record War) as U2 played on a small, island stage in the middle of the crowd. With very little lighting effects or glitz, the group had the entire arena wrapped around its finger. If Bono is sick of singing these songs after 35 years, he wasn’t showing it.
Performing on a small island platform before retreating back to a stage backed by a gigantic LED screen, U2 marked the occasion by playing The Joshua Tree straight through. By nature of the album’s order, the show felt a bit top-heavy, kicking off with mega-hits “Where The Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and “With Or Without You." After that, the album lulls, as did the crowd.
Apart from the occasional Irish flag being waved and the sea of middle-aged, drunk Irish-American Chicagoans going nuts, if you didn’t know U2, you’d never know the band was Irish. The expansive LED screen behind the band showed profoundly American imagery: Native Americans, women painting American flags, an open road out west.
Of course, the show was dotted with Bono’s calls for peace and communication in this divisive political climate: “From the left to the right and everywhere in-between, we will find common ground.” Coming from any other musician, those words might have sounded disingenuous or too on the nose. But this is Bono. He’s always been on the nose. It’s easy to be cynical of the singer’s very public philanthropic endeavors, but ultimately, this is what U2 has always been all about: Finding a common thread in humanity, despite our differences.
And that’s the magic of U2: Not only can they sell out a gigantic, international arena tour no sweat, but the band's sweeping, epic music is best served by a stadium. U2 is meant to be listened to in the company of 50,000 other people. What group, today, can really say the same?
All photos by cousindaniel.com
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