The original point of U2's perpetual 360 Tour has long been forgotten, but the globeslothing world band made its postponed stop last night at the concrete junkyard formerly known as Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. You know the green-seated place -- home of Rollie and Reggie and the Raiders.
European activists Art Uncut will protest "Saint Bono" at U2's Glastonbury, England show on June 24. The protests will include lighted clothing: "Bono pay up", and parading bundles of oversized fake cash -- all to make the point that Bono is ruining Ireland's prosperity by moving part of the U2 empire to The Netherlands to take advantage of tax policies -- even more lenient for artists than in Ireland. (6000footdrop.com has previously reported that Mick and Keith have likewise been to Amsterdam.) Art Uncut says U2's Holland-shuffle makes Bono's sincerity to end foreign-aid corruption and encourage third-world debt forgiveness somehow hypocritical. We didn't see any signs of thoughtful political protest at last night's Oakland show, other than the more typical-american stuff.
But there would have been plenty of excess to scoff -- just look around. The four man U2 world peace machine arrives in an army of trucks and busses.
Over 500 roadies work in clockwise rotation erecting the bonoplatform and the gigantic floating speaker banks U2 does not let the opening acts use. All paid for by cramming-in 70,000 -- everywhere but the fenced-in pitcher's mound. Soundbreak music everyone is digging is Broken Bells.
Lenny Kravitz and his ten person ensemble open the show after SF jerrysound twangers Moonalice warm it up. Lenny Kravitz is a perfect opener for U2 -- letting the audience know that Bono is not the only one tonight on stage highly aware of his own positive attributes. You can see the leather chaps and cap and shades and stubble and scarf.
Lenny admits "I'm no Roger Daltry" -- indeed, seems his style is more "Prince plus twenty pounds." Lenny's setlist: Come on and Get It (aka I am Proud of Myself); It Aint Over 'til Its Over (falsetto); Always on the Run; American Woman (aka Look at Me), I'm Gonna Fly Away (does not seem pre-recorded at all); Let Love Rule (after a struggle, he is able to get most of the 70,000 to their feet for a sing-along); Are You Gonna Go My Way? Here is Lenny on the catwalk.
U2 takes the stage after a setbreak just long enough eventually to strand 10,000 people staying for the encores but missing the last BART (BART apparently pumpkins at midnight without exceptions) -- but not long enough to allow-in the 10,000 still stuck in Level F traffic with no (perceived safe) place to park. The giant U2 stage-claw at least crawls with headlines and factoids while we wait for the bonorama. Deduction of the evening: Globally, smoking kills 2M/year but abortion is way deadlier at 17M/year. Then, check ignition, Bowie's Space Oddity's "Major Tom to Ground Control" hits the PA (including Space Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly on the "Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows....") and the U2 Pro Bono Publico is on.
U2 is a "household name" world band much like the Rolling Stones are a "household name" world band. (Pearl Jam is apparently more of a "talented" world band. Phish, surprisingly enough, is not a world band at all.) U2 is Larry Mullen on drums, bassist Adam Clayton, lead guitarist The Edge, and Bono on frontman.
Set I:
Even Better Than the Real Thing -- Pepsi is the main o.co sponsor
I Will Follow -- walk away walk away walk away
Get On Your Boots
Magnificent -- sounds approved by at least five corporate boards and committees
Mysterious Ways -- "Its alright its alright its alright alright"
Norwegian Wood (partial)
Elevation -- moving. it would be ideal to see U2 at 25% scale.
Until the End of the World
Anthem (partial)
Where Have All The Flowers Gone? (partial)
Perfect Day (partial)
Happy Birthday
U2 shows have the rhythm and cadence of a catholic mass. At this point, Fr. Bono begins the homily, giving a shoutout to Lou Reed in the audience, but not inviting him on stage. Then he inexplicably moves to a group singalong of happy birthday to an un-described "John."
The Edge takes the mic for a moment -- even more Irish brogue than Bono -- to explain their "G3 summit" Sunday night in SF partying with Metallica and Green Day. We hope the Edge put the bar-tab on the U2 expense account.
All I Want Is You
Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
Beautiful Day -- revival! Bishop Desmond Tutu on the intro.
Space Oddity (partial)
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Miss Sarajevo -- more bonopreaching
Zooropa -- "bustout" -- one of over 50 (only 50?!) different songs played this 100+ show tour.
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
Discotheque (partial)
Life During Wartime (partial)
Psycho Killer (partial) qu'est-ca que c'est!
Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet
Walk On
You'll Never Walk Alone (partial)
Encores:
One
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (partial)
Where the Streets Have No Name
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
With Or Without You
Moment of Surrender
Bottom line: Even though U2 is the most pre-processed preach-impregnated rock show imaginable, it is inspiring -- the sound is good, the message is clear, the profitability is evident. We can see why the world settles for Bono when Mick is on vacation.
See you next week on the Emerald Isle!