With Or Without You

Pay a hundred bucks, see a band you like. Good music, good fun.

I guarantee you that seeing U2 in conert is the furthest thing from merely 'seeing a band you like'.

After having bought tickets months ago for U2's long-awaited return to Perth (12 years since they last performed here), the long wait for the concer to arrive was killer. Before the Defeating Mediocrity idea came about, I had a semi-list of things I wanted to do before thirty. There weren't many items on the list I can remember, but the one I always talked about was seeing U2 perform 'Where The Streets Have No Name' live in concert.

Myself, my sister Emma and mutual friend Harmony rocked up outside Paterson's Stadium at around 12ish, joining the line outside gate 24 to be first onto the ground for general admission tickets. They were numbering hands which was quite a good idea; it made sure people who'd gotten there early got in first and couldn't be barged out of the way by selfish people later. The three of us got numbers 270-272. We waited in the shade and had a couple snacks, one of my year 12 friends' family was in line right behind us so we had some company.

Lining up

We finally got inside just after 4:30 and ran onto the field. I've been to Subi before to watch football games but something like the following is just something else:

'The Claw'

'The Claw', as U2 call it, is absolutely massive. It's very impressive, with three people hanging in chairs under each leg during the concert to operate the spotlights. We walked to the front and assumed that the barricade would be as close as we could get, but we were lucky enough to be able to go INSIDE the outer circle and even closer to the stage than people who got RedZone tickets (I know, right? Weird). There was another wait until the concert started, around two hours, but everything was totally worth it to get the view we did.

Emma agrees - good view!

The countdown is almost finished!

Jay-Z appeared onstage with his crew at 6:30, all dressed in black and looking thoroughly gangsta (except for the one white guy playing trombone at the back). The sun was setting at this point so it was a nice scene. Of course, no concert is complete down under without bogans, and they were out in full force for Jay-Z, singing all the lyrics and leaving before U2 arrived. They were a bit of fun, though.

Jay-Z gets everyone to bounce

The stadium waits for U2

There was another wait of about 45 minutes after Jay-Z left for the stage to be refitted for U2. Mostly it was just taking stuff off, it looked pretty bare once the band were ready to come on. Once they did, though, the audience was absolutely on fire for them. The only was I could describe the feeling when a presence like U2's comes on stage is emotional. You literally feel an atmosphere in the area that you don't get from anyone else. The band started off by playing Beautiful Day, so needless to say there was lots of jumping and singing along.

Bono whips the crowd into action

The band rock it out

The setlist was pretty good; all the classics featured at some point (In The Name Of Love, Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Vertigo, Elevation etc.) and there were quite a few numbers from the new album (Magnificent, Get On Your Boots, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight). I managed to capture a great video of 'City Of Blinding Lights':

There were some great moments during the night, too. Some lesser-known and played U2 songs featured; one being during 'In The Little While' when Bono picked a girl from right in front of the stage and pulled her up with him:

Bono with Emily

She looked absolutely shellshocked but sang along anyway, Bono took her across one of the bridges with him and got on one knee to kiss her hand. The crowd all loved it :) There were plenty of moments where the rotating bridges passed over us:

This is just how close we were - the bridges rotate and Edge walked practically right above us.

Bono just a few metres away.

Great shot of the band in action.

The 360 screens above the band.

The band left the stage at 10, only to come back for an encore which included 'One' and finally 'Where The Streets Have No Name'. I'm not ashamed to say that I cried towards the end of the latter, I've been waiting for eight years to see that song live and to be a few metres away from the band playing it was just an incredible experience. The band left again but came back for a second encore featuring 'Ultraviolet', 'With Or Without You' and 'Moment of Surrender'. I cried again during 'With Or Without You' because to be perfectly honest, I missed the person who was going to originally attend that concert with me. I've resolved that as soon as it's possible, I'll fly the two of us anywhere in the world for her to experience the show, because it's just so overpowering and really lets you feel something rather than just sing along.

So in summary, it was amazing. U2 don't lose anything between studio and stage - the music still sounds great. The spots we had to watch from were great - not overcrowded but incredibly close to the band. And nothing says how much I enjoyed the night than this photo which will stay with me for as long as I live:

Bono up close and personal.

-Adam