Live Shots Irving Plaza - New Review

9 Dec 20001
More news on Tuesday night's New York set. That set list in full - handwritten no less - live shots of the band onstage and additional reportage.

Shortly we hope to be bringing you a personal review by our U2.COM competition winner of whether the earth moved for them - or at least the ground beneath their feet.

Meanwhile, NME.COM have posted a more in-depth review of the show.

U2: New York Irving Plaza

Rock'n'roll ain't dead. Tonight, in front of a mere 1000 people, the most famous Irish export outside of Guinness get back to their roots with some old-fashioned bare-bones rock'n'roll. The Dublin-boys-turned-stadium-rockers banish the days of oversized lemons and irony with an hour's worth of honest, no-gimmick songs.

The set's heavy on tracks from the new album 'All That You Can't Leave Behind', opening with the bold 'Beautiful Day' and then 'Elevation', with a sample of The Monkees' 'Steppin' Stone' tacked on the end. Before going into another new track, 'Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of', Bono says, "This is a song about friendship. It's about a good friend of mine - Michael Hutchence." During the song he teeters above the front row on monitors, almost as if in tribute to the Aussie rocker who once scaled rafters in his performances.

Continuing in the vein of tributes, Bono praises the city of the evening. "New York City - that's where we got started on the poetry and punk rock," he remembers aloud. "But more than any other band when I was 15 or 16 - actually I was 14 - was the Ramones. So I'm gonna sing this for Joey Ramone." The band then go into back-to-back tracks paying tribute to the city of lights, 'I Remember You' and their new track 'New York'.

After taking the audience on a serious nostalgia trip with a tight rendition of 'I Will Follow', complete with the Edge's pitch-perfect guitars, Bono gets historical: "We've been a band longer than we haven't," he says. "People think it's like being in a gang, but it's more like a priesthood. You're in a band 'til the day you die." He then mentions the presence of Zach de la Rocha and Billy Corgan in the crowd and his sadness about the demise of both of their bands, before introducing his own three famed cohorts - "the musical conscience" bassist Adam Clayton, "a man so handsome he'll never be let to sing", drummer Larry Mullens, Jr., and the "card-carrying genius" guitarist the Edge.

He and the band then deliver an old guilty pleasure - after picking up his "red guitar on fire" - with an incredibly energetic version of 'Desire'. ......
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ViaEmiliaChefBologna69
ViaEmiliaChefBologna69
This was the best night of my life! I accompanied my good friend, God rest her soul, Tatijana Patitz. We went upstairs and watch on the balcony with Tom Cruise, Smashing Pumpkins, Christy Turlington, Ed Burns, Johnny Depp, so many more! Watching the band of my life play their heart out! I still remember how good they sounded!! I just couldn’t believe how fantastic they were that night! I wish could re live that concert experience every day of my life! The crowd were amazing too! Typical New Yorkers talking shit but in a lovable way, “Yankees Baseball “The night was memorable in every way! Afterwards Tatiana and I met Bono and the Edge at Lotus! The Edge was so kind and down to earth, we talked about his sister who was living in Melbourne ( I’m from Australia) what an up close and normal experience with the legends that are U2! One for the books! Bono was patient, I had a few too many and blurted out some nonsense, he just smiled quietly and said “glad you liked the show, excuse me” We moved to another room and I was in tow with Bono, the Edge and Tatijana before being stopped by a hulk of a doorman. The Edge, stopped looked back and grabbed my shoulder and said “no he’s with me” Need I say more! Best night of my life, best music, best show, best company!
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