U2 eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour 2018

Jun 11 2018
New York City, NY, US / Apollo Theatre
10

Angel of Harlem

What a night. Sirius XM Presents U2 Live at the Apollo Theater.

'It was a cold and wet December day
When we touched the ground at J.F.K.
The snow was melting on the ground
On B.L.S. I heard the sound
(Of an angel).
New York like a Christmas tree
Tonight, this city belongs to me,
(Angel).

Soul love
Well this love won't let me go.
So long
Angel of Harlem...'

When & Where
Sirius XM Presents U2 Live at the Apollo Theater'.
Monday June 11th 2018, Punk band playing the Apollo Theatre, Harlem, NY. One of the band's most intimate shows in years.

Set List
Perfectly crafted setlist that reflected a long history with this 'sacred place for music’.  More than a quarter of the songs played had not been heard on this tour before tonight. Got to mention Angel of Harlem and When Love Comes To Town, part of a suite of tracks supported by an extraordinary horns section - The Sun Ra Arkestra horns with the Sex Mob Orchestra.

On The Socials 
@u2mp3s. 'I just talked to someone who works for SiriusXM and he said that they took all of the floor seats out of the Apollo and opened it up as full GA. He said he's worked 5 or 6 shows there and this is the first time they've done that!'

@U2Baja. 'So bloody excited for this @U2 show, a wonderful to be here with my ZOOtopian family.'

Choose2Live. 'There was only one problem with tonight’s show. And that’s that all other shows will pale in comparison. I have no words.'

@amubalt. 'I don't think it's stretching it to say that this is right up there with the religious experience that was my very first U2 concert in 1985.'

In The Press
Jem Aswad in Variety : ''For their concert at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater on Monday night — presented by and broadcast on SiriusXM — U2 truly did something special, delivering a unique, carefully curated show, mixing classics and new songs with several deep cuts, including an encore set with the 13-piece Sun Ra Arkestra that featured three rarely played, Harlem-centric songs from their 1988 album “Rattle and Hum.” There were none of the dazzling special effects that have become a hallmark of their big-room shows; just lights, a stage, and one of the greatest live rock bands in history at full throttle, roaring through 20 songs from their nearly 40-year catalog.’

Andy Greene in Rolling Stone : U2 were a little over halfway done with their special SiriusXM show at New York's Apollo Theater when Bono paused for a moment to soak up the atmosphere and address the crowd, which was a mixture of super hardcore fans, lucky contest winners, industry insiders and celebrities like Steve Van Zandt, Jon Bon Jovi and John McEnroe. "We couldn't have come all the way to the Apollo without bending one knee to the place," he said. "Let's try the song we first played here when we came here in nineteen eighty whatever it was.”
He was talking about 1988's Billie Holiday tribute "Angel of Harlem." And as the group launched into it, a backdrop lifted to reveal the 13-piece Sun Ra Arkestra horn section. The surprise moment took an already stellar show – which was a supremely rare opportunity to see the group in intimate setting minus their usual bells and whistles – and elevated it to a whole other level. The horns stuck around for a euphoric "Desire," a re-worked "When Love Comes to Town" and a moving rendition of "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" that they dedicated to Anthony Bourdain and others we've lost recently. "It's been a funny few years," he said. "We lost a lot of very inspiring, useful people and gained a few useless people…"

U2.com Ticket Winners
Sarah from Toronto. 'I was beyond thrilled and honored to attend U2’s special performance at the legendary Apollo Theater. There was an incredible indescribable energy that was palpable between the band and the audience. The setlist was the perfect combination of older songs, much loved favorites and some more rare songs that haven’t been played for quite some time. Last night was my 25th U2 show and might actually be my all time favorite. Having just seen them play 2 arena shows in Montreal last week this was a much smaller intimate venue but somehow U2 still managed to blow the roof off the place. I was on the GA standing room floor and the excitement was so intense the floor was literally bouncing under us. U2 are the greatest band in the world and when the 4 members play together, as Bono has said, it literally feels like God walks through the room. Special guests Sun Ra Arkestra gave the Rattle & Hum era songs extra special weight and authenticity. Hearing Angel of Harlem at the Apollo in Harlem, it doesn’t get much better than that. This show will have me buzzing for days to come!'

Sherry from Boston. 'It was everything you wished for and dreamt about - they controlled the stage and dominated from the get go. The band was in top form, defying the laws of nature - how can these four men in their mid-50s have that kind of stamina? It was a phenomenal night - one for the ages.'

Scott from Scotland. 'They came out to slay dragons. Just like they did in their first days in America. And found their people easy to be slain. The first five songs left the crowd exhausted and almost crying for mercy. Rattle and Hum section - the band became evangelists for love, truth and soul. What a vocal performance in When Love Comes To Town. Totally soulful, almost jazz and then the Celtic rock star appeared at the end just at the right time. After the soldier had drawn his sword. A rock n roll show. Never to be beaten, never. We stumbled home, spent, weary but invigorated and blessed too. I’ve never won anything in my life and I can honestly think of no better prize.'

John from England
Punk
Jazz
Club
Sweaty
Intimate
Old School
Rattled
Hummed
Closer
Tight
Bouncing
Dancing
Sang-my-heart-out.
#13ThingsAboutU2Apollo

Michelle from Alabama. 'U2’s performance at the Apollo was one that I have dreamed about seeing for 30 years. No big screens, no fancy lights, just the band giving everything they’ve got and they gave it. They seemed to enjoy the intimacy of the Apollo as much as the fans did. The crowd was rocking and the floor was shaking and I feel extremely fortunate to have been a part of it. Having the Sun Ra Arkestra performing with the the band on Angel of Harlem, Desire and When Love Comes to Town took me back to Rattle and Hum when I fell head over heels for the band and being at the Apollo with them became my own Rattle and Hum, version 2.0.'

Kim from Ontario. 'I am so thankful for being given the opportunity to attend the Apollo show and it has been a whirlwind of emotions, returning from the Montreal shows , only to board a plane two days later to NYC!  I had always imagined seeing U2 perform in a small venue like the Apollo but never thought in my wildest dreams that it would ever come true. The band did not disappoint. I would describe the atmosphere as electric! From the beginning of I Will Follow to the end with Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way, the band continued with the energy!! What made it even better, was sharing it with old and new friends! This has truly been a dream come true and dream lived out loud! Thank you U2 and SiriusXM radio! Can't wait to listen to it again on June 13th!'

Tassoula from Seattle. 'The ghosts of the Apollo were with us last night. From the band’s smiles as they first took the stage to the heartfelt lingering lines of the finale, the venue was as much a part of the show as we all were. The energy had such a soulful element to it, we were bonded by its connective tissue. I had instant tears and goosebumps as they launched into “Angel Of Harlem” supported by the beautiful horns of Sun Ra Arkestra. Lady Day was most certainly in the room. For 36 years, I’ve loved this band. Never did I think I’d see them in such a special, intimate setting. I’m eternally grateful and I’ll never forget it.'

What did Bono Say?
"I feel like I should take my shoes off or something, this is a sacred place for music"

f you were at the Apollo tonight, add your own photos and reviews here.

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    Comments
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    Mads03
    Who can I petition ...
    To get this show available as a download for purchase or whatever method is optimal? I’ve been thoroughly enjoying channel 30 on Sirius XM in general but love how they have also replayed this show a few times. It was a magical set list from start to finish! I get chills (as I did again last night on my commute home from work) listening to the beautiful version of Every Breaking Wave - amongst others! Though not there in person, when I’ve blasted it in my car I can easily close my eyes and see myself there. I’m also really really hoping and praying (serious praying, on the knees!) that Sirius keeps this channel for good as well! This band deserves their own and the interviews in between the music, simply awesome. Thank you!
    Sissy Evenson
    EPIC, intimate, and grand
    I had an incredible time in NYC attending U2’s historic show at Apollo Theater in Harlem - a true honor and a privilege to be in attendance. All in all, it was a fantastic adventure with the appropriate amount of shenanigans! The U2 Apollo concert itself was life-changing - EPIC, intimate, and grand all at the same time. It was ALL of U2 yet different than any other concert of theirs I’ve ever been to and probably ever will be - truly a special once-in-a-lifetime event. I cannot fully fathom how fortunate I was to be present - Apollo Theater seats only 1,500 after all. For perspective, that's equivalent to a sold out show at First Ave in Minneapolis (which U2 should play again soon! haha)! I’m grateful to U2, SiriusXM and Live Nation for putting this together. I thank the Universe I could be there. I'm grateful beyond belief, humbled beyond measure. My heart soars like an eagle. THANK YOU! Sissy Landin XOXO
    Malahide
    Superb
    A superb performance with a great setlist in a lovely venue. It was impossible to be there, but U2 keeps surprising. An amazing band.
    U2BROTHR
    Who knew my 49th show would be such a hi
    I just want to say how thankful I was to be at this gig. How special this venue is to modern music as we know it. How legends have been made and performed in this sacred theatre...... and to witness my idols....here in an intimate setting..... I am speechless. This was stripped down U2. I felt as if I were watching the Unforgettable Fire Tour. Bono, Adam, Larry, Edge... having a good time. This wasn't work. This was fun. Pleasure. Love. No video screens. No special effects. No gimmicks (the Sun Ra Arkistra was not a gimmick). Just the band, the music, and their audience. The roof was blown off this joint. This Canadian was honoured to make the trek to NYC. Which just put more proof in my pudding. U2 can rock the house any day of the week and in any venue. They can connect with any audience. They are the best damn thing live. My soul is full. My cup runneth over. Love you four lads from the bottom of my heart. Till we meet again.
    Pmascari
    Drove to NYC From Ohio
    We made the drive from Columbus, OH for this and...Wow! Thank you, U2 and SiriusXM. Once in a lifetime experience to see the world's biggest/best band in such an intimate setting. Thank you, U2, for sharing your gifts with the world.
    DeirdreBell
    WOW!!!
    A picture is worth a thousand words, but I didn't take any good pictures, so.... Everyone's probably already seen all this on youtube but here's what it was like to be in the thick of it. I’m on the train back to Jersey after the Apollo show. Speechless. Drained. Happy and sweaty.  Did that all really just happen?  So many ecstatic people packed in. The Apollo is even smaller than I thought. Stage is right there. Mic and drums await. They put The Stump on stage briefly. (google it) Suddenly Larry’s just there, like you’re out seeing your friend’s band. No announcement. No elaborate plan. The band takes the stage and grab their instruments like it’s 1980 and they’re not the biggest tock band in the world. Then they light up I Will Follow and of course they are. Then holy shit - Electric Co. people are bouncing off the walls. I forgot to mention they took the seats out of the orchestra section of the Apollo (have they ever done that?) so it’s regular GA and the floor is bouncing more than my decrepit off-campus house on college, during a kegger, blasting Fishbone. You seriously had to time your pogo with everyone else or some weird, reverse bounce force would mess with your trajectory. And it’s so hot.  The band tears into Out Of Control as if it’s commentary. Bono is throwing water on everybody which is good because it’s even hotter.   Edge looks like he’s trying to stop his guitar from flying away like a quidditch broom. Okay, I’m thinking, they’re reviving us up for the start, now it’s gonna plateau. Nope. Red Flag Day!  OMG. Today we can’t afford to be afraid of what we fear. Like the floor collapsing. At some point in all this Bono announced its a punk rock show. Yeah. We noticed! Beforehand I was on the lookout for risers (which would mean a choir) or a piano (which might mean October or something) But after All Because of You leads to Vertigo which leads to Elevation it’s clear the boys are just aiming to burn this place down, damn the floorboards.  Beautiful Day gives a bit of a breather. (Yeah, I know that’s not a downtempo song but that’s how up everything’s been.) Bono is trying to crawl off a floor monitor into the crowd. There’s not the usual DMZ separating the stage. There’s a lot of hand grabbing going on.  Bono ends it with an almost tantric breathing exercise. Is Edge gonna have to put him back in is body later? The Edge is emitting some particularly Unforgettable Fire-like sounds while Bono is searching for more water, because did I mention it’s hot like Hotlanta in here?  Then it’s Pride, with a spoken tribute to MLK here on Martin Luther King Blvd.  is this where he name checks black poets who’ve graced this stage?  James Brown. Aretha Franklin. Billie Holiday. Is this where he calls out Harry Belefonte in the audience?  Not sure, but it all happened.  I’ve never thought of this as a rowdy song, but with all the fist raising and HEY! chants I feel like someone might add Ole ole ole. Get Out of Your Own Way bounces through. There’s a bit of a bobble in the hand off to American Soul, but nothing that can’t be fixed with a megaphone. Bono’s back to trying to nearly stand on people. Who steadies him when he jumps back on the monitor?  Is he gonna fall? He’s got his feet back under him and you and I are rock n roll.  “Thanks! Goodnight!”  What?  It’s been so ridiculously hot and unrelentingly intense you could almost forgive them, but is it really over? Nope. Crowd’s chanting. House lights stay down. After a quick break the boys are back. They gotta play Angel of Harlem, right? Bono can’t recall exactly when they played it here last for Rattle and Hum but the guy next to me does (“88!”) Edge starts strumming the intro and I suddenly feel like I’m shrinking. Am I gonna faint? No - it’s just the scrim behind the stage rising up like a curtain. (The one that says “Nothing to stop this being the best day ever” Ya think?) Are they going to project something? No, there are feet. And horns. There’s a wall of horns. And not just any horns…it’s the Sun Ra Arkestra horn section! What????? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMM_JVWUug8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGTd3HR62fo I didn’t know Sex Mob but I’m gonna check em out.) The inevitable and expected song has become the surprise of the evening. Hats off. Amazing. Desire sounds like it’s been reformulated in a baritone sax blender. Funky stings. Steaming solos. Bo Diddley beat. The fever gets higher. Love Comes to Town rolls through like a slow train. But after, the locomotive grinds to a steaming halt and Bono’s serious. It’s been a terrible and unsettling string of days leading up to this party, especially in New York. Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain were both New Yorkers who seemed to have everything, and yet there was the date of death swiftly already filled in on their Wikipedia pages. I thought it was going to be One Tree Hill but of course Stuck in a Moment is the perfect song to play. And Goodnight. It really seemed over this time. Hopefully stomping, gradually encouraged by a lack of house lights and some scurrying techs. Then just Bono and Edge are back out. Hadn’t noticed the piano, and we get the beautiful stripped down Every Breaking Wave. Good thing it’s not Amateur Night because Bono forgets the words. Guy behind me is laughing way too loud about it and I tell him to shush. Bono laughs at himself and they start over. I imagine he’s thinking of all the legends who’ve belted it out right there before him - Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye. It’s his turn in the spotlight centerstage. He regroups and nails it. Full band is back and as if we couldn’t get any luckier it’s Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. And we know it’s really the end with the tour closer Love is Bigger, and it’s just one big sing a-longing, arms a-swaying love fest. When the instruments drop out and it’s just the audience singing, the band members look out at that jewel box of a theater with faces you can clearly read - remember this. Everyone files out to find cars or trains or the complimentary buses back home. Man, I wish I got to ride on the open top deck of the double-decker, down 5th Ave, along the whole length of Central Park. We passed the Met all lit up and it was magical. But here’s the real magic trick of the night - have you noticed? They didn’t play Sunday Bloody Sunday and nobody has even mentioned it. Didn’t even occur to me until the next day. Didn’t miss it. What a show. Unbelievable. It all really happened. (note: Finished this up the next day to make sure I had the set list right. Also, sorry if it’s Bono centric, but he was my main sightline.)
    maryamd
    Unforgettable Night of Sweet Soul Music
    I woke up on Monday night in a rock and roll dream beyond my wildest imagination in Harlem's cathedral of soul with U2. The band demonstrated from the time they hit the stage that they need nothing more than their audience and their instruments to put on an amazing show. They stripped away all the barriers and simply showed the world why U2 is the best rock and roll band in the world. The set was raw and elegant and raucous all at the same time! The connection between the band and all of us in GA was almost symbiotic. I am still asking myself if I was really there. I can't thank U2.com and the band enough for the tickets I won through your contest. This is a night I will take with me the rest of this life and the next. I was 12 when I started listening to U2, and they have been my favorite band for my entire adult life. They changed the way I listened to music and the way I viewed the world. I couldn't go to the club gigs in the 80s because I was too young so I only got to see them in larger venues for the last 31+ years. My daughter who is twelve attended with me, her 6th U2 show, and she will remember it as the night they made rock and roll history and gave her the original U2 eXperience. U2 at the Apollo truly married my innocence and experience in one night. So much much love for these four men from Dublin and U2.com for always putting the fans front and center. See you from the DC dates this weekend. Love and Peace my brothers.
    JessLee
    HOPE
    I hope it was a GRAND NIGHT! Sorry to have missed it, but Oh' well.
    kuehnnyc
    we're in, we made it - Nothing to Stop t
    so happy!
    gilce
    Wild Horses. U2@the Apollo
    Simple Perfect! Amazing Encore
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