I managed to scoop a general admission ticket to last night’s (September 16) U2 gig at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. If you’re a fan, you’ve probably read all the reviews, argued about the setlist and watch a bunch of shaky mobile phone videos so I won’t recount that for you here. Instead, here’s how my evening played out.
8:04: Weird. Outside the Rogers Centre, I’m having trouble connecting to any Rogers networks with my Rogers iPhone.
8:05: Oh, look: lots of Blackberry Loves U2 banners. And was that a plane towing a similar banner over the venue earlier this evening?
8:15pm: Gridlock in the mezzanine as I try to get down to field level? What brainiac came up with this crowd flow plan? Funnelling thousands of people down a couple of narrow aisles? Duh.
8:18: First glimpse of The Claw. Jeezus, the thing is BIG. And they have THREE of them.
8:28: Finally made it down to field level. Take up my usual perch just to the side of the front-of-house position with all the sound and lighting technicians. Since this is their best view and their best aural vantage point, I might as well hear and see what the crew are hearing and seeing. (Can you call it “front-of-house” when it’s a 360 show?)
8:29: Elvis Costello appears on the VIP platform that’s part of the front-of-house set-up. He’s about ten feet away and wearing a nice purple fedora. (U2 taped an episode of “Spectacle With Elvis Costello” Tuesday night.)
8:40: Pre-show music mix includes “Typical” from Mutemath. Nice.
8:42: Thought I could tweet and post some pictures to Facebooks. Can’t get any connection on my iPhone. Meanwhile, everything around me with Blackberrys seems to be doing fine. Odd. I’ll keep trying.
8:45: Bowie’s “Space Oddity” starts playing at high volume. The Claw starts smoking during the song’s liftoff sequence. Showtime is imminent. Meanwhile, Elvis is chatting up the other folks on the VIP platform.
8:50: Here we go. Best take a picture for Twitter and Fac--...Hey, why can’t I upload anything? Aren’t we next to the tallest cell phone tower on the planet?
8:51: Very cool. Only the second time that there’s been a concert in the Rogers Centre with an open roof. Clear sky, CN Tower all lit up, people from surrounding condos looking down in the stadium. I wonder if anyone from the condos will be obtuse enough to complain about the noise? What did you think you were going to get when you bought your place next to a 60,000-seat sports complex? Peace and quiet?
8:59: With all respect and regards to U2, the star of this show is The Claw. Great camera work on the high-tech 360-degree video screen.
9:15: Larry’s drum riser spins around 180 degrees so the folks on the other side of the stadium can see him. Makes sense. Reminds me of the “in the round” show I saw with Yes back in the 70s. They had a rotating stage, too—but it was NOTHING like The Claw. With its legs, moving bridges, outer catwalk, video screens, lighting rigs and sound system, it’s an engineering
marvel.
9:17: Decent sound in here, although there’s a nasty slap-back echo from where I’m standing. Friend comes up and says that the spectacle of The Claw is even more impressive the further back and higher up you go.
9:30-ish: Bono incorporates a little snippet of “Alison” from My Aim is True. Elvis smiles sheepishly.
9:30-10:30: I’ve lost track of time. iPhone still not working. Some Blackberrys are, but not all....Frank De Winne from the International Space Station appears on the video screens. Cool bit...Bono slides a little bit of “Pump It Up” at the end of “Vertigo.” Elvis looks up from his Blackberry and smiles....Funky dance version of “I’ll Go Crazy”... “Walk On” ends with audience volunteers marching around the station holding up Aung San Suu Kyi masks. Passionate speech from Bono...Stirring speech from Bishop Desmond Tutu leading into “One.” VERY powerful.
10:30: Given up on the iPhone. Elvis has been emailing away all night on his Blackberry. Let’s try texting.
10:31: Nope.
10:33: Woman next to me is holding up a hand-lettered sign quoting Luke 1:46: “And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord.’” Don’t see the connection.
10:34: U2 manager Paul McGuinness appears briefly on the VIP platform. Smartest. Manager. Ever.
10:40: “Where the Streets Have No Name.” Still excellent.
10:41: Elvis has left the building.
10:45: Why does Bono insist on messing with the phrasing in some songs? I found his messing with “With or Without You” damned annoying.
10:55: That’s it? No “Pride (In the Name of Love?)” No “The Fly?” “Mysterious Ways?” “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?” “40?” “Bullet the Blue Sky?” “New Year’s Day?” “I Will Follow? “Discothe—“oh, wait. We didn’t want to hear that one. Still, seeing The Claw was very cool.
11:01: Any messages? Can’t tell. iPhone icon still spinning uselessly. Meanwhile, Blackberry users around me seem fine.
11:54: Get a tip that there’s a post-show party at One in the Hazelton Lanes hotel. Ask myself if I should I turn the car around and go back?
11:54:02: Naw. Who am I kidding? Security will be Obama-tight. I’m going home.
12:31: Arrive home. iPhone starts buzzing with emails and texts. One is from a friend: “Did your Rogers iPhone on the Rogers network work at the Rogers Centre tonight? Mine didn’t.”