Show was sick. Stage was the most amazing spectacle I've ever seen at a concert. Just amazing all around experience.

I parked ~2 miles away and walked to my car and was home free before 95% of the retards who paid $20 to "park close" even left the lots. Think people, think.

10/4/2009 2:55:58 AM

Cool story, bro.

10/4/2009 3:00:44 AM

Seriously, that stage was unfuckingbelievable. I got to walk around it and underneath it and it was absolutely absurd.

The sound booth had two or three levels alone.

Not a huge fan of U2, but I'm glad I got to experience at least a little bit of the show. It really is hard to understand the stage until your next to it and see how much is involved.

10/4/2009 3:05:17 AM

Quote :

"for some reason i can't think of bono without thinking of johnny drama haha"

10/4/2009 9:56:34 AM

Im not a big U2 fan but thought it was pretty good. The stage was sick.

I kinda laughed when he grabbed the kid and ran around the stage with him. He posed right in front of us and said: "this is ryan!". LOL, fantastic, does he need food, a job, what?. I thinik he was just pointing out he can do whatever and people will go batshit.

10/4/2009 9:57:35 AM

pics?

10/4/2009 10:45:40 AM

here's my far from the instruments and band, but still felt like they were right on top of me with this gigantic claw-spaceship contraption shots

10/4/2009 11:50:09 AM

Damn I wish I was in Raleigh

10/4/2009 12:51:01 PM

Quote :

"I guess Bono really does say happy birthday to someone in the crowd like he did on entourage for some reason i can't think of bono without thinking of johnny drama haha"

Yeah I couldn't help but think of Johnny Drama when they played "City of Blinding Lights"

10/4/2009 1:05:57 PM

I was really like not impressed. I couldn't see shit that was happening most of the time because I was on the very corner and the arm of the spaceship was blocking the screen, and it was behind the stage part where they were. Parking was a clusterfuck....if you're gonna charge people 20 bucks for parking, you should at least have some attendants telling people where to go and not just leave them driving around aimlessly to find a spot. Overall, not a super night.

10/4/2009 1:10:58 PM

^ During the show I was actually thinking that sitting behind one of the big struts would be the only shitty seat in the concert.

The set list was pretty good, just heavy on the last three albums. Did they play anything from Zooropa or Pop?

Also, where can I get me a laser jacket?

10/4/2009 1:26:46 PM

i'm not a fan of U2, but that stage looks awesome. I did not attend the concert.

10/4/2009 1:31:23 PM

wow, looks like it was epic

10/4/2009 1:40:12 PM

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6131234/

Quote :

"Troopers based in Raleigh said traffic delays were not caused by poor planning but too many people trying to go to the venue at one time."

Maybe in the future they should plan on everyone showing up just before the start of the concert?

10/4/2009 1:56:01 PM

^Um, there's only so much the roads can handle. I mean what're you going to do, switch all lanes to one way only? That...never happens. If people don't want to get stuck in traffic go out earlier. I didn't have any traffic going out there at 3:15

Quote :

"I parked ~2 miles away and walked to my car and was home free before 95% of the retards who paid $20 to "park close" even left the lots. Think people, think."

Our car was in one of the paved lots by the stadium, not terribly far from Wade Ave. We left after U2 played their final song. 10 minutes later we were on Wade Ave, no traffic. Think indeed!

Show was great! U2 was pretty good, the stage was unbelievable, but I really went to see Muse and wish they had played for more than 50 minutes

10/4/2009 2:01:28 PM

We just missed the huge traffic jam on 40....but we were waiting on the Edward Mills exit for about a half hour at about 5:30.

10/4/2009 2:12:56 PM

[Edited on October 4, 2009 at 3:43 PM. Reason : .]

10/4/2009 3:41:49 PM

looks like somethin' outta half-life 2

10/4/2009 3:50:12 PM

i'll try to post some pics later - on the way back to atlanta now - was a great show i thought - we were on the field for muse and after the 2nd U2 song we went back up to our seats in sec 212 in the endzone

10/4/2009 3:51:12 PM

Quote :

"News is reporting that this is probably going to pump about $4 million into the local economy."

i'd really really really like to see a numbers breakdown on that

10/4/2009 6:22:39 PM

according to facebook, i am the only person on the east coast that didn't see this show. this thread only further validates that assessment.

10/4/2009 6:42:31 PM

trust me, you're not the only one who didn't go to that shitstorm

10/4/2009 6:45:28 PM

Who the hell is Muse? I'd like to think I'm versed in music enough to have at least heard of them. Guessssss not.

10/4/2009 6:58:01 PM

trust me. you do not want to. they're just another whiny-rock band

10/4/2009 7:04:31 PM

Muse is freaking good.

10/4/2009 7:25:40 PM

yea you guessed right

10/4/2009 7:47:08 PM

where can i get a setlist of last night?

10/4/2009 8:16:33 PM

10/03/2009 Carter-Finley Stadium - Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Breathe, Get On Your Boots, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day / C Moon (snippet), No Line On The Horizon, Magnificent, Elevation, In A Little While, New Year's Day, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Stand By Me (snippet), Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, The Unforgettable Fire, Mofo (snippet) / , City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight / Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Again) (snippet), Sunday Bloody Sunday / Rock The Casbah (snippet) / People Get Ready (snippet), MLK, Walk On / You'll Never Walk Alone (snippet)
encores: One / Amazing Grace (snippet), Where The Streets Have No Name, Ultra Violet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment of Surrender

http://www.u2setlists.com/360-northamerica.shtml

[Edited on October 4, 2009 at 8:24 PM. Reason : setlist]

10/4/2009 8:23:00 PM

So, the line at the tshirt stand was too long, so I walked around the stadium to get to another one, but exited the building in the process. When I tried to get back in to the tshirt stand (that was literally 10 ft. away from the entrance), the stupid Live Nation employees wouldn't let me back in... This was AFTER the show! I was like, "WTF IT IS RIGHT THERE AND THE SHOW IS OVER"

And they get all into this power-trip mode about how once I leave I can't get back in, so I'm like "F YOU!" and I leave that entrance and go to another one that wasn't being guarded by nazi-proteges and walk back to the T-Shirt stand.

I am internet TUFF. Soooooo very TUFF

10/4/2009 8:29:48 PM

I once had a friend describe Muse as "Radiohead for people who don't get Radiohead." I'm not sure I totally agree, but it's not off base.

10/4/2009 9:21:25 PM

I think whiny-rock is a pretty good descriptor.

10/4/2009 9:43:53 PM

i have a running route that goes by the stadium and I got a good look inside and they are still breaking the stage down, they've been at it all day.

10/4/2009 9:48:24 PM

probably all night last night too... i think the contract mandates complete evacuation of the stadium within 48 or 72 hrs, so that they can begin resodding.

10/4/2009 9:53:34 PM

^,^^
They've been at it since the moment the concert was over. There were guys in hardhats ripping things down, taking down barricades, and cables were being lowered down from the top of the claw/ship when we standing up to leave when the last song finished and U2 exited.

It took a week to throw that stage together so I'm sure they're hauling ass to pack it up. Existing sod is suppose to be ripped out Monday night on half the field I believe, new sod down Tuesday, Tuesday night the other half of the field, and then Wednesday new sod on that half.

10/5/2009 12:37:43 AM

Dana at GoGoRaleigh has an excellent writeup on the stage:
http://www.gogoraleigh.com/2009/10/04/more-on-u2s-claw

He went and interviewed some of the demo crew after the concert was over.

10/5/2009 12:46:12 AM

I was on the field at about the 50 yard line, dead center.

It was one of the greatest concerts I've ever been to, and I didn't even go for U2, I went to see Muse.


But U2 won me over. Completely.

10/5/2009 2:45:30 AM

it was a great show and a great time

sat in the third row of the red seats of the north endzone. It was behind the stage but I was in the middle and could see clearly.

I have been arguing with friends about the guy who sang from the crowd. I thought it was staged. What do you all think?

10/5/2009 10:01:39 AM

Quote :

"And they get all into this power-trip mode about how once I leave I can't get back in, so I'm like "F YOU!" and I leave that entrance and go to another one that wasn't being guarded by nazi-proteges and walk back to the T-Shirt stand."

You should have left at that exit and waved the t-shirt in their faces on your way out.

Hearing all these accounts of the awesomeness of the stage reminds me of:

Ryan: You should come visit. The city is... amazing.
Jim: I know. I love it there.
Ryan: No. You don't know until you live there. There's something about waking up every morning and just being in that city.
Jim: Mmhmm, yeah, last time I was there I had a lot of fun.
Ryan: No. You can't imagine it, though. The energy when you're actually there. You're just part of something bigger than you, that's moving faster than you. Your dreams are... . it just... everything feels so limitless.
Jim: Sounds great.
Ryan: No. It... eh... you can't... it's not about how it sounds.

10/5/2009 10:03:32 AM

I don't think it was staged... I was the under the impression Bono did impromptu interaction with fans all the time, which is why the guy had the shirt because he probably thought he could get the chance to get mentioned if Bono saw him. Something about the way Bono said "Be cool" before he gave him the mic and the guy's face after he was singing made me think it was real, like, "holy shit, I can't believe I just did that"

10/5/2009 10:06:32 AM

I agree. I dont think it was staged either. He seemed worried that the guy would yell or cuss with the "be cool", imo

10/5/2009 10:43:56 AM

There aren't enough pics of that stage. You guys should totally post some more.

10/5/2009 11:10:09 AM

10/5/2009 11:11:08 AM

I found this on another message board... the guy who sang it is going to post the story later

http://u2.interference.com/f307/october-3-2009-raleigh-north-carolina-202127-2.html

Quote :

"OK, that was me (same guy as C-Ville). That was clearly the most amazing moment of my life. I still haven't quite recovered!! I am off to head up to NY for the show tonight. When I get a chance I'll post a more in-depth story about the whole thing. Please post any pictures or clips you might have of People Get Ready!!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzSU8VXwlbc

10/5/2009 11:21:40 AM

Quote :

"I don't think it was staged... I was the under the impression Bono did impromptu interaction with fans all the time"

I saw them in Atlanta in 2001 and some kid had a sign saying that he knew all of their songs on guitar so Bono yanked him out of the crowd, gave him a guitar, and let him play on stage for one song.

10/5/2009 11:25:58 AM

^^some really good photos on that message board from the floor

10/5/2009 11:37:37 AM

picture 17 of 40 is a badass shot from Vaughn Towers
http://www.wral.com/entertainment/image_gallery/6135871/

10/5/2009 4:11:16 PM

So, what exactly is Bono looking for that he 'hasn't found?'

I bet it has a penis.

10/5/2009 5:00:39 PM

in that case you both have something in common.

10/5/2009 5:01:22 PM

hey, she was manly, but i know for sure she had no weiner.

10/5/2009 5:03:02 PM

The U2 concert was unbelievable--transformative. I feel that I am changed in some way after having witnessed it. The performance, stage, and setting combined to form the most fantastic spectacle I have ever seen.

"Space Oddity" was the perfect selection for the pre-concert intro. It fit so well with the setting--I swear it gave me chills.

We were in Section 19, Row K. We had a great view.

Bono said that the band was trying to achieve "intimacy on a grand scale." Believe it or not, the over-the-top stage achieved just that: intimacy for the 50,000-plus crowd.

Bono sang a few lines from "Stand By Me": "When the night has come / And the land is dark / And the moon is the only light we'll see." The moon was the only light in the sky at that time--and it was a perfect little moment. The power of art hit me as strongly as I've ever felt it.

And concerning parking issues, we didn't have to park on the side of the road--but we had to walk about 3-4 miles (and I'm not exaggerating) to get to Carter-Finley and back. And we didn't even get there until about 7:30 p.m.

If it were necessary, I would've climbed the fence to get in! Those folks complaining about not getting in just didn't want it bad enough.

Summary: Phenomenal.

10/5/2009 6:33:03 PM