U2 lead singer Bono.
UNCASVILLE, CT – As a reviewer and attendee of many concerts, I can honestly say I have not seen a concert quite like the one U2 put on Tuesday night at the Mohegan Sun arena in Uncasville, CT. This was the final night of U2’s U.S. tour. It is tough to even know where to start. But here we go…
First, walking in to the arena, there was no mistake this night was going to be special. The floor of the arena was standing room only and from one end to the other there was what I thought was at first just a thirty foot high screen. As the lights went down and the opening chords of Love is All We Have Left played, I soon realized this was part of the stage as the silhouette of lead singer Bono was on a catwalk high up in the middle of the arena. Soon, guitarist the Edge and bassist Adam Clayton were all up on the catwalk while strobe lights showed their silhouettes. An impressive start had the crowd completely energized.
For the next few songs the band stayed on the catwalk while the screen dropped to actually see the band. Throughout the concert, the band utilized the catwalk whether it was up in the rafters or lowered to the floor for another level of experience. The Blackout, Lights of Home, I Will Follow and Gloria all were played utilizing one end of the stage and the catwalk.
U2 drummer Larry Mullen
The crowd really started getting in to it with U2’s hit Beautiful Day. The band used the giant screens on the catwalk for all kinds of visual treats for each song. The Ocean, Iris, Cedarwood Road followed before Bono spoke of his home country Ireland and what events led to the band writing Sunday Bloody Sunday. This was really cool as all four members including drummer Larry Mullen Jr were all on the catwalk spaced evenly apart for a memorable rendition of this powerful song.
The first half of the set ended with Until the End of the World. Leaving no stone unturned for this experience, the band used the high definition 30 foot tall end to end screen to show a cartoonish video of the band being sucked up in to an alien spaceship to be given “super powers” to fulfill their lives of stardom. This was really great and done with the bands dry sense of humor mocking themselves the only way they can. Most people didn’t realize it was intermission as the lights stayed low for the video.
U2 guitarist the Edge.
The band came out firing after intermission crushing songs Elevation, Vertigo and Desire. Utilizing a small circular stage at the far end of the arena for a few songs and some acoustic tunes were next up. Bono used a cool little video trick that kept turning his face in to the devil to introduce the song Acrobat that was followed by a little snippet of the Rolling Stones sympathy for the Devil. Truly the entire arena was used throughout the night and gave fans in every seat a great vantage point to view the show.
Some other highlights were Pride (In the Name of Love), Get Out of Your Own Way, American Soul before ending the set with City of Blinding Lights.
After a brief break U2 came back out for a 3 song encore including One, Love is Bigger Than Anything in its Way and ending the night with 13 (There is a Light). Truly an amazing visual and musical experience. As this was my first time seeing U2, I couldn’t have been more impressed by every aspect of the concert. There is a reason why they are the biggest rock band in the world and they proved it Tuesday night in Connecticut.
