Gig Review: U2 @ Hampden : September 2009

With U2 being the biggest band on the planet today, you can forgive them for being a little grandiose with their 360 tour to promote recent effort No Line on the Horizon.  On 18^th August this summer, that grandiosity graced Hampden Park. A spider-like stage (known as the “Claw”), commanded the stadium, complete with a plethora of sky destroying lights and special effects. With 120 trucks need to transport the structure, it couldn’t be classified as cost-efficient or green. Former Talking Heads singer David Byrne denounced the band, stating that their tour costs were “excessive” and hypocritical of their stance on world hunger. Even their homecoming gigs in Croke Park, Dublin came under fire as local protests were held over the “intrusive” works at midnight to dismantle the stage.

In Parkhead, less than four miles away from Hampden, Celtic played host to Arsenal in a crucial Champions League qualifier. Clashing with the U2 concert, it caused chaos with Glasgow’s traffic, and a few stressed locals. Being the biggest band doesn’t necessarily make you the most loved.  Try telling that to the legion of fans who have religiously stuck with them since debut album Boy in 1980. To them the 360 tour simply proves their godly status in the music industry. Guitarist Dave Evans (a.k.a. The Edge) defended the elaborate costs by proclaiming “we’re spending money on our fans”. On a night like this in Hampden Park, he may be right.

One couldn’t deny the impact of the “Claw”, causing a wave of dropped jaws to sweep around the stadium as first support act The Hours took stage to test it out. Their Coldplay-esque piano pop, although not groundbreaking, resonated well with the crowd, but following act, home-grown Glasvegas, were too melancholic for a setting like this. They packed the King Tuts Tent at T in the Park, but on this very night their kitchen-sink tales and gargantuan guitars simply withered.

However, the somber mood post-Glasvegas didn’t blot U2’s grand entrance, as David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” blasted out of the speakers with such grandiosity, that one could not fail to get goose-bumps. Larry Mullen, Jr. nonchalantly settled down to his drums and began thundering through the opener to “Breathe”. The diehard fans among the crowd erupted into ecstasy, as Bono, The Edge, and bassist Adam Clayton took stage. “Get on Your Boots”, charged up the crowd with its electrifying guitar riff, and “No Line on the Horizon” was played to equal enthusiasm.

The new tracks made a spark with the fans, but the classics would cause an almighty explosion. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” generated a religious chant around Hampden, with Bono addressing to the crowd “they’re going to hear that at Celtic Park”. The spine-tingling “Sunday Bloody Sunday” showed off Mullen, Jr.’s militaristic drumming, The Edge’s shimmering guitar, and Clayton’s rumbling bass. Bono flaunted his musical knowledge throughout the gig, cheekily referencing song lyrics from Primal Scream, The Beatles, Elvis Costello, and even Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Other classics such as “The Unforgettable Fire” and the soaring “Where the Streets Have No Name” were hard-hitting, emphasizing the rawness and energy of their 80’s era, which stamps over the sparse dynamics and over-production that dominates their later albums.

There was a technical glitch during “Walk On” – which paid homage to convicted Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi – but it didn’t stop the flow of the gig; a disorientating remix of “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”, and an epic “One”. The encore was a mixed affair; “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)” from 1991’s seminal Achtung Baby was a welcome surprise to the setlist, and “With or Without You” proved that they have a knack for writing universal anthems. Disappointingly they didn’t take to that notion with the closer: “Moment of Surrender” – from the new album – finished the concert with a whimper rather than a bang.

Trivialities aside, U2 pulled off an impressive concert. If you couldn’t stand Bono’s political rants that night, you were peeved at missing the football, or you weren’t a fan of the new stuff, there is one thing you could not deny: they are consummate professionals, and know how to rock a city let alone a stadium. Perhaps that’s why they are the biggest band on the planet today. The Edge was indeed right; it was for the fans, and they loved it.

Gig Review: Oasis @ Murrayfield – June 2009

Those damn Gallagher brothers. Their most recent quarrel has resulted in the untimely demise of Oasis, with Noel walking out “seeking pastures anew”. More importantly, it has rendered this review almost obsolete, causing a through revision of the events surrounding their summer gig at Murrayfield. This may well be the last ever Scottish date that they’ve played (unless they kiss and make up).

Far from the grandiose years of Britpop, Oasis still managed to generate enthusiasm with their back catalogue. Full of pill poppers, drunks, and naïve prepubescent teens, the Edinburgh sunshine played host to all sorts of fans. However, the whole of Murrayfield was to be united in a night full of anthemic numbers.

First support act Reverend and the Makers played to a lukewarm reaction, with their Madchester-esque grooves not causing much spark in a sun-soaked and beer drenched front row.

The Enemy did a much better job, with anthems such as “You’re Not Alone” steeped in no-nonsense punk guitar, and thundering bass lines reminiscent of The Jam.

Kasabian as ever played to an inviting audience, with new songs “Underdog” and “Fire” fitting nicely along with staple classics such as “Club Foot”. A subtle cover of “You Got The Love” by The Source feat. Candi Station raised a few smiles, as Tom Meighan and crew warmed up the crowd for the Gallagher brothers.

As “F***** in the Bushes” blasted through the speakers with its thundering drums and Led Zeppelin guitar riff, the crowd erupted into a sense of euphoria, as the band took stage and ripped through “Rock and Roll Star” effortlessly.  A disappointedly tepid “The Shock Of The Lightening” – miles away from the goose bump-inducing record – was followed by the T-Rex swagger of “Cigarettes & Alcohol”, the crowd eagerly wanting Liam to cry out “Sunshiiine”.

Fan favourites such as “The Masterplan”, “Don’t Look Back In Anger”, and “Half the World Away” was played with such nonchalance by Noel, as his adoring fans sang out every word. However, Noel’s apparent indifference seem to have been reflected off his lack of communication with Liam, who seemed to be absent throughout the gig.

No-one could be surprised about the current split-up. Oasis didn’t reinvent the wheel with their songs, and their best material – such as the soaring “Live Forever” – were more welcoming than their newer efforts.

However, no one can deny the connection they have with the crowd, and musically they were a lot more tighter than their early years. The anthemic “Champagne Supernova” and their cover of the Beatles’ “I am The Walrus” were particular highlights, with its psychedelic and spiralling sounds ending the show on a high. Those aforementioned sounds have symbolised the demise of Oasis, but then what a way to end things.