U2 + Noel Gallagher @ Marvel Stadium 15/11/19
photos: Nathan Goldsworthy @odin.imaging
Words: Daniel Hanssen
Review
“…By the time it reaches Mumbai on 15th December 2019, The Joshua Tree Tour will have played to almost 3 million fans”
1987 was a big year for U2, releasing a string of singles and the band's much anticipated fifth studio album; The Joshua Tree. Over thirty years on, the band is still going strong touring half the globe in celebration of a conscious album built around a harder tone than what U2 had previously released. Friday nights Marvel Stadium performance finally signaled Melbournes turn to see arguably one of the globe's biggest bands.
Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds who are touring alongside the Irish mega-band opened the performance for them. Noel who was one half of the illustrious Oasis before their split, put on a tempestuous performance intermixing his bands originals with some of Oasis' classic anthems.
Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
The Joshua Tree anniversary tour has been a massive project for U2. By the time it reaches Mumbai on 15th December 2019, The Joshua Tree Tour will have played to almost 3 million fans in just 66 shows with Melbourne bolstering that number higher with an estimated sixty thousand in the crowd.
U2
For those in the crowd who remember U2 before they were the modern juggernaut of rock n roll, the large rolling effects that the band brought with them were somewhat jarring keeping one's attention split between what was happening on the world's largest touring LED panels (almost the full length of the stadium; the screen was made up of 1,040 individual video panels, totaling 60m wide and 14m high) while also trying to concentrate on what made the band so special; but it made for a hell of a conversation piece. Admittedly, the LED paneling helped to build the story of the tracks throughout The Joshua Tree portion of the performance with videos going along with the poetry.
U2
Thankfully the band didn’t ramp the usage of the screen up immediately, the opening barrage of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "I Will Follow" had U2 constricted to the open stage in the centre of the pit. The beautifully put together stage perfectly mimicked the shadow of the large Joshua Tree built up on the screen, bearing away from any of the technology that emphasised how much stadium concerts have evolved.
U2
Slowly through the evening the weather turned from clear skies to rain evoking a small rendition of "Singing On The Rain" from Bono; there was a beautiful moment as the rain fell through the open roof during "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", it felt as if the world was singing a hymn alongside Bono as the breathtaking scenery of America morphed across the massive LED screen. The crowd was not lost to these moments, with Bono commanding the crowd with ease, a constant flow of call and response was worked into many of the nights tracks as chills were sent down the spine when a full stadium sang along with the band.
U2
U2
U2 have always had meaningful lyrics alongside Bono's evocative voice and while the 59 year old clearly hasn't lost touch over his long years as a front man. This could be said for any member of the four piece but something has to be said for Bono's vintage performance at Marvel Stadium. U2 really turned it up after they closed The Joshua Tree portion of the performance on "Mothers Of The Disappeared". The latter part of the set descended into what could be called a 'best of', as Bono and co. brought out tracks from arguably a more popular period of the band; the 2000s era. This saw U2's highly infectious singles, "Vertigo", glam rock track - "The Real Thing" as the crowd rode high through "Elevation".
U2
The closing portion of the evening of something especially memorable even amongst the magic of everything else U2 had brought to Melbourne. Bono espoused the importance of women to our world and dedicated their powerful number “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)” to all the women of the world, Bono leading to the song out of “Beautiful Day” with the phrase ‘when women rewrite history for her story, it's a beautiful day’.
U2
U2 continued on with the trend for the closer, sweeping the crowd up in a fever of solidarity preaching for everyone to come together to solve the problems of the world, ‘From rising sea levels in one country, to big fires in you're, big crisis, global crisis.’ “One” closed out what would have been one of the greatest concerts staged at Marvel Stadium, from the largest LED on tour, to U2’s unchanging sound there would not have been a single person in the crowd who left the performance needing anything else.
U2
“The Joshua Tree Tour 2019” travels to Adelaide next week – the band’s first concert in South Australia since 2006 – at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, November 19. U2 then head to Sydney where they will perform two shows at the Sydney Cricket Ground before wrapping up in Perth on November 27.
For more information, tickets and VIP Experiences, visit: livenation.com.au.
U2 – The Joshua Tree Tour 2019
12 November – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
15 November – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
19 November – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
22 November – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
23 November – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
27 November – Optus Stadium, Perth
U2
Full gallery below
