Ron Donoho

San Diego Experience

Rattled, But Not Ho-Hummed, By U2

Is it really worth it to drive to L.A. for a Sunday evening concert? Even if it’s U2?
By Ron Donoho
Posted on Mon, Oct 26th, 2009
Last updated Wed, Nov 11th, 2009

A fairly well-regarded Irish rock band played a concert in Pasadena this past Sunday, bloody Sunday. About 100,000 of us were on hand to see the largest concert in Rose Bowl history. It was the first time the stadium sold out for anything other than a sporting event.

First, let’s get to the curmudgeonly observations. Driving from San Diego up to Greater Los Angeles for a 7 p.m. concert is not ideal. Police were warning that traffic would be troublesome and parking would get gobbled up quickly (there are a mere 20,000 spaces at the Rose Bowl proper). Tailgating was encouraged—just get here early, was the bottom line from authorities.

The U2 concert at the Rose Bowl.

_{Photo by Ron Donoho}

Resigned to blowing the whole day, my road foursome did luck into street parking—about a mile-and-a-half from the stadium. I heard more than one complaint from a concert-goer whose gold-spangled high-heeled boots weren’t really made for walking.

People were herded into cattle-like lines to get into the stadium. Woe to the guest who arrived after a long walk and wanted to make a beeline to a restroom. The shortest lines for Porta Potties numbered in the dozens.

If you’ve never been to the Rose Bowl, know that there are 77 rows of seats. We sat elbow-to-elbow on metal bleachers. This will be the largest audience massing on U2’s ongoing 360 Tour.

It speaks to the magnitude of U2’s three decades of musical presence that a worldwide sensation like Black Eyed Peas would open for them. The Peas got the party started, and cheered up the crowd when former Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash joined the band as Fergie sang “Sweet Child o’ Mine (with a voice Axl Rose would have died for).

The opening act hoopla was strangely relaxing. Even before U2 took the stage, travel and parking woes were forgotten and sore feet were healed.

U2’s 360 Tour features an enormous, four-legged stage rig. It’s called “The Claw,” but lead singer Bono refers to it as “The Space Station.” It looks like half of an other-worldy metal spider. It allows for the stage to be circular, enabling the whole of the audience to see most of the band most of the time. Live visual feeds on a circular screen hung atop The Space Station also keeps the audience immersed in the onstage action.

The performance was ethereal. Bono segued from an introduction of “Amazing Graze” into “Where The Streets Have No Name.” The massive crowd helped with the choruses on “One” and “With Or Without You.” Guitarist The Edge was especially brilliant in “Until the End of the World.” And bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullin Jr. proved they are one of the best rhythm sections in the world on songs like “I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.”

We all could have stayed home in San Diego and watched U2’s performance streamed live on YouTube. Now, in retrospect, having communed in 360 degrees with nearly 100,000 fans and four musical mega-talents, I’d button my lip and do it all over again. And twice on any Sunday.

About the author: Ron Donoho is the development editor of SanDiego.com. He is the former executive editor of San Diego Magazine, and has won more than three dozen Press Club and Society of Professional Journalists awards. His freelance work has been published in Men's Health, Men's Journal, Maxim, Glamour, The Christian Science Monitor and several other national publications.
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Comments

Posted by Helen	Mon, Oct 26th, 2009
We were there! We waited in line for over an hour for the shuttle, but opted to walk back rather than wait in a 3 hour line to return. The concert was awesome! The evening was beautiful. We couldn't believe the consistent high energy of U2. They gave 110%. This will go down as one of the best concerts ever.

Posted by luis	Mon, Oct 26th, 2009
I traveled to see U2 for their performance at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, and everything Ron said about the band's performance was true! Truly electrifying. I also have a new-found respect for Black Eyed Peas, who got our crowd fired up as well as it must have been in Pasadena. U2 could easily fill up Qualcomm Stadium. Here's hoping they swing by this way next year!

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