U2 Vienna, 2005

Tone had an extra ticket to the U2 concert in Vienna. The performance at the Ernst Happel Stadium was part of the Vertigo Tour. I bought the ticket and on the day of the concert we drove to Vienna in his golf. We arrived early enough and headed to the stadium, which ws sold out, with over 55,000 visitors.

We had seats in the tribune, where we had a nice view of the stage. The front groups are The Magic Numbers and The Thrills, which did not leave any particular impression. U2 were more than an hour late to their show because they had as well part in Live 8 in London on the same day. Here, also the concert had a political note, on the occasion of Aung San Suu Kyi’s 60th birthday, her release was mentioned. Otherwise, she was later awarded the Nobel Prize, but even later imprisoned for corruption and lost credibility due to the massacre of Muslims in Burma.

The stage itself was a big red circle, reminiscent of the album Vertigo, which draws inspiration from Hitchcock. The lighting on stage was red most of the time. In the background there was a huge display and two smaller ones on each side of the larger one, where we could follow the performers on stage or one of the band’s messages. They opened with the song Vertigo, continued with new songs and old hits. They woke me up with I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Where the Streets Have No Name and With or Without You. For an encore, they return twice with 6 songs and finish as they started with Vertigo.

The concert was performed as expected. After the concert, the stage was packed before the stadium wass emptied. The stadium itself was also clean, because there was deposit for plastic glasses. This concert couldn’t be compared to the one in Sarajevo in 1997, but it was still a nice experience. We still have a ride home.

Setlist:

Vertigo
I Will Follow
The Electric Co. / Bullet With Butterfly Wings (snippet) / I Can See For Miles (snippet)
Elevation
New Year’s Day
Beautiful Day / Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (snippet)
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
All I Want Is You
City of Blinding Lights
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky / The Hands That Built America (snippet) / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet)
Running To Stand Still / Happy Birthday (snippet) / Walk On (snippet)
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Where the Streets Have No Name
One / Hear Us Coming (snippet)

encore(s):
Zoo Station
The Fly
With or Without You
All Because Of You
Yahweh Full band acoustic
Vertigo