U2 Endure Rough Weather, Rough Vocal Cords In Sweden

Even the biggest band in the world is not immune to the elements, especially when it decides to entertain Olympic-size venues.

Rain and some heavy wind bedeviled the 360 Degrees tour once again during its stops at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, creating a rather unfortunate (and soggy) subplot as U2 continue their trek across Europe.

Still coming down from their emotional three-night stand in Dublin, the Swedish gigs reportedly featured a more subdued band – and a hoarse Bono – working the crowd at a clip slightly less furious than usual.  The sound troubles led to some rough patches early on, but did not dampen the spirit of the crowd, nor of this striking “white flags” flashmob:

Perhaps the band members were in a somber mood for other reasons as well.  In the days leading up to the gigs, the band took some more licks in the press, first from the widely-reported protests in Dublin over the noise of the stage dismantling at Croke Park – protests which led to delays in getting tour equipment to Sweden – then from further criticisms leveled at the tour itself.

Perhaps the most notable of these came from David Byrne, the legendary frontman and lyricist of American rock band Talking Heads.  Byrne, who regularly provides fascinating and feisty observations from his web blog, posted an entry backhandedly thanking U2 for “funding” a recent club date in Poland – read here for his theories how – then threw a jab calling the 360 Degrees tour “overkill”, and implying that the band was hypocritical for using an extravagant stadium tour to promote social causes like starvation in Africa.  While he admitted that his criticisms may have to do in part with “professional envy”, the comments were nonetheless stinging, particularly coming from a musician of his stature in the industry.

U2 responded indirectly through an article recently published by The Guardian UK.  In it, the band reiterated some of its misgivings about Bono’s status as a rock star diplomat, with The Edge opining, “Artists don’t have to deal in the muddy grey of political reality.  They can see things in black and white terms – ideals.  There’s an aspirational aspect to rock’n'roll, whereas politics is just one compromise after another.”  To his credit, Bono acknowledged the points of his critics and shouldered much of the responsibility for the political grandstanding that irks so many, but defended himself by arguing, “If you look into it you think, ‘This guy works two-and-a-half days a week at this, not being paid for it, and at cost to his band and his family, and doesn’t mind taking a kicking.’”

Regardless of anyone’s opinions on the band’s unique mix of spectacle and activism, one thing’s for sure:  the juggernaut that is the 360 Degrees tour won’t be ending anytime soon.

Friday night, the band moved “One” up from its normal slot at the end of the main set, placing it between “Mysterious Ways” and “Until the End of the World”, making for a impressive block of music from Achtung Baby; the “One” performance also featured a snippet of the sparsely-performed “She’s A Mystery To Me,” making its first appearance on the 360 Degrees tour.

Saturday evening’s set featured the return of “Electrical Storm” – last played nearly a month ago in Milan – and a repeat performance of “New Year’s Day,” which received its tour debut in Dublin a few days earlier.

Friday night’s version of “Mysterious Ways” featured a snippet of The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood”, the song’s first appearance on the tour thus far.

Next stop:  Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

All photos by Matthias Muehlbradt, courtesy U2gigs.com.

Setlist – Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden, 7/31/09 (setlist links courtesy U2gigs.com)

1. Breathe
2. No Line On The Horizon
3. Get On Your Boots
4. Magnificent
5. Beautiful Day / Rain (snippet)
6. Mysterious Ways / Norwegian Wood (snippet)
7. One / She’s A Mystery To Me (snippet)
8. Until The End Of The World
9. Desire / Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (snippet)
10. Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
11. Unknown Caller
12. The Unforgettable Fire
13. City Of Blinding Lights
14. Vertigo
15. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
16. Sunday Bloody Sunday / Rock The Casbah (snippet)
17. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
18. MLK
19. Walk On / You’ll Never Walk Alone (snippet)
20. Where The Streets Have No Name / All You Need Is Love (snippet)

encore(s):

21. Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
22. With Or Without You
23. Moment of Surrender

Setlist – Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden, 8/1/09

1. Breathe
2. No Line On The Horizon
3. Get On Your Boots
4. Magnificent
5. Beautiful Day / Blackbird (snippet)
6. New Year’s Day
7. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For / Movin’ On Up (snippet)
8. Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
9. Unknown Caller
10. Electrical Storm
11. City Of Blinding Lights
12. Vertigo
13. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight / O Come All Ye Faithful (snippet)
14. Sunday Bloody Sunday
15. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
16. MLK
17. Walk On / You’ll Never Walk Alone (snippet)
18. Where The Streets Have No Name
19. One

encore(s):

20. Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
21. With Or Without You
22. Moment of Surrender