By Will Martens
Staff Writer
After coming out with their first album since 2009, “Songs of Innocence,” U2 made their first appearance in Los Angeles with a warm full house welcome at the forum. The band recently started their worldwide tour, “Innocence Experience,” bringing back the unforgettable sounds of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.
U2 has been present in the music world for quite some time but never seem to fade out of the spotlight by reenergizing old fans and obtaining new ones. Their first LA concert on May 26 featured jaw-dropping music, magnificent performance features, and incredible and impactful audience interaction.
Starting the concert with their hit song off of their latest album “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone),” U2s Bono took the spotlight while the crowd roared with appreciation and excitement. The entertaining band never has and continues to never fail an audience no matter where they are or what time period they are in.
Throughout the concert, the band not only played multiple songs from “Songs of Innocence,” but some of their hits ranging all the way back to 1983. “Sunday Bloody Sunday ” with its snare drum intensity, the ranging vocals of “Beautiful Love,” “One’s” impactful lyrics, and the modern but classic guitar riffs of “Vertigo,” are just a few examples of world changing sensations that U2 performed at the show.
The main attraction of the concert was the excellent music of the band, but the performance itself did not lack any special features. A large structure hanging over the middle of the venue, “the divide,” was utilized in numerous ways by the band.
Members of U2 could interact with “the divide” as it casted out a screen of colors and lights simulating a large screen in which the band could play inside of. Animations could be brought up in which they could walk within, slideshows could be played that were significant to the song that was being played, or live footage of the band could be displayed.
The delightful and electrifying sound of U2 was inviting to the ears of every fan in the arena, but a few lucky fans were able to join the band on stage after being pulled up by Bono himself. While onstage fans sang, joined in on the bands fun, and even had a chance to film them, streaming directly to social media where fans not attending the concert could see the first person footage live.
Not one moment during the concert was silent. When the band members needed a break, the audience was entertained with a Johnny Cash music video playing on “the divide.” Even when the stage needed tending to prepare for the finale, fans never ceased cheering, waving beams of light in the darkness. Never once was the atmosphere dull for any fan during the show.
Each and every focal point of the night was utterly excellent, but no highlight was more memorable than the finale’s ending song “One.” With a beautiful mixture of guitar solos and stunning vocals, U2 performed like never before, but as the band went on, the fans sang every lyric along with them. Pointing his microphone to the crowd, Bono let the audience sing segments of the song that created a powerful essence in the room, leaving both the audience and band stunned with charisma.
U2s performance was incredibly delivered to the forum and well received by the fans. They presented themselves to their audience in the best way possible through their unique music, stellar ballet, and genius fan interplay.
“Songs of Innocence” is available on iTunes for $9.99 and the “Innocence Experience” tour will be continuing until November 15th with tickets available online.
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