U2 at the Air Canada Centre, Tuesday, July 7. Rating: NNNN
At Tuesday’s U2 concert, my hard shell of cynicism eventually cracked and I had the following thought: these preening bastards who forced their latest album into my iTunes (still) put on a damn great show.
While their cloying persona is loathsome, it’s difficult to find U2 insufferable when you’re in the same room with them. They hit the stage to Patti Smith’s People Have The Power blaring through the speakers. Bono wanted everyone else to sing the whoa-ohs in The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) and Pride (In The Name Of Love) and With Or Without You. A random young woman from the audience who requested Angel Of Harlem and All I Want Is You was invited to play rhythm guitar on both.
The Dublin rockers seem honestly interested in enlightening and empowering people. And hardliners who refuse to be told what to think, do or listen to scoff. But aside from the giant Lite-Brite screen/cage the band often performed in, U2’s current show is quite humble, and tells an easy, inclusive story about a band and their fiercest defenders: their fans.
music@nowtoronto.com | @vishkhanna