Rebecca Blissett

At B.C. Place on Wednesday, October 28

Well, no one can accuse U2 of chintzing out on the stage-design front, that’s for sure. If it’s production values you’re after, you won’t get more bang for your buck from any other band. But honestly, would it kill U2 to throw us a Boy bone once and a while? It’s almost as though the members of Ireland’s greatest rock band are dead set on proving their new stuff is just as good, if not better, than the romantically raw classics that put them on an otherworldly level of rock stardom in first place.

They couldn’t be more wrong. Someone needs to remind the wee Bono and his tuque-loving sidekick the Edge that it’s not the size of a man’s JumboTron that’s important, it’s the intensity of his material. And it’s not like they have a shortage of emotionally charged rock anthems to choose from. “Two Hearts Beat as One”, anyone? And yet, U2 kicked off its Vegas-style extravaganza at B.C. Place on Wednesday with “Breathe” and “Get On Your Boots”, two mediocre songs from the band’s latest album, No Line on the Horizon. With anticipation at a fever pitch, it was tad anticlimactic, to say the least.

But there was an upshot to this weak start. Visually, there was a lot to take in with the 360 ° Tour. So the first few songs gave ticketholders some time to appreciate the innovative stage design. A first of its kind, the stage itself was pretty much clutter-free. That’s because the speaker system was stored in a giant, four-pronged, clawlike contraption that loomed over the proceedings. In the centre, a cylindrical, retractable video screen hovered over the band like a mothership waiting to beam the musicians up at any moment. And instead of the now-standard catwalk that cuts through the middle of the floor, U2 had a huge ring that surrounded the main stage.

Sandwiched between these two stages, there was a pricey inner sanctum of seats called the Red Zone—all proceeds going to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. That was just one of the many worthy causes the socially conscious Dubliners brought to our attention. In fact, there were so many, it was hard to keep up, but that’s our Bono! Say what you want about the pint-sized egomaniac, the man genuinely seems to give a fuck about what’s going on in the world. (Only Bono could get a whole stadium of strangers to sing “Happy Birthday” to Bill Gates, one of his biggest corporate philanthropy partners. Mr. Microsoft was in da house celebrating his 54th.)

Musically, the first glimmer of U2’s brilliance didn’t shine through until about the six-song mark, when it busted out “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”, which was capped off with a sweet snippet of “Stand by Me”. Another highlight was “Unforgettable Fire”, which is where the visuals married nicely with the sounds. The video screen slid down and projected moody red-lit patterns, which suited this ethereal ballad. And yes, I’m happy to report that Bono can still reach those high notes.

During one of two encores, U2 treated us to “Where the Streets Have No Name”. And though it was a beautiful thing for everyone in attendance, it also gave a sad glimpse into how much better the concert would have been had the band not been so stingy with its classics. Next time, fewer special effects, more great songs.