by Matt C.

First of all, you have to understand there are politics involved with the new Cowboys stadium. People are mad at Jerry Jones because he hasn't already won the Super Bowl this year, or because he hired T.O., or because he fired T.O., or whatever. I won't go in to whether those feeling are right or wrong, because they have no place in a U2 review. But I have to say all this because most of the whining I have seen about the venue in Dallas is obviously just coming from Jones-haters that obviously weren't at the concert I was at. The sound was just fine. Anyone that knows anything about a stadium concert should know that there are just places you don't stand. No stadium has perfect acoustics.

In fact, on the way back to our car, we passed by an uber-fan in a War-tour t-shirt commenting on how this crowd was not the best they had seen, because many were just "there to see the new stadium" and that they "bet they are just going to gripe about the acoustics now."

For me, this was my first U2 concert (if you don't count U2 3-D, that is :). My wife saw them on the Zoo TV tour, but I have just always lived too far away to be able to afford the trip. Until I moved to Dallas, that is! Muse was a good opening band, despite the drunk Muse fans that excessively pushed us and about 10 people out of the way because "they were fans and they deserved to."

If you have read reviews or recent set lists from other recent shows, then you know what songs were played and what statements were made at this show. We were standing about 3 people back from the outer rim on stage left. Whoever designed the Claw deserves an award - that thing is awesome! U2 gave us a great show. There were a few places where you could tell they were a little tired, but they still gave it their all, full energy. No slackers in this band. All of Bono's preaching was less than 5 minutes, but I wouldn't have cared if he had gone on for longer. He is trying to make a difference, after all. My only complaint is that they didn't play one of my favorites: Pride (In The Name of Love). Not sure where they could have jammed it in there, because I loved every song that was played.

I'm no Bush lover, but I have to recognize Bono for still giving Bush credit for what good he did do in Africa. No matter how much you hate the guy, our country is being destroyed by people that just have to hate someone unilaterally because that person might be "on the other side of the aisle." That statement still took guts, because I think we all know that Bono doesn't agree with a lot of Bush's politics. Classy job Bono - you taught this loud-mouthed amateur political commentator a lesson.

I saw on the Twitter feed about the concert that someone left feeling like they just "had church." that was pretty true. But I don't think church has ever left my ears still ringing the next day :)

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