Last night, U2 played to 96,000 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. At the same time, they were playing to who knows how many more people around the world who tuned in for a live stream of the full show on YouTube. Pretty cool, right?
The stream is down now, but a message posted at U2’s YouTube hub — say that five times fast! — promises that it will all be available for encore viewing “soon.” And while I’m sure a YouTube stream can’t compare to an in-person performance, or even to a high-res TV simulcast, it still seems like a promising option. I know there have been lots of shows over the years that I’ve been unable to attend due to scheduling or location issues, and that I’d have loved to watch online. That goes double if YouTube would let me see a show the next morning. (Case in point: I, personally, was unable to tune in last night because I was watching the Yankees win the pennant.)
Did any of you catch U2’s show on YouTube? Or do you plan to watch it later? Let us know how the whole YouTube concert thing worked out for you — and make all the U2-YouTube puns that you can think of — in the comments below. And hey, if you’re really dying to see U2 in the flesh, you can try and make it to one of the new North American shows they’ve just announced for 2010…
More from EW’s Music Mix:
U2 on the Music Mix
Metallica assists in search for missing fan
Leonard Cohen at Madison Square Garden: The master at 75
Kris Allen: We exclusively reveal the track listing for his self-titled debut
Photo credit: C. Flanigan/FilmMagic.com
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I watched it last night. It was pretty amazing, but it didn’t start until midnight on the east coast, so I was very tempted to go to bed and hope that it would be available the next morning.
I was at the Rose Bowl last night and they were fantastic!
Just was U2 three weeks ago in Atlanta..this was cool reliving the experience…hearing songs they did not play at concert..only things was east coasters had to stay up late to watch live..but loved the show again…
it was actually about 2:05 taking out the videos & walk to the stage.
I was there! I live 7 MINUTES AWAY from TRB. Thanks for making it so convenient guys! My one complaint: they butchered I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight. It’s SUCH a great song the way it is, that “remix” sucked! In honor of the biggest band in the world coming to my town, I’ve made a Top 10 things I learned about U2 at the Rose Bowl concert:
10. The other band members don’t get to speak much when Bono’s around, they can’t get a word in edge-wise-EVEN Edge…
09. Bono never takes his sunglasses off anymore, even in the dead of night. I think they’ve been surgically attached…
08. Edge has obviously found his ‘look’-and he’s sticking with it…
07. You can make a hell of a lot more money by setting up a 360 degree video screen and tricking people into sitting behind the stage & paying $100 for the privledge for what they couldv’e seen at home free…
06. They’re are a lot of people who’ll pay $100 to sit behind U2 and watch them on video screens…
05. When it comes to “sexy”, Bono’s no Fergie…
04. I don’t think they’re from around here…
4b. Bono would like to request that you
GET YOUR F%#$IN’ BOOTS ON ALREADY!…
03. Evidently, James Dean was reincarnated as Larry Mullen…
02. Bono REALLY likes the sound of his own voice…
[Actually, I kinda' suspected this already]
2b. If we give him what he wants, nobody will get hurt…
And the #1 thing i learned about U2 at the Rose Bowl concert:
In real life, Bono’s tiny. He’s only 4′2″, technically, this makes him a leprechan.
U2 was awesome as usual. Nearly two and a half hours long, it came through clearly on You Tube.
I tuned in on youtube and didn’t see anything beyond a gray screen. no video, no audio. nada.
I felt a total disconnect between the boys and the audience. The old songs were not sung with the fever pitch and heartfelt sentiment we are so used to. There were no “big moments”, no spine tingles, no goosebumps…very disappointed to say the least. Greatest band in the world, but dead last night. yikes!!!
completely agree, most of the people in the stands were just bored…
I dont know what concert you were, but I was on Section 6-H row 54 and everybody was jumping and singing like crazy!!!!
The crowd was going WILD. I know this because I was there. We sang along with every song and I’m hoarse today because of it. Bored lol… what a joke!
You know I noticed that in some parts of the stadium…kind of in the nosebleed sections. My theory is those peeps aren’t huge fans of the bands, so the crowd isn’t as into it. Because where I was everyone was way into it, including me. It was my first U2 concert, so maybe it wasn’t their best performance ever (I remember crying at the 2002 Superbowl performance, but that said there was a lot of other emotions going on then), and maybe Bono’s vocals were slightly zapped… butit was still the best experience. Love U2!
I watched the concert on U2-ube and was amazed at both the viewing quality and the enrgy of the band. U2 rocks! I did, however, notice that pockets of the audience seemed less engaged. One of my friends suggested that it may have been the location. Lots of front stage ticket holders probably got those tickets due to connections rather than being a life-long U2 fan. Also, I can’t help but wonder how people in Europe and other countries might have responded in person to the segments on Burmese political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi and Desmond Tutu’s inspiring introduction to “One.”
Sorry – had to comment on this one – I was a front stage ticket holder and can tell you that I do not have any connection whatsoever with the band and managed to get my spot by waiting aaallll day in line to get in. All the people around me did the same.
Yeah, NO KIDDING…you must not have been at the same concert I was at…EVERYONE was on their feets, screaming, singing themselves horse…inluding me! It was UNFORGETTABLE…and the uTube rebroadcast which is up right now is just as amazing…it captures all the moments.
I watched it and it was very cool. Only disappointment was Bonos vocals were not his best. However this is the future and it rocked!!!
I watched it early this morning (it began @ 4:30 here in France) and it was amazing ! the streaming quality was very good! Thanks U2 and Youtube!
I watched from my bed. It was fantastic. I was at the opening night show in Chicago, and while I was happy to see another show (albeit virtually) it didn’t fully capture the feeling…I missed the bombast. But it was still amazing…it made this die hard fan very happy.
I watched it! I was just mad that it started so late here on the East Coast. Went to sleep after, Its a beautiful day. I was really surprised at how well it streamed!! Had no problems at all, which I thought wouldn’t be the case, due to the amount of traffic i was thinking there would be on the sight! they did an amazing job though!
I watched. It was fantastic! It was wonderfully shot, the crowd was into it, the songs were great. Just all already fantastic experience.
My web connection was rough for about the first 20 minutes or so but after that the concert came through clearly.
Gig as great, fll of the usual U2 passion however Bonos vocals were not the 100% but thats what happens when your on tour for 4 months, well done Youtube,I hooked it up to my plasma!!!
I watched in Chicago. The stream was such good quality I was able to watch the concert on my 47″ tv! My only complaint was that there were not enough wide shots of the claw doing it’s light show. I know they were thinking “small screen” but it still would have been nice during key songs… but overall very happy to have stayed up to watch such a fine performance.
Stayed up to watch the show,started around midnight,curled up in a blanket, was mesmerized, felt like I was there, loved it, any sound that comes out of that man’s throat becomes music.
Thought it was great. Had just seen them in Vegas on Friday and relived the whole experience. They set the bar high for all tours.
Saw them in OK last Sunday, so this really helped with the post-concert letdown. Was surprised at the good streaming quality. Comparing seeing the show in person: you really missed alot of the ‘big picture’ on the streaming (the spectacular stage & effects) but this was great for seeing them up close. Enjoyed BOTH experiences IMMENSELY.