On Wednesday, June 22, 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Famers U2 brought their traveling 360 Degree Tour to M&T Bank Stadium before a delirious crowd of over 75,000 people, including actor Matt Damon, John Krasinski (aka, Jim from the Office) and former Speaker of the House and Baltimore native Nancy Pelosi. Bono’s image was shown over the large video screen as he made his way out on the stage through the tunnel that Ravens Hall of Fame Linebacker Ray Lewis has made famous over the years. And as Bono and U2 came out onto the stadium they were greeted with a Ray Lewis like roar from the crowd. In fact, watching U2 perform over the next two hours was like watching a vintage Ray Lewis performance. The audience could easily feel the passion and energy from the band and appreciate the greatness that was on display for their entertainment. As night fell and the air continued to swelter Rock Legends Bono and the Edge still looked cool despite their trademark wool cap and leather jacket.
Fans were treated long time to U2 anthems Sunday, Bloody Sunday, I Will Follow, and Pride and often Bono would merely put down his microphone and allow the audience to sing the well known lyrics for him. The sometimes haunting sound of 75,000 voices filled the night time ski over Baltimore.
Besides the band, the other star of the 360 Tour has been the stage itself. The double ringed stage allowed the band to walk over and around their jubilant fans, and at times turned the playing M&T Bank field into a sea of waving arms and bodies. The large video screens, which circled the and sometimes, enveloped the band, acted as a way to lend an intimate atmosphere to the music, despite the vastness of the venue. The screens also aided in the interpretation of the music as they allowed astronaut Mark E. Kelly to introduce “Beautiful Day” and Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu to introduce “One.” Those touches allowed the crowd to connect even closer to the music of U2.
As the evening drew to a close the band offered a final and fitting tribute to legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons.
If you attended this concert please feel free to email your pictures to [email protected] and they will be added to this story.