U2, Stade Roi Boudoin, Belgium

Having skipped Belgium on the last leg of their 360 tour, U2 were more or less obliged to play Brussels this time around. After all, the high tech jiggery-pokery behind the tour owes a lot to the country – the already iconic ‘Claw’ stage was constructed here in the spring of 2009.
If these two concerts were a homecoming for the crew, the band were also made to feel very welcome. They repaid the compliment by mingling ‘Vertigo’ with local hero Plastic Bertrand’s ‘Ca Plane Pour Moi’. Later, as heavy rain lashed Brussels, Bono performed a medley: ‘Singing in the Rain’ crossed with ‘Bad’. Despite the horrid weather, the frontman appeared to be enjoying himself. On an irrepressible ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’, he sang “I see those rainclouds disappear without a trace”, before launching into classics such as ‘New Year’s Day’ and ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’.
Thursday’s show marked the 32nd anniversary of sound man extraordinaire Joe O’Herlihy’s first U2 gig. He’s certainly got his hands full tonight, balancing glam-bangers like ‘Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me’ with the likes of the symphonic ‘Miss Sarajevo’. The latter gets one of the warmest receptions of the evening, with Bono taking on Pavarotti’s operatic climax. Whatever about the back, his voice is in fine fettle. The tour ends in Rome. There’ll be some party there...