25/05/1978 Project Arts Centre, Dublin, U2 & The Hype Concerts Ireland 1978
This is a complete list of known U2 concerts that took place in Ireland in 1978. I have spent many hours trawling the Irish Newspaper Archive, The Dublin Library and talking to those that were there, too make this the most complete document of U2’s early career. This site would not be possible without them, the Dublin Library & the Irish Newspaper Archive.
25/05/1978 Project Arts Centre, Dublin, Ireland 1978
Attendance, unknown
Support, School Kids, U2, The Gamblers, Virgin Prunes
Admission, £1.00
Set; includes Mannequin
This is the first time Paul McGuinness see’s U2 live. After the concert Paul takes U2 for a drink in the Granary bar next door. Paul buys the drinks as, legally he is the only one old enough to drink. It will take a couple of months before Paul agrees to be U2’s manager.
This concert is reviewed in Hot Press, U2’s first, it won’t be their last.
Hot Press Review by Karl Tsigdinos
They are fun to dance to, but the School Kids have more than a few wrinkles to iron out before they’ll leave a lasting impression.
On the other hand, U2 have only one big problem, conquering the “fast is good” fallacy that plagues them now. Already possessed of a fine rhythm section, a tangible identity, & a promising vocalist, U2 managed to negate the impact of their originals simply by playing too fast. What could well have been very clear songs sounded unintelligible & indistinguishable.
A glimmer of U2’s direction may be gleaned from the inclusion of Wire’s “Mannequin” in their set & if U2 can slow down long enough to be heard, they could step to the fore of the Dublin music scene.
Karl later told me that no one from “Hot Press” wanted to cover this concert for the paper, he drew the short straw when Bill Graham told him he was going.
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