U2 return home to Ireland after their short tour of the North East of America for some Christmas date. Funny enough U2 are now big enough to sell out the big ballroom venues in Ireland, like the Downtown Kampus, Riviera Club, Baymount Hotel and the Leisureland. The smallest venue they play is Dublin’s T.V. Club.
22/12/1980 T.V. Club, Dublin, Ireland
Attendance; unknown
Support; Microdisney
Admission; £3.50
Set; The Ocean, An Cat Dubh, Into The Heart, 11 O’clock Tick Tock, I Will Follow Encore Boy – Girl, Stories For Boys, Out Of Control, 11 O’clock Tick Tock
Irish Times review by Joe Breen “When Irish bands return from short stays abroad, usually in Britain, we’ve come to expect that they will be a tighter, more professional and altogether more efficient outfit when they come home. U2 displayed all these virtues in the unlikely setting of the TV Club on Monday night, but they had one other, toughness. As their lead singer, Bono, remarked to the packed sweat-soaked audience, they’ve grown up, and how. Straight from the opening notes of “The Ocean” they drove into their material with confidence and assurance. They had the audience in their grip, and even when they faltered they came back with such power that the audience had no choice but to act like a fish caught on a very enticing hook.”
“And indeed it is the hooks, twists and turns of The Edge’s guitar playing that is so crucial to U2’s powerfully distinctive sound. Yet his style is not all fury, for in the quieter passages of the songs it is his atmospheric guitar that sets the tone that gives Bono the room to gently draw the audience closer to him. Behind them Larry Mullen (drums) and Adam Clayton (bass) have developed into a mighty engine room, though there is still space for improvement. But that is the trouble with U2. They are still growing, still searching for new avenues of expression and still learning. The concert on Monday showed that they are well into their stride, and if the odd song tripped a little, that could reasonably be put down to the excitement of the night.”
“And what a night. After a set that produced some great heights, not least in the vocal department, where Bono’s voice is fast losing its choirboy quality in favour of a more soulful sound, they ended with their excellent single “I Will Follow”, from their debut album, “Boy”. They encored with “Boy/Girl”, “Stories for Boys” and “Out of Control” before leaving the stage after a repeat blast of “11 O’Clock Tick Tock”. A memorable night and a worthy home-coming.”
