U2start.com | Shows | 1987-04-30 - Pontiac, Michigan

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"2 DAK-5245 - SONY D6"

Origins: Audience microphone
Credits: Robert Mullen (Audio Taper)
Equipment: Sony WM-D6 (Audio recording device), DAK 5245 (Microphone)
Lineage: TDK-SA-X90 > Yamaha K-902 > CD Wave Editor > TLH > fre:ac > mp3
Quality based on reviews:
Downloads: 123

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Audio / MP3

Bit rate: 224, bit depth: 16, sample rate: 44100, channels: 2

Download via Mega.nz

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Audio samples

"Joshua Tree Pontiac"

Origins: Audience microphone
Lineage: CDR (? )> EAC > .wav > FLAC Frontend > FLAC > fre:ac > mp3
Quality based on reviews:
Downloads: 467

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Audio / MP3

Bit rate: 224, bit depth: 16, sample rate: 44100, channels: 2

Download via Mega.nz

Download this recording

Audio samples

"Hi 8mm > VHS Master "

Origins: Audience microphone
Lineage: Unknown video equipment (Hi 8mm?) > VHS Master > 1st Gen VHS > FLAC >fre:ac > mp3
Downloads: 20

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U2
April 30, 1987
Pontiac, MI
The Pontiac Silverdome

*MONO recording*

*Probable* lineage: Unknown video equipment (Hi 8mm?) > VHS Master > 1st Gen VHS > FLAC

1. intro+Where the Streets Have No Name
2. I Will Follow
3. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
4. MLK / The Unforgettable Fire
5. Bullet the Blue Sky
6. Running to Stand Still
7. A Sort of Homecoming
8. Sunday Bloody Sunday
9. Exit/Gloria

1. In God's Country
2. Bad/Ruby Tuesday/Sympathy for the Devil
3. October
4. New Year's Day
5. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
6. [Encore Break]
7. With or Without You/Love Will Tear Us Apart
8. Gloria
9. "40"

NOTES:
This one is probably for completists only. Really the only reason I can think of to prefer
this recording over the other one is that it's complete (well, it has the song that the other
recording is missing, more below). I received this from I think merckx who tried to torrent
this here but was unsuccessful for some reason. He then sent it to me via one of those file
sharing sites like MegaUpload or something. The same person also shared what he was told was
a 1st gen cassette of this show, although someone seemed to think that one had torrent
restrictions on it, though I don't think that was ever confirmed.
This is from, according to what he was told, a 1st gen video (*not* a DVD rip, but audio directly
from the VHS), and I am guessing it's likely the same original source for the DVD of this show
that is floating around, but if the lineage is correct merckx's video would be a lower gen
than the circulating DVD's source.

A few things about the recording:
a.) This recording sounds to me like it is more or less in mono.
b.) There are dozens of tiny cuts throughout this recording, each of which is a small fraction
of a second, but which together add up to kind of an annoyance.
There are also larger edits in the first couple songs, as well as maybe a tape switch or
something before "Bad" where it sounds like the taper stopped the tape and re-started it.
c.) The recording is overall low-fi and thin sounding, but otherwise unobstructed.

So, get the other recording instead of, or at least in addition to, this one. It sounds better,
although this is certainly listenable aside from the edits.
The big advantage of this one (OK, small advantage) is that this recording has the complete
show while the audience recording did not have "Exit."

Anyway, a decent show following the well-known Chicago show, but not as interesting set-wise.
During "I Still Haven't Found" Bono gets pissed off I think at a security guard and calls him
(or maybe someone else) a monkey in a blue t-shirt. He stops the song and starts it up again
with just the Edge. After the song Bono makes some comments about some people having B.O.
problems and asks people to move back a little. Throughout the show he seems concerned about
calming the crowd down.

Possible names for this could be "Death by 1000 Cuts" given all the annoying edits, or "Bono's B.O. Problem." I prefer the latter.

Audio / MP3

Bit rate: 224, bit depth: 16, sample rate: 44100, channels: 1

Download via Mega.nz

Download this recording

Audio samples

Audience microphone

Origins: Audience microphone
Credits: unknown (Audio Taper)
Lineage: Transfer from analog

View info file

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Here you can find and post reviews of this show. We encourage everyone that either attended or listened to this show to write a review. Currently we have 4 reviews for you to read.

review by 2UToo

1 month ago

Performance

Although it's understandable that U2 probably wanted to play a slightly safer set for their first headlining gig at a stadium in the US, it's still a bit of a shame that "Trip Through Your Wires", "Springhill Mining Disaster" and "Mothers of the Disappeared" are all dropped tonight, additionally "Maggie's Farm" or "I Shall Be Released" or any other surprises would've been nice but at least we're getting "A Sort of Homecoming" back.

The performance is great with Bono's voice sounding very strong and powerful but also soft and vulnerable when it needs to. His falsetto is great as well. Luckily, the band don't sound too nervous with no major mistakes and instead some great moments by everyone can be enjoyed at this gig.

Sound

Although the quality itself is pretty clear, it does have a very distant sound to it.
Recording: "2 DAK-5245 - SONY D6" - 3.5 stars

Audience

This is U2's first headlining stadium show in the US and the audience absolutely lives up to it! Great level of participation in all areas and a great atmosphere throughout. During "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", security seems to act aggressively towards the audience so Bono stops the song, shouts at them (calling them "monkeys in blue" and reminding "these people are paying our wages") before restarting the song.

Overall

Highlights:
• I Will Follow
• I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
• The Unforgettable Fire
• Bullet the Blue Sky
• Running to Stand Still
• A Sort of Homecoming
• Exit / Gloria
• Bad / Ruby Tuesday / Sympathy for the Devil
• New Year's Day
• With or Without You / Shine Like Stars / Love Will Tear Us Apart
• Gloria
• "40"

reviews from show attendees

show	performance	audience	sound	overall
glffntc
cje1988

all reviews

show	performance	audience	sound	overall
glffntc
patou2
cje1988
2UToo

1987-04-30 - Pontiac, Michigan - Pontiac Silverdome

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show attendees: 16

review by 2UToo

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