U2 2015-05-28 The Roxy West Hollywood, CA

U2
The Roxy
West Hollywood, CA
May 28, 2015
JEMS Master

Church Audio CA-14 cardioid mics > Church Audio 9100 pre-amp > Edirol R-09HR 24/96 files > iZotope Ozone 5 > iZotope RX4 > MBIT+ downsample to 16/44.1 > FLAC

01 The Ocean
02 11 O’Clock Tick Tock
03 I Will Follow
04 The Electric Co.
05 Beautiful Day
06 Elevation
07 Stuck In A Moment
08 Sunday Bloody Sunday (electric)
09 Out Of Control
10 Vertigo
11 Song For Someone
12 California

Here it is. And yes, it was everything any one of us would have hoped it to be: our favorite band, in a 500 person club, playing unadorned by visual technology and giving it their all for an hour of expected and unexpected material. At times it was a bit surreal to see U2 in this setting, so close to the crowd, playing a setlist that nodded to the very first tours where venues of this size were the norm.

As for the recording, the PA at the Roxy is spread wide left and right of stage. I used cardioids to help fight off what I knew would be a noisy crowd and I was standing pretty much dead center. But the highly directional nature of the mics combined with the positioning to the PA meant that when I moved slightly (and as much as I tried to stay steady, I did move, wouldn’t you?), the high end of the stereo image shifts. The impact is heard almost entirely in the cymbals, which flitter between channels in spots (cymbals may also have been split left/right in the PA). It is noticeable, more so in headphones, but not terribly annoying. Ce la vie. I did the best I could.

That demerit aside, the tape is punchy, clear, full and I think accurately captures what happened in the room. Samples provided.

Once it was announced the show would NOT be broadcast, we did feel obliged to all of you to get in there and record. We hope you enjoy it.

And by we, I mean the extended JEMS family. J went through the entire show yesterday painstakingly removing closer clapping during music to make for a more palatable listening experience. And BG was also quick to raise a hand and volunteer to take this one the last mile. Thanks to both of them.

BK for JEMS

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