Main Set: City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh - Into the Heart, Beautiful Day, New Year's Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky, Running to Stand Still, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One
Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because of You, Yahweh, 40
Just back from Vancouver and experiencing major jetlag, so this will be a little disjointed. But man, once again, what a show! My first time seeing U2 in almost 4 years, and the boys haven't missed a beat. This band is incredible.
Before I say anything about the show, I have to say that for personal reasons I'd rather not go into, I almost didn't think I'd even be able to make this show. It wasn't until literally the day before that the tides shifted a little to allow me to attend. So instead of having the usual build up to the show, I was just more grateful to be there than anything else. As a result, I think I had a mellower time--which isn't a bad thing!
First of all, we arrived at 8:30 a.m. The GA line this time around was fantastic. A great mix of people, and as a rare treat, venue security did a very good job of policing the line, even removing some line-cutters late in the day. This was in stark contrast to the security that was almost nonexistent for the Elevation (or at least the 3 GA shows I went to last tour). I was quite impressed, and I hope to see this carry over throughout the Vertigo Tour (and hopefully into Toronto in the fall!).
No, I didn't get into the elipse, but I think I got the next best spot. I was right on the rail at Edge's side, which turned out a good thing, since there was very little pushing or shoving going on where I was. I can't say the same for other spots on the floor. The number of people fainting/being taken out during the show was unprecedented. I think security took out maybe 20 - 30 people who who had either fainted, or were too sick/upset or too rowdy. It was quite hot inside and the crush of people proved overwhelming for many. At some points during the show, the number of people being removed became distracting and disconcerting. There was a very young girl, maybe 10, who was pulled out in tears. I'm not sure what it's been like at other shows, but this is definitely the rowdiest show I've been to... and I was at Slane! *LOL*
But enough about that. Despite the rowdy crowd, the show itself was great; simply phenomenal. It opened with City of Blinding Lights, to a beautiful light display, and confetti falling from the ceiling. The entire show was even being filmed, so possibly we might get some footage at some point! The crowd was going wild, and the band fed off that energy and let it carry them. Bono spent some time along the sides of the elipse, and even stopped right in front of our section for a moment or two. The Edge and Adam were bang-on, and both travelled frequently around the elipse. Adam even smiled at me, which was such a treat! What I love about this tour is the fact that all the band members are so mobile. Even Larry gets time away from the main stage. It's wonderful to see them out there, playing to the crowd at different angles and soaking up the spotlight. These guys look like they're genuinely enjoying themselves up there, and that just works wonders with the audience.
Highlights of of the show for me include All Because of You (fantastic with the tamborine!), One (everbody call Paul Martin!), Running to Stand Still (beautiful--I've waited almost 10 years to hear this live), City of Blinding Lights with the gorgeous theatrical display, Love and Peace with Bono banging on the drums, Streets (always a show-stopper), Yahweh (I am of the camp that loves this song, and I think it's phenomenal done acoustically), and of course, the beautiful rendition of 40 to close out the show, with Adam and Edge trading bass and guitar as in the days of yore.
In the middle of Yahweh, Bono pulled a girl with a flower in her hair up on stage who had asked him for a dance. Initially he said "I don't think this is the right tune, baby," but he relented and took her up. Unfortunately, she got a little too "friendly" with him and he sent her back down rather quickly. It's just lucky Bono is so laid back about most things.
During The Electric Co, Bono asked a girl in the elipse for her tube of lipstick. At first she wasn't quite sure what he had in mind, but she finally gave it to him. He applied it liberally, handed it back to her, then proceeded to sing "send in the clowns." Now there's a tube of lipstick I would save forever!
As the show neared an end, Bono told us, "Goodbye beautiful Vancouver. We don't want to leave this city. Some of us leave with sore heads, and some of us leave with sore hearts." I couldn't agree more. I didn't want to leave Vancouver either, and it was with a pang of regret that I boarded the plane the next day to head home.
It was a phenomenal week, and another phenomenal U2 show. Once again, thank you, U2. I'll see you in September.