October 9, 2009 – Tampa, Florida, USA – Raymond James Stadium – U2

Opening Act(s): Muse
Setlist:
Breathe, Get On Your Boots, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – Stand By Me, Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of, No Line On The Horizon, Magnificent, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, The Unforgettable Fire, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (Remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On. Encore(s): One, Amazing Grace, Where The Streets Have No Name, Ultra Violet (Light My Way), With Or Without You, Moment Of Surrender.

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(1325, 1, ‘2009-11-06 06:04:19’, ‘2009-11-06 10:04:19’, ‘Setlist:nOne, Magnificent, Sunday Bloody Sunday – Get Up Stand Up, Beautiful Day – Blackbird, Vertigo, Moment Of Surrender.nRemarks:nThe 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall is commemorated with a free concert by U2 in front of Berlin”s Brandenburg Gate. Over 10,000 people are in attendance for this free show. U2”s performance is in conjunction with the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards. Jay-Z joins the band on stage for a rap during Sunday Bloody Sunday that segues into Get Up Stand Up. U2 also wins the award for “Best Live Act” at tonight”s award show.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/various_appearances/november_5_2009_-_berlin_germany_-_brandenburg_gate/EMAberlin05112009-2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

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(6, 1, ‘2001-05-07 05:16:04’, ‘2001-05-07 09:16:04’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveyrnSetlist:rnElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Angel Of Harlem, Stay (Faraway, So Close), Bad-All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.rnRemarks:rnrnBono sings snippets of The Beatles ”Drive My Car” and ”Twist And Shout” at the end of ”Elevation.” Later in the show, Bono comments on The Beatles having played at the Mellon Arena back in the 1960”s.ed.’, ‘May 6, 2001 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA – Mellon Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-6-2001-pittsburgh-pennsylvania-usa-mellon-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-25 20:24:10’, ‘2010-06-26 00:24:10’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=6’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(1375, 1, ‘2005-11-21 05:23:40’, ‘2005-11-21 09:23:40’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Mysterious Ways, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, The Fly, With Or Without You, Happy Birthday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Yahweh, All Because Of You, 40.nRemarks:nHappy Birthday is sung for a member of U2”s crew. Bono brings two young boys on stage to help shine the spotlight during 40. Near the end of the show, Bono thanks Richard Wright of Pink Floyd for their Live 8 performance (Wright is at the show). Also reportedly at the show are the members of R.E.M. Before All Because of You, Bono shares a dedication to Daniel Lanois which is taped for airing at an upcoming Canadian music awards ceremony where Lanois is being honored.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionnU2 at Philips Arena Friday nightnby Phil Kloer, The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionnThere”s a fine line between being the most charismatic rock star working these days and a fairly large serving of ham, and reasonable people can disagree on which side of the line Bono falls.nOf course, if there were any reasonable people heading into Philips Arena Friday or Saturday night for back-to-back, sold-out concerts by U2, there weren”t any going out, because U2 just flat-out put on a synapse-frying show. One of the most intense rock ”n” roll light shows ever and a barrage of decibels combined for sensory overload.nBeaded curtains of light hung above the stage in sheets, flashing and showing shimmering images. The stage was surrounded by a huge, egg-shaped catwalk, which was itself lit with pulsing lights around the perimeter. It allowed the band members — mainly famous frontman Bono– to get off the stage, into the arena, and play to the crowd.nN/And play to the crowd he did, with as much showboating as Wayne Newton working a lounge in Vegas.nFriday night, he got a young woman out of the audience for a long slow dance to “With Or Without You.” He donned a blindfold and pretended to be a political prisoner. He gave one shout out to America”s military, another to New Orleans clean-up volunteers. He threw a few bars of “Georgia On My Mind” into the staggeringly propulsive opener “City of Blinding Lights.”nHe talked about his dad, and how he died recently, but was always asking Bono to take off his sunglasses. “So anyway, this is for you, dad,” he said, taking off his ever-present shades, as the band launched into its recent hit “Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own.” “And it”s you when I look in the mirror,” he sang, to everyone”s aging or dead parents. And he even hit the high notes.nThat ham metaphor isn”t a knock, more a nod of respect. U2 could charge triple digits for tickets (which they do), come out, play the tunes and move on, but they apparently want their fans to experience everything from emotional turmoil to a political awakening to partial hearing loss. (Man, were they loud.)nThey”ve always been this way, more or less, for 25 years, with some slight missteps in the ”90s when they got a little too cutesy, some felt. They”ve long since ditched the irony; Bono in concert these days is as serious as a biopsy report. The self-described “Irish megalomaniac” donned a headband with a Star of David, a Christian cross and a Muslim crescent moon on it for the anti-violence anthem “Sunday Bloody Sunday, announcing that “We are all sons of Abraham.”nHe promoted the One “campaign to make poverty history,” got in a plug for his efforts on African debt relief, and scrolled the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the Jumbotron.nWhat U2 has gotten really good at, though, is integrating all that into two hours-plus of rock ”n” roll kick-in-the-head catharsis. That Jumbotron was frequently divided into four panels so all four band members were on display: Guitarist the Edge, with his stocking cap and array of killer licks, chiming, chopping, soaring and just filling Philips; bassist Adam Clayton, as stoic as Bono is histrionic; drummer Larrry Mullen, shown in close-up so you could see the tendons popping on his forearms.nOpening act the Institute suffered the same fate of most acts that have to go out in an arena of people still trickling in to see the headliner: Hardly anyone cared. Singer Gavin Rossdale, formerly of Bush, tried a little showboating himself, and he”s got some moves, but after 45 minutes, the band hadn”t really moved the needle.nCopyright © 2005 Atlanta Journal-Constitution. All rights reserved.n’, ‘November 18, 2005 – Atlanta, Georgia, USA – Philips Arena’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘100-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-21 05:23:40’, ‘2005-11-21 09:23:40’, ”, 100, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1375’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(1387, 1, ‘2001-10-19 08:54:23’, ‘2001-10-19 12:54:23’, ‘Opening Act(s): Graham ParkernSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Out Of Control, Sunday Bloody Sunday, When Will I See You Again-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Angel Of Harlem, Knockin” On Heaven”s Door, Staring At The Sun, Please, Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, What”s Going On, New York, One, Peace On Earth-Walk On.nRemarks:nU2 perform in Baltimore for the first time in history. Graham Parker fills in for Garbage for opening act at last moment”s notice. Parker plays a brief set before his band”s planned gig at a local club. Bono brings a male fan on stage to play guitar during a full-band version of ”Knockin” On Heaven”s Door.” ”Kite” is dedicated to Ali”s dad, who is in attendance. ”Please” makes its first appearance of the tour, segueing into ”Streets” like it did on the Popmart Tour.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nBy Arlin BartelsnFourth Elevation show for me so far, and the one I”ll probably remember the longest.nLast night had a poignancy and urgency to the show that I hadn”t anticipated. The showmanship has been turned down a bit, and all the “reclaiming the greatest band” and “introducing the band” stuff is gone, replaced by even truer, more honest, heartfelt passion. For U2, that”s saying a lot.nSo many of U2”s songs have martial aspects, and with last month”s events these songs all take on a new relevancy. It seems like U2”s ironic aspects have been put to bed, at least for a little while, and been replaced by faith.nSome of the new songs – Kite in particular – seem to just continue to deepen and grow. Kite now comes from the perspective of Bono”s father singing to him, which seems even more personal, somehow.nOne amazing aspect is how subtle some of the artistic points are, you don”t even notice them go by until they trigger the subconsious.nExample: In New York, they don”t lower all of the screens now at the start, just the three in back. The screens, which I just then understood, were supposed to stand for the skyscrapers of NY. Part way through, two, only two of the potential four, additional screens lower for the rest of the song. Obviously these were supposed to be the WTC towers. Then at the end of the song those “towers”, instead of falling, rise up to the heavens. Absolutely stunning.nN/And, with just a simple exchange of the Arabic intro for the old gospel intro, BTBS immediately transforms into a site report from the hills of Afghanistan, where Bono can still “see those fighter planes”. One of the amazing things about U2 songs is how they can reshape their meanings over time, and how it triggers within you without having to be told.n”This song is about, well you know what this song is about…” tells you every thing you need to know about Please. What a great song, even if it was a little unsure of itself compared to the show-stopping splendor of the Pop tour. I expect it will only get more powerful as they get more comfortable with it.nN/A couple of other points I didn”t see in the other posts:nIn a lot of other hands, all of Bono”s pro-USA patriotism would seem like just sucking up to a crowd. But as “showy” as it is, it still seems legit. Bono always took a lot of crap in the 80s for “lecturing” the USA, I hope he doesn”t get a lot of crap now for “kissing up to the USA”.nThe part where he cradled the American flag during New Year”s Day while singing “I will begin again” just brought gasps to the people around me, and as he laid it gently back into the audience people around me started to cry.nN/And, the part at the end where he took off his jacket revealing the flag sewn inside and slowly walked back to the stage was a great touch, but then at the end when they put the jacket on its own mike stand and left the darkened stage with a single spotlight on the flag gave me goose bumps.nI also hadn”t realized how poignant seeing the names of the passenger lists scrolling by during One would affect me. So many people of so many ethnicities, all with sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters. Such a waste.nI was glad to see the positive audience response when Bono quoted the Koran, and I continue to be amazed at the audience response during the “Hallelujah” chorus part at the end. It”s amazing to see at a secular show – something I haven”t seen from another secular band since, well, U2 closing their shows with ”40” back in the day.nIf there is a Heaven, and I hope there is, I expect it”ll be something like this.nThis was a good one.n-ArlinnImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/october_19_2001_-_baltimore_maryland_usa_-_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery2]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/october_19_2001_-_baltimore_maryland_usa_-_arena/10-thumb-83×120-3476.jpg” width=”83″ height=”120″ alt=”10.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/october_19_2001_-_baltimore_maryland_usa_-_arena/11.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery2]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/october_19_2001_-_baltimore_maryland_usa_-_arena/11-thumb-88×120-3478.jpg” width=”88″ height=”120″ alt=”11.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Reuters; © Joanne; © Bob Reck; © Jim Lawheadn’, ‘October 19, 2001 – Baltimore, Maryland, USA – Arena’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘225-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2001-10-19 08:54:23’, ‘2001-10-19 12:54:23’, ”, 225, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/2001/10/225-revisio’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(7, 1, ‘2005-03-29 18:53:45’, ‘2005-03-29 22:53:45’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, The Cry, 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, Zoo Station, The Fly, Elevation. Encore: Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nThe Vertigo 2005 Tour opens up in San Diego, California, with confetti falling around the full stage as Bono sings ”City Of Blinding Lights” from out at the edge of the ellipse. ”The Cry” and ”The Electric Co.” are played for the first time since 1987, not counting the dress rehearsal two nights ago. ”An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart” hasn”t been played since 1984. Larry helps sing during ”Elevation” and plays keyboards during ”Yahweh.” The concert ends with a full version of ”40” just like the ”80s, with each band member leaving the stage separately and a brief drum solo from Larry.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nU2 opener uneven yet uplifting, unifyingnSan Diego Union-Tribune, 03/30/2005nby George VarganIt isn”t uncommon for even the most legendary of rock bands to try to cast a final spell of musical magic with their show-closing encore.nBut there is little about U2 that is common, even by legendary rock-star standards. And what made its final encore so memorable Monday at the ipayOne Center was that the sold-out audience of 14,500, not the four-man Irish band, performed the final refrain of “40.” And that concluded the opening night of U2”s “Vertigo/2005” world tour, at what was formerly the San Diego Sports Arena.nN/A stirring song of unity, redemption and divine inspiration based on Psalm 40 from the Bible, “40” dates back 22 years to the band”s third album, “War.” Or as Bono, U2”s iconic singer, told the cheering crowd: “We haven”t played this one since 1983,” when it was a staple of the group”s sets.nOne by one, band members exited the stage, leaving drummer Larry Mullen Jr. to lay down a snappy backbeat as the audience sang the refrain of “40”: How long to sing this song? When he, too, left the stage, the audience continued singing, a cappella, even after the house lights came up.nWere it not for the prerecorded music that began blaring over the sound system, it”s possible some fans might still be singing in the arena, where the band performs the second show of its tour tonight.nSuch is the power of U2 and its most powerful songs, which combine earthy rock ”n” roll rhythms and chiming guitars with uplifting messages of faith and hope for a better world.nTrue, there were a few bumps Monday night, as might be expected at the opening of one of the year”s most anticipated tours. These included uneven pacing and a sense of playing it safe rather than engaging in the heady risk-taking that has characterized some of U2”s best onstage moments.nThose missteps aside, U2 generally performed with winning poise and panache, beginning with its first two numbers, “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo,” both from the band”s uneven new album, “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.”nBono sang a snippet of the Police”s “King of Pain” during “Vertigo,” and quoted both The Who”s “I Can See For Miles” and Stephen Sondheim”s “Send in the Clowns” during “Electric Company.” Later, in 1987”s classic “Bullet the Blue Sky,” he segued into the “The Hands That Built America,” which gave both songs greater resonance. “Bullet” was made even more powerful by the blindfold Bono wore for part of it, which used drawings of a Muslim crescent moon, the Star of David and a cross to form the word “CoeXisT.”nU2 should find its footing – and the heart of its still-evolving show – as the tour progresses. There were enough memorable moments Monday to leave fans, some of whom came from as far away as Norway and U2”s native Ireland, buzzing.nN/And while the band delivered rousing versions of such still-vital U2 classics as 1984”s “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and 1983”s “New Year”s Day” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” U2”s members strived to make Monday”s show more than just a heady walk down memory lane.nSix of the 23 selections performed were from its new album. And two of them, the Who-inspired rave-up “All Because of You” and the surging “Yahweh,” provided a solid, one-two punch before “40” brought the show to a close.nFor longtime fans, the treats also included strong versions of three rarely performed early songs – “The Electric Company,” “An Cat Dub” and “Into the Heart” – all from the band”s 1980 debut album, “Boy.”nThe concert marked U2”s sixth appearance here at the arena, where the quartet first performed in 1982, opening for the J. Geils Band. In contrast with those more simple, streamlined times, on Monday the Edge used a different guitar for almost every song, often triggering an array of other instruments with a single strum.nBono, whose humanitarian efforts have made him a Nobel Prize contender, jokingly referred to himself as “Little Lord Jesus.” But he was deadly serious during “Pride,” when he not only paid tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. but implored the audience to battle poverty in Africa.n”(King) wasn”t just talking about the American Dream,” Bono said. “His dream was bigger than that. It was a dream big enough to fit the whole world. It was a dream where everyone was equal under the eyes of God. Everyone – European, Asian, African, African, African.”nLater, as the text of the United Nations” Declaration of Human Rights was projected on video screens, Bono urged U2”s fans to help eradicate poverty in Africa by signing up to join the nonprofit One campaign (www.one.org).n”We”re looking for 1 million Americans to go to work, proving that equality exists in Africa as well as America,” Bono said.nComing from almost any other band or singer, such entreaties would probably sound contrived or hollow. But from U2 and Bono, whose impassioned song, “One,” was another concert highlight Monday, it rang perfectly true.n© San Diego Union-Tribune, 2005.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/032805_san_diego/sandiego032905_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery57]

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“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/032805_san_diego/sandiego032905_2-thumb-120×85-1594.jpg” width=”120″ height=”85″ alt=”sandiego032905_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/032805_san_diego/sandiego032905_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery57]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/032805_san_diego/sandiego032905_3-thumb-92×120-1596.jpg” width=”92″ height=”120″ alt=”sandiego032905_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/032805_san_diego/sandiego032905_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery57]

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“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/032805_san_diego/sandiego032905_8-thumb-120×83-1606.jpg” width=”120″ height=”83″ alt=”sandiego032905_8.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/032805_san_diego/sandiego032905_9.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery57]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/032805_san_diego/sandiego032905_9-thumb-120×85-1608.jpg” width=”120″ height=”85″ alt=”sandiego032905_9.jpg”/></a>n</div>n’, ‘March 28, 2005 – San Diego, California, USA – Sports Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘march-28-2005-san-diego-california-usa-sports-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-03-29 18:53:45’, ‘2005-03-29 22:53:45’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=7’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(8, 0, ‘2005-03-31 02:38:24’, ‘2005-03-31 06:38:24’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, The Cry, The Electric Co., Gloria, Beautiful Day, With Or Without You, 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-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, Zoo Station, The Fly, Elevation. Encore: Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:n”Gloria” is played for the first time since the end of the Lovetown Tour in 1990. Bono invites a fan on stage before ”Miracle Drug” and asks the fan for Spanish lessons. Before ”One”, Bono talks about Eddie Vedder, who grew up in the San Diego area and first played music here. Vedder is in attendance at tonight”s show. Bono coins a new name for this tour”s version of the ”heart” when he asks ”How we doing in the bomb shelter?” before ”Yahweh.”nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nChris ([email protected])nN/Another stellar performance by the world”s biggest band.nU2 are back on tour and still as magnetic and spectacular as ever. I won”t repeat their song list since it can be found on the main tour page. Instead I”ll share my thoughts and experiences on the night.nFirst, to quote Bono, midway through the set as he looked around at the crowd: “Wow”. He seemed to be genuinely caught up in the energy rising from the audience. I had the great fortune of the getting best spot in the house; inside the “bomb shelter” elipse, dead center, front of the stage. For any of you that were at the show, you probably saw him take my U.S. flag and hold it during “Pride” and “Where the Streets…” –What a thrill.nBono looked and sounded very good. Not great, but very good. All the concerts, the albums, the appearances, and of course, the years have taken a toll (particularly on that wonderful voice), and for the first time, I could actually “sense” the rocker getting old. His voice is really straining, and in some cases, virtually unable to reach some of those intense levels anymore. Almost hurts to say that, folks. This is coming from a fan that first saw them in high school on their Boy tour in Washington DC in 1981! But I won”t criticize U2, no matter what, and especially for something (in this case, time) that they cannot control. They are still as talented and exciting to watch as they were 20+ years ago. Larry looked amazing as usual. I”ll be 40 next year, and this guy looks younger than he did in the 80s! The Edge was in his usual steady, focused zone, and Adam looked completely at ease, strolling around, jamming, regularly making eye contact, and giving the audience that warm, charming, rockstar grin.nN/As for the set, it was nice to hear “Gloria”, “The Electric Co.”, and “40” again after such a long hiatus. “40” has to be the best concert-closing song ever (even though they practically had to start it over). The new songs were okay, but nothing more. (This might offend some of the more “blindly loyal” fans that instantly deify anything U2 records. Soprry, but that ain”t me. I love this band, but most of their recent stuff just does not qualify for “elite” status. I”d rather hear “Bad” than “Love and Peace or Else” or “All Because of You” a-n-y day. But, they are promoting their new album, so the new stuff is to be expected.) I lamented to my wife on our way home that my ultimate show would be for them to perform a “Greatest Hits” tour. Something like that. And sorry again, but only maybe 1 or 2 songs from “How To Dismantle…” would make it. Maybe. For that matter, only 2 or 3 from “All That You Can”t…” would make it as well. Rather, it would include primarily songs from The Joshua Tree, Unforgettable Fire, and even Achtung Baby, Rattle and Hum, War, and Boy. But I digress…nThe concert in general was a blast. Among the highlights: Bono taking my flag (and giving it back of course), the Mexican guy to my right getting pulled on stage to translate some words into Spanish, the girl to my left sticking her hand out and getting to strum Bono”s guitar (!), Bono banging Larry”s bass drum, Larry playing the mini-keyboard, etc. There”s always something in it for everyone, and as others have mentioned, it”ll be interesting to see how they”ve progressed as they get deeper into the tour. (Oh yeah, a particular memory was one of the stage hands giving me the set list after the show! I must”ve had 10 or 20 people photograph it! Pretty cool.)nFinal thought (has nothing to do with the band): It was a little frustrating and tedious putting up with the “paparazzi”. Jeezus H… Everyone and their brother had a camera (phone or regular 35mm), and were clicking away CONSTANTLY. Hey I”m all for getting a few good shots of the band (especially when you”re super close!), but one girl next to me must”ve taken at LEAST 5-6 shots every single time they played a song!! With 22-23 songs in the set, you do the math. This chick was leaning, elbowing, reaching, etc. just to get that “perfect” shot. Pretty ridiculous, imho. I mean, you”re there to see, hear, and “experience” the show, right? Buy a friggin photo album or become a photographer, but keep the Lebowitz contortions to a minimum.nWell, that”s about all I got. I”m exhausted and hoarse, but with a huge smile on my face. Good luck with the rest of the tour boys! Good luck and God bless.nSide note: Kings of Leon were pretty good! Not much of a “stage presence”, and they are all in dire need of a large Dagwood sandwich, but overall they”re very talented and have a pretty good sound. Most people around me didn”t care for them much, but obviously U2 sees something in them, so they were worth a listen. I liked em. Might even get their CD.n’, ‘March 30, 2005 – San Diego, California, USA – Sports Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘march-30-2005-san-diego-california-usa-sports-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-03-31 02:38:24’, ‘2005-03-31 06:38:24’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=8’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 5);
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(9, 1, ‘2005-04-02 03:44:53’, ‘2005-04-02 07:44:53’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, New Year”s Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Beautiful Day, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encores: Zoo Station, The Fly, Elevation, Mysterious Ways, City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nThe setlist is nearly turned upside down tonight, compared to the first two nights in San Diego. ”40” is dedicated to Pope John Paul II, who is reported to be near death tonight. Bono kisses his rosary and hangs it over the microphone as he leaves the stage.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nOrange County RegisternU2 magnificent in Anaheimnby Ben WenernReview: Having radically restructured its set, U2 proved even more potent at the Pond than at its tour kickoff in San Diego. So why no encore?nThere are so many memorable moments from U2”s magnificent opener at Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim on Friday night worth discussing it seems odd to focus first on something that actually didn”t happen. Yet it”s surely what everyone who was there is still wondering: Where was the encore?nIn one respect, the question needn”t be raised: This show ended as presumably all will on this tour, with the reinvigorated Irishmen stomping past the beefed-up glam-rock-for-God of “All Because of You,” then slowing to a supernal close with their unplugged take on “Yahweh” and the revived hymn “40.”nBono dedicated that last piece to Pope John Paul II, who was on his deathbed at that hour. “Tonight we sing this for the Holy Father, a friend to the world”s poor,” he said as the Edge (having swapped instruments with Adam Clayton) strummed the song”s familiar bass line.nThen he removed his crucifix, kissed it, hung it from his microphone stand and began the group”s one-by-one recessional from the stage.nThat would havemade for a supremely satisfying finish to this two-hour deluge of emotion, which began aggressively and continued to gain potency and momentum, topping the pace and energy of Monday”s Vertigo 2005 Tour kickoff in San Diego.nIf only the house lights had come up immediately after the band exited. Instead, the arena remained dark for what felt like five minutes. It may have been less, but time tends to stand still during such interminable pauses – and once 30 seconds passes without any crew emerging to tear down gear, the audience justifiably expects it will hear at least one more song.nNot surprisingly, the abrupt that”s-all-folks drew boos as loud as the cheers that preceded it.nSo what happened? Was an 11 p.m. curfew strictly imposed? That”s possible, and logical, but also dubious; I”ve seen more than a few bashes here run a half-hour later than that, and I can”t imagine any Pond officials complaining if U2 had wanted to do another 10 minutes.nDid the band decide this particular crowd didn”t merit a slight return? That seems impossible. These fans were arguably more overcome than those on hand in San Diego, enthusiastically embracing not just staples in the set list but also Bono”s push for African aid and awareness and various other social statements – an unusual move from a region known to shout disapproval at rockers who make political asides.nCould it be, then – and this is what I think really happened – that the radical but rewarding rearrangement of the show”s musical segments, just three gigs in, threw the band for a loop?nPerhaps you, too, noticed U2”s main set seemed due to stop with “Vertigo,” this night pushed back in the running order (more on that in a moment). Clayton and the Edge had unstrapped their axes, and Bono, having just sung “Hello, hello … goodbye,” had given the guitarist acongratulatory hug. (I believe he muttered a deserved “Well done, gentlemen” as the number ended.)nThen came a brief huddle, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. gave a let”s-keep-going indication – and on they went into “All Because of You.”nIn that sense, we got our encore – and only one less song than San Diego scored at either of its shows. Yet the expectations that intensely mounted in those minutes in the dark couldn”t help but lead to a crushing letdown. Though it”s still very early in this international trek, here was the moment when U2 could have delivered that extra something, a bonus to really make those hundreds of dollars (thousands, even) that devotees doled out for tickets seem worth every cent.nN/And the delayed house lights suggest U2 was considering offering more, which must have had in-the-know types aflutter. After all, nearly everything in the show had been shifted.nFor instance, the strikingly militant midsection – “Love and Peace or Else” into “Sunday Bloody Sunday” into “Bullet the Blue Sky” without pause, followed by the broodingly beautiful “Running to Stand Still” and a visual reminder of universal human rights – was now at the beginning, after each member entered by scoping out the crowd with spotlights while lapping the “elipse” (what the loop that encircles the stage is being called).nRather than teasing with “Boy” oldies before getting to the meat of the message, this switch instantly asserted the evening”s themes: equality for everyone, don”t turn a blind eye to suffering, peace now, love is all you need.nThe insertion of a robust “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For” swiftly carried the substance of that bold start into the next, unchanged segment: a still-spectral “New Year”s Day” followed by a stronger “Miracle Drug” and this evening”s most moving moment, “Sometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own.”nWith Bono trading swaggering poses for believable introspection, this was one of those rare times when the outsized superstar has appeared unguarded, his soul bared as he sang a warts-and-all tribute to his late father: “And it”s you when I look in the mirror / And it”s you when I don”t pick up the phone.”nTaking off again, “Beautiful Day” served as the entrance to a portion that so far has led U2”s encore: “Pride (In the Name of Love),” the crowd chanting as if at a soccer match while Bono recited the same short speech about Martin Luther King he debuted Monday; “Where the Streets Have No Name,” more stirring and urgent than it”s been in years; and “One,” before which Bono urged the audience to get out cell phones to text-message for information about the One Campaign (also at www.one.org), designed to enlist a million Americans for African relief work.n”Get our medicine out there, get our smarts out there,” he implored. “That”s the proving ground now. It might have been civil rights in America in the ”60s, but it”s Africa now.”nWhat remained, after an inexplicable break not long enough to qualify as an intermission, was the usual end (“Zoo Station,” a much-redeemed version of “The Fly,” the always rousing “Elevation”) mashed into the usual start (a confetti-filled “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo”).nThose halves were separated by a strut through “Mysterious Ways,” accompanied by a devil doll yanked from the throng inside the loop. Theme-free as it was, all of it came off as gratitude toward the audience for having paid to encounter a charitable appeal along with some tremendous music.nI notice that once again I”ve talked more about what happened and what it might mean than how assured U2 sounds these days. Let me say this: No major-scale band, save for Pearl Jam and maybe Radiohead or Coldplay on particularly boisterous nights, plays with as much vigor and fervency, and none (including those) can leave its minions so inspired.nN/And what power from so few instruments! So overwhelming yet controlled is the Edge”s singular, chiming sound, so tense and insistent are Clayton and Mullen”s rhythms, that the minor flubs each man inevitably makes get amplified a thousand-fold.nBut such goofs were very few, and the impact of the whole profound. Bono believes these guys are in their prime. He may be right after all. Encore or no encore.nI also haven”t said boo about opening act Kings of Leon, a notable bunch of modern-day rockers with the pulse of the Strokes beating from a Southern heart. I caught most of their set in San Diego and was thrice impressed – at how trenchantly their sometimes tinny guitars filled the hall, how relentlessly they blasted their way through song after song, and how they won over a scarcely interested crowd.nI regret to report that I missed their set entirely at the Pond, despite heading to the venue seemingly early enough to hear at least a handful of tunes. Such was the crawl down Katella Avenue on a night sporting two sell-outs – a concert at the Pond and a Freeway Series face-off at the Big A.nCopyright 2005 The Orange County Registern’, ‘April 1, 2005 – Anaheim, California, USA – Arrowhead Pond’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-1-2005-anaheim-california-usa-arrowhead-pond’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-02 03:44:53’, ‘2005-04-02 07:44:53’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=9’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 9),
(10, 1, ‘2005-04-03 12:46:09’, ‘2005-04-03 16:46:09’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways. Encores: Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:n”Miracle Drug” is dedicated to Pope John Paul II, who died earlier today.n’, ‘April 2, 2005 – Anaheim, California, USA – Arrowhead Pond’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-2-2005-anaheim-california-usa-arrowhead-pond’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-03 12:46:09’, ‘2005-04-03 16:46:09’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=10’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 7),
(11, 1, ‘2005-04-06 02:57:23’, ‘2005-04-06 06:57:23’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, Zoo StationnThe Fly, Mysterious Ways. Encore: Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings a boy named Jack on stage during ”Into the Heart” and he stays on stage for the beginning of ”City Of Blinding Lights.” Bono later thanks Brad Pitt for his work with DATA at the start of ”One.” Pitt is in the audience tonight.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBBC Radio 1nOrlando reviews U2nby Orlando Bloom/Radio 1nOrlando Bloom is one of the first A list U2 fans to catch their tour and he”s given us a review.nBono confessed that they were sounding so bad in rehearsals the tour was under threat just weeks before it kicked off in California.nBut Orlando is having none of it. He”s giving their Vertigo tour a big thumbs up after watching them in LA and reckons the tour has an important message:n”Bono, who”s such a remarkable man, had a screen which projected the 1948 UN declaration of human rights.”n”The first six chapters of it all said, basically that we are a fellowship, a brotherhood, each man is equal.n”What an amazing message to play at a cool, huge concert where he”s just rocked out and given everyone a great show.”n”And it was cool to see it, the only way Bono knows how.”n”He had a bandage on his head which said ”Jew, Christian…” ie. we”re all on the same planet as one, at some point we have to realise we”re all connected as a family.”nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_1-thumb-104×120-1610.jpg” width=”104″ height=”120″ alt=”losangeles040505_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_2-thumb-120×107-1612.jpg” width=”120″ height=”107″ alt=”losangeles040505_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_3-thumb-120×95-1614.jpg” width=”120″ height=”95″ alt=”losangeles040505_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_4-thumb-120×92-1616.jpg” width=”120″ height=”92″ alt=”losangeles040505_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_5.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040505_los_angeles/losangeles040505_5-thumb-120×114-1618.jpg” width=”120″ height=”114″ alt=”losangeles040505_5.jpg”/></a>n</div>n’, ‘April 5, 2005 – Los Angeles, California, USA – Staples Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-5-2005-los-angeles-california-usa-staples-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-06 02:57:23’, ‘2005-04-06 06:57:23’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=11’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(12, 1, ‘2005-04-07 04:26:38’, ‘2005-04-07 08:26:38’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., The Ocean, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways. First Encore: Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, Unchained Melody. Second Encore: All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:n”The Ocean” is performed for the first time in 22 years, making it the longest gap between performances in U2”s history.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040605_los_angeles/losangeles040605_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery1]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040605_los_angeles/losangeles040605_1-thumb-98×120-1620.jpg” width=”98″ height=”120″ alt=”losangeles040605_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040605_los_angeles/losangeles040605_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery1]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040605_los_angeles/losangeles040605_2-thumb-97×120-1622.jpg” width=”97″ height=”120″ alt=”losangeles040605_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040605_los_angeles/losangeles040605_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery1]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/040605_los_angeles/losangeles040605_3-thumb-120×84-1624.jpg” width=”120″ height=”84″ alt=”losangeles040605_3.jpg”/></a>n</div>n’, ‘April 6, 2005 – Los Angeles, California, USA – Staples Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-6-2005-los-angeles-california-usa-staples-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-07 04:26:38’, ‘2005-04-07 08:26:38’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=12’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 11),
(13, 1, ‘2005-04-10 04:50:12’, ‘2005-04-10 08:50:12’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., The Ocean, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways. Encore: Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Second Encore: All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSan Jose Mercury NewsnU2”s Stage MasterpiecenGroup Dazzles Musically, Inspires Politically at San Jose ShownBrad KavanThe message at most concerts these days is simple: Buy our CDs, buy our T-shirts, make us rich and party on, dude.nU2”s insistence to go beyond that is only one of the things that distinguishes the Irish band, which wouldn”t need much of a campaign to be voted the best rock band in the world today.nDuring its 23-song, two-hour-show at San Jose”s HP Pavilion Saturday night, the quartet not only was excellent musically, it was thought-provoking and politically stirring.n”You are used to hearing me pontificate,” said singer Bono, born Paul Hewson 44 years ago, using a word that never has been more appropriate. “No self-respecting rock star is missing a little bit of a pope complex.”nHe used his bully pulpit to weave his political and economic concerns in with his music. No rock star today has become more of a thoughtful world figure (the bumper stickers endorsing him for president in 2008 weren”t far off the mark).nBono wasn”t joking when he recalled how, during the band”s 1992 Zooropa tour, he called the White House every night and no one there would take the calls. “Now, they do,” he said. “And they are getting used to me.”nN/At one point he asked those in the audience to raise their cell phones, extending a tradition begun in the dark ages of the 1969 Woodstock festival, when 300,000 people raised lit matches and turned the audience into a sea of stars.nIn San Jose, phones pulsed colorfully like the background of a Star Wars film. But Bono added some content to the awe-inspiring sight at this sold-out show, posting a Web site on giant screens where fans could send text messages to pledge support of his campaign to fight poverty, something he hopes will enlist at least a million contributors over the course of this American tour.nBono said the “defining moral issue of our time” is “not civil rights, but human rights. A fight for the right to live like a human.”nThe singer, whose political awards one day may outnumber his musical ones, has been fighting to raise money for Third World countries and to suspend their debts to industrialized ones.n”When Dr. King said, ”I have a dream,” he was talking about a dream big enough to fit the whole world,” Bono said before launching an Africanized version of “Where the Streets Have No Name.” “Not just the American dream or the European dream or the Asian dream or the African dream. It is a dream where everyone is created equal under the eyes of God.”nN/At the centerpiece of the band”s Elevation tour in 2001 was a giant memorial listing the names of the victims of the Sept. 11 attack. It was moving and subtle and brought tears to a rock audience more used to the opposites of subtlety and sobriety.nThis time U2 presented the text of a 1948 United Nations proclamation condemning torture and calling for equal rights around the world. It followed the dedication of “Running to Stand Still” to the “brave men and women of the United States military,” a moment that was not just subtle but ironic.nBut what about the music, you are wondering. Sorry, I know you”ve never had to wade so far into a rock concert review to get to that.nFor a decade, U2 has made excellence seem routine and did so again this time.nThe band, which sold out two San Jose shows but has tickets remaining for a pair in Oakland in November, drew heavily from its last two albums, something few other stadium rock bands can do today. The show opened with a shimmering “City of Blinding Lights,” shifting up to “Vertigo” and into higher gear still with “Elevation.”nThen, in a moment that had to give pause to San Joseans who last year lost KSJO-FM, their only hard-rock FM radio station, Bono introduced “The Electric Co.,” remembering how “we felt so cool” when we heard it on that station in 1980.nWhile no member of this quartet is considered a virtuoso at his instrument, the sum of these parts, having working together for 25 years, creates the rich textures of an orchestra. The stage set was again state-of-the-art, with a giant beaded curtain that also served as a screen for color and video.nThe new songs, particularly a bass-whomping “Love and Peace or Else,” broke through the shells that encase the album versions.nThe band”s melodic influences often are well-camouflaged, but a clear snippet of the Beatles” “Blackbird” was thrown into “Beautiful Day,” which rang with some of the same chords, and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” was spliced into “Bullet the Blue Sky.”nUsing a heart-shaped walkway that extended the stage into the audience, the band methodically covered the hits that broke it on U.S. radio, “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” and “New Year”s Day,” the fan-favorite closer “40,” a heavy industrial “The Fly” and “Mysterious Ways.” The only miss of the night was adding a watered-down melody to the normally astringent “Zoo Station.”nN/And that was like the work of a religious master painter who adds a slight mistake, just to show that nothing human is perfect.nWith its mix of politics, spirituality, charisma and intense playing, this concert was simply a masterpiece.nCopyright © 2005 Mercury News. All rights reserved.n’, ‘April 9, 2005 – San Jose, California, USA – HP Pavilion’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-9-2005-san-jose-california-usa-hp-pavilion’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-10 04:50:12’, ‘2005-04-10 08:50:12’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=13’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(14, 1, ‘2005-04-11 05:24:37’, ‘2005-04-11 09:24:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Running To Stand Still-The Hands That Built America, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, Original Of The Species. Encore: The Fly, Mysterious Ways. Second Encore: All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:n”Original Of The Species” makes its Vertigo Tour premiere tonight with The Edge on piano as Bono sings, and Adam and Larry joining in with cues from Bono. Bono brings a female fan on stage during ”Mysterious Ways.” The crowd on the floor outside the ellipse is more spirited and rowdier than usual, and security helps at least two fans over the barrier away from the crush early in the show. Perhaps as a result, the band doesn”t come out to the edge of the ellipse during the rest of the show.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nEast Bay ExpressnBono for PontiffnThe only problem: Who could possibly replace him in the arena rock pantheon?nRob HarvillanPublished: Wednesday, April 13, 2005nBono would make an excellent candidate for pope. Yes, pope. He is outlandishly charismatic, reasonably eloquent, vaguely spiritual, tremendously photogenic. His popularity, meanwhile, is unparalleled — the devout already deify him, and even skeptics and nonbelievers offer grudging respect. No one alive can more effectively claim to be a uniter, not a divider.nDoes Bono crap in the woods?nThis pope thing was not my idea. No, I most properly credit it to Coma Guy, thus named because he spent the first half of U2”s Sunday night San Jose arena-rock hootenanny ass-out passed-out, slumped in his $160 HP Pavilion seat, face buried in his hands, motionless. Fellow concertgoers showed interest and concern, as did, briefly, an usher. But we let Coma Guy lay, and after an hour, he suddenly, drunkenly embarked on an epic song-by-song comeback.n”Sunday Bloody Sunday”nComa Guy raises his right arm, shakes it rhythmically. All other body parts still motionless.n”Bullet the Blue Sky”nComa Guy starts air-drumming, while seated. Eyes closed, lower half still motionless.n”Running to Stand Still”nComa Guy whoops “C”MON, BONO!” repeatedly during this quiet piano ballad.n”Pride (In the Name of Love)”nComa Guy rises to his feet and begins gyrating enthusiastically. Midway through the song, Bono starts preaching about Martin Luther King Jr. and the universality of his Dream. “There”s an American dream,” Bono intones. “There”s a European dream …” “YOU”RE IRISH!!!” shouts Coma Guy.n”Where the Streets Have No Name”nComa Guy barrels down the aisle and attempts to bum-rush the barrier to the standing-room HP Pavilion floor. He is politely but firmly rebuked, and returns to his seat.n”One”nComa Guy starts shouting “DO YOU WANNA BE POPE?!” as Bono slyly alters the last verse: Have you come here to play Jesus? ”Cause I did.n”Original of the Species”nComa Guy shouts “POPE BONO!!” repeatedly.nFinally, in the interim before the first encore, Coma Guy attempts to lead a chant of “POPE! POPE! POPE! POPE! POPE!” A few drunk guys sitting nearby actually pick it up.nN/Ah, U2 concerts. Liking U2 has not been cool for ten years, and will in all likelihood never be cool again. But the absolute stranglehold on Biggest Band in the World honors remains. When this band dies, its insanely high ratio of public adoration to artistic quality dies with it. Ain”t nobody else selling out HP Pavilion two nights in a row within minutes, with two November Oakland Arena dates added on and nearly filled up as well. In fact, I will use Coma Guy as a metaphor for the entire American concert industry — wayward and nearly dead, only temporarily revived by Pope Bono and his unique blend of propriety and piousness.nBecause U2 arena shows are entirely about Bono. Bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. have never done anything that suggests they weren”t simply hanging out with the right people in the right place at the right time — Larry even soft-pedals the monstrous “Bullet the Blue Sky” drum fills now, and I myself could train you to play bass in U2 while we drive down to San Jose. The Edge, meanwhile, displays absolute delay-pedal mastery, but very very quietly, with nary an indulgent solo or ridiculous Guitar God pose in sight. (He ripped shit up on “The Fly,” though.)nThis innocuousness frees U2”s frontman to engage in mostly charming but increasingly erratic behavior. The band”s stage show still features an enormous full-circle walkway that juts out deep into the crowd, permitting Bono to stroll among his devotees in damn near slow motion, strutting less like a sex machine and more like a narcotized ape. At one point he crawled around on his belly, grabbed an elated young lady”s arm, and repeatedly tapped his fingers slowly up her arm like a spider: Whether this represents innovative showmanship, Rock Icon Economy of Movement, or too many bottles of Captain Morgan on the tour rider is anyone”s guess. A trail of lit-up cell phone cameras follows him everywhere he goes, as though he”s trapped in some sort of Silicon Valley nature preserve. The evening”s one awe-inspiring moment came when he told everyone to hold up their phones and ordered the stage lights turned down — his face was perfectly illuminated by a sea of tiny pixelated screens. If this guy now truly believes he”s playing Jesus, it”s only because we”ve let him.nN/Ah yes: He also sings, most passionately on the new tearjerker ballad “Sometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own.” Most other tunes on U2”s new How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb were safe, blandish sorta-rockers that, oddly enough, still revved up the crowd just as intensely as hungrier cuts from 25-year-old debut album Boy and all the monster hits in between, from “New Year”s Day” to “Mysterious Ways” to “Beautiful Day.” All were delivered straight-faced and workmanlike — pointedly, we heard nothing from U2”s much-sneered-at mid-”90s Pop and Zooropa irony records, sonically experimental but overly cute. Just no-bullshit rock now, thanks. Ideally, a band with a quarter-century of material to plunder delivers a few outta-nowhere deep-cut tunes at a show like this, but only the Joshua Tree highlight “Running to Stand Still” really qualifies for that.nSo they”re getting older, subtler, weirder, more visibly fatigued. U2 can still do what no other band alive can — deliver two hours of highly entertaining arena rock that justifies the cost without anyone embarrassing themselves. Who will replace these dudes? Certainly not show-openers Kings of Leon, fashion rockers with decent tunes who looked terminally cool and terminally bored. Hey, knuckleheads, this is the sweetest gig you”ll ever get; I can mathematically prove your lives are entirely headed downhill from this day forward. Because though they”re holding back, falling short, and insufficiently mining a ludicrously fertile back catalogue, Bono and the boys are still scintillatingly singular deities of a sort we may never find cause to worship again. When they finally ride their gilded Popemobiles into the sunset, we will all turn into Coma Men and Women, slumped into arena seats we”re no longer willing to buy.n’, ‘April 10, 2005 – San Jose, California, USA – HP Pavilion’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-10-2005-san-jose-california-usa-hp-pavilion’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-11 05:24:37’, ‘2005-04-11 09:24:37’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=14’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(15, 1, ‘2005-04-15 13:30:45’, ‘2005-04-15 17:30:45’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. First Encore: Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways. Second Encore: All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nN/Arizona RepublicnU2 Mixes Spectacle and Emotion in Glendalenby Larry RodgersnIrish supergroup U2 has staged spectacles for years, and Thursday”s installment of its Vertigo tour at Glendale Arena certainly had its bells and whistles.nMost impressive on the visual front was the use of huge beaded “light curtains” that could be programmed like a stadium scoreboard on steroids to flash colors, words or — during a call for world unity by politically outspoken singer Bono — a waterfall of flags from around the globe.nThe band used an elliptical stage similar to the heart-shaped number employed last time out, enabling Bono and guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. to strut far out into the arena”s floor, with a group of lucky fans mulling about in the middle of it all. The stage was ringed with an array of lights used to set all types of moods.nN/Although Thursday”s concert had its share of fun moments, it was more about a band exploring new ways to present its 25-year-old catalog and, just as important, the messages behind that music. (U2 returns to the arena tonight for a second sold-out show.)nSo before the band could tear into a glitzy, laser-guided version of its iPod-friendly anthem, “Vertigo,” it opened the evening with ï¿½Love and Peace or Else,ï¿½ from its latest album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. “Lay down your guns, all your daughters of Zion, all your Abraham sons,” Bono sang, standing with his bandmates at the farthest reach of the catwalk. The singer, who turns 45 next month, still has plenty on his mind after decades of writing and performing, and he acted out plenty of it in Glendale.nThe band kept things a bit lighter for the first half of the set. The audience, which stood for 98 percent of the concert, needed no prodding to sing along in 2000”s “Elevation,” while the tune was given a slightly stripped and funkified treatment by the Edge, Clayton and Mullen.nBono crawled around the stage on all fours and then played to fans” cameras as U2 performed what he called “a song from a long time ago,” “The Electric Company,” from its 1980 debut album, Boy. The blissful looks on the faces of those fans near him and the sea of outstretched arms were reminders that there may not be a more magnetic and well-loved front man in rock and roll today.nThe new “City of Blinding Lights” was uplifting both sonically and lyrically, with Bono singing, “Oh, you look so beautiful tonight” as the crowd was bathed in bright light.nBut Bono & Co. summoned the most emotion for a six-song sequence that closed the main portion of the concert. Starting with the anti-war sentiment of 1984”s “New Year”s Day,” the band took aim at the folly of war (“We”re so sick of it!” Bono screamed during “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” which had heavier, more aggressive guitar work than usual) and the costs of those battles (One of the evening”s several small interludes had Bono singing “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” in a voice full of melancholy). The singer drew huge applause by dedicating one song to “the brave men and women of the United States military,” but the selection was 1987”s “Running to Stand Still.”nHuman rights and poverty took center stage as the band projected excerpts from a 1948 United Nations proclamation calling for global equality and condemning torture, abuse and slavery during “Running to Stand Still.” Audience members were asked to use the text-messaging systems on their cell phones to sign up for a campaign to fight poverty during “One,” which also had a more funky edge.nDuring the still-powerful “Pride (In the Name of Love),” Bono couldn”t resist reminding Arizonans about 1987, when the band issued a statement during a visit here blasting Gov. Evan Mecham for revoking the state”s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. “Remember, Arizona, when there wasn”t a Dr. King Day?” he asked. “This is a better day. Dr. King”s dream was big enough to fit the whole world.”nDespite the high-tech glitz and the politics, U2 seems more reserved on this tour, both musically and in the way its members moved about the stage. Performances of such hits as “Mysterious Ways,” “New Year”s Day” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” sounded earthy and economical, and that was just fine.nPerhaps after the emotional drain of its last American tour, when the names of those who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were projected on the walls and ceilings of arenas, U2 felt that a slightly more low-key approach was warranted this time out.nOr it could be that U2 is settling into an elder statesman”s role in the world of bands that can still really rock and are still very relevant (that”s a pretty small world, by the way).nBut no matter how it tweaks each global outing, U2 remains one of the most awe-inspiring forces on the rock stage today. And Thursday”s powerful, poignant performance was no exception.n© The Arizona Republic, 2005.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/041405_phoenix/phoenix041505_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery21]

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“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/041405_phoenix/phoenix041505_6-thumb-120×80-1636.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”phoenix041505_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/041405_phoenix/phoenix041505_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery21]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/041405_phoenix/phoenix041505_7-thumb-80×120-1638.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”phoenix041505_7.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Rob Schumacher.n’, ‘April 14, 2005 – Phoenix, Arizona, USA – Glendale Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-14-2005-phoenix-arizona-usa-glendale-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-15 13:30:45’, ‘2005-04-15 17:30:45’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=15’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(16, 1, ‘2005-04-16 04:09:28’, ‘2005-04-16 08:09:28’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day-In God”s Country, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, 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-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, Bad, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono adds a bit of ”In God”s Country” to ”Beautiful Day”, which is moved up to the 2nd spot in the setlist tonight (traditionally ”In God”s Country” is played at Arizona shows). ”Bad” makes its Vertigo Tour premiere, and includes a bit of Van Morrison”s ”In the Garden.”n’, ‘April 15, 2005 – Phoenix, Arizona, USA – Glendale Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-15-2005-phoenix-arizona-usa-glendale-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-16 04:09:28’, ‘2005-04-16 08:09:28’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=16’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(17, 1, ‘2005-04-21 04:38:40’, ‘2005-04-21 08:38:40’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Vertigo, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nRocky Mountain NewsnU2 chemistry so good, it”s an elementnby Mark BrownnSo many bands on the superstar level have taken to going out on the road with a bunch of backing musicians to help fill out the sound, so in a way, it”s puzzling that U2 hasn”t followed suit.nThe reason was recently pointed out to me: They want nothing onstage that could possibly distract from the chemistry the four Irish musicians have had since their very first days.nSo with the help of a minimum of backing tracks, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. go out there and do it themselves every night.nN/And man, what a payoff.nWednesday night”s concert was yet another triumph in a string of memorable Denver shows dating back nearly a quarter century – a heritage Bono himself recalled onstage, introducing the early song Electric Co. with the comment, “We played this in a club called The Rainbow a few years ago.”nThe fact that those older songs can sound so consistent with the newer material, yet not sound formulaic, is astounding – and a reaffirmation of that decision to keep the chemistry alive.nThe highlights tumbled one after another, but the new material was even more of a revelation live than it is on album.nIt”s extremely rare these days when a band of U2”s longevity is producing new music as good as its old, but while the older stuff was extremely well-received, the feeling in the room was “Play the new stuff!”nU2 did – in spades – opening with the album cut Love and Peace or Else from their latest, How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, before crashing right into the lead-off single from the album, Vertigo.nSometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own took its place with the best of U2”s soaring ballads. The rush from the coupling of the newer songs City of Blinding Lights with Beautiful Day was only exceeded by the crushing midset oldies combo of New Year”s Day/Sunday Bloody Sunday/Bullet the Blue Sky.nYet it had nothing like the feeling of greatest hits, as The Edge managed to find new ways to chop at his guitar strings in Sunday Bloody Sunday and stood the guitar solo on its head in a deconstructed Bullet the Blue Sky.nThe things that drive U2 detractors crazy were all there. Bono hammed it up, at times on all fours, then moments later, pleaded for human rights.nNo matter. There”s so little true magic left in rock music these days that a bit of excess is a small price to pay.nCopyright © 2005 Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.n’, ‘April 20, 2005 – Denver, Colorado, USA – Pepsi Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-20-2005-denver-colorado-usa-pepsi-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-21 04:38:40’, ‘2005-04-21 08:38:40’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=17’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(18, 1, ‘2005-04-23 04:00:34’, ‘2005-04-23 08:00:34’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, 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-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, Bad, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Original Of The Species, 40.n’, ‘April 21, 2005 – Denver, Colorado, USA – Pepsi Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-21-2005-denver-colorado-usa-pepsi-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-23 04:00:34’, ‘2005-04-23 08:00:34’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=18’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2);
INSERT INTO `wpposts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(19, 1, ‘2005-04-25 16:31:32’, ‘2005-04-25 20:31:32’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Vertigo, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-The Hands That Built America, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nThe crowd is loud and energized tonight and a full ”wave” makes several circles around the arena before U2 comes on. The band match the crowd”s energy from the start. Three fans make it on stage at various points in the show, including a male fan wearing a shirt that says ”ME, ME, ME” – Bono pulls him on stage and cracks a joke about singers” egos. ”One” is dedicated to Steve Reynolds of World Vision and Bill and Melinda Gates, all of whom are at the show tonight. Also in attendance is Pearl Jam”s Eddie Vedder.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSeattle Post-IntelligencernU2 delivers potent performance to pro Bono crowdnBy Gene Stout, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Pop Music Criticn”Where is the love?” lead singer Bono asked during the opening song of U2”s sold-out concert last night at KeyArena.nIn fact, the love was all around him — in the hearts of concertgoers who cheered every song, as well as in the heartfelt messages of world peace Bono spread throughout the two-hour show, which will be repeated tonight at 7:30 at KeyArena (tickets are sold out).nThe concert drew an unusually festive crowd on a balmy Sunday afternoon on lower Queen Anne Hill, where every parking lot, restaurant and bar was filled to capacity.nN/After a short opening set by Southern rockers Kings of Leon, the Irish supergroup took the stage at about 9 p.m., opening with “Love and Peace Or Else” from the current album, “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.” The band has been alternating sets since the start of the “Vertigo” tour (named for the first hit from “Atomic Bomb”) last month in San Diego. Tonight”s set will likely be different from last night, opening with “City of Blinding Lights” and “Beautiful Day.”nBacked by an unusually clear and powerful sound system, Bono, drummer Larry Mullen Jr., bassist Adam Clayton and guitarist The Edge took advantage of an extended stage ramp that encircled about 400 concertgoers on the main floor like the rim of a pool. A string of neon lights accented its circular shape. Behind the stage were several curtains of tiny ball-shaped lights that displayed various images. Above the stage were four sequential video screens showing closeups of the band in black and white.nBono, dressed entirely in black except for a white bandana decorated with a cross and the star of David, used the circular ramp to full advantage, occasionally dropping to his knees or lying on his back after finishing a song. “Love and Peace Or Else” came to a close with Bono playing Mullen”s drums.n”Vertigo” exploded in an audience singalong as the entire band moved back to the main stage. But Bono finished the song by strutting around the entire circle.nThe set mixed U2”s early songs with classic hits — “Beautiful Day,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Bullet the Blue Sky” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” — and a handful of selections from the current album, resulting in a satisfying show that ended with a six-song encore starting with “Zoo Station” (Bono sported a conductor”s uniform) and closing with “40.”nConfetti fell from the ceiling and stadium lights flashed during “City of Blinding Lights.” Bono dedicated a moving version of “Miracle Drug,” another new song, to a brave friend undergoing medical treatment. “We need science,” he said. Another touching new song, “Sometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own” honored Bono”s late father, who had inspired him to be a singer.nPolitics also played a big role the show, especially when the United Nations” 1948 Declaration of Human Rights scrolled on the video screen and when Bono talked about his One Campaign. He encouraged concertgoers to hold up their cell phones, much as people used to hoist their cigarette lighters, saying “We are more powerful when we work together.” The message kicked off a powerful version of “One.”nCopyright © 2005 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. All rights reserved.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery65]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_1-thumb-120×89-1640.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”seattle042405_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery65]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_2-thumb-120×94-1642.jpg” width=”120″ height=”94″ alt=”seattle042405_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery65]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_3-thumb-82×120-1644.jpg” width=”82″ height=”120″ alt=”seattle042405_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery65]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_4-thumb-120×78-1646.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”seattle042405_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_5.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery65]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_5-thumb-120×87-1648.jpg” width=”120″ height=”87″ alt=”seattle042405_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_6.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery65]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_6-thumb-120×89-1650.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”seattle042405_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery65]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_7-thumb-120×80-1652.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”seattle042405_7.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_8.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery65]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042405_seattle/seattle042405_8-thumb-120×85-1654.jpg” width=”120″ height=”85″ alt=”seattle042405_8.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by Scott Eklund/Seattle Post-Intelligencer.n’, ‘April 24, 2005 – Seattle, Washington, USA – Key Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-24-2005-seattle-washington-usa-key-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-25 16:31:32’, ‘2005-04-25 20:31:32’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=19’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(20, 1, ‘2005-04-26 19:26:59’, ‘2005-04-26 23:26:59’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, 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-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Bad-Norwegian Wood-Ruby Tuesday, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Original Of The Species, Vertigo.nRemarks:nFor the second straight show, ”Miracle Drug” is dedicated to a local girl named Jennifer whom Bono says is ill. Bono brings a young boy named Jason on stage during ”Sometimes.” They”re arm-in-arm as Bono sings the song to Jason, who is also mouthing the words. It”s an incredibly emotional moment, and tears stream down Bono”s face as he sings the song as if singing to his own son. Bono sings ”Mysterious Ways” to ”sexy Adam”, and the two do a brief duel at the tip of the ellipse. Reminiscent of U2”s earliest shows, ”Vertigo” is played a second time to close the show (it had been done twice at some appearances on the How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb Promotional Tour).n’, ‘April 25, 2005 – Seattle, Washington, USA – Key Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-25-2005-seattle-washington-usa-key-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-26 19:26:59’, ‘2005-04-26 23:26:59’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=20’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(21, 1, ‘2005-04-30 02:55:48’, ‘2005-04-30 06:55:48’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, 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-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Bad, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Original Of The Species, 40.nRemarks:nThe concert begins (and ends) late due to last-minute work for the film cameras on hand to wrap up the ”City Of Blinding Lights” video shoot that began a day earlier. It”s the first (Vertigo) show in Canada, and Bono uses it to challenge Prime Minister Paul Martin, who recently broke a promise to raise Canadian spending on foreign aid. Bono brings a group of fans on stage (all are wearing ONE campaign t-shirts). Gavin Friday is also in attendance.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nCanadian PressnMartin booed at U2 concert; fans sign Bono”s end-poverty petition to PMnby Amy CarmichaelnVANCOUVER (CP) – Prime Minister Paul Martin was booed at a sold-out rock show by thousands who have sided with U2”s Bono, a rock star who won”t let Canada beg off the fight to end poverty.nBono is speaking out against the embattled leader for breaking a promise to raise Canada”s spending on foreign aid. But at his first Canadian show of the Vertigo tour in Vancouver on Thursday, Bono asked the crowds not to give up on Martin yet. “I think we”re going to figure this thing out. I think he”s a great leader for Canada and that he can do what we want him to do, to lead the world out of despair and poverty, this year.”nBono, a long-time crusader for the relief of Third World debt, challenged Martin to deliver on a commitment to raise Canada”s spending on foreign aid to 0.7 per cent of the gross domestic product by 2015.nHe flashed a phone number on the jumbo screens above the stage asking people to call the prime minister and give him the strength to write the cheque Martin now says Canada can”t afford.n”If you people believe in it, I believe Paul Martin is the kind of person who will listen to you. Let him know. Get out your phones. Dangerous little devices, these cell phones. We want to make poverty history,” Bono screamed. “This is the year!”nThe stadium, a rocking temple of Bono worship, was lit in the cool glow of dialling mobiles and the band, inspiring the crowd to make a difference with One.n”One love, one life, when it”s one need, in the night,” the audience cried along with Bono.n”This audience, this generation, has had enough,” he screamed back.n”Enough! Enough! Enough of despair! No more! So Paul Martin, I”m calling you!”nSome fans said they thought Canada”s prime minister should listen, but not because it was a rock icon screaming.n”Bono wasn”t elected,” said Kieran Kennedy, who camped out a 6 a.m. to get the best spot on the floor when the gates opened at 6:30 p.m.n”Paul Martin should give more money to the Third World, not because Bono says so, but because he himself promised to.”nOthers, taken with the trendiness of the cause, would follow the star wherever he wants to go. Girls wriggled into the fad, snapping up white rubber bracelets being hawked at the show that say Make Poverty History.nThe bangles are part of a campaign backed by Bono, Sarah McLachlan, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, and Bob Geldof.nThe Make Poverty History group launched TV ads Thursday that will air in prime time on CBC, CTV, and Global Television. Print ads featuring McLachlan will also run in major newspapers.nThe campaign is active in over 50 countries, with the Canadian effort set to begin Friday at a downtown Vancouver church, which will be wrapped in a white band.nThe ever-symbolic Bono lavished praise on the city while rocking on stage with a bandanna wound around his head emblazoned with a star of David and a cross. He rounded out the look with his signature shades and a bulky black leather biker jacket.nVancouver has been lip-locked in a big screen kiss with the self-described biggest band in the world for days.nU2 filmed writhing locals during a free show Wednesday, when they arrived in town to begin shooting their latest video. Rumours were rampant that the Vancouver shows on Thursday and Friday would be filmed to make the official tour DVD.nN/An announcer asked the crowd to be patient before the start of the concert as crews set up on stage to shoot the show.nFans shrieked as the announcer confided, “We”re making a video!”nSo many had made like pilgrims, travelling across the country and the world, camping out at the stadium 12 hours before the performance for a chance to get close to the stage. The ecstasy was palpable, begging to be filmed.nPulsing his body forward and back, Bono exploded in joyous karate kicks as fans proclaimed their love for him, or simply held up signs that said, Thank you.n”See the world, in green and blue, Vancouver right in front of you!” the frontman sang, tweaking the lyrics of Beautiful Day at the start of the concert.nWith his arms and legs spread like he was riding a surf board, Bono jumped up and down, daring the crowd to bring it on.n”I first came here, in a building that”s knocked down now,” he sang in a low voice.n”Just watched the city grow and grow. From the first, I always liked walking the streets of Vancouver. Taking a dip in the bay, freezing cold.”nCryptic and deep, Bono told the thousands in the stands that “the community of unity goes on and on and on.”nFlags of African countries streamed down from the ceiling and the United Nations declaration of human rights played on video screens, all the way through articles one to seven.nCouples swayed together as the band crooned through Where the Streets Have No Name, New Year”s Day, beginning a string of the group”s romantic classics.nThe new album, Vertigo, has what U2 considers to be an up, all-out rock and roll sound for “these nervous times.”nThe sold-out crowd of some 18,000 was evidence of the 80”s band”s ongoing relevance. U2 has a new generation of young fans. They stood side-by-side with Generation X”ers and Boomers, all die-hard fans and many of whom will say this is the only band they wanted to see this year, or even in the past five years.nN/Arguably, the best band in the world.nCopyright © 2005 Canadian Press. All rights reserved.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042805_vancouver/vancouver042805.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/042805_vancouver/vancouver042805-thumb-55×120-1656.jpg” width=”55″ height=”120″ alt=”vancouver042805.jpg”/></a>n</div>n’, ‘April 28, 2005 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – General Motors Place’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-28-2005-vancouver-british-columbia-canada-general-motors-place’, ”, ”, ‘2005-04-30 02:55:48’, ‘2005-04-30 06:55:48’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=21’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(22, 1, ‘2005-05-01 04:57:59’, ‘2005-05-01 08:57:59’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Cry, 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 (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nThe crowd on the floor tonight is very aggressive, and over two dozen fans are removed or helped out due to pushing outside the ellipse. Bono brings a girl on stage during ”Yahweh,” but she gets too friendly with him and her time on stage is short. Bono tells the crowd tonight”s show is being filmed (likely as a dry run for real filming coming soon in Chicago).n’, ‘April 29, 2005 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – General Motors Place’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘april-29-2005-vancouver-british-columbia-canada-general-motors-place’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-01 04:57:59’, ‘2005-05-01 08:57:59’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=22’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(23, 1, ‘2005-05-08 04:20:42’, ‘2005-05-08 08:20:42’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Vertigo, Elevation, An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Running To Stand Still, Bad, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nThe Vertigo Tour resumes after a week off. Bono and The Edge appear to suffer from technical problems, especially early in the set. Bono says a few words in Polish at the start of ”Miracle Drug” (The Edge translates), likely in honor of the Polish Constitution Day events earlier today in Chicago. Bono namechecks Coldplay, who are at tonight”s show. Stationary cameras are in place around the arena, and fans are interviewed on film in the GA line before the show (all part of a DVD shoot that will continue in earnest during the next two shows).nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nChicago Sun-TimesnThe Rev. BononBy Jim Derogatis Pop Music Critic, Chicago Sun-TimesnWearing a mock fascist uniform and goose-stepping around the oval catwalk jutting from the stage at the United Center on Saturday, the first of U2”s four sold-out shows here, Bono repeated an odd little chant during an encore of “Zoo Station”: “We put on a show / We do the business / But this is not / Show business.”nYes, it most certainly was, and it was every bit as phony, bombastic and manipulative as a Britney Spears concert, the Republican National Convention or a televangelist”s miracle-working dog and pony show.nN/As a fan who”s seen the group a dozen times and who ranks 1992”s Zoo TV tour on the short list of the best concerts I”ve ever experienced, U2 has never seemed as pointlessly pretentious and preachy.nThe group scrolled the text of the first few articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, over its giant video screens and encouraged concertgoers not to flick their lighters but to hold up their cell phones, then text-message their contact info to the band”s hunger-relief charity program. This assumed, of course, that people had money left to donate after spending as much as $168 plus service fees for U2 concert tickets.nBono did his famous crucifixion moves, as well as dropping to his knees and striking his familiar “hands bound above my head” pose. This time, he gave the latter a new twist, sporting a blindfold to evoke images of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison.nThe 45-year-old front man”s hubristic sins went on and on — there was a facile routine about how Christianity, Judaism and Islam are all “true” (with Buddhism and other religions conspicuously absent from the list), speeches about how “we” can end poverty in Africa, and boasts about how world leaders take his calls. Still, while he was the most obnoxious presence, it would be wrong to single him out as the only offender.nGuitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. gave their silent approval while providing the music that served as background and afterthought for all of this speechifying, and they did so in a rote, autopilot fashion that created a disturbing contrast between the impassioned windbaggery and the passionless rock ”n” roll.nThe songs from last year”s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” gained nothing and only seemed more contrived in concert. “Love and Peace or Else,” which opened the show; “Yahweh,” the penultimate track before the encore; “Sometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own,” the song that pays homage to Bono”s departed dad, and “Vertigo,” the hit brought to you by Apple”s iPod — all were rote, leaden, formulaic imitations of sounds that U2 has done much, much better in the past.nThis especially was evident as the new material was juxtaposed with undeniable classics such as “An Cat Dubh,” “New Year”s Day” and “One,” which retained their inspired brilliance no matter how much pomposity surrounded them, providing the evening”s few highlights. As for the nadir, it came midway through the two-hour set with an especially soggy four-song montage of “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Bullet the Blue Sky,” “The Hands That Built America” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.”nIf you missed the point, it was this: AMERICA”S WAR IN IRAQ IS BAD. But ever the politician averse to alienating any demographic, Bono, sporting a stars-and-stripes leather jacket as one of several costume changes, followed that none-too-subtle declaration by reminding us to “support the troops.”nWith the exception of its startlingly innovative Zoo TV tour and its “Achtung Baby”-era shift toward postmodern irony and fearless reinvention, this band always has had a problem with grandiose flag-waving — literally. During my first U2 concert in 1981, I rolled my eyes when Bono hoisted a giant white banner. And as documented by the concert films “Live at Red Rocks” (1983) and “Rattle and Hum” (1989), speeches and chest-thumping theatrics always have been part of the show.nThe difference is that the music was once fresh and powerful enough to make even the most over-the-top gestures seem justified. “We”re greedy, and we want to push boundaries,” Mullen told me in an interview two weeks ago, as if one justified the other. At this phase in U2”s career, minus the boundary-pushing, it”s hard to see past the greed.nThe majority of people at the United Center, it should be noted, seemed thrilled with Saturday”s performance. I”m not attempting to change their minds or invalidate their experience, but to pose the question of whether U2 lived up to its own potential. In the end, this is just one disappointed fan”s review, and as stated in Article 19 of the U.N.”s Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.”nU2 performs at the United Center again tonight, Tuesday and Thursday. On Saturday, its set began at 9 p.m., following a mediocre opening performance by the Kings of Leon, New Wave Southern rockers who simply aren”t ready for the arenas.nCopyright © 2005 Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.n’, ‘May 7, 2005 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-7-2005-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-08 04:20:42’, ‘2005-05-08 08:20:42’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=23’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(24, 1, ‘2005-05-10 04:26:56’, ‘2005-05-10 08:26:56’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co.-Bullet With Butterfly Wings, 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-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Party Girl, 40.nRemarks:nRocko, a member of U2”s road crew, takes the stage before U2 and informs the crowd that tonight”s show is being filmed for a DVD (saying it will be a ”magical” show). Bono brings a young girl on stage during ”Into The Heart.” Later, he brings a female fan on stage to play guitar on ”Party Girl.” She struggles a bit, but gets through with encouragement from Bono and an enthusiastic crowd. It”s the first time ”Party Girl” is played this tour, and only the fourth time since the Zoo TV tour.n’, ‘May 9, 2005 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-9-2005-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-10 04:26:56’, ‘2005-05-10 08:26:56’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=24’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(25, 1, ‘2005-05-11 15:14:29’, ‘2005-05-11 19:14:29’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, 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-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Party Girl, All Because Of You, Original Of The Species, Vertigo.nRemarks:nFor the second night of U2”s home video shoot, the band seeks continuity with last night”s show. The setlist is the same until the final few songs. Laura, the fan who played guitar during ”Party Girl” last night, reprises that role tonight, but with a new twist as Bono ends the song by spraying a bottle of champagne on her, the band, and the crowd. It”s Bono”s birthday, and the crowd sings ”Happy Birthday” to him after ”Mysterious Ways.” Bono dances with a fan during ”Mysterious Ways” and brings a young boy on stage during ”Into The Heart.”n’, ‘May 10, 2005 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-10-2005-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-11 15:14:29’, ‘2005-05-11 19:14:29’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=25’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(26, 1, ‘2005-05-13 03:00:55’, ‘2005-05-13 07:00:55’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nVertigo, All Because Of You, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, City Of Blinding Lights, Original Of The Species, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You-Strangers In The Night, Yahweh, Bad-Norwegian Wood-Sexual Healing-40.nRemarks:nFor the last of four nights in Chicago, and with the film cameras off, U2 throws its setlist into the blender. ”Vertigo” opens a show for the first time. ”All Because Of You” and ”Original Of The Species” are played in the main set for the 1st time. ”Until The End Of The World” makes its Vertigo Tour debut. The show closes with ”Bad”, which gets extended with several snippets, finally wrapping up with a bit of ”40”, the traditional show closer this tour.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nBy Collin SouternI was at Target today buying a beaded curtain when I suddenly had the urge to make a $49.50 donation to the U2.com Human Fund. I made my way to the United Center hoping my donation would land me a ticket anywhere in the joint. Sure enough, it did. It pays to give.nN/And, oh, how the boys gave back! With the camera crews out of the way, the nervousness gone (or whatever they felt on Saturday), U2 just ripped into a set list that will silence the naysayers (myself included) and cease all expectations for those who have yet to see a show. You think you know what you”ll get when you walk into a Vertigo show? Think again.nHaving seen all three opening numbers, I can honestly say that Vertigo works best as an opening song. Yeah, sure, we predicted that would be the opener months ago and, yeah, it”s too bleedin” obvious. But of the three, nothing got the crowd going more. U2 comes in and tares up the place right away. Love and Peace belongs in the middle of the show with Sunday and Bullet. City of Blinding Lights looks pretty, but it”s too much too soon. Vertigo works best, in spite of itself.nHaving heard The Ocean for the first time on this tour, many are right in saying that it”s a buzzkill for the crowd. It”s a die-hards only number. There was an awkward moment tonight during this song when Bono decided to talk about the first time U2 came to Chicago. He couldn”t remember the name of the club and kept asking people in the front the name of it (Park West).nMy first Gloria. I maintain (as I have for years) that October is Larry”s best album. Glad to hear a cut played live.nCity of Blinding Lights got the Streets treatment tonight coming in after Running. It works, but there were problems with the video playback tonight, both with the Human Rights declaration and the text message One Campaign scroll. The first came in too late, the latter too early and made things a little disjointed.nOh, and Bono may want to be careful when he”s pointing to the “Jesus…Jew…Mohammad…” on his bandana and NOT do it with his middle finger. Just sayin”is all.nUntil the End definitely gets a better crowd reaction than Zoo Station, although I”ll miss the Zoo if they drop it (especially if they drop the distorted image of Charlie Chaplin”s Hitler parody from the video screens…anybody know if that showed up tonight? I was in section 331 and couldn”t see it).nOriginal of the Species seems to be a keeper, as well it should be. Throwing it in the middle of the set somehow validates that (although using it to replace Yahweh is also a splendid, splendid idea that I like very, very much).nFinally, they closed the show with Bad. Bad, people. BAD!!! Can I just say what an intense, emotionally satisfying experience that was!?! That song has taken on a whole new meaning for me these past few months and hearing it close the show made the drive from the suburbs to the United Center…nthe risk of getting turned away and shut out without a ticket…nthe over-exposure of the band since this album”s release…nthe ridiculous iPod ad…nthe silly clothing line…nthe lackluster Saturday performance…nYahweh…nthat embarrassing “baby”s head” lyric…nthe rhyming of “voice,” “choice” and (ahem!) “tortoise”…nthe horrible album cover…nN/And Bono”s supposed duet with J-Lo…WORTH IT!!!nWell, okay, maybe not the last one, but their performance of Bad tonight pretty much wiped the slate clean for me. U2”s music is no longer tainted for this fan. They”re back to being MY band.n’, ‘May 12, 2005 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-12-2005-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-13 03:00:55’, ‘2005-05-13 07:00:55’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=26’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 6),
(27, 1, ‘2005-05-15 02:28:23’, ‘2005-05-15 06:28:23’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings two young girls on stage during ”Into The Heart.” Actor Jim Carrey is spotted in the VIP area tonight, and Gavin Friday (who had come over to assist with the recent video shoot in Chicago) is also in attendance.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nPhiladelphia InquirernU2 rocks the Wachovia Center (and tries to save the world)nby Dan DeLucanThe Man Who Would Save the World brought a long to-do list to the sold-out Wachovia Center on Saturday:nEducate date-night U2 fans about the United Nations” Universal Declaration of Human Rights.nDon a white headband that uses the Muslim crescent, the Star of David and a crucifix to spell out “CoeXisT.”nDiscuss how the July ”85 Live Aid concert “changed [U2”s] life, and set us on a course” leading to One, the organization that intends to “make poverty history.”nN/And – lest even ardent fans get tired of the messianic preaching from a band built around the notion that rock-and-roll is not about rebellion so much as duty (“One life,” the song goes, “you got to do what you should”) – shut up every once in a while, and sing.nCheck, check, check and double-check. At the first of U2”s four Philadelphia shows on its Vertigo tour – the Irish rockers play the Wachovia again Sunday, then return Oct. 16-17 – Bono gave the people what they paid up to $160 for: two-hours-plus of rousing rock-star heroics, during which U2 revisited its back catalog and invested familiar anthems with enough fervent belief to give even the most skeptical observers goose bumps.nThe show confirmed impressions made by last year”s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and its predecessor, All That You Can”t Leave Behind.nN/After spending the ”90s gamely trying to explode their self-made image of pompous sanctimony by experimenting with irony and electronic dance music, U2”s musicians have gotten back to what they do best: singing and playing heart-on-their-sleeve songs like they mean them, man.nN/At the Wachovia, that meant connecting new material such as the opening “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo” with the kinetic, early-1980s songs “The Electric Co.” and “The Cry.”nWhile standbys such as “I Will Follow” have been jettisoned, they”ve been replaced by new songs of spiritual seeking such as “Yahweh,” or nearly forgotten tunes such as the stately sing-along and show-closer “40.”nOf course, U2 isn”t entirely about the guy who introduced himself to two young girls – brought them on stage for “Into the Heart” – by saying: “My name”s Paul, but I call myself Bono.” He got a little help from the locked-in rhythm section of Adam Clayton and the martial beats of the band”s Dorian Gray drummer, Larry Mullen Jr.nIf you shifted focus from the bloke who dropped bits of Frank Sinatra”s “Send in the Clowns,” and the Beatles” “Blackbird” into the set, you”d have noticed the guy who calls himself The Edge. He was the one with the skullcap, shooting off sonic projectiles “Bullet the Blue Sky,” playing roiling slide-guitar licks on “Beautiful Day” and switching to piano on the fragile “Running to Stand Still.” And making it clear that – despite the outsized ambitions of its grandiose front man – U2 is, first and foremost, a great rock-and-roll band.n© Philadelphia Inquirer, 2005.n’, ‘May 14, 2005 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – Wachovia Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-14-2005-philadelphia-pennsylvania-usa-wachovia-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-15 02:28:23’, ‘2005-05-15 06:28:23’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=27’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(28, 1, ‘2005-05-18 03:24:42’, ‘2005-05-18 07:24:42’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Original Of The Species, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40, Vertigo.nRemarks:n”New Year”s Day” is left out of the set for the 3rd straight show (it hasn”t been performed since the DVD shoot in Chicago a week ago). The encores extend to 8 songs tonight, the longest so far this tour. Also, this is only the second show of two in U2 history to feature a full version of 40 performed in what is not the final setlist position. The prior instance occurred over 18 years ago on April 7, 1987.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nNorthJersey.comnU2 fans see a show and make a commitmentnby John Petrick, NorthJersey.comnThe Irish supergroup U2 brought its brand of political rock-and-roll theater to a sold-out crowd at Continental Arena Tuesday night, complete with glittery confetti, glow-in-the-dark runways, smoldering dry ice and the ever-strutting, ever-sensitive frontman Bono.n”Tonight, Jersey is going Irish,” said the lead singer, dressed in a black leather coat, black pants and dark shades, standing at the lip of the stage. Making a dramatic entrance just before 9 p.m., the band launched into fiery performances of “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo.” Both are from the group”s latest album, “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.”nThe band – which also performed Wednesday night at Continental and has a Saturday date at Madison Square Garden – quickly reached back for songs from its past, including “Elevation” from 2000”s “All That You Can”t Leave Behind” and “Electric Co.” from 1980”s “Boy.”nN/A giant oval runway surrounding the stage made for plenty of interactivity with the audience, with Bono often patrolling it as he sang and even taking a little girl from the audience for a stroll on it early in the concert.nBono introduced the song “Miracle Drug” by preaching of how religious faith and scientific progress should be complementary – not contradictory – practices. “The people of God should not be afraid of the people of science. They need each other,” he said.nGuitar player The Edge – in fine form along with the rest of the band – transmitted the telltale, militant guitar riffs that open the U2 classic “Sunday Bloody Sunday” as Bono changed into a starred-and-striped leather coat and white bandana. With his ominous, soulful wail as strong and strenuous as it was when the band debuted in the ”80s, the lead singer augmented the song by preaching words of coexistence and religious tolerance.nDespite the earnestness of much of the night”s concert, there were a few lighthearted moments. Bono and band mates occasionally swaggered their way around opposite curves of the giant runway until meeting in the middle, being playful with each other during such hits as “Where the Streets Have No Name” from the 1987 masterpiece “The Joshua Tree.”nBut the mood never stayed light for long. Compared with the shows of Bruce Springsteen, whose political grandstanding during the “Vote for Change Tour” put off many die-hard fans, a U2 concert without political activism would be like a day without sunshine.n”My first impression of America was a man walking on the moon. We thought, Americans are mad. But when they put their minds together, they do incredible [expletive],” Bono said, drawing cheers. “It was the best of this country. So that”s what we”re saying to President Bush, Tony Blair. … We are saying, ”Lead, and we will follow.” Because we don”t want you to put a man on the moon. We”re asking you to bring mankind back to earth. We”re asking you to end extreme poverty in our lifetime, in places like Africa.”nHe then called upon the audience to help do its part by getting involved in the One Campaign, which Bono launched earlier this year. The campaign asks Americans to lobby their elected officials so that developing countries ravaged by poverty and AIDS can get assistance from the United States. “We have the technology, the resources, the know-how.”nWith that, he asked the audience to take out their cellphones and raise them high in a symbolic pledge of their support. “They”re dangerous little devices, those cellphones,” he said. “I”m not looking for your money. It”s all right. Relax. I”m looking for your voice. … Take out your cellphone and light up the night.”nThe band never sounded more together than during its performance of “[Pride] in the Name of Love,” a bittersweet, triumphant anthem paying tribute to the late Rev. Martin Luther King. The audience never sounded as together, either, as the band eventually stopped playing and let the crowd chant a portion of the song without accompaniment.nThe 90-minute set might have seemed short – but then came four encores that included all four band members joining one another at the outermost limits of the stage”s runway for a quiet performance of “Yahweh” from the new album. And for a band whose latest album brings it back to its post-punk roots, it only seemed a fitting climax that U2 ended where it started – with another, even more rousing version of “Vertigo.”nCopyright © 2005 North Jersey Media Group Inc. All rights reserved.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_1-thumb-120×83-1658.jpg” width=”120″ height=”83″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_2-thumb-120×75-1660.jpg” width=”120″ height=”75″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_3-thumb-120×70-1662.jpg” width=”120″ height=”70″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_4-thumb-120×80-1664.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_5.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_5-thumb-87×120-1666.jpg” width=”87″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_6.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_6-thumb-120×71-1668.jpg” width=”120″ height=”71″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_7-thumb-84×120-1670.jpg” width=”84″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_7.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_8.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_8-thumb-80×120-1672.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_8.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Mike Segar/Reuters.n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_9.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery14]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_9-thumb-90×120-1674.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_9.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery14]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_10-thumb-120×90-1676.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_10.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_11.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery14]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_11-thumb-90×120-1678.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_11.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_12.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery14]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_12-thumb-120×90-1680.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_12.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_13.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery14]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051705_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051705_13-thumb-90×120-1682.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051705_13.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Zachary Gillman.n’, ‘May 17, 2005 – East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA – Continental Airlines Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-17-2005-east-rutherford-new-jersey-usa-continental-airlines-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-18 03:24:42’, ‘2005-05-18 07:24:42’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=28’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(29, 1, ‘2005-05-19 04:11:30’, ‘2005-05-19 08:11:30’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Stories For Boys-Pump It Up, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Bad-40.nRemarks:nBono sings a bit of ”Pump It Up” for Elvis Costello, who is in the building tonight. ”I Still Haven”t Found…” is performed with a local band, The Bank Robbers, on stage. Members of that band borrow U2”s instruments to perform the song, though the drummer uses Larry”s tom from ”Love And Peace Or Else.”nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_1-thumb-90×120-1684.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051805_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_2-thumb-90×120-1686.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051805_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_3-thumb-90×120-1688.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051805_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_4-thumb-90×120-1690.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051805_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_5.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_5-thumb-90×120-1692.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051805_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_6.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_6-thumb-120×90-1694.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”eastrutherford051805_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/051805_east_rutherford/eastrutherford051805_7-thumb-90×120-1696.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”eastrutherford051805_7.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Zachary Gillman.n’, ‘May 18, 2005 – East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA – Continental Airlines Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-18-2005-east-rutherford-new-jersey-usa-continental-airlines-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-19 04:11:30’, ‘2005-05-19 08:11:30’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=29’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2);
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(30, 1, ‘2005-05-22 02:50:03’, ‘2005-05-22 06:50:03’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Rockaway Beach, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly-The Jean Genie, Mysterious Ways, Original Of The Species, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nU2”s only show in New York City this spring comes two days after the annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash concert, and Bono sings a bit of The Ramones” ”Rockaway Beach” during ”Vertigo.” ”One” is dedicated to economist Jeffery Sachs, who has been Bono”s longtime partner in promoting African relief efforts. At the end of ”The Fly”, the full band goes into an abbreviated version of David Bowie”s ”The Jean Genie.”n’, ‘May 21, 2005 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-21-2005-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-22 02:50:03’, ‘2005-05-22 06:50:03’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=30’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(31, 1, ‘2005-05-23 18:12:07’, ‘2005-05-23 22:12:07’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, Beautiful Day-Ultraviolet (Light My Way), Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings fans on stage during ”Beautiful Day” and ”Mysterious Ways.” The girl on stage during the latter ends up staying on stage through ”With Or Without You.” ”All Because Of You” is an unplanned addition to the setlist, and at the last minute the band chooses to end with ”40”, rather than ”Bad” which was planned as the closing song.n’, ‘May 22, 2005 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – Wachovia Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-22-2005-philadelphia-pennsylvania-usa-wachovia-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-23 18:12:07’, ‘2005-05-23 22:12:07’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=31’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 12),
(32, 1, ‘2005-05-25 04:45:55’, ‘2005-05-25 08:45:55’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Stories For Boys, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., The Ocean, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways-My Sweet Lord, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nU2”s unofficial hometown in the United States gives the band a loud and energetic welcome for the first of three shows to close out the tour”s first leg. Bono counts 1, 2, 3, 14 in Gaelic during ”Vertigo”, saying Boston is an Irish town, not Spanish. Former J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf is namechecked during ”Beautiful Day”, and ”40” is dedicated to Teresa Earnhardt, widow of racing legend Dale Earnhardt, who is presumably at the show.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBoston HeraldnBono in the USA! U2 comes ”home”nby Sarah Rodman, Boston HeraldnIf you went to the U2 show at the FleetCenter last night and you”re hurting this morning, it”s because the Irish rockers laid one mother of a bear hug on you.nLike a cross between old friends and eager puppies, the quartet opened a three-night, sold-out stand in one of their favorite cities with the musical equivalent of open arms and sloppy kisses.nThe crowd of 18,902 responded in kind. There was a tactile energy in the room, first a giddy anticipation during the confetti-strewn “City of Blinding Lights,” then a mounting excitement for the scrappy “Vertigo” and finally an explosive release with the soaring “Elevation.” With everybody in the house whoo-hoo-hoo-ing at once, it was like a seminar in community building.nIf the band members entertained any notions about pacing themselves to make it through tomorrow and Saturday, there was precious little evidence of that in the dynamic, two-hour performance that zigged and zagged through their catalog.nBono was giving his all to make sure the person in the very back row was getting every “Sunday Bloody Sunday” as he strutted and fretted and pontificated on the circular ramp surrounding the stage and jutting out into the general admission crowd – 300 of whom made it into the inner circle.nDrummer Larry Mullen Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton were locked in a tight pas de deux all night, careering through “The Electric Co,” giving life to the heartbeat in “Beautiful Day” and playfully putting sex into the grooves of the bluesy “Love and Peace or Else.”nN/And the Edge – in seemingly high spirits – let it rip with a welcome bit of mischief in his solos that made them even more piercing than usual, especially the raw-nerve ending jangle of “Bullet the Blue Sky.”nLast night a few tunes, notably hits such as “Mysterious Ways,” “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “Miracle Drug” – which Bono prefaced with an interlude about the Hub”s gifted scientific community – came off slightly perfunctory.nBut U2”s perfunctory tends to be more high energy and earnest than most bands” best and its highlights so stellar that a few breathers can be forgiven.nThe highs were breathtaking indeed. The prayerful but joyful acoustic encore “Yahweh” had a magical touch, as did Bono”s tender falsetto on “Sometimes You Can”t Make it On Your Own” and the mesmerizing “Running to Stand Still,” which the singer dedicated to the brave men and women in the U.S. military.nSpokesman Bono didn”t overdo the one-world speechifying. Prior to a lovely version of “One,” he spoke briefly of the legacy of John F. Kennedy and beseeched the crowd to join his One campaign to end extreme poverty, saying, “We are so much more powerful when we work together as one.”nDuring the song he asked everyone to pull out their cell phones, which practically lit up the arena. (Clearly more people have cell phones now than lighters.)nThe night ended with the tireless crowd singing heartily on “40” as Mullen laid down a martial tempo.nToward the end of the evening, Bono said with a heartfelt sigh, “It”s nice to be home.” Without a doubt, it was good to have them.nThe mighty Kings of Leon played a rip-snorting 40-minute opening set to a shockingly small crowd.nCopyright © 2005 Boston Herald. All rights reserved.n’, ‘May 24, 2005 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – TD Banknorth Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-24-2005-boston-massachusetts-usa-td-banknorth-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-25 04:45:55’, ‘2005-05-25 08:45:55’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=32’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(33, 1, ‘2005-05-27 00:37:30’, ‘2005-05-27 04:37:30’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, Beautiful Day-Dream On, 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 (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Until The End Of The World, With Or Without You, Out Of Control, All Because Of You, Original Of The Species, Bad-40.nRemarks:nJust before the show begins, a noticeable security detail leads former Vice President Al Gore and wife Tipper to their seats in a prime spot to the side of the stage. Bono sings snippets of two Aerosmith songs as Steven Tyler and his bandmates are in attendance tonight. U2 appears to abandon their setlist during the encores, and Bono plays traffic cop telling the band which songs he wants to do. ”Out of Control” is played for the first time this tour and its done spontaneously. The band are going into With Or Without You when Bono calls for Out Of Control. While Edge scrambles for the right guitar, Bono has to yell Adam Clayton”s name multiple times to get his attention. Bono also brings a girl up on stage to dance during ”Bad”, reminiscent of Live Aid 20 years ago.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBoston GlobenU2 even more powerful in second shownby Steve Morse, Boston GlobenU2 may be peaceniks, but they have a warrior mentality onstage. They were even more potent last night than they were at Tuesday”s FleetCenter debut. The sound was better, the playing more impassioned, Bono”s raps were more cohesive, and a few notable changes in the song sequence sent this show straight to the A-list of U2 memories.nN/An air of excitement was building early because U2 revealed backstage that it will perform at the just-confirmed 20th anniversary of Live Aid in London on July 2. ””We”re looking forward to it. We definitely want to be a part of it,” said bassist Adam Clayton, adding that the group has a show in Vienna that night, but would play earlier in the day.nBlastoff at the FleetCenter came with the same three songs from Tuesday — a surging ””City of Blinding Lights” (with huge curtains of LED lights dropped from the overheard rigging), a bone-crunching ””Vertigo,” and tribal, call-and-response vocals with the crowd on ””Elevation,” as Bono addressed the fans as ””sexy people.”nThen came a song the band didn”t play Tuesday — the euphoric ””Gloria,” sung with a gospel vigor and enhanced by The Edge on vocal harmonies. Frankly, if you had polled the crowd right then and there, they might have said they already had their money”s worth. I can”t remember another band taking their fans higher after only four songs.nThe upbeat tone was furthered by ””Beautiful Day,” before Bono launched a long rap about how Boston was not just ””the city of Aerosmith and the Cars,” but was filled with ””smart people who believe in the future, who have faith in the future.” In introducing the song ””Miracle Drug,” he talked about how Boston is known for its medical community and that ””God inspires scientists and nurses.” He spoke more openly about God last night than he has in quite a while onstage — and later he talked about religious leaders from Jesus to Mohammed and how they were ””all sons of Abraham.”nOh yes, and then they rocked. An anti-war theme ran through a powerful segue from punk-rocking ””Sunday Bloody Sunday” to the heavy-metal-drenched ””Bullet the Blue Sky,” as Bono, draped in a white bandana, touchingly added verses from the Civil War song, ””When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again.”nThe song ””Running to Stand Still” was dedicated, without sarcasm, to the men and women of the US military. It was followed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights scrolled on a video screen, leading to a thunderous ””Pride (In the Name of Love),” a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.nBono, who often walked on a circular ramp extending halfway onto the floor (he also briefly played a drum out there), took the main set home with the spiritual exaltation of ””Where the Streets Have No Name” and ””One,” which was prefaced by a poignant speech on the need to eradicate poverty and alleviate Third World debt.nThe first encore was ””The Fly” (also not played on Tuesday), followed later by another new insertion, ””Original of the Species,” from the latest album, ””How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.” Most of the show had songs from Tuesday, but the few changes helped sharpen the focus of an already transcendently compiled program.nOpeners Kings of Leon slammed through an uncompromising set of primitive, muleskinner rock with great energy and swagger.nCopyright © 2005 Boston Globe. All rights reserved.n’, ‘May 26, 2005 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – TD Banknorth Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-26-2005-boston-massachusetts-usa-td-banknorth-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-27 00:37:30’, ‘2005-05-27 04:37:30’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=33’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 5),
(34, 1, ‘2005-05-29 19:31:14’, ‘2005-05-29 23:31:14’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kings of LeonnSetlist:nLove And Peace Or Else, Vertigo, Elevation, The Cry, The Electric Co., An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, City Of Blinding Lights, Beautiful Day-Here Comes The Sun, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore: The Fly, Until The End Of The World, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Party Girl, Vertigo.nRemarks:nThe final show of the 1st leg is festive and merry. Before ”Miracle Drug”, Bono talks about the uncertainty of touring and says it was faith in each other and in their fans that made it possible. Two kids are brought on stage during ”Into The Heart.” ”Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” is played in full for the first time since 1992. Bono brings a large ”U2 Day” proclamation on stage. ”Party Girl” and ”Vertigo” replace ”40” at the last minute, and Bono sprays a bottle of champagne over fans in the ellipse during ”Party Girl.”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBoston HeraldnU2 reaches new heights in `Vertigo” send-offnby Dean Johnson, Boston HeraldnNever mind the Nobel Prize, somebody nominate Bono for an Oscar.nRock”s great frontmen also have to be terrific actors, and U2 lead singer Bono proved it during the band”s three-night stand at the FleetCenter.nU2 did the same basic set each night, with a few tweaks (last night”s novelties included “New Year”s Day” and “Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”). He made the same pleas to world leaders to end extreme poverty, the same dedication to members of the U.S. military, the same plea for peace among the world”s religion”s, even the same tribute to John F. Kennedy.nThere was also the same nod to 21st century technology during “One,” when Bono asked for everyone to hold up their lighted cellphones . . . lighters are just so passe these days.nBut Bono”s strengths as a performer, boldly on display in Boston the past week, are his absolute control of his audience and his ability to make the repetitive seem completely spontaneous, as if he and the boys suddenly decided each night to bang out a show in front of a few close friends.nThis “Vertigo” tour sets the 2005 standard for hockey rink rock tours. The band does nearly two dozen songs over the course of two hours, and each night the set is a shrewd mix of oldies, inspiring ballads, garage rock, smart pop and metal-tinged rockers.nBut the gig is more than a concert. It”s a multimedia event with music at the core. Seven three-story curtains – each one comprised of nearly 30 strands of lights – project flags, words, pictures and abstract images. Streams of light shoot around the oval catwalk. Video screens project multiple images. At times the music seems more like a soundtrack than the main event.nYet Bono connected all the loose ends last night, as he did during the previous Boston shows. He crawled on the catwalk, he pogoed, he did a Frankenstein totter, he did everything, it seemed, except stay still for even a moment.nN/And his bandmates laid down a constant, covering fire behind him.nCopyright © 2005 Boston Herald. All rights reserved.n’, ‘May 28, 2005 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – TD Banknorth Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘may-28-2005-boston-massachusetts-usa-td-banknorth-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-05-29 19:31:14’, ‘2005-05-29 23:31:14’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=34’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 5),
(35, 1, ‘2005-06-10 19:24:01’, ‘2005-06-10 23:24:01’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Thrills, Snow PatrolnSetlist:nVertigo, Until The End Of The World, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Here Comes The Sun, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo-Stories For Boys.nRemarks:nThe first show of the European Vertigo Tour features a brand new stage design that includes a large LED video wall behind the band, and two b-stages that extend out into the crowd but don”t connect to enclose fans like the ellipse did in North America. The setlist is largely similar to the 1st leg, but ”Vertigo” opens and closes the show (replacing ”40”), and ”Until The End Of The World” is played 2nd. ”Running To Stand Still” is dedicated to former Irish President Mary Robinson, who is at the show. The day before this show, U2 rehearsed a complete show in the empty stadium. Unlike the rehearsal prior to the first leg in North America, no fans were allowed inside this time. Nonetheless, many heard the show from outside the stadium.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe IndependentnNo sense of vertigo for the band sitting on top of the worldnby Pierre PerronenThe launch of U2”s European tour is an event which makes front page news and fills seven pages of La Belgique Libre and the other Brussels papers.nBono has been meeting European commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and banging the drum for Africa ahead of Live8 but can the biggest and most committed rock group in the world still deliver in a stadium? Sixty thousand Belgian fans certainly think so.nBono, the Edge, Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton, all wearing black, stroll in casually and set out their stall with a garage-y “Vertigo”, the lead off single from the latest album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.nThe tour has already played to half a million fans in the US and grossed $41m (£22.6m) but the U2 juggernaut is only just getting started. Indeed there is the feeling that the band are limbering back up to speed on the first night of their European tour.nN/As the Edge windmills through “Until The End Of the World” while Bono jumps up on the spot before planting a kiss on Adam Clayton”s cheek. As singer and guitarist venture on to ramps which lead away form the main stage into the middle of the crowd, the show shifts up a gear.nOn their US dates U2 have been going back to their Boy album. As the group feel their way back in they offer a Euro-friendly set but still manage to inject as much energy into “The Electrical Company” as when I first saw them 24 years ago.nThe Edge”s guitar riffs reach to the back of the stadium as Bono throws water over the front rows and sings to the heavens. He has always been one for the grand gesture and invokes the rock”n”roll spirit of other bands . He croaks a snatch of “I Can See For Miles” – The Who were a defining influence on the Irish band. Later, Bono ad libs The Beatles” “Here Comes The Sun” and the Walker Brothers” “There”s No Regrets”.nThe singer compares the crowd to a little box of chocolates and says: “I”m going to take a little bite out of every one of you” – and the Belgians lap it up.nThey play “Elevation” before Edge multi-tasks at the piano and guitar for “New Year”s Day”, which segues into “Beautiful Day” – rescued from its Premiership hell. The Edge turns out to be U2”s secret weapon and remains arguably the most innovative guitarist in rock since Jimi Hendrix.nHis stellar playing shines through time and again, his trademark atmospheric chimes sending shivers down the spine as he glitters all over “City Of Blinding Lights”.nWith its reflective lyrics, “They”re Advertising In The Skies For People Like Us”, the track tells U2”s story – the story of a band that believed harder than most and triumphed where their early contemporaries The Skids, Joy Division, Simple Minds and Echo & The Bunnymen failed to stay the course.nU2 still manage to shake stadium rock to its foundations. Twenty six years on they draw over 50 per cent of their live set from their two most recent albums – a feat that the Rolling Stones have never managed. They are still the biggest band in the world.nCopyright © 2005 Independent. All rights reserved.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery78]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_1-thumb-84×120-1698.jpg” width=”84″ height=”120″ alt=”brussels061005_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery78]

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“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_5-thumb-80×120-1706.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”brussels061005_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_6.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery78]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_6-thumb-120×75-1708.jpg” width=”120″ height=”75″ alt=”brussels061005_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery78]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_7-thumb-80×120-1710.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”brussels061005_7.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_8.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery78]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_8-thumb-80×120-1712.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”brussels061005_8.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_9.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery78]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_9-thumb-120×76-1714.jpg” width=”120″ height=”76″ alt=”brussels061005_9.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery78]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061005_brussels_belgium/brussels061005_10-thumb-80×120-1716.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”brussels061005_10.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Reuters.n’, ‘June 10, 2005 – Brussels, Belgium – King Baudouin Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-10-2005-brussels-belgium-king-baudouin-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-10 19:24:01’, ‘2005-06-10 23:24:01’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=35’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(36, 1, ‘2005-06-13 15:53:02’, ‘2005-06-13 19:53:02’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Thrills, FeedernSetlist:nVertigo, Beautiful Day-Here Comes The Sun, The Cry, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Party Girl, Vertigo-Stories For Boys.nRemarks:nFor the first time at a Vertigo show, the ”Everyone” intro is not used before tonight”s show. Bono thanks Herbert Groenemeyer and Wim Wenders before ”One.” Songs rehearsed earlier include ”Crumbs From Your Table”, ”All I Want Is You,” ”Original Of The Species,” ”Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses,” and ”With Or Without You.” Only the latter is played tonight.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_1-thumb-120×93-1718.jpg” width=”120″ height=”93″ alt=”gelsenkirchen061205_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_2-thumb-113×120-1720.jpg” width=”113″ height=”120″ alt=”gelsenkirchen061205_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_3-thumb-120×68-1722.jpg” width=”120″ height=”68″ alt=”gelsenkirchen061205_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_4-thumb-97×120-1724.jpg” width=”97″ height=”120″ alt=”gelsenkirchen061205_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_5.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061205_gelsenkirchen_germany/gelsenkirchen061205_5-thumb-120×106-1726.jpg” width=”120″ height=”106″ alt=”gelsenkirchen061205_5.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Martin Meissner/AP.n’, ‘June 12, 2005 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Schalke Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-12-2005-gelsenkirchen-germany-schalke-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-13 15:53:02’, ‘2005-06-13 19:53:02’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=36’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(37, 1, ‘2005-06-15 04:03:32’, ‘2005-06-15 08:03:32’, ‘Opening Act(s): Snow Patrol, The BraverynSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Cry, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You-Transmission-Love Will Tear Us Apart, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo-Stories For Boys.nRemarks:n”I Will Follow” makes its Vertigo Tour debut (holding up as the only U2 song performed on every tour since the band”s first album). In Joy Division”s hometown, Bono sings a bit of ”Transmission” and ”Love Will Tear Us Apart” during ”With Or Without You.” Joy Division bassist Peter Hook is in attendance. Bono thanks Tony Blair and Gordon Brown for their recent efforts leading to the G8”s cancellation of $40 billion of Third World debt.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe Final WordnU2 City Of Manchester Stadiumnby Mark Reed, The Final WordnIt”s not their greatest hits, but it”s U2 at their greatest.nN/Are U2 the greatest band in the world? On the strength of last nights show in Manchester the answer must be Yes. Unlike the other legends of rock, they”ve managed to avoid becoming irrelevant, managed to avoid making rubbish records, and managed to avoid turning their concerts into karaoke stadium rock where no song is under 20 years old. For that alone, U2 are unique. But not only that, U2 are one of the few bands in the world that appeal to the head and the heart, the mind and the soul, the rock and the roll. And last night U2 gave 60,000 people a performance that crystallised everything the band have always been about.nN/At the heart of this, lie four men who still are the same four boys who started a spiky rock band in Ireland in 1978. The set – spanning the resurrected “Electric Co” to the bulk of last years “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” – made clear that this is still U2. It”s still the same band. Sure they”ve got more gadgets and technology these days, and it would be foolhardy to not use those, but at the heart of it, U2 are still the same band. The things that drove them when they started are the things that still drive them. In their hearts, they are still as much boys as they ever were. And boys like their toys.nThe “Vertigo” production is, make no mistake, immense. Part “PopMart” in it”s grandeur, part “Elevation” in it”s no-frills intimacy, it”s the summation of everything U2 have been working at : PopMart grew up, and made this. Whereas PopMart was all flash (and flash has never looked so cool), and Elevation all soul, Vertigo is the perfect blend of the two : where pomp and pisstake meet in a potent explosion.nEverybody loves U2. Everyone. Behind me, possibly the coolest dad in the world (bar me) dances with his 8 year old son and they sing to each other. I wished my dad took me to gigs. I wonder if sometimes Bono and his dad danced like that. Below me, a sea of matching t-shirts dances as one : one pair of T-Shirt Twins (both bearing what look to be the £70* faux-retro Achtung Baby shirts) dance a ballet of white boy rock. Next to them, a cluster of Fosters Lager Bar Staff jump up and down singing and waving and smiling. Everyone is included. U2 is a world of democracy. Despite their obscene ticket prices, and the vastly oversubscribed tickets.nOne thing is stunningly clear. Bono is a great T-shirt salesman. You have to be you”re selling old reprinted shirts at £70 a pop. No. I”m not making that up. £70. £70. SEVENTY POUNDS for a t-shirt.nU2 know they”re one of the best bands in the world. When tickets cost that much, you have to be. And despite the bluster and baffle, there are still quite a few unsold seats in the stadium, hundreds of empty seats, especially on the £85/seat tier. This is a show, and this is a business. Welcome to show business. And what a show.nStarting with a biting “Vertigo”, U2 kick the sunlight aside with a no-frills, open air, no bullshit hits set for the opening half hour in the blinding sunset. They premiere “I Will Follow” for the first time so far on their tour, and a nostalgic “Electric Co.”, as if to make explicitly clear that yes, this is the same band, the same four guys, the same ideals, the same band they ever were.nBut this sure ain”t the Manchester Boardwalk, or Kansas, anymore. The suckerpunch of hits continues with “Beautiful Day”, “New Years Day” and new single “City Of Blinding Light”. Having seduced us with the hits of yore, as the darkness falls, they transform slowly into the U2 of today. This is who we were, and this now, is who we are. You”ve seen us on the journey, and this is where we arrived. A four song heart of new material, the dazzling “City Of Blinding Light” sees the arena swathed in dusk and projections that put even PopMart to shade (and, the song itself was written during the “Pop” sessions). The world where Man and Machine meet. Jets take off from the Airport and pass overhead, and part of me wonders if maybe it isn”t part of the show.nThematically the next two songs, “Miracle Drug” and “Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own”, are one but not the same. A portrait seen from two different angles. A paen to lost life and the healing power of technology, the songs take us to a place very few concerts would dare. We”re staring death and mortality in the face here. Bono serenades the ghost of his father, and we wonder. Will I ever dance with my son the way the dad behind me is with his son? Why didn”t my dad do the same? One day we will all die. And this transition makes it clear that this, this is the one world, one life, one choice, the one chance we have to make a difference.nYes. Grown men cry during U2 shows. The songs tug your heartstrings out and cut through the bullshit of modern life to what really matters. To what it is like to be alive and what it is to live and not merely exist. Time is running out, these two songs say. Time to make a change.nN/And what change should we make? The latterhalf of the main set makes this explicitly clear. The so-called “Heart Of Darkness” peels back the underside of the world, and it”s an ugly view. “Love And Peace or Else”, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “Bullet The Blue Sky”, “Running To Stand Still”, “Pride”, “Where The Streets Have No Name” and “One” are perhaps U2”s clearest statements of intent. War is bad, a very bad thing, which is kind of like saying the sky is blue and that terrorism is bad. But this isn”t about politics. It”s about activism. It”s about the future of mankind. This tour is more of a rallying cry for mankind to stop fucking about and work together.nCo-Exist. We must co-exist or die. Whilst we”re busy bombing people, we”re trampling human rights. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights scrolls forth, and the band pummell into “Pride” : the failure of mankind to treat all nations and all people equally is as big a crime against humanity as any other. Possibly the biggest ever. It”s in no way subtle. Hints are dropped like bricks. But stadiums like the big gestures. When Bono raises his hands, like a Hitler rally, we ALL raise our hands. Heil Bono!nThe rabble-rousing, roof-lifting “Where The Streets Have No Name” isn”t just a communal singalong anymore. It”s more than that. It”s a war cry, a battle hymn for the new human order.nThe set moves into the final scene with “One”, at once a statement of human unity, and the bitter dissolution of a failed love. People play this at their weddings, which always shocks Bono. “Haven”t you listened to the lyrics?” Bono asks. Yes. And maybe it”s because the song recognises that love is a stony path, and that some loves last forever despite these personal battles, that makes the song so strong. Yes. We will fight, we will row, but we will always be strong together. And mankind is stronger together than apart.nSure, you can take all this in, and think of it as more-than-competent stadium rock, or you can see that U2 are perhaps the most vocal champions of human rights in history, repeatedly underlining the cause. People are coming to a rock concert, and yes, we”re being preached to, but U2 have refined the methods, opened our eyes.n”People are coming to a rock concert and watching Television” was part of the Zoo TV method. As the darkness falls, U2 move from the preaching to something else completely. Bridged by “One”, the band move swiftly into a mini Zoo set. This is who we are, and that”s who we were, and we”re the same people we always were. This is a mini-reprise of 1992 all over again, but better, stronger, faster, more. The visuals, now in the night, are finally unleashed and make it clear that ZooTV was kids play compared to this. Visuals declare a People”s Republic of Zooropa, with massive Z flags, stalinesque 50 foot portraits of the band in red & yellow, a cartoon baby, a revised and mind blowing scroll of text that isn”t quite as random as you might think, and some of the best songs of all time. “Zoo Station” and “The Fly” are executed with military precision and religious passion. “Mysterious Ways” is, like every live version, expanded, enhanced, a widescreen tale of lust, ambition and faith. The power of love redeems. And, as they unveil “With or Without You” for only the fifth time on this tour, the two are clearly the same song. One song from the crotch, the other from a man stuck on a crutch of love. Being Manchester, the song then moves, as it always does in the 0161 TimeZone to a Sinatraesque rendition of Joy Division”s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. (And if you doubt how much U2 stole from Joy Division, you can start with their producer Martin Hannett, who produced “11 O”Clock Tick Tock”). And yes, grown men can cry when something as simple as a song unlocks the heart.nIf you didn”t see Zoo TV, this is the next best thing. It”s UltraZooTV, ZooTVconcentrate, and you can overdose on it. In fact, it might be the single 20 best minutes of music I have ever seen live.nThe theme of unity dispensed, U2 are back to the second encore, which sounds and feels like greatest hits, but is made entirely from the new album. “All Because Of You” flattens, a poem to his mother and to birth, to survival and seperation. Read those lyrics. “I”m alive, I”m being born, I just arrived, I”m at the door, Of the place I started out from, And I want back inside. And It”s All Because Of You”. Thematically, the only other song you can have next is “Yahweh”, about everything and nothing. And the pain of birth. And probably God and the Bible, like every U2 song. In fact, with it”s theme of birth, “All Because Of You” should be the set opener.nBecause next we get the last, final song, and much as I enjoyed it, it was the wrong choice. U2 aren”t some new band, they”re not some stadium cabaret act, they”re not under-rehearsed, and they”ve got somewhere in the region of 100 songs they haven”t played tonight.nSo why “Vertigo” twice? TWICE? The visuals are amazing, yes, and the performance is white hot. But to pay £50, or £85 a ticket and get the same song TWICE is frankly insulting. I can think of, off the top of my head, some 27 singles they didn”t play tonight. But every silver lining has a cloud. Nothing can ever be perfect. But my God, U2 come close.nThe “Vertigo Tour” is U2 at their best so far. A distillation, a summation, of all their previous phases and styles in one fabulous, potent whole. The chemistry on stage between the members, and between the crowd and the band, is almost nuclear. Can I make a pun about dismantling an atomic bomb now? It”s not their greatest hits, but it”s U2 at their greatest.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_1-thumb-92×120-1728.jpg” width=”92″ height=”120″ alt=”manchester061405_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_2-thumb-120×93-1730.jpg” width=”120″ height=”93″ alt=”manchester061405_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_3-thumb-120×92-1732.jpg” width=”120″ height=”92″ alt=”manchester061405_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_4-thumb-120×82-1734.jpg” width=”120″ height=”82″ alt=”manchester061405_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_5.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_5-thumb-90×120-1736.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”manchester061405_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_6.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/061405_manchester_england/manchester061405_6-thumb-82×120-1738.jpg” width=”82″ height=”120″ alt=”manchester061405_6.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Darren Staples (AP) & Gareth Copley (Reuters).n’, ‘June 14, 2005 – Manchester, England – City of Manchester Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-14-2005-manchester-england-city-of-manchester-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-15 04:03:32’, ‘2005-06-15 08:03:32’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=37’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 15),
(38, 1, ‘2005-06-18 15:12:37’, ‘2005-06-18 19:12:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): Athlete, IdlewildnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, Yahweh, Vertigo-Stories For Boys.nRemarks:n”All I Want Is You” is played for the first time this year. That song, along with the addition of ”I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For” makes for a longer-than-usual main set. And that, combined with local curfew law might explain why the encore is shorter than normal.n’, ‘June 15, 2005 – Manchester, England City of Manchester Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-15-2005-manchester-england-%c2%ad-city-of-manchester-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-18 15:12:37’, ‘2005-06-18 19:12:37’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=38’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(39, 1, ‘2005-06-19 03:35:05’, ‘2005-06-19 07:35:05’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Doves, AthletenSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Here Comes The Sun, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nN/A portion of tonight”s show airs live on BBC2 radio, starting with City Of Blinding Lights and continuing for the rest of the show.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nFinancial TimesnU2, Twickenham Stadium, Londonnby Ludovic Hunter-Tilney, Financial TimesnWe weren”t allowed to bring cameras or recording equipment to the first London date of U2”s Vertigo tour, and should have been asked to leave cynicism and scepticism at the gates too.nThis was a night of high ideals and heart-on-sleeve anthems, which on closer inspection were full of feel-good liberal pieties and vague spiritual flannel but played live in front of tens of thousands on a warm summer”s night had their own undeniable logic.nIs there another band today that can work a stadium with such skill? Having been together almost 30 years, since the moment when Larry Mullen, the drummer, put a notice up at their Dublin school looking for classmates interested in forming a rock band, U2 are currently at their peak. The 1980s will surely be judged their best decade in terms of music, but as fortysomethings they”re performing with rare confidence and warmth.nThey opened with “Vertigo” from their most recent album How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb whose chorus of “hello, hello” is tailor-made for rousing a huge audience to its feet. The stage set was less flashy than on previous U2 outings: the quartet were backed by huge screens but otherwise there wasn”t much gimmickry.nMusically, they didn”t put a foot wrong. Mullen and Adam Clayton, the bassist, were the band”s unassuming engine room. The Edge was superb on guitar, whether playing the shivery melodies of old songs such as “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For” or the choppier, more inventive texture of tracks such as “Elevation”.nBut the main focus, inevitably, was Bono, looking the quintessential rock star with his slicked back hair, black clothes and trademark sunglasses and singing with impressive force. His was a highwire act in which he hung suspended between the preposterous and the utterly compelling, at times grandstanding like a born show-off, at others electrifying us.nPreposterous moments included hammy lines such as when he described himself as “a married man flirting with the entire city of London” or his saccharine lyrics to “Miracle Drug”, when he sang that “Freedom has a scent like the top of a new born baby”s head” (presumably tyranny is like an elderly person with dandruff). And he seemed oblivious to the irony of dedicating a track to British servicemen and women in a setlist that also featured “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, a song inveighing against the British army”s most inglorious moment in Northern Ireland. Yet then he would redeem himself with a single action. As “City of Blinding Lights” built to its conclusion, he grabbed an inflatable heart-shaped balloon from the audience and let it float gently away over our heads towards the sky, thousands of heads swivelling around to watch it go.nBefore beginning “Sometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own”, a touching ode to his dead father, he carefully removed his sunglasses, as if to turn his true face to us.nWarming up for London”s Live 8 concert next month, he dedicated a trio of U2”s most powerful songs to the subject of African poverty: “Pride”, “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “One”. Whirled up in the great surging choruses and the Edge”s fluid guitar-playing, any doubts about their stadium activism melted away into the night. What effect it has when the music stops remains to be seen, however.nCopyright © 2005 Financial Times. All rights reserved.n’, ‘June 18, 2005 – London, England – Twickenham Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-18-2005-london-england-twickenham-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-19 03:35:05’, ‘2005-06-19 07:35:05’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=39’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(40, 1, ‘2005-06-21 02:06:54’, ‘2005-06-21 06:06:54’, ‘Opening Act(s): Idlewild, AshnSetlist:nVertigo, All Because of You, The Electric Co., Elevation-Hot in Herre, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home-Please, Running To Stand Still-Walk On, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You-Take Me To The Clouds Above, Yahweh, Vertigo-London Calling.nRemarks:nOn a very hot day in London, Bono sings a line from Nelly”s ”Hot in Herre” at the start of Elevation. Running To Stand Still includes snippets of Happy Birthday and Walk On and is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, for her 60th birthday. ”One” is dedicated to Bob Geldof, who is at the show.n’, ‘June 19, 2005 – London, England – Twickenham Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-19-2005-london-england-twickenham-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-21 02:06:54’, ‘2005-06-21 06:06:54’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=40’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1);
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(41, 1, ‘2005-06-22 04:12:48’, ‘2005-06-22 08:12:48’, ‘Opening Act(s): Interpol, Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubnSetlist:nVertigo, All Because Of You, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still-Walk On, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono pays tribute to Glasgow”s Simple Minds by adding a bit of ”Promised You A Miracle” at the end of Beautiful Day. Just as he did two days ago in London, Bono dedicates Running To Stand Still to Aung San Suu Kyi and adds a bit of Walk On at the end.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_1-thumb-120×90-1746.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”glasgow062105_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_2-thumb-120×90-1748.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”glasgow062105_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_3-thumb-120×90-1750.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”glasgow062105_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

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“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_6-thumb-120×90-1756.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”glasgow062105_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_7-thumb-120×90-1758.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”glasgow062105_7.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_8.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062105_glasgow_scotland/glasgow062105_8-thumb-120×90-1760.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”glasgow062105_8.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos courtesy of Fraser Walker.n’, ‘June 21, 2005 – Glasgow, Scotland – Hampden Park’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-21-2005-glasgow-scotland-hampden-park’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-22 04:12:48’, ‘2005-06-22 08:12:48’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=41’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 10),
(42, 1, ‘2005-06-25 04:26:41’, ‘2005-06-25 08:26:41’, ‘Opening Act(s): Radiators, Snow PatrolnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Rain-Here Comes The Sun, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still-Walk On, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Rain. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You-Take Me To The Clouds Above, Yahweh, Vertigo-Jailbreak.nRemarks:nU2 return to Croke Park almost 20 years to the date of their first gig in the historic Dublin stadium. Rain falls for much of the day and night, and twice Bono sings a bit of the Beatles” ”Rain.” Bono continues the Aung San Suu Kyi tribute during Running To Stand Still. A bit of Thin Lizzy”s ”Jailbreak” is added at the end of Vertigo 2.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nScotsman.comnBig ”Hello” as U2 Come Home to Excited Fansnby Kieran McDaid, Scotsman.comnHello, hello,” opened the show and Bono didn”t have to wait long for a reply as Dublin”s favourite sons, U2, took to the stage at Croke Park in front of almost 80,000 hometown fans.nN/All four band members walked to the front of the stage before playing a note to accept the adulation of fans, some of whom had slept outside to get their tickets months ago before repeating the trick last night to be first into the venue.nThe scale and volume of the welcome that greeted the lads, who grew up nearby, must even have shocked men who are feted across the globe.nSo high were spirits when first song, Vertigo, hit, parts of the crowd seemed noticeably dizzy.nEven the rain could not dampen the spirits of the excited crowd as they waited for U2 to take to the stage as a Mexican Wave and its accompanying roar reverberated around the ground.nBut as the concert got underway, it was clear the boys had come home and Bono couldn”t resist inquiring how the crowd was and whether they were okay in the rain.nFans had travelled from across Dublin, Ireland and the world for the first of U2”s homecoming concerts at the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association.nN/As the second song, I Will Follow, blasted out, there were thousands of volunteers to do just that.nBy the time the gates opened before the scheduled 4pm this evening for the first of three sell-out gigs, a handful of fans had already braved a rainy night camping out to ensure they got the best spots for the show.nU2 manager Paul McGuinness said the band were apprehensive but very confident before the show and that confidence was well-placed as the crowd provided as much noise as the amazing sound system.nThe 28 metre-high stage, which took a team of 82 to erect, ensured fans were treated to a spectacular stage show, the like of which only U2 could, and would, put on.nThe massive steel frame of the stage, which had to be specially adapted for the requirements of the GAA stadium, took three days to build and as it appeared to grow more dominant in the fading light, it proved a worthwhile labour.nThe set lists for the three Dublin shows were due to change but Friday”s night”s crowd appeared more than happy as all the songs were sang back at the stage with gusto.nEveryone seemed to agree that they “still hadn”t found what they were looking for”, but this must have come close.nOne U2 fan, Martin Burgel from Cologne in Germany, said he had waited for four weeks to get tickets for tonight”s concert.n”It”s the best thing in the world. I think this is one of the biggest days for me,” he said.nDublin has been gearing up for the concerts for months, with hotels booked out across the city for the weekend and roads closed around the stadium since this morning.nN/A garda on duty at the stadium said there was no arrests and the crowd was as well behaved as any seen at such an event.nN/Although, he added some ticketholders must not have shown up as the crowd was slightly smaller than represented by the 80,000 tickets sold.nTickets for the three gigs have been going for as much as 500 euro (£330) on the internet after they sold out within hours of being released.nN/As well as Ireland”s most famous rock band, the fans at tonight”s concert were also entertained by a blinding set from Northern Ireland band, Snow Patrol, and The Radiators.nOn Saturday The Thrills and Paddy Casey will be lining up to support U2, with Ash and The Bravery on Monday”s bill.nCopyright © 2005 Scotsman.com. All rights reserved.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062405_dublin_ireland/dublin062405_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery56]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062405_dublin_ireland/dublin062405_1-thumb-120×83-1740.jpg” width=”120″ height=”83″ alt=”dublin062405_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062405_dublin_ireland/dublin062405_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery56]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062405_dublin_ireland/dublin062405_2-thumb-120×79-1742.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”dublin062405_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062405_dublin_ireland/dublin062405_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery56]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/062405_dublin_ireland/dublin062405_3-thumb-79×120-1744.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”dublin062405_3.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Haydn West (AP).n’, ‘June 24, 2005 – Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-24-2005-dublin-ireland-croke-park’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-25 04:26:41’, ‘2005-06-25 08:26:41’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=42’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 10),
(43, 1, ‘2005-06-27 01:41:46’, ‘2005-06-27 05:41:46’, ‘Opening Act(s): Paddy Casey, The ThrillsnSetlist:nVertigo, Out Of Control, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Party Girl, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nN/An early-in-the-set version of Out of Control (the song this city chose as U2”s first single 26 years ago) gets the crowd pumped up. It”s the first time the song has been played on the European tour, and only the second time all year. Bono dances with a female fan during All I Want Is You, and brings a male fan on stage to play guitar during Party Girl. Bono tells the crowd that the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is in attendance. Videocamera crews from Dreamchaser Productions capture the show.n’, ‘June 25, 2005 – Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-25-2005-dublin-ireland-croke-park’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-27 01:41:46’, ‘2005-06-27 05:41:46’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=43’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(44, 1, ‘2005-06-28 19:06:45’, ‘2005-06-28 23:06:45’, ‘Opening Act(s): Ash, The BraverynSetlist:nVertigo, All Because Of You, Gloria, Elevation, An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Original Of The Species, Bad-Dirty Old Town, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running To Stand Still, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Unchained Melody. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, Vertigo, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nThe 3rd and final Dublin gig is one big party. Gloria, An Cat Dubh-Into The Heart, Original Of The Species, Bad and 40 all make their European Tour debuts. Miracle Drug is played for film director Christopher Nolan, who is at the show. Bono tells Nolan”s story, which inspired the song. Bono sings a bit of ”Black Hills Of Dakota” at the end of Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own. Tonight”s show, like Saturday”s, is filmed.n’, ‘June 27, 2005 – Dublin, Ireland – Croke Park’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-27-2005-dublin-ireland-croke-park’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-28 19:06:45’, ‘2005-06-28 23:06:45’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=44’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(45, 1, ‘2005-06-30 05:35:29’, ‘2005-06-30 09:35:29’, ‘Opening Act(s): Starsailor, The KillersnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, 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 (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nRunning To Stand Still is again dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi with a quick ”Happy Birthday” and a bit of ”Walk On” added. Bono namechecks Midge Ure, who is at the show, before One for his help with the Make Poverty History campaign. A great moment occurs at the end of the song, as Bono and The Edge start ”Unchained Melody” and then trail off and let the crowd take over and finish the song in unison.n’, ‘June 29, 2005 – Cardiff, Wales – Millenium Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘june-29-2005-cardiff-wales-millenium-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-06-30 05:35:29’, ‘2005-06-30 09:35:29’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=45’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 7),
(46, 1, ‘2005-07-05 16:12:53’, ‘2005-07-05 20:12:53’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Magic Numbers, The ThrillsnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, 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-Happy Birthday-Walk On, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nN/After performing at Live 8 in London earlier, U2 arrive late in Vienna and take the stage nearly an hour past schedule. A bit of ”Sgt. Pepper”s”, which they sang in London with Paul McCartney, is added to Beautiful Day. Running To Stand Still is again played as a dedication to Aung San Suu Kyi who recently celebrated her 60th birthday. The Kaiser Chiefs and The Killers, both of whom performed for Live 8, are replaced by The Magic Numbers and The Thrills as opening acts.n’, ‘July 2, 2005 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst Happel Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-2-2005-vienna-austria-ernst-happel-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-05 16:12:53’, ‘2005-07-05 20:12:53’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=46’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(47, 1, ‘2005-07-06 00:28:41’, ‘2005-07-06 04:28:41’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Magic Numbers, The KillersnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, 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 (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nDuring New Year”s Day, a song inspired by Poland”s anti-communist Solidarity movement in the early 80s, fans raise red and white shirts and cloths to form an image of the Polish flag. Bono is clearly moved, and turns his jacket inside-out to reveal the red lining. During Beautiful Day, he sings ”see the flag of Poland right in front of you.” Miracle Drug is dedicated to the late Pope John Paul II. ”One” uses the same intro as at Live 8, and Bono leads the crowd through a repeat chorus of ”Oooohs” for about a minute. Bono adds the ”Hear us coming” coda at the end. He sings a quick ”Happy Birthday” at the end of the show for a friend. Piotr Mlodozeniec, the original creator of the COEXIST image that has been a central part of the Vertigo Tour, is at the show.n’, ‘July 5, 2005 – Chorzow, Poland – Slaski Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-5-2005-chorzow-poland-slaski-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-06 00:28:41’, ‘2005-07-06 04:28:41’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=47’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 6),
(48, 1, ‘2005-07-08 00:34:52’, ‘2005-07-08 04:34:52’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Kaiser Chiefs, Snow PatrolnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co.-Can”t Stand The Rain, Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, 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-Amazing Grace, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh.nRemarks:nDuring I Will Follow, Bono sings ”these shoes, well they hurt me … excuse me, I have a problem here” and a stage assistant brings a new pair of shoes. Bono sits on the front of the stage and changes shoes while singing the song. Despite that, there”s a heaviness in the air after today”s bombings in London. The mood inspires the band, Bono especially, to an energetic performance. Running To Stand Still is dedicated to those affected by the London attacks. Bono leads the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to ”two young lovers” he met earlier in the day.n’, ‘July 7, 2005 – Berlin, Germany – Olympic Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-7-2005-berlin-germany-olympic-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-08 00:34:52’, ‘2005-07-08 04:34:52’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=48’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(49, 1, ‘2005-07-10 05:27:17’, ‘2005-07-10 09:27:17’, ‘Opening Act(s): Starsailor, Snow PatrolnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, 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 (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nN/As he did two nights ago in Berlin, Bono dedicates Running To Stand Still to the victims of the recent bombings in London. After the song, as the human rights video plays, thousands of fans hold up white balloons as a statement of peace organized by the U2 fan website U2achtung.com. Bono struggles to read his pre-One remarks in French. He adds the ”Hear us coming” coda at the end. A large section of the screen goes dark during Zoo Station, but functions again before the song ends.n’, ‘July 9, 2005 – Paris, France – Stade de France’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-9-2005-paris-france-stade-de-france’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-10 05:27:17’, ‘2005-07-10 09:27:17’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=49’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(50, 1, ‘2005-07-11 17:54:57’, ‘2005-07-11 21:54:57’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Music, Snow PatrolnSetlist:nVertigo, Out Of Control, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Here Comes The Sun, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Happy Birthday-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-Amazing Grace, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nN/At the start of Miracle Drug, Bono leads the crowd in singing Happy Birthday for The Edge”s daughter Hollie, who is at the show for her 21st birthday. The crowd sings in French after Bono sings in English. As ”Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own” ends, Bono tells a story about visiting Paris with his dad 10 years ago, and how after a night of drinking, Bob put Bono ”to bed like a little boy” and Bob stayed awake singing opera. Bono ends the song by singing opera over The Edge”s guitar. Bono brings a female fan on stage to dance at the end of One.n’, ‘July 10, 2005 – Paris, France Stade de France’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-10-2005-paris-france-%c2%ad-stade-de-france’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-11 17:54:57’, ‘2005-07-11 21:54:57’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=50’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(51, 1, ‘2005-07-14 06:09:22’, ‘2005-07-14 10:09:22’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Kaiser Chiefs, The KillersnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own-Return To Sorrento (opera), Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Running To Stand Still-Amazing Grace, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nN/An exceptionally loud crowd welcomes U2 to Amsterdam tonight. Bono again sings a bit of opera at the end of ”Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own” as he did in Paris. He dedicates Running To Stand Still to Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, killed last year by a Muslim extremist, and to the victims of the recent London bombings. Before Yahweh, Bono leads the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Anton Corbijn, who is at the show, even though his birthday was in late May.n’, ‘July 13, 2005 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-13-2005-amsterdam-netherlands-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-14 06:09:22’, ‘2005-07-14 10:09:22’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=51’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(52, 1, ‘2005-07-16 06:10:48’, ‘2005-07-16 10:10:48’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Music, Snow PatrolnSetlist:nVertigo, Out Of Control, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, 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 (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono sings a sample of ”Amsterdam” during Out Of Control, and a snippet of ”Black Hills Of Dakota” at the end of ”Sometimes”. Bono brings a young boy on stage during ”Streets”, and has him sit near Larry during One. One includes the ”Hear us coming” coda.n’, ‘July 15, 2005 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-15-2005-amsterdam-netherlands-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-16 06:10:48’, ‘2005-07-16 10:10:48’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=52’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(53, 1, ‘2005-07-17 17:55:04’, ‘2005-07-17 21:55:04’, ‘Opening Act(s): Athlete, Snow PatrolnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name-All You Need Is Love, One-Unchained Melody. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Original Of The Species, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings a big male fan on stage for Beautiful Day, who lifts up and carries Bono. Miss Sarajevo is played for the first time since PopMart Sarajevo, 1997. Bono sings Pavarotti”s operatic verse and draws loud cheers as he hits each note. Bono sings a bit of ”All You Need Is Love” after ”Streets”. Terry Lawless, U2”s usually ”hidden” keyboardist, joins the band on stage for Original Of The Species. That song and 40 are played for only the 2nd time in Europe this tour.n’, ‘July 16, 2005 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-16-2005-amsterdam-netherlands-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-17 17:55:04’, ‘2005-07-17 21:55:04’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=53’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(54, 1, ‘2005-07-19 04:04:42’, ‘2005-07-19 08:04:42’, ‘Opening Act(s): Feeder, AshnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono adds a bit of ”Black Hills Of Dakota” on the end of ”Sometimes.” Miss Sarajevo makes another appearance tonight after Bullet The Blue Sky. Yahweh is dedicated to the late French artist Balthus who lived in Switzerland.n’, ‘July 18, 2005 – Zurich, Switzerland – Letzigrund Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-18-2005-zurich-switzerland-letzigrund-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-19 04:04:42’, ‘2005-07-19 08:04:42’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=54’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(55, 1, ‘2005-07-21 16:37:46’, ‘2005-07-21 20:37:46’, ‘Opening Act(s): Feeder, AshnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, Original Of The Species, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono sings a bit of ”See Me, Feel Me” at the end of ”The Electric Co.”, and adds bits of ”Sgt. Pepper”s” and ”Everybody Hurts” at the end of Beautiful Day. Original Of The Species is played with members of the Symphony Orchestra of Theatre Carlo Coccia de Novara, along with Terry Lawless on keyboards. The orchestra is seated at the end of the b-stage ramps. Tonight”s show is filmed for a possible video release. R.E.M.”s Michael Stipe and Mike Mills are both at the concert.n’, ‘July 20, 2005 – Milan, Italy – San Siro’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-20-2005-milan-italy-san-siro’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-21 16:37:46’, ‘2005-07-21 20:37:46’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=55’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(56, 1, ‘2005-07-22 11:03:42’, ‘2005-07-22 15:03:42’, ‘Opening Act(s): Feeder, AshnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, Original Of The Species, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nOn the 2nd night of filming, U2 play a concert that matches last night”s show. Bono sings a bit of opera at the end of ”Sometimes.” One includes the ”hear us coming” coda. After the song, Bono thanks the late Pope John Paul II for his help with debt reduction. Original Of The Species is again played with members of the Symphony Orchestra of Theatre Carlo Coccia de Novara on both b-stages. R.E.M.”s Michael Stipe and Mike Mills are both at the show.n’, ‘July 21, 2005 – Milan, Italy – San Siro’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-21-2005-milan-italy-san-siro’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-22 11:03:42’, ‘2005-07-22 15:03:42’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=56’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 5),
(57, 1, ‘2005-07-24 20:43:04’, ‘2005-07-25 00:43:04’, ‘Opening Act(s): Feeder, AshnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nMiss Sarajevo is dedicated to the victims and all those affected by the terrorist attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt earlier today. One includes the ”hear us coming” coda. As he did in Milan, Bono thanks Pope John Paul II for his ”Drop the Debt” work at the end of One.n’, ‘July 23, 2005 – Rome, Italy – Olympic Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-23-2005-rome-italy-olympic-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-24 20:43:04’, ‘2005-07-25 00:43:04’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=57’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(58, 1, ‘2005-07-28 00:02:43’, ‘2005-07-28 04:02:43’, ‘Opening Act(s): Paddy Casey, RazorlightnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-The Sun Always Shines On TV, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where the Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono sings a bit of ”The Sun Always Shines On TV” during Beautiful Day as tribute to Norwegian band A-Ha. Band member Paul Waaktaar-Savoy is at the show. ”Sometimes” ends with a bit of ”Black Hills Of Dakota.” One includes the ”hear us coming” coda.n’, ‘July 27, 2005 – Oslo, Norway – Vallehovin Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-27-2005-oslo-norway-vallehovin-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-28 00:02:43’, ‘2005-07-28 04:02:43’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=58’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(59, 1, ‘2005-07-30 13:09:06’, ‘2005-07-30 17:09:06’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, RazorlightnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation-I Can”t Stand The Rain, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Rain. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Party Girl, Vertigo.nRemarks:nIt rains during the show, prompting Bono to sing bits of Tina Turner”s ”I Can”t Stand The Rain” (during Elevation) and ”Rain” (during One). Bono also shouts ”Billy Boola” a couple of times during The Fly. He changes the lyrics of I Will Follow in response to a preplanned ”white wave” display organized by the U2.se fan site. One includes the ”hear us coming” coda. Party Girl is the penultimate song, and this is the first European gig without Yahweh in the set.n’, ‘July 29, 2005 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Ullevi Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-29-2005-gothenburg-sweden-ullevi-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-07-30 13:09:06’, ‘2005-07-30 17:09:06’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=59’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(60, 1, ‘2005-08-01 13:10:56’, ‘2005-08-01 17:10:56’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, RazorlightnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Rain, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Rain. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly-Singing In The Rain, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nIt rains heavily throughout the show, prompting Bono to sing bits of the Beatles” ”Rain” two times and ”Singing In The Rain” once. He also carries an umbrella during Zoo Station. Many celebrities are at the show, including football/soccer star Ronaldo, Sean Penn, Helena Christensen, Neneh Cherry (”7 Seconds” snippet during Yahweh), plus Metallica”s Lars Ulrich and his dad (to which Bono sings a bit of ”Enter Sandman” during Vertigo II). One includes the ”Hear us coming” coda.n’, ‘July 31, 2005 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Parken Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘july-31-2005-copenhagen-denmark-parken-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-08-01 13:10:56’, ‘2005-08-01 17:10:56’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=60’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 7),
(61, 1, ‘2005-08-04 03:00:05’, ‘2005-08-04 07:00:05’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Zutons, KeanenSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co.-Singing In The Rain, Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Rain. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Party Girl, Vertigo.nRemarks:nN/Another rainy night prompts Bono to start the show saying ”Let”s take a bath together,” and sing bits of songs to fit the weather throughout the show. He adds a bit of ”Sgt. Pepper”s” and ”Here Comes The Sun” on the end of Beautiful Day. The crowd releases white balloons into the sky as the band begins ”Pride.” One includes the ”hear us coming” verse. Bono brings a male fan on stage to play guitar during Party Girl.n’, ‘August 3, 2005 – Munich, Germany – Olympic Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘august-3-2005-munich-germany-olympic-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-08-04 03:00:05’, ‘2005-08-04 07:00:05’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=61’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(62, 1, ‘2005-08-06 20:39:37’, ‘2005-08-07 00:39:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Zutons, KeanenSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Here Comes The Sun, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Everybody Hurts. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono sings a bit of ”Everybody Hurts” at the end of One for Michael Stipe, who is in the audience. He also namechecks Elton John and Quincy Jones, both of whom are also at the show. Bono”s attempts at speaking French throughout the show are met with both laughter and appreciation.n’, ‘August 5, 2005 – Nice, France – Parc des Sports Charles Ehrmann’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘august-5-2005-nice-france-parc-des-sports-charles-ehrmann’, ”, ”, ‘2005-08-06 20:39:37’, ‘2005-08-07 00:39:37’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=62’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(63, 1, ‘2005-08-10 05:34:19’, ‘2005-08-10 09:34:19’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Kaiser Chiefs, KeanenSetlist:nI Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Here Comes The Sun, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Party Girl-Get Up Stand Up, Vertigo-Happy Birthday.nRemarks:nOn the night before The Edge”s 44th birthday, Bono tells the crowd of 90,000 fans that this is the 5th time The Edge has spent his birthday in Barcelona. Bono leads the crowd in singing ”Happy Birthday” to The Edge before Party Girl, and then sings a bit of The Beatles ”Birthday” at the end of the 2nd ”Vertigo.” During the encore The Edge puts on an FC Barcelona team shirt and the crowd roars with approval. ”One” includes the ”Hear us coming” coda.n’, ‘August 7, 2005 – Barcelona, Spain – Camp Nou’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘august-7-2005-barcelona-spain-camp-nou’, ”, ”, ‘2005-08-10 05:34:19’, ‘2005-08-10 09:34:19’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=63’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 5),
(64, 1, ‘2005-08-10 05:35:40’, ‘2005-08-10 09:35:40’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Kaiser Chiefs, Franz FerdinandnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono once again sings snippets of ”Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and ”See Me, Feel Me” during The Electric Co. Beautiful Day ends with a bit of ”Here Comes The Sun.”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nEITB24n40,000 quiver at Anoeta stadium with U2nThe Irish band combined music, sight, and protests against world hunger and in favour of peace. Bono managed to win the affection of the spectators by singing “Uno, dos, tres… catorce” in Basque.nU2 did not let spectators down. The Irish band showed its talent at Anoeta stadium of Donostia-San Sebastián. With red and black colours standing out in the stage design, Bono and his band made 40,000 spectators quiver last night.nInstead of starting “Vertigo” song with “Uno, dos, tres… catorce”, Bono opted for “Bat, bi, hiru… hamalau”, its analogue in Basque, a way to receive the spectators in each of the concerts the band is giving.nIt was nearly 22:00 p.m., but that was not the only knowing wink to the Basque audience as many articles of the Human Rights appeared on screen written in Basque.nFrom that moment on, U2 performed songs from its last album How to dismantle an atomic bomb but also many of its most famous songs such as “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “Where the streets have no name”, “Still haven”t found what I”m looking for” and “With or without you”, combined with others more recent but not less popular such as “Beautiful day” or “Elevation”.nProtest actnThe concert became a protest act in which messages against poverty and in favour of peace and solidarity didn”t fail to appear. Bono told spectators to send a text message writing Africa in it to a certain number to collect money for that continent.nBut, above all, the concert was a spectacle full of lights and sounds. A music superproduction with technical display. No one will forget U2”s concert last night at Anoeta stadium, especially the youth who came out to stage and danced with Bono for a few seconds.nN/After two hours and a half, U2 left an excellent taste in the spectators” mouth.nIf rumours going round Donostia-San Sebastián are true, Rolling Stones could be playing next year at Anoeta stadium.n© 2005 EITB24.n’, ‘August 9, 2005 – San Sebastian, Spain – Anoeta Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘august-9-2005-san-sebastian-spain-anoeta-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2005-08-10 05:35:40’, ‘2005-08-10 09:35:40’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=64’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(65, 1, ‘2005-08-14 01:54:59’, ‘2005-08-14 05:54:59’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Kaiser Chiefs, Franz FerdinandnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono ad-libs quite a bit during the show, and does his best to speak Spanish to the fans in Madrid on several occasions. ”One” includes the ”Hear us coming” coda, and Bono leads the crowd in singing an ”Ole” chant at the end of the song, which the crowd continues through the encore break. ”Spanish Eyes” was reportedly on the band”s original setlist in Yahweh”s position, but it was not performed.n’, ‘August 11, 2005 – Madrid, Spain – Estadio Vicente Calderon’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘august-11-2005-madrid-spain-estadio-vicente-calderon’, ”, ”, ‘2005-08-14 01:54:59’, ‘2005-08-14 05:54:59’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=65’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(66, 1, ‘2005-08-15 17:11:55’, ‘2005-08-15 21:11:55’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Kaiser ChiefsnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Here Comes The Sun-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nOriginally, Keane were scheduled as a support act (in addition to the Kaiser Chiefs), but because singer Tom Chaplin was ill, Keane had to withdraw from the concert and the Kaiser Chiefs played an extended set. Earlier in the day, U2 received the Order of Liberty from Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio. Sampaio was reportedly at the show tonight.n’, ‘August 14, 2005 – Lisbon, Portugal – Alvalade’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘august-14-2005-lisbon-portugal-alvalade’, ”, ”, ‘2005-08-15 17:11:55’, ‘2005-08-15 21:11:55’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=66’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 14);
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(67, 1, ‘2005-09-13 02:23:06’, ‘2005-09-13 06:23:06’, ‘Opening Act(s): Dashboard ConfessionalnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, Beautiful Day, In A Little While, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Fast Cars, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nThe Vertigo Tour”s 3rd leg opens in Toronto, where U2 has already played two performances for Hurricane Katrina relief. Bono makes several references to the Gulf Coast during the show. Before ”One” he compares the devastation there to the images of extreme poverty in Africa. He adds a bit of ”Ol Man River after One (its a 75+ year old song from the musical ”Show Boat” which addresses the struggles of life along the Mississippi River). Fast Cars is played live for the first time ever and In A Little While is played for the first time since the Elevation Tour. ”40” isn”t on the printed setlist, but closes the almost 2.5-hour show. Daniel Lanois and Leonard Cohen are among the celebrities at the show.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe Globe and MailnBono skillfully balances humbug with sinceritynBy ROBERT EVERETT-GREENn”Sexy people, Toronto people, don”t get too big for your boots, with your film festival,” Bono called out, a few songs into U2”s show at the Air Canada Centre. “Don”t forget your rock and roll.”nNo danger of that, and no real need to warn against it. U2 had sold out all four of its Toronto dates long before the reels began spinning at the continent”s biggest film spree, along with all 46 of the remaining stadium dates on this leg of the band”s world tour.nFrom another angle, however, Bono reminding us not to forget rock and roll was a bit like a magician telling you to keep your eyes on the black silk hat. You just knew that some kind of transformation was about to take place.nIn fact, it already had. U2”s dominance on the stadium circuit has much to do with the way it has translated the sounds and postures of rock into something that seems to express much more (or less, for the unbelievers) than the need to kick out the jams.nFrom the start, last night”s show was more about jubilation than about throwing over the restraints of everyday life. (I”m not counting the compulsive singing along, but more on that later.) For the first half-hour at least, you got the feeling that each song was a full-volume offering of praise.nBut praise for what? Praise for the gift of a beautiful day; for the way you make me feel like I can fly so high; for the acknowledgment that sometimes you can”t make it on your own. Mainly, for the capacity to feel that light and decency can be shared and expressed, with all the bone-shaking power of a Marshall stack.nThe band came ready to please, launching the show with a barrage of hits and crowd favourites, beginning with its biggest single of the year, Vertigo. It didn”t matter that this song is all about disorientation and disquiet. In practice, it meant the same thing as Beautiful Day. When the band got to I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Bono stuck his microphone in the air and the crowd sang the first chorus, and that too became a beautiful-day moment.nWe knew we were getting down to the real source of the magic when Bono suggested we should feel for a moment as if we were in church. It was the cue for a well-placed series of iconic attitudes, including a scarcely credible sequence in which glitter fell from the ceiling and he walked along an oval catwalk with his hands in a palms-up position common to portraits of Christ and the Virgin Mary. You might have thought that this glitter was manna from heaven.nSome time before, Bono had got on his knees and pulled a rag from a disbelieving roadie”s hand, so as to mop up some water he had flung at the crowd. It was a tremendous gambit that completely upstaged the fiery solo the Edge was trying to put across at the far end of the catwalk.nIn Ireland, blarney might be the word for this kind of theatre. Here it”s probably enough to say that Bono is a rock star who hasn”t lost his swagger so much as he has tamed it to his own ends. He is the master of a finely balanced mixture of humbug and sincerity.n”We”d like to turn this next song into a prayer, and the prayer is that we do not turn into a monster in order to defeat a monster,” Bono said, before launching into Miss Sarajevo, a song about the beauty of everyday things in impossible situations.nThe show as a whole (as much as I could catch before deadline) was sleek and efficient, with a stripped-down set and lighting design that still managed to meet the opposing needs of intimacy and monumentality. The catwalk was underused by Madonna”s standards, but U2 is up to a very different kind of transformation than hers, with less need for kinetic display.nThe whole drama was contained in Bono”s subtle control of gesture, both physical and verbal, and in the bright, glimmering, expensive guitar sound pouring from the Edge”s guitar and Adam Clayton”s bass. It was more than enough for a wildly supportive crowd.n”We”re just getting started here,” Bono said. “This whole band is just getting started.”nCopyright © 2005 Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/091205_toronto_canada/toronto091205_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery31]

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“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/091205_toronto_canada/toronto091205_10-thumb-120×76-1780.jpg” width=”120″ height=”76″ alt=”toronto091205_10.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Aaron Harris (AP).n’, ‘September 12, 2005 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘september-12-2005-toronto-ontario-canada-air-canada-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2005-09-13 02:23:06’, ‘2005-09-13 06:23:06’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=67’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(68, 1, ‘2005-09-16 03:59:20’, ‘2005-09-16 07:59:20’, ‘Opening Act(s): Dashboard ConfessionalnSetlist:nVertigo, The Electric Co., Elevation, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Bad.nRemarks:nBono sings bits of ”People I Don”t Know Are Trying To Kill Me” and ”See Me Feel Me” during The Electric Co. One includes the ”Hear us coming” coda. Bono invites a bellydancer on stage during Bad, though he tells the girl and the crowd it”s the ”wrong song.” Later in the song, Daniel Lanois comes on stage to play guitar. Bono sings a bit of his song ”The Maker,” then adds a couple lines from 40 at the end of the show.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBuffalo NewsnElevation: U2 takes Toronto highernby Jeff MiersnTurning arena rock into an intimate tent-show revival isn”t just a daunting task; it”s a task no one else from U2”s generation has ever bothered to take up.nOn Wednesday evening, inside Toronto”s Air Canada Centre, that”s exactly what the Irish quartet did. For more than two hours, the ephemera of faith – a trust in the evidence of things not seen – seemed as real as the concrete floor under the jubilant crowd. This is U2”s gift as a band, and also its gift to us; it makes us believe that life can be better, that faith, hope and love are real, that we can become better people if we try, and that sometimes, the music can point us in the right direction.nDon”t care about any such things? U2 still puts on a rock show better than any other band currently beating the boards. If you desire to take the low road and indulge solely in the surface, the inviting waters surrounding the message, dive right in. U2 welcomes everyone. That”s part of what makes it the most important populist rock band since the glory days of the E Street Band.nThe band was in fine form from the get-go, when the house overheads dimmed and huge beaded curtains of light dropped behind them. “Vertigo” was the opener, and it cooked. But hearing “Electric Co.,” from the band”s debut effort, “Boy,” set the scene more suitably; The Edge”s patented digital delay-fueled guitar figure hopped and skipped and swayed all over the tune, as rhythm section Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton laid down the groove that introduced U2 to the world 25 years ago.nSublime – and Bono gave it all he had, which is no small amount. “Elevation” segued beautifully into “Beautiful Day,” (with an addendum of the spiritual “Many Rivers to Cross”) its partner on the band”s brilliant “All That You Can”t Leave Behind” album. That was the record that made it clear that U2 was going to enter its third decade together with all engines firing. “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” deepened that strain, and that album”s “City of Blinding Lights” was an early highlight, following the gospel-based psalm “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For.”n”Miracle Drug” followed, and by this point, it became crystal clear that there was a subtext to all the grandeur; U2 can write beautiful love songs, pop songs with big hooks, tunes that sound great on the radio, but the band is always flush with a sense of spiritual yearning. A large, circular runway – called “the ellipse” by the U2 cog-noscente – jutted out from the stage and encircled a few hundred lucky fans chosen at random. Down there, it was like seeing U2 in a club, not an arena. This offered an effective means for the band to connect with its audience in a more intimate fashion, though for many pressed up against the runway, it seemed to offer only an opportunity to ogle Bono up close. Nothing wrong with that, but the singer, deep in the midst of a heart-wrenching “Pride (In the Name of Love),” did express frustration with the cameras flashing incessantly. But U2 can”t be stopped. During “Bullet the Blue Sky,” Bono donned a blindfold and assumed the position of a prisoner of terrorism, hands bound above his head. It was an entirely disturbing imag. The set”s theme? The clear and present need for coexistence and acceptance, and the band”s unyielding belief that things can indeed change for the better.nCopyright © 2005 Buffalo News. All rights reserved.n’, ‘September 14, 2005 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘september-14-2005-toronto-ontario-canada-air-canada-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2005-09-16 03:59:20’, ‘2005-09-16 07:59:20’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=68’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(69, 1, ‘2005-09-17 20:20:53’, ‘2005-09-18 00:20:53’, ‘Opening Act(s): Dashboard ConfessionalnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own-(opera), Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Fast Cars, Happy Birthday, Yahweh, Out Of Control, 40.nRemarks:nBono sings a bit of opera at the end of Sometimes. Daniel Lanois makes another appearance, tonight joining the band for an extended version of One. After Fast Cars, Bono calls B.B. King at home to wish him a happy 80th birthday and leads the crowd in singing Happy Birthday. After Yahweh, Bono sees a sign: ”Our Band + A Song with U2 = Happy Crowd.” He invites the local band on stage and they take over U2”s instruments for the first half of Out Of Control. U2 come back to reclaim their gear and finish the song. Director Lian Lunson (of the Leonard Cohen documentary ”I”m Your Man”) is on stage with a film crew, taping All Because Of You and Fast Cars.n’, ‘September 16, 2005 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘september-16-2005-toronto-ontario-canada-air-canada-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2005-09-17 20:20:53’, ‘2005-09-18 00:20:53’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=69’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(70, 1, ‘2005-09-20 03:05:57’, ‘2005-09-20 07:05:57’, ‘Opening Act(s): Dashboard ConfessionalnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Rockaway Beach, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own-Dirty Old Town, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Popmuzik, Discothèque, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Fast Cars, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nDaniel Lanois joins the band for the 3rd straight night, again playing guitar on an extended version of One. Eddie Vedder joins them on stage as the song segues into Ol” Man River. The encore begins with the ”Pop Muzik” intro from the PopMart Tour, as U2 plays Discothèque for the first time since 2001. Bono dedicates Yahweh to the departing Willie Williams.n’, ‘September 17, 2005 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘september-17-2005-toronto-ontario-canada-air-canada-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2005-09-20 03:05:57’, ‘2005-09-20 07:05:57’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=70’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(71, 1, ‘2005-09-21 16:08:18’, ‘2005-09-21 20:08:18’, ‘Opening Act(s): Dashboard ConfessionalnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, Walk On, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Yahweh, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Discothèque, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, The First Time, Bad-40.nRemarks:nBono sings a bit of ”Break On Through” during Electric Co. Bono and The Edge do Walk On acoustically. Bono forgets the words at the end (”All that you…”) and wants The Edge to end the song, but he doesn”t. Bono finally finds the lyrics after flipping thru a stack of pages brought out by a crew member, cracks a joke about the situation, and the song ends. There”s no Pop Muzik intro before Discothèque. He sings the line ”Daddy”s Gonna Pay for Your Crashed Car” at the end of The Fly. Bono and The Edge perform The First Time (the first time the song has ever been played in full). Bono tells the crowd that a fan outside had asked to hear something from Zooropa tonight.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nChicago Sun-TimesnU2”s Well-Worn Arena Rock Script Rouses FansnBobby ReednHow many U2 members does it take to screw in a light bulb? Four: One holds the bulb while two others participate in Bono”s press conference regarding the social, economic and spiritual ramifications of using electricity to illuminate a room.nJoking aside, there is little middle ground among rock fans regarding U2”s frontman. Supporters applaud Bono”s efforts to fight AIDS, promote human rights and alleviate poverty around the globe. Detractors think Bono epitomizes the self-absorbed windbag rock star who pumps up his ego by telling fans how they can help him change the world.nBono, of course, was the center of attention Tuesday as U2 brought its “Vertigo” tour back to the United Center for the first of two sold-out shows. The same venue hosted four sold-out U2 shows in May during the initial leg of the tour, and two-thirds of Tuesday”s set list consisted of songs that U2 played at the venue on May 7. The band also used the same elaborate stage design, which had a gigantic, oval walkway that encircled a group of fans standing in a pit near the stage.nThe bulk of the concert was a meticulously rehearsed, carefully choreographed presentation of hit songs, social commentary, video segments, cinematic lighting and Bono”s trademark theatricality. But despite the relative lack of spontaneity, the Irish quartet — particularly (and perhaps surprisingly) drummer Larry Mullen Jr. — delivered an engaging, hook-heavy, expertly executed arena rock show.nBono kept his speeches short, so they didn”t disrupt the show”s pacing. Two of the evening”s highlights occurred when U2 ventured away from its well-worn script.nN/Accompanied solely by the Edge on acoustic guitar, Bono sang a passionate version of “Walk On.”” In the midst of this tune, the singer forgot the words and requested that a roadie bring him a lyric sheet. Bono recovered splendidly from this slightly awkward glitch, which injected some unexpected humor into the proceedings.nDuring the second encore of the 140-minute show, U2 surprised hardcore fans with “The First Time,”” a rarely performed song from the 1993 album “Zooropa.”” Bono”s muscular vocals were particularly effective as he crooned, “He said I have many mansions / And there are many rooms to see / But I left by the back door / And I threw away the key.””nThis lovely tune was one of a handful in which only Bono and the Edge performed. The band was at its peak, however, when all four members locked into a groove. Bassist Adam Clayton held down the low end with graceful panache, and Mullen proved once again that he is one of the best musicians in rock ”n” roll.nBono may get all the press, but Mullen provides the musical bedrock that makes this quartet such a powerful live presence. His rumbling kick drum on “Miracle Drug”” and bright cymbal splashes on the classic “One”” were just as mesmerizing as any of the Edge”s textured guitar solos. The soaring vocals and fine fretwork on hits such as “Beautiful Day,”” “Sunday Bloody Sunday”” and particularly “Where the Streets Have No Name”” gained much of their power because they were merged with Mullen”s inventive percussion.nMullen”s style is straightforward enough to rouse an entire arena of fans but complex enough to keep the songs from growing moldy over time. The best vantage point at a U2 show isn”t in the pit near Bono, but on the side, about 20 rows up, where fans can carefully study Mullen as he works his magic.nCrisp versions of “The Electric Co.”” and “The Fly”” were reminders of the depth of this band”s impressive oeuvre. By mixing old material with recent songs, the group attempted to satisfy both its faithful followers and those who own only U2”s most recent album, the uneven “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.””nCopyright © 2005 Digital Chicago Inc. All rights reserved.n’, ‘September 20, 2005 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘september-20-2005-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-09-21 16:08:18’, ‘2005-09-21 20:08:18’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=71’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(72, 1, ‘2005-09-22 16:17:15’, ‘2005-09-22 20:17:15’, ‘Opening Act(s): Dashboard ConfessionalnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Yahweh, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Bad-The First Time, Original Of The Species, With Or Without You-Love Will Tear Us Apart, Fast Cars, All Because Of You, 40.nRemarks:nN/At tonight”s show, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses makes its debut on this third leg of the Vertigo Tour. It”s five previous Vertigo Tour appearances were in full electric style (this performance and all subsequent Vertigo Tour ones are in an acoustic form). Bono sings the first verse of In A Little While in between Miracle Drug and ”Sometimes”. An epic version of Bad opens the encore, and finds Bono singing all of ”The First Time” inside the melody of Bad. As Bono leaves the stage during 40, he hangs his cowboy hat over his mic stand. Minutes later, when the song is over, Larry approaches the mic stand, takes Bono”s hat, puts it on and walks away.n’, ‘September 21, 2005 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘september-21-2005-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-09-22 16:17:15’, ‘2005-09-22 20:17:15’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=72’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(73, 1, ‘2005-09-24 14:16:31’, ‘2005-09-24 18:16:31’, ‘Opening Act(s): Dashboard ConfessionalnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co.-Send In The Clowns, The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Crumbs From Your Table, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nBono brings a female fan on stage to dance at the start of Elevation. Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses begins with just Bono and The Edge before the whole band joins in. Crumbs From Your Table is played for the first time. The band are about to launch into 40 to close the show, when Bono yells ”ENCORE!” The Edge and Adam scramble to return to guitar and bass, respectively, and the show instead ends with a 2nd version of Vertigo.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nMinneapolis Star TribunenU2”s Bono reaches out and touchesnby Jon BreamnSeptember has brought to the Twin Cities an unprecedented parade of popular music”s performing masters: The newly minted (Coldplay”s Chris Martin), the one not many knew about (Green Day”s Billie Joe Armstrong) and, of course, the veterans (Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Bono of U2 and even the eternally unhip Neil Diamond, who satisfies his faithful like Bruce Springsteen does his).nOn Friday in front of an arena-record 20,240 people at Target Center, Bono proved why he stands alone. First of all, he has the best band (more on that later). While the music world is full of kings and princes, gods and goddesses, Bono stands as the pope of pop.nNot only is he music”s conscience onstage and off, but his mere presence can carry a show. Unlike Jagger, Armstrong or Martin, Bono, 45, didn”t rely on physicality on Friday. Rather, he moved like a mime in slow motion, not a rock star in overdrive. He could reach out and touch the huge throng with his sincerity and spirit — or just literally with his hand.nDuring “Beautiful Day,” a parent in front of the stage held up a young boy and, as Bono sang, he held the boy”s left hand and the kid”s right index finger pointed at Bono, bouncing perfectly to the beat, as if to say “you da man.”nSimilarly, before “Elevation,” a young woman held up a sign declaring “I lost 75 lbs to dance with you.”nBono invited her onstage and announced, “You know Irish men don”t dance. We do lots of other things.” Then, of course, he danced with her and kissed her on the hand.nFor 2¼ hours, Bono came across as part politician, part preacher — and all passion. His crusades and campaigns were not about rebellion but about unity. “Coexist” was the word he wore on his headband, with the C being a Muslim crescent moon, the X a Star of David and the T a cross. He acknowledged the hurricane hardships and recoveries in the South, declaring, “We”re so proud to see America at its best.”nBono also thinks globally, translating Zulu words, scrolling the Declaration of Human Rights across a giant screen and preaching that Martin Luther King”s dream is “a European dream, an Asian dream, an African dream.”nSometimes Bono seemed pompous and pretentious (especially the hokey blindfolded prisoner-of-war bit) but there were enough self-deprecating moments to deflate his big head. (Best: When he was doing “Miss Sarajevo,” which he”d recorded with Pavarotti, he said, “He”s not here, but I”ve been putting on a little bit of weight.”)nIndeed, Bono seemed like Pavarotti, Springsteen, King and Nelson Mandela all rolled into tight black jeans, a black leather jacket and wraparound sunglasses. He occasionally stepped out of that persona, especially during “Sometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own.” Dedicating the song to his late father, he shed the shades and offered his most emotional vocal, his eyes filled with bittersweet tears.nBono could not have pulled all this off without the rest of U2. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton were the engine that drove the heroic sound. And it was the Edge, a true rock original, and his mostly subtle and always sublime guitar that made things magnificent. He provided the metallic fury during “Bullet the Blue Sky,” the grace during “Yahweh” and the dizzying circular patterns during “Vertigo,” which U2 curiously performed twice.n”In Italian, encore means play the song a second time,” Bono joked before the finale. The pope of pop knows a good benediction — even if it”s a roaring one.n’, ‘September 23, 2005 – Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA – Target Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘september-23-2005-minneapolis-minnesota-usa-target-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-09-24 14:16:31’, ‘2005-09-24 18:16:31’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=73’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(74, 1, ‘2005-09-27 04:53:02’, ‘2005-09-27 08:53:02’, ‘Opening Act(s): Dashboard ConfessionalnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono tells the crowd that tonight is the 29th anniversary of the first time U2 ever met and played together as a band and reminisces about the days when they were just starting out. He sings a couple lines from ”In A Little While” at the end of ”I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For.” He praises the recent IRA disarmament agreement and holds an Irish flag during Sunday Bloody Sunday. Bono and The Edge fumble through Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, stopping and restarting to get it right. 40 is dedicated to bass tech Stuart Morgan, who is not at the show after the recent death of his mother.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nMilwaukee Journal SentinelnBono and the boys throw a birthday bashnby Gemma Tarlach, Milwaukee Journal SentinelnLife is too short to save the confetti for the encore.nThat was just one of the lessons learned Sunday night at the Bradley Center when a sold-out crowd joined U2 for a birthday celebration that affirmed the power of music to inspire, unite and even effect positive change in the world.n”Twenty-nine years to this day, this band met for the first day. Little boys with big ideas – probably just big heads,” said Bono after the quartet treated fans to a pair of songs, “The Electric Co.” and “The Ocean,” from its first album, 1980”s “Boy.”nBoth songs underscored just how big the Dublin teenagers were thinking when they formed – and how thinking big, not to mention a healthy sense of humor about themselves, would become a hallmark of the band. The early songs, already full of Edge”s lush, unbounded guitar work and Bono”s emphatic vocals, stood as equals in quality and vision to 2000”s “Elevation” and 1987”s “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For,” which book-ended them.nThe near-two hour set was more than an anniversary retrospective of the band”s career, however.nN/After opening with crowd-showering confetti during “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo,” both from 2004”s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” U2 used songs old and new as segues for causes the band believes in.nBono dedicated “Miracle Drug” to nurses and doctors, particularly those waging war against the AIDS pandemic. The singer prefaced “Miss Sarajevo,” the band”s haunting song of humanity during the Balkans War, with a salute to the bravery of the men and women of the American military. As the song came to a close, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights scrolled overhead on a widescreen jumbo TV.nN/After leading the crowd through a rousing version of “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” Bono took an Irish flag from the crowd and explained there was a time he wasn”t comfortable waving the symbol of a country torn by war and division.n”But tomorrow sees the end of what is known as ”the Troubles” in Ireland,” Bono said, citing a disarmament agreement.nPerhaps the evening”s most emotional synthesis of sound, vision and heart came as Bono dedicated “Where the Streets Have No Name” to the nations of Africa, which have been the focus of his politicking for global debt relief.nCeiling-to-stage curtains of light bulbs displayed a scroll of the flags of that continent”s nations during the song, then changed to the American flag as Bono segued into “Old Man River” and spoke of compassion for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.nThe evening was not all about the causes of rocks stars who loom larger than life in pop culture, of course. Bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. performed solidly but largely kept to the background, as usual. Edge”s guitar has rarely sounded more immediate and complex – well, except for a fumble during one of the encores, “Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses,” when the guitarist, on the walkway with Bono, seemed to be playing a different song.nBoth men stopped, looked at each other and laughed.n”Just give us a minute,” Bono told the crowd, pulling out his ear monitor and leaning into Edge”s shoulder for an all-too-human confab about what to do next.nE-mail Gemma Tarlach at [email protected]’, ‘September 25, 2005 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA – Bradley Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘september-25-2005-milwaukee-wisconsin-usa-bradley-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-09-27 04:53:02’, ‘2005-09-27 08:53:02’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=74’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(75, 1, ‘2005-10-04 02:29:16’, ‘2005-10-04 06:29:16’, ‘Opening Act(s): KeanenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-MLK. Encore(s): The First Time, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nN/A snippet of MLK appears at the end of One during tonights concert. Bono brings a pregnant woman on stage to dance with him during Elevation, and another girl on stage for With Or Without You. Bono has some difficulties with his voice during ”Pride” after a strong performance of Miss Sarajevo. John Kerry is mentioned as being present in the crowd as is Tom Brady. For Yahweh Bono appears dressed in a Red Sox jersey, and leaves it on the microphone stand as he leaves the stage at the end. At the end of 40 Larry puts on the jersey before leaving. Before the 2nd encore, U2 tape a short acceptance speech for the upcoming Q Awards.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe Boston GlobenEmotions reach dizzying heights for U2, fansnby Steve MorsenThe second leg of U2”s ””Vertigo” tour hit Boston last night with a full-on bang. The sold-out crowd featured celebrities such as Tom Brady and John Kerry, but also thousands of U2 diehards who sang along so loudly that any decibel meter would have been smashed.nThis was like one of U2”s classic concerts at the Orpheum when the band was making its move toward superstardom in the ”80s. The crowd interaction was breathtaking — from a pregnant mother who jumped up early to dance with Bono, to hearty, sing-along support when Bono briefly lost his voice during the Martin Luther King tribute, ””Pride (In the Name of Love).” He literally jumped back from the microphone and couldn”t continue for a minute — maybe he swallowed something that went down the wrong way or was just overcome by the moment — but he raised his arms and beckoned the fans to fill in the verses, which they readily did like eager acolytes.nThis unexpected glitch turned out to have a huge payback once Bono again found his voice. It cemented the bond with listeners, so when U2 then wailed into the spiritual ””Where the Streets Have No Name,” the audience rose majestically and created a cathedral-like choir whose volume stunned even Bono. ””Wow, thank you very much,” he said at the end of the song. You could tell it came from the bottom of his heart and wasn”t just a goading tactic.nThe show”s set list was similar to U2”s three Garden dates earlier this year — with a fast-clipped triumvirate of ””City of Blinding Lights,” ””Vertigo,” and ””Elevation” opening the way. But creative wrinkles were heard when Bono added snatches of Smashing Pumpkins” ””Bullet With Butterfly Wings” (the verse ””despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage”) to ””Elevation”; and bits of the Beatles” ””Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Jimmy Cliff”s ””Many Rivers to Cross” to the euphoric ””Beautiful Day.”nN/A few major changes, however, were to come, starting with a heartfelt plea for unity, ””Miss Sarajevo,” which U2 had done on its ””Zoo TV” tour. The band put it back in the set this summer right after the London subway bombings. Bono told the crowd that many Muslims and Christians could get along in Sarajevo and it was ””a symbol of coexistence and that”s why evil men wanted to destroy it.” The song, especially its operatic coda, drew another round of deafening applause, heightening the night”s emotion even more if that was possible.nThe main set ended with the familiar ballad ””One” with Bono noting that the ””One” campaign (designed to eradicate poverty) had signed up 2 million members, including Patriots quarterback Brady earlier in the evening. And the first two encores were pleasant surprises: the ballad ””The First Time” (with just the Edge playing acoustic guitar while Bono sang and urged the crowd to shout ””love love”) and the gently uplifting ””Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses,” which was more manna from heaven for the diehards.nOpener Keane, a keyboard-based trio with a Coldplay-like sound at times, was well-received but seemed out of place in an arena setting.n’, ‘October 3, 2005 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – TD Banknorth Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-3-2005-boston-massachusetts-usa-td-banknorth-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-04 02:29:16’, ‘2005-10-04 06:29:16’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=75’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(76, 1, ‘2005-10-05 02:35:53’, ‘2005-10-05 06:35:53’, ‘Opening Act(s): KeanenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., Crumbs From Your Table, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, 40.nRemarks:nThis is the first time that ”Stuck In A Moment” is played at a full Vertigo Tour show and where ”Crumbs From Your Table” appeared in the main set rather than the encore. The printed setlist shows Original Of The Species and Bad as the final two songs, but Larry begins the drum line of 40 instead, and that song ends the show. Ed Burns and Christy Turlington are in attendance.n’, ‘October 4, 2005 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – TD Banknorth Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-4-2005-boston-massachusetts-usa-td-banknorth-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-05 02:35:53’, ‘2005-10-05 06:35:53’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=76’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(77, 1, ‘2005-10-08 16:21:57’, ‘2005-10-08 20:21:57’, ‘Opening Act(s): KeanenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Fast Cars, All Because Of You, Crumbs From Your Table, Yahweh, With Or Without You.nRemarks:nBono sings snippets of In A Little While after ”I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For.” Bono also brings a fan on stage at three different points during the concert.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_1-thumb-120×87-1782.jpg” width=”120″ height=”87″ alt=”newyork100705_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_2-thumb-80×120-1784.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”newyork100705_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_3-thumb-120×80-1786.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”newyork100705_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_4-thumb-120×87-1788.jpg” width=”120″ height=”87″ alt=”newyork100705_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_5.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_5-thumb-120×86-1790.jpg” width=”120″ height=”86″ alt=”newyork100705_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_6.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_6-thumb-99×120-1792.jpg” width=”99″ height=”120″ alt=”newyork100705_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_7-thumb-120×79-1794.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”newyork100705_7.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_8.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/100705_new_york_city_new_york/newyork100705_8-thumb-120×94-1796.jpg” width=”120″ height=”94″ alt=”newyork100705_8.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Gary Hershorn (Reuters) and Henny Ray Abrams (AP).n’, ‘October 7, 2005 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-7-2005-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-08 16:21:57’, ‘2005-10-08 20:21:57’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=77’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(78, 1, ‘2005-10-10 05:58:36’, ‘2005-10-10 09:58:36’, ‘Opening Act(s): KeanenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, All I Want Is You, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The First Time, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Fast Cars, Original Of The Species, 40.nRemarks:nBono spots a fan talking on a cell phone. He takes the phone and screams at the fan, but later apologizes for the outburst. On the subject of phones, Bono calls Gavin Friday during the show and gets the whole crowd to sing ”Happy Birthday” before hanging up. Mary J. Blige joins the band to sing ”One,” just as she did last month in Toronto at the Hurricane Katrina relief telethon. Jon Bon Jovi and Salman Rushdie are among many notable names in the audience.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nU2 Review at Madison Square GardennBy Chris Lowrey ([email protected])nSaturday 8/10/05nN/As an opening I?d like to pose the question.nWho really does not like U2?nWhether it?s the real early times with anthems such as ?Gloria? and ?New Years Day? early times with anthems such as ?Sunday Bloody Sunday? and critically acclaimed masterpieces such as the ?Under and Blood Red Sky? ?Joshua Tree? and the ?Unforgettable Fire? ? an interlude with ?Rattle and Hum? through the 90?s with the brilliant ?Achtung Baby? featuring the remarkable ?One?, Zooropa including The Edge?s lead vocal debut on ?Numb? or Johnny Cash dueting with Bono on ?The Wanderer? and even ?Pop? with its trance grooves right up to the 00?s on ?All that you can?t leave behind? (including new Wedding song favorite:?Beautiful Day?) and most recently ?How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb? with the back-to-form ?Vertigo? ode to New York ?City of Blinding Lights? and optimistic ?Miracle Drug? U2 have always been there for the masses.nRare, indeed, is it to find a band that is able to infuse such strong political and humanitarian content/causes into its music and actually make them tuneful, sing along-good songs at the same time! And while The Edge?s staccato riffing can at times sound like other tunes in their repertoire it has evolved and been tweaked enough to make their 26 year career full of variety and hit tunes so as to allow for two maybe even three totally different set lists without repeating tunes!nIt never happens like that of course, most bands have to stick to ?similar? set lists for logistical reasons and it is the same with U2 although one look below can see how they are able to keep each night fresh for their adoring fans who well might attend more than one concert on any given tour!nIt was an extremely wet Saturday in New York but huge full-page headlines of ?Bomb Scare in the Subway? and a mere few inches of rain weren?t enough to keep the masses from Madison Square Garden on this night. The support act ?Keane?, an up and coming English band with a singer, keyboardist and drummer (no guitarist in sight!) warmed the growing crowd up with their melancholic and beautifully sung tunes owing a lot to U2 as singer Tom Chaplin mentioned on several occasions. This band with parts of Coldplay, Travis and Starsailor are yet distinctive enough and have the charm and presence to ensure a burgeoning career will continue in an upward trajectory. Groups of young women around my area sang along to many tunes including the brilliant ?Everybody?s Changing? and ?This is the Last Time? from their debut album ?Hopes and Fears? and the signs are good for a long and illustrious career for the three Englishmen.nRight on cue at the stroke of 9:30 the lights went down and a tremendous roar erupted as Larry Mullen Jr, Adam Clayton, The Edge and finally Bono emerged from various parts of the stage and the stunning sound and light show commenced with the tribute to New York ?City of Blinding Lights? ?What a way to get 20,000 rabid New Yorkers into the groove!nThe stage itself was circular with wild snippets of light flashing and chasing each other around the floor in patterns as the band performed. The outer stage which was a two metre wide oval, encapsulating the lucky fans in ?The Pit? and allowing band members to get out and closer to their audience- it also featured the blipping, racing lights resembling a gigantic circular heart rate machine. Most stunning of all however was the giant clear glass/Perspex type tubes which hung down at the back and sides of the stage and were raised and lowered on cue, these resembled giant door hangings that one may have on their caravan annex to keep flies out over the Summer and at various times had images of New York buildings, International flags and humans in a kind of join the dots formula that was visually stunning!nThe familiar refrain of ?Un, deux, trios, quatre? heralded the arrival of the best promotional tool Apple Ipod has ever had in the form of monster world wide hit and tour title ?Vertigo? The crowd participation was astonishing ? even threatening to drown out the band at one stage and even dwarfing my memories of an English soccer final! This dancing, clapping and vociferous singing continued through the tracks ?Elevation? and ?I Will Follow? and on everyone?s wet clothing was now accentuated by sweat as well as the New York downpour- The ?HoonHoonHoo.? chant in Elevation had Bono grinning from ear to ear.nN/At this point I commented to my concert going partner Anna ?How will they keep this up?? and true to form like the old pro?s they are, the ballad ?All I Want is you? followed allowing the punters to relax their bodies if not their voices. This was short-lived as the band bounced into ?Beautiful Day? causing the already fever pitch atmosphere to grow another leg. ?Miracle Drug? undispersed with ?People Got the Power? was well-received and set the tone for many messages of world peace and living together that underpinned the evening either directly or indirectly ? World Peace, as tired and general as it can sometimes sound, can?t be a bad thing!nThe next couple of tunes echoes ?Miracle Drugs? ballad tone and wistful introspection was palpable in the crowd as Bono crooned ?Sometimes You Can?t Make it on Your Own? and ?Love and Peace or Else?. The crowd erupted again for ?Sunday Bloody Sunday? seemingly trying to outdo the live version of the same song off THAT live album so many moons ago. Perhaps they had inside knowledge that the gig was being recorded for a future live release as in 100?s of concerts I haven?t heard anything like it ? on tonight?s effort ?U2 ?Live from Madison Square Garden? would make such an effective live album so as not to require overdubs of any description (excepts perhaps the false start The Edge had on the acoustic guitar for ?Who?s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses? to which Bono laughingly mocked his long time pal with a friendly ?That?s not very professional?)nThe medley of ?Bullet The Blue Sky / The Hands That Built America / When Johnny Comes Marching Home?, was stunning and had every American in the house (AND some Australians) feeling supremely patriotic!nNext up came the highlight of the night: Miss Sarajevo in which Bono told the story of the young woman who performed a beauty pageant amidst a hail of mortar and bullets in defiance of war on her city. He also told us that although Luciano Pavarotti was not there to sing his part, he was and would do both! What followed was the most moving moment of the night as Bono seemed to take on the persona AND voice of Pavarotti singing the part completely in Italian and hitting the notes so well that I?m sure the great man would have clapped as wildly and had tears in his eyes as most in the house did. The highlight of the night for yours truly!nThe still resonant and relevant Pride (In the Name of Love? followed, whipping the crowd back to fever pitch before ?Where the Streets have No Name? maintained the passion. The next surprise and the final song of the set, was the entrance of Mary J Blige who dueted with Bono on the bands signature tune ?One?. Although I felt she was a bit rusty for the first couple of lines (but that could have been due to an hour and a half of attuning my ears to Bono?s still powerful vocals!) she redeemed herself and really enhanced the song with her arms draped around Bono to receive rapturous applause at the conclusion of the tune!nN/After a brief interlude the Bono and The Edge returned with the ?The First Time? and the acoustic ?Who?s Gonna Ride Your Wild horses? at the top of the larger oval part of the stage and when Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton returned for ?With or Without You? the crowd were already back in the bands hands. A very touching moment occurred when Bono danced with a pretty young woman, during ?Withn? and then picked out another girl to dance with before finally pulling a heavy set man wearing a turban onto the stage and dancing with and hugging him! The turban-wearing guy sang with gusto and the moment was unbelievably poignant and followed the night?s theme? we are all in this world together!nThe final encore of ?All Because Of You?, ?Fast Cars? and ?Original Of The Specie?s capped the night off beautifully but the very LAST song, my favorite, the fabulous ?40? closed the night off in spectacular fashion. Even 5 minutes after the lights went down the crowd were still singing ?How looooong, to sing this song, How looooong, to sing this song. How looooong, to sing this song? over and over and over. Incredible this was STILL happening as we walked down 5 or 6 flights from the top tier at Madison! No kidding ?people were still singing this refrain as they walked right back out into the heavy rain and down the subway to catch the ?Bomb Threatened? Subway trains!nThe gig was beyond stunning and exceeded my expectations in every facet, the band still sound in top form- form they have held for at least 20 years and at the end of their career I wonder if anyone will be more revered other than the ?Rolling Stones? and ?The Beatles?.nSet List on Saturday Night!n1.City Of Blinding Lights,n2.Vertigo / Glad To See You Go (snippet),n3.Elevation,n4.I Will Follow,n5.All I Want Is You,n6.Beautiful Day,n7.Miracle Drug / People Got The Power (snippet),n8.Sometimes You Can\”t Make It On Your Own / The Black Hills of Dakota (snippet),n9.Love And Peace Or Else,n10.Sunday Bloody Sunday,n11.Bullet The Blue Sky / The Hands That Built America (snippet) / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet),n12.Miss Sarajevo,n13.Pride (In The Name Of Love),n14.Where The Streets Have No Name,n15.One (Duet with Mary J Blige)nEncore 1:n16.The First Time,n17.Who\”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses,n18.With Or Without You,nEncore 2:n19.All Because Of You,n20.Fast Cars,n21.Original Of The Species,n22.40nSet list from the night before!n1.City Of Blinding Lights,n2.Vertigo / Rockaway Beach (snippet),n3.Elevation,n4.The Electric Co. / People I Don\”t Know Are Trying To Kill Me (snippet),nThe Ocean,n5.I Still Haven\”t Found What I\”m Looking For / In A Little While (snippet),n6.Beautiful Day / Sgt. Pepper\”s Lonely Hearts Club Band (snippet) / Blackbird (snippet) / Many Rivers To Cross (snippet) / Across The Universe (snippet),n7.Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can\”t Make It On Your Own / The Black Hills of Dakota (snippet) / Torna A Surriento (snippet),n8. Love And Peace Or Else,n9.Sunday Bloody Sunday,n10.Bullet The Blue Sky / Please (snippet) / The Hands That Built America (snippet) / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet),n11.Miss Sarajevo,n12.Pride (In The Name Of Love),n13.Where The Streets Have No Name, One / Ol\” Man River (snippet)nEncore 1:n14.The First Time,n15.Stuck In A Moment You Can\”t Get Out Of,n16.Fast Cars,nEncore 2:n17.All Because Of You,n18.Crumbs From Your Table,n19.Yahweh,n20.With Or Without Youn’, ‘October 8, 2005 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-8-2005-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-10 05:58:36’, ‘2005-10-10 09:58:36’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=78’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(79, 1, ‘2005-10-11 01:59:46’, ‘2005-10-11 05:59:46’, ‘Opening Act(s): KeanenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Happy Birthday, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Bad, 40.nRemarks:nBono sings a bit of In A Little While after ”I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For”, and a bit of Lou Reed”s ”Romeo Had Juliette” after Beautiful Day. Prior to Miss Sarajevo, he sings ”Happy Birthday” for Luciano Pavarotti who will turn 70 in two days. Bad is dedicated to Patti Smith, and Bono sings a bit of her song ”People Have the Power.” Smith is at the show, as are Michael Stipe, Alicia Keys and many other names.n’, ‘October 10, 2005 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-10-2005-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-11 01:59:46’, ‘2005-10-11 05:59:46’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=79’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 8),
(80, 1, ‘2005-10-12 07:16:32’, ‘2005-10-12 11:16:32’, ‘Opening Act(s): KeanenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Out Of Control, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Fast Cars, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Crumbs From Your Table, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings a young girl on stage during Sunday Bloody Sunday and sits her down on his monitor at the front of the main stage. Like a father guiding a daughter, he tries to get her to sing the ”no more” shout, but she doesn”t sing along. Undeterred, Bono later gives the girl his COEXIST headband.n’, ‘October 11, 2005 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-11-2005-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-12 07:16:32’, ‘2005-10-12 11:16:32’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=80’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(81, 1, ‘2005-10-15 03:24:05’, ‘2005-10-15 07:24:05’, ‘Opening Act(s): KeanenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., Gloria, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-She”s A Mystery To Me. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Fast Cars, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Party Girl, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nThe final show of the week at Madison Square Garden, where U2 took up residency, wraps up with a 24 song show tonight. Gloria and Party Girl are played for the first time on this leg of the tour. The luck of the Irish strikes Alli, the fan brought on stage during Fast Cars. It”s her second time dancing with Bono this tour (first: April 9, 2005) and third time overall. The planned setlist shows ”Walk On” and ”40” as the final two songs, but last-minute changes lead to the Party Girl/Vertigo ending. Bono struggles with the lyrics of Party Girl, but all”s forgiven when he turns the fun up a notch with an open bottle of champagne being sprayed over the fans up front.n’, ‘October 14, 2005 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-14-2005-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-15 03:24:05’, ‘2005-10-15 07:24:05’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=81’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(82, 1, ‘2005-10-17 05:40:37’, ‘2005-10-17 09:40:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Fast Cars, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nDamian Marley (Bob Marley”s son) makes his first appearance opening for U2, and Bono marks the occasion by singing a bit of ”Exodus” (and a bit of ”In A Little While”) during I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For. He brings a young boy on stage during Bullet The Blue Sky and they walk together around the ellipse. Out at the tip, Bono asks the boy, Owen, to remove the COEXIST headband from Bono”s head. Later in the show, Bono also tosses his sunglasses to Owen.n’, ‘October 16, 2005 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – Wachovia Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-16-2005-philadelphia-pennsylvania-usa-wachovia-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-17 05:40:37’, ‘2005-10-17 09:40:37’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=82’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 5),
(83, 1, ‘2005-10-18 01:41:04’, ‘2005-10-18 05:41:04’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Walk On (acoustic), Fast Cars, People Get Ready, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, 40.nRemarks:nDuring the encore, Bono announces that they want to play ”People Get Ready”, but says they need an extra guitar player. The crowd erupts when Bruce Springsteen strolls on stage to reprise a collaboration that first happened in September 1987, at Philly”s now-demolished JFK Stadium. Bono calls Bruce”s wife, Patti Scialfa, on stage to help with vocals. They play an extended version of the song with mostly made-up lyrics, eventually leaving only Bruce (playing Bono”s Irish Falcon guitar) and Larry on stage to close out the first encore. The planned setlist has the show ending with Original Of The Species and Bad, but the band plays All Because Of You and 40 instead.n’, ‘October 17, 2005 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – Wachovia Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-17-2005-philadelphia-pennsylvania-usa-wachovia-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-18 01:41:04’, ‘2005-10-18 05:41:04’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=83’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(84, 1, ‘2005-10-21 00:00:20’, ‘2005-10-21 04:00:20’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co.-Send In The Clowns, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings a young girl on stage during Sunday Bloody Sunday and sings the ”no more” shout with her. After meeting with Democratic leaders yesterday and President Bush today, Bono”s speech before One is lengthier than normal tonight. He thanks the DATA and ONE Campaign staff, and talks at length about AIDS, debt relief, and rebuilding Africa. (Larry put down his drumsticks to time Bono”s speech and ”One,” and Bono later joked that Larry had clocked the intro and song at 15 minutes.)nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nWashington PostnU2, Saving Its Thunder For FirstnBy J. Freedom du LacnWashington Post Staff WriternFriday, October 21, 2005; Page C01nLet the rock-star mortals wait until the encore to add exultant punctuation to their concerts. U2 has neither the the time nor the patience for that.nN/After roughly 25 years — a period during which U2 only became the biggest, most important band in the world (and don”t they know it!) — the Dublin quartet is fast-forwarding past the usual pleasantries and getting right to the rejoicing, self-saluting part of the program.nN/Apparently figuring that its mere presence was cause for celebration, U2 opened its MCI Center show Wednesday thus: with a frenetic, vaguely churchy swirl of noise as the messianic frontman Bono rose from beneath the stage on a mechanical platform, his arms outstretched as he basked in the glory of a confetti shower as well as the emphatic applause, yelps, shrieks, etc., from an adoring standing-room-only audience.nN/And when U2 actually began to perform? More of the triumphal same, sans the confetti.nWith the fervor factor high after Bono”s Big Entrance, U2 relentlessly attacked the opening “City of Blinding Lights” as the Edge and Bono set the show”s soaring if searching tone — the former with his ringing, swelling, high-reverb power chords, the latter with his impassioned, vulnerable vocals (“Time won”t leave me as I am/But time won”t take the boy out of this man”).nFor all its intensity on the recent album “How to Build an Atomic Bomb,” the song absolutely exploded onstage, with the Edge”s effects-laden guitar gaining thickness and urgency, and Bono pushing his sonorous, deeply soulful baritone higher and harder than on the studio version.nThe result was sonic catharsis, something to which U2 apparently aspires on a grand level: The band seemed intent on turning the concert into a full-on rock-and-roll jubilee — an exercise in spiritual ecstasy (albeit one shot through with a heavy dose of change-the-world polemic; but still . . . ). U2 succeeded, though not always during the two-hour, 23-song, good-but-not- quite -great concert (the first of two shows at the sold-out arena, with the second scheduled for last night).nFor instance, after having performed the crunchy iPod jingle “Vertigo,” the buzzing “Elevation,” the earnestly anthemic “I Will Follow” (which, at the age of 25, sounded as vital as ever) and another U2 oldie, “The Electric Co.” (into which Bono slyly inserted quotes from both Pete Townshend and Stephen Sondheim), the band was positively giddy, particularly Bono. Pacing the ellipse-like ramp connected to the stage, the 45-year-old frontman grinned and nodded his sweaty head as U2”s acolytes cheered their approval.n”That is a great feeling,” Bono said. “What do you call that feeling? . . . Ecstasy!”nN/Agonizingly, though, he immediately let some of the air out of the sails, tritely introducing the 1987 hit “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For” by saying: “This band still feels its best work is yet to come.” Bono then had the crowd do its own “best” work, with fans carrying the vocals for a good chunk of the opening verse and parts of the chorus.nIt happened all too frequently throughout the set, and it ultimately marred the show — because, really, unless you”re married to them (but probably not even then), you do not go to a U2 concert to hear George Stephanopoulos, Jack Valenti and 20,000 or so of their closest U2-loving friends doing their best Bono.nYou go to hear Bono doing his best Bono, backed by a finely tuned three-piece.nOf course, even Bono-as-Bono is insufferable sometimes. The man knows from sanctimonious, and something about Washington tickles his strident/self-righteous bone. So Wednesday night, after having spent a good chunk of the afternoon chatting about African debt relief and whatnot with President Bush, Bono took to the stage to filibuster. He talked so much that drummer Larry Mullen set down his sticks and timed the rock-star-slash-activist”s rambling, soapboxy introduction to “One.”nThe band was better served by its performances, particularly given that many of U2”s best songs are sociopolitical in nature. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Bullet the Blue Sky,” performed back to back, were far more powerful than any polemic, particularly when Bono ended the latter by quoting the Civil War anthem “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.” Ditto for the brilliant “Miss Sarajevo,” on which Bono convincingly sang the operatic part performed in the recorded version by Luciano Pavarotti. No ditto, though, for “Ol” Man River,” which U2 inexplicably performed toward the end of the concert.nN/Alas, Bono”s final message of the night was neither political nor a show tune. Instead, U2 closed its second and final encore with an adaptation of the 40th Psalm. Known in the U2 canon as “40,” it”s a meditative number about salvation in which Bono repeatedly asks, “How long to sing this song?” And it was a curious choice, given the big bang with which the show began. After opening with an emphatic exclamation point, the arena-rock demigods were ending with a question.n’, ‘October 19, 2005 – Washington, District of Columbia, USA – DC MCI Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-19-2005-washington-district-of-columbia-usa-dc-mci-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-21 00:00:20’, ‘2005-10-21 04:00:20’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=84’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(85, 1, ‘2005-10-21 00:03:28’, ‘2005-10-21 04:03:28’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., Out Of Control, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Happy Birthday, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Walk On (acoustic), Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Bad.nRemarks:nThough its a week past his birthday, Bono gets the crowd to sing Happy Birthday for Luciano Pavarotti because the band wants to ”send it to him on film.” Bad includes a bit of Patti Smith”s ”People Have The Power.” U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is in the audience.n’, ‘October 20, 2005 – Washington, District of Columbia, USA – DC MCI Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-20-2005-washington-district-of-columbia-usa-dc-mci-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-21 00:03:28’, ‘2005-10-21 04:03:28’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=85’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(86, 1, ‘2005-10-23 03:05:15’, ‘2005-10-23 07:05:15’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleyrnSetlist:rnCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co.-Send In The Clowns, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Happy Birthday, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Party Girl, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.rnRemarks:rnBono brings two young boys on stage for Sunday Bloody Sunday. One is dedicated to former Treasury Secretary Paul O”Neill, who went to Africa with Bono on a 10-day trip in 2002. O”Neill is at the concert tonight. Bono brings a male guitarist on stage and sprays champagne over the crowd during Party Girl.’, ‘October 22, 2005 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA – Mellon Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-22-2005-pittsburgh-pennsylvania-usa-mellon-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-25 20:17:09’, ‘2010-06-26 00:17:09’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=86’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3);
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(1368, 1, ‘1997-05-22 07:47:32’, ‘1997-05-22 11:47:32’, ‘Opening Act(s): Fun Lovin” CriminalsnSetlist:nMofo, I Will Follow, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Gone, Pride (In The Name Of Love), I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-Stand By Me, Last Night On Earth, Until The End Of The World, If God Will Send His Angels, Staring At The Sun, Sweet Caroline, Miami, Bullet The Blue Sky, Please, Where The Streets Have No Name. Encore(s): Discothèque, If You Wear That Velvet Dress, With Or Without You, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, Mysterious Ways, One-Unchained Melody.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nBy Michael CampnSlick, Compelling, Uplifting, Trippy, Holy, Awesome…PopMart: Pittsburgh was excellent! At 9:00PM, the sound of “Pop Muzik” started to fill the stadium. To the cheers of the crowd, the boys slowly walked through the crowd, and onto the stage, Bono lagging behind, hooded, jabbing at the wind like Muhammed Ali. Breaking into Mofo, perfectly timed, Bono immediately made contact with the fans. Flawless performance here.nN/At the sound of I Will Follow, the crowd went wild, singing along with Bono, hanging on every word. Even Better Than The Real Thing was as polished as it was on the Zoo TV tour. Bono introduces Gone, and it gelled excellently, and recieved a very strong response from the crowd at the introduction of it. Pride was a highlight of the show, with Bono repeatedly near the end of the song, turning the mic to the crowd and then to himself for the “Oh Oh Oh Oh”s”….again..great feedback from the crowd of 30,000. In the middle of I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Bono talks about America, and how this is where we work, shop, pray, etc…and that this is a gospel song…..going into the part of the song “I believe in the kingdom come…”. Very moving…closing that song with Stand By Me. This was followed by a gorgeous rendition of Last Night On Earth, and Until The End Of The World, with Bono and Edge going back and forth with guitars and voice on the middle of the walkway to the B Stage on End Of The World. On If God Will Send His Angels, Bono cut through some lyrics of it, eliminating the second verse completely to go.nNext, on stage, they broke into Staring At The Sun…it was PERFECT they hit everything right on the head…a far cry from their previous shows where they abort it mid-way through. Edge then introduces a Diamond song, and does Sweet Caroline karaokee style, and the crowd sang along passionately like a drinking song. Miami was very impressive. Bono did it beat style while walking the walkway, and for the chorus, the band cut hard into it, Edge”s guitar was sharp. During the song, Bono picked a girl from the crowd, and they slow danced to the music in the background. This rocked!. With Bullet the Blue Sky, the light shone towards the heavens, and Bono did an excellent job, as well as did the band in keeping with the spirit of the song, but increasing the tempo of it…Bono appears with a red white and blue umbrella, and jabs the umbrella, while going into America from West Side Story at the end.nN/After this, they do Please, it got solid reaction, getting stronger as it went along…Then, the crowd went berzerk for Where The Streets Have No Name, and at the end, Bono incorporates the “Then will there be no time for sorrow /shame” refrain from Playboy Mansion. It was great. The Lemon remix started to play, and for a few minutes, you saw the belly dancer moving to it, and shortly afterwards, smoke filled the air, and the mirrorball lemon started to move forward, then rise. it was dazzling, as light spiraled around the stadium. Discotheque was impressive, and well-tuned, seguing into a short rendition of Velvet Dress, into With Or Without you on the B Stage which had the crowd going wild. Working their way back to the mainstage, the screen fills up with the Macphisto/Batman logo moving around the screen. Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me was textbook perfect. Bono carried the mic stand with him, and scattered across the stage, lunging it at him and stepping back…placing it at the right walkway. Then, the band kicked out Mysterious Ways, which was better than the recordings I have heard of the Zoo TV shows, it was more uptempo, and passionate, with Bono singing near the end a couple times,…”Praise the Lord…Praise the Lord…Praise The Lord”…fading the song out after that. Finally, Bono says to the crowd, “We have one more song for you, Thanks for coming out, God Bless You.” Going into One, where Bono improvises on some of the lyrics, closing with Unchained Melody.nOverall, I was impressed with how the band gelled tonite. It was excellent. The crowd was very good, even getting into the newer songs well. This was the U2 that we all know and love. They had, “that spark” tonite, and it was awesome. It was definately worth $60 for it. I had 14th row seats from the stage, on an angle, so I saw all of the show well. The Lemon landed and opened directly on line with our row, and they were so close, it rocked. It was just so awesome, and I wish I had tickets for Columbus.n Webmaster”s Review:nU2 POPMART: My Experience.nby Jonathan WaynenI really dont care if U2”s commercialism is making them look uninspiring. It really does not matter if PopMart is an idea of a new crazed fashion. I dont care if U2 doesn”t sell stadiums.nThe only thing that matters is being there. Being present with the greatest and most profitable band in the world. To experience a new and inventive concert unlike anything created before. To experience other people”s imagination and not just to dream it. So, here I was, about to enter my first U2 concert. I became a U2 fan just after the ZooTV tour was finishing up. After four years of waiting, my chance was finally to come. I had collected all of U2”s albums, I had listened to many of them time and time again. Yet one matter had not been settled yet. To attend a live concert of U2.nI arrived at Three Rivers Stadium at approximately 6:05 PM on a sunny, cool, and breezy Thursday afternoon on the date of May 22, 1997. I came by myself. So here I was walking down the Stadium lot. I just walked briskly toward the stadium that loomed ahead. It was rather early by my standards since in the distance I heard Discotheque being rehearsed over the Stadium P.A. Yet, once I walked toward the concourse of Gate A, the music at once stopped and I was left amongst a growing crowd making their way into the vicinity. I of course, being part of Wire (the U2 mailing list) had to find the banner that was supposed to be displayed somewhere nearby. As I was peering about, I couldnt help noticing the merchandise that was for sale. U2 T-shirts ran for $25. Caps for $20. Sweatshirts for $50. Even Condoms were for sale. I suppose they were special “pop” ones that U2 endorsed especially. Well, very intrinsic i must say. All in all, the only piece of retail I bought that day was the official PopMart program that went for $15. It was this shiny and glossy book that had a contraption inside. A fold out Edge standup that could be found on the last page. Yet I didn”t have time to look through the program, my first priority was to find the Wire crowd!nWell, I did find them. They were all spread about. A few of them were wearing dog-tags that were entitled “U2 Wire”, but that was about it. I was expecting a lot more people but there were less than 10 actual Wire members that I saw. The main thing was, the banner! It was this huge and glorious 70 foot+ long sheet of cloth! I must have hanged around there for at least 55 minutes before I decided that was enough. I met Jason Herbe and another Wire friend named Charlotte who gave me a Wire tag. Meanwhile in the distance, WDVE (A Pittsburgh Radio Station) was blaring some U2 songs out the entire time. It was truly nice to sign my name on the banner. I hesitated for a few moments about whether to sign my name on the “i” or above the “d”. I actually did on the d at the end of World. This is what it said to my recollection: U2 PopMart Tour 1997. [email protected]. Still a Wireling! My signature. Pittsburgh May 22, 1997. Of course I could have made it more creative, but I believe the poems could come later. And yes, there were some poems that were to be found on the banner. One girl wrote about her obsession on Bono. Another person put their own song on it. There were funny and strange drawings of the band. And believe it or not, I had found Bono”s little skit and signature right next to the “w” in world. Paul McGuinness”s was to be found near the “o” in world. Overall, the banner read: WORLD WIDE WIRE. I didn”t feel honored to have signed my name. I just felt like it was a nice and silly privilege to be recorded on the banner that was presumably to be passed from stadium to stadium on the PopMart tour. Thus, my Wire experience had it”s good fate. Moreover, later after the concert, Edge was able to sign his name on the banner thus making it more infamous than it already was.nBut, it was now after 7 PM. I had to get going and part from our Wirelings to make way into the stadium and event itself. I had high expectations that the concert would go well. I knew the set lists beforehand. But as U2 would say: Expect nothing but the best. That I did. How about this: Pop nothing but the best? Or maybe it should be Expect nothing but the Pop. In any way, I had the next 2 hours or so to think this over until U2 would come out and make their presence known. I presume it was 7:23 when I went through the turnstile and handed over my ticket to the collector. Oh yes! I was in!!! I couldn”t wait! But I had to. The opening act took an hour. Than another 45 minutes or so of waiting till PopMuzik started. But that comes later! So once I got in amongst a bustling crowd, I made my way two thirds around the stadium and decided to turn back and walk around without a care in the world. I passed vendors of all types. Clothing vendors. Novelty vendors. Beer vendors. Coca Cola vendors. Program vendors. Cracker Jack vendors. But enough of that! And then, I saw in the distance a huge yellow arch with some orange oval on the top. I stood there near the top row of the bleachers for 4 minutes just looking out into the core of the stadium at this spectacle. It was all opened up. Brown field seats littered along the turf. Yellow security people guarding the zones. There I was. Right in front of PopMart itself! Just some hundreds of feet away from my seat on the field. Well, it was early, but I figured it”s better off getting to you”re chair right away so you don”t run into the beer mongers. After a quick stop at the restroom, I started my journey downwards! I passed the first head of security, showed them my ticket, and proceeded down to the next level. Now I arrived at the field security. They took half my ticket, punched it, and put a strap around my wrist. One more block of security until my section. As I was walking, I got closer to the stage and set. I felt differentiated. I felt more “cool” as I was walking closer. Like I was more special that I had close seats than the people far behind me. But in actuality, my seats were not that easy at all as I found out later! I finally found my row. Row G to be exact. and I had the last seat on my row. Seat 23. So I was right next to the aisle. Not good at all. I”ll tell you more about that later. But this was it! I was in the middle of this concrete jungle and in the center of it all. If there was a mob, I would never survive it. But luckily, the worst that happened is when I broke my chair toward the end of the show.n7:48 PM. Yup, it”s that horrendous opening act starting now. Fun Loving Criminals. This group performed lots of Rap and Funk Rock for about an hour. And there i was, sitting there for 2 hours. Of course I got up now and then to stretch and look around. But I was cold. Very cold. I had on shorts and a sweatshirt. I literally sat there huddled over my PopMart program and a newspaper i had wrapped up in plastic. I said hi to the people around me, asked for the time here and there, and that”s about it. A long and boring hour that stretched until 8:45 PM. I was thinking about the possibilities of bringing in a camera or tape recorder. I was thinking if I could get away with it. I was thinking too much. THEN SUDDENLY!!! This loud funky beat started playing. At first, I thought it was the opening to PopMuzik. But it was really this long stretch of ear splitting noise that would last another half an hour until the real show started. While I waited, numerous people started showing up and filling in the seats around me. the air grew cooler, the darkness settled in. An aura of of excitement was also filling the stadium even though I couldn”t feel it myself at first. From time to time the Stadium jumboscreen flickered on and there were maps of the seating rows for people. But then, I finally realized the show was about to start when the security started taking the Seating flags away. Well, not to be. Another hopeless 20 minutes came and went while during this time, this loud and crude noise was being played on the P.A. The stadium lights were up. Daylight was fading and I knew its going to start any second. The giant video screen sat there shrouded in beam testing and light tests. Little red lines were dancing the screen making sure everything was alright. On top, the massive orange oval that sits between the yellow arch held the the P.A. equipment and main speakers. To the right was a long pointy stick with a lemon in yellow covering and near the top was an olive and a ring around it that would light up later on.nSomewhere between 9:12 – 9:22: SHOWTIME!nPOP, POP, POPMUZIK. This blaring euro-squeaky music played while the crowd suddenly faced one side of the stadium. There, Bono, Edge, Adam, and Larry emerged out of the dugout and climbed onto the catwalk to get to the stage. Now the video screen came to life! P-O-P was written all over. With the ball in the middle rotating like some crazy blackhole, U2 took over. Yeah, the crowd lit up like a thunderhead and created a pretty loud background for U2 to perform in for the first few songs. And at once, I stood up on my chair. Everyone around me stood on their chairs. You would be crazy to sit, nuts to stand, but only on the chair you could view the scene in totality. I was right in the middle. The place was alive with sound. Bono was dressed in Boxer”s clothes ready to take on the ring, punching his way to the stage as Edge had his pre-rattle n hum outfit on complete with cowboy hat. Adam Clayton had an orange surgical outfit with a mask around his mouth for the first few songs. Larry Mullen Jr. had the drum technician strap some headphones around him but was the most normally dressed. And that”s how it started. POP-POP-POP Muzik, Pop-POP-Pop Muszik, etc,etc,etc. for 3-6 minutes. Then Mofo kicked in. Bono took off his hood and uncovered his superman shirt. He swung up and about, clicking to his right, clicking to his left with the mic in his hand and a full blown audience at the core. THE PLACE WAS LOUD AT FIRST, but as the concert went on the magnitude level dropped for a time. This is normal usually. Once the 30,000+ crowd has waited for so long, they release their excitement which blends in with the scene only to settle down midway through. I was in the center of it all. I had to stand pretty high in order to see the stage. Admidst the security”s stand against standing, they fell apart once the lights went down. Later during the show, people started standing in the aisles. Actually it happened immediately once U2 came out. And so, Mofo ended and the stadium roared again with the start of “I Will Follow”. I”m sure lots of people didn”t expect U2 to play such an old song, but then again, I was prepared so it wasn”t a surprise to me. During the duration of these two songs, the video screen mainly focused on the band with the live camera. The video screen ball in the center of the screen either showed Bono or different members of the band walking about playing their music. I Will Follow was a great version and one of the top songs in the concert.nEven Better Than The Real Thing was to be the next song of the night. Again, more camera shots of Bono and the Edge doing their thing on stage. I was very impressed with the quality of the video screen combined with the lights on the arch and the lighted olive ring. Not to mention the strobe lights that came to life later on in the concert. Overall, this song though did not capture the ambition in the concert. Not a very good pick for the night. But U2 decided to pick their old singles as backup for their new songs. Gone. Well, I really don”t remember hearing the song played but a song that many U2 fans like on the new album. Pride (In The Name Of Love) kicked in after this. Now this was a great song for the evening. Just that it may not have fitted in with the songs around them. A song I wish they had played off of Unforgettable Fire would have been Bad. This song sounds awesome when performed live. As evidence from numerous bootlegs such as Duets and the Wide Awake In America mini album. After Pride, the crowd came to life again. I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For was played next. Lots of graphics on the screen and neat lighting going on. Edge was really into it that night. Even Larry was playing above his norm. I was just standing there. I wasn”t jumping up and down (only until later) but I was just trying to take in the music and not the crowd. That was a letdown for the evening. Since this was my first ever stadium concert, I may be wrong about this. Just the noise seemed louder than the music at times. The guitar was ok but the drums were weak. I hardly heard them sometimes. Only until later when U2 played on the second stage, did I hear them more clearly. Another problem in the dramatic evening was the discomfort I had next to the aisle. I disregarded all of this during the show, but now that I think about it, it really was a hardship for me. People nearly pushed me off the chair. Since the chairs were tied together, the worst thing that could happen is if you broke it yourself. But read on. That”s right, beer drinkers everywhere. Luckily no one spilled any on my lap. Yet, people in the aisle just could not get along with the security. Guys jumping all over the place at times. the yellow guards tried to push people out of the way but during the duration of the concert, whatever sense I found around me, people did not budge at all from the aisles. And so, I found it tough to stand with people on all sides, mayhem going on to my left at times and beer drinkers getting extras to my right. Here we go. It must be way after 10 PM now. Stand By Me was played right after I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For. It was a perfect conclusion to that song. And, oh yes, people WERE INDEED standing by me. Too many of them! But Last Night On Earth was to be played next. Just that this version was not to my expectations. It didn”t have the power of the album version. It was wild. It was unrestrained. It was tempestuous. Too much crazy guitar going on. But Until The End Of The World would be a perfect takeoff from this song. To me, this was a great song for the evening. This song has always been a favorite of mine. And oh yes, in the serenity of it all, the glowing blue screen was gloating at everyone. An AWESOME version. At that point, my experience took a turning point, I really started getting into it after that. I started waving my hands, rolling my arms, tossing my head. This all lead to the conclusive wild ending of my destroying the chair by accident. If God Will Send His Angels was poor. But then, everything went RED. EVERYTHING. The screen turned into orange, than red, than maroon. But pure red. Staring At The Sun was to be the next song. A pretty good song as well. An obvious song for the moment since it was the present single off of Pop. But it was fabulous.n”Ok…, Lets cut the crap”. Edge walks from the stage unto the catwalk and in the background a fairly attractive woman is shown on the video screen. It was a funny and enjoyable song. The audience got into it with a lot of singing back and forth. Edge sung it all. With the cowboy hat dangling about, the Edge walked up the catwalk and strummed his guitar and the crowd beckoned to him. But beckoned for what? Sweet CAROLINE? Well, Edge sure did his job there. Go for it Edge! Play that Neil Diamond song at full volume! To me, just a folly of a time there. But I wasn”t fucking laughing, I just wanted the lads to get the song overwith already! Ok, MY–MAMMY…nHere we go. Miami. A twist of the tropics. “Weather ”round here chopping and changin”, surgery in the air, print shirts and southern accents, cigars and big hair…” No, not a silly song at all. Just too mellow. Too realistic. We don”t want Miami, we want the end of the world! It just didn”t have that U2 taste I wanted. I wanted the dust bowl. I wanted Memphis and the dry Arizona weather of the Joshua Tree. Not palm tree”s of the other South. And yes, Bono brought up some lady on stage and danced with her for a time. It was nothing new. Ive seen stuff like that in the old ZooTv videos. Just that this time, Bono looked cooler. This was a new journey for U2. my,my, oh my, miami. Enough!nThe spot lights go up. There must have been at least 6 of them all around the stadium. They just go straight up. They dont stream about. Just straight up like a bullet into the sky. It oddly looked like that as well. When U2 played “Bullet The Blue Sky” they nearly made me like that song for once. For a time, it seemed like the arch was the bullet. And the beams made it look like it was traveling somewhat, to somewhere beyond. Yes, a fabulous version for the evening! Bullet the Blue Sky was perfect. U2 nailed it. Please? Please what? Please that I broke my chair? No, it”s the song. Please. Another excellent tune off of the new album. But definitely not a favorite of mine. Please has it”s possible origins from their roots of Ireland. The song sounded somewhat religious as well. Maybe even personal to Bono? But what came next was the highlight of my evening. HANDS DOWN. Where the Streets Have No Name has always been a favorite of mine and getting to experience it live in concert can”t be beaten. Especially the beginning. OH! I really was fired up. But I was touched by the song. I was emotional. I very much was. I”ll never forget what I saw. The background grew very bright. The video screen burst up with red”s and yellow”s and orange”s. Even in the ZooTv tour, that song was played with a lot of energy and sparkle. Bono was really going all over the place. I forget now what he was wearing at the time, but I assume he just had his T-shirt on. Oh yes! just great! Where The Streets Have No Name was as surreal as it could get. Hands down.nNow, the coolest part of the concert: The first Encore takes place. Now the lemon is starting to really buzz around. I was wondering how the crew would get that lemon cover off? Maybe it was automatic? In any case, that lemon that was sitting in the right corner of the stage the entire time started to take off! It started to hover above the crowd. It gradually approached the second stage at the end of the catwalk where Larry”s drums were already in place. In the background, some remix was playing. I dont know if it was a Discotheque remix or some old Lemon Remix but it sounded familiar! And just like that, I watch as the band steps right out of the Lemon onto the stage. But first they just stand there in this UFO with their arms folded. Just staring away into nothing. They then walk down the lemon ladder and step onto the stage where they play three songs until the second Encore. Meanwhile, lots of things are going on. The strobe lights fire up and play everywhere. The mirrorball lemon takes the brunt of the light and the stadium is lit up into some flashy disco club with disco lights playing the upper deck bleachers. There is gas of some sort, possibly Water Vapor that creates a cloud for the mechanical lemon. Oh, what fun! U2 really knows how to entertain the crowd at the right time! But at this point, I really get a great vantage point to view U2 now. I”m literally 20-30 feet away from the second stage! Adam faces me while Larry plays at his tom toms. Bono also looks out amongst the crowd.nHe might have looked at me for a moment? I would never know. It doesnt touch me. It”s just great to see Bono”s reaction when he looks about at the audience. For instance: what is he really thinking? Just after U2 finishes off Discotheque, they start If You Wear That Velvet Dress. Not good. In actuality, it”s not a good choice song for a live concert. Better off picking an old classic instead. What was worse, U2 stopped short in the song. But then they picked it up with With Or Without You. If this wasn”t the best song of the night, Where The Streets Have No Name was. Just a nice emotional song as always. We all have to admit that. I didn”t shed tears, but being a committed U2 fan, I did appreciate the song very much. Their older work will live on even beyond the technology of PopMart and any other trend that U2 goes through. With Or Without You is just a classic.n11:00 PM. Is the show over yet? Not yet. Three more songs to go. Now U2 is back to the main stage to perform the remaining songs. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me is the song to start off the second Encore. Again, great version, but what really was the top of the song was what happened to me. About midway through the song, I was jumping with so much esteem that I literally went right through my seat. That”s right, I broke my darn chair! Admidst the craziness going on, I really have to blame myself. But isnt it GREAT to be frantic? For a time like that, it was acceptable. Very much so. I mean, you”re attending one of the greatest first concerts of you”re life. Why not leave an impression that what you took in had to come out in some form or another?! And no, I”m not embarrassed at all. Even at the time I wasn”t embarrassed. I just jumped right back up and went on the next chair. A man next to me wanted to get on my chair for some reason so he almost broke this next chair again. What a bastard! Now, that is true.nEither the guy was drunk or he was out of his mind! What is this? Sir, it”s PopMart. It”s not K-Mart, it”s PopMart. Think that over. What are the differences? K-Mart sells more merchandise and better chairs than Pop-Mart. Thus, the accident occurred. Hey, people helped me up, but I was laughing! I was laughing because of the scene. Because I had a right to laugh. The hell with the security!nMysterious Ways takes place. The concert is ending soon. I could feel it. This is always a fabulous song! (Ive said fabulous three times now). But it truly was great for a finisher. That”s what some people thought. But, it could have been more tragic than that! Bono nearly forgot about One! Luckily Adam reminded him that there was still one more song to go. And so, the greatest of all songs was played. One. There”s nothing else to describe. It”s not egotistical. It”s not dissonant. It”s not political at all though it could be to describe democracy in some regard. U2 has really supported Organizations like Greenpeace and Amnesty International throughout their lives now. Warchild is to support the victims in Bosnia while Greenpeace is to support the environment from corrupt destruction. That”s what One is all about. It could be a love song. It could be about relationships. But it”s really about peace. Harmonious Love as well. That”s why a heart was displayed as the concert ended. It just stayed there until the end when U2 finished the night with a few verses from Unchained Melody. U2 can implement all these important facets into their music but U2 arent wimps. Just because they support peace very widely, it”s because they come from such a destructive country. Ireland in all regard needs that peace that U2 has to take so seriously. For the most part though, the seriousness for the night was controlled. And thus, the concert had come to a closure. Ready to take on the next stadium. Ready to expand PopMart for the masses to other cities. Once the lights went up, I left. NO, I REALLY DID! Of course I had to wait for some time to get off the field. It wasn”t eerily quiet or anything. But the sound was starting to evaporate into the air. I couldn”t of course see the sound evaporate. It”s just a nice metaphor to close the night. I walked out of the stadium and got my ride home. It was approximately 11:32 PM. Not bad for a concert. A little over 2 hours of U2 music. Maybe when they get in their 50”s, they will have a 3 hour concert and play some real oldies! Such as what Pink Floyd had done back in 1994. But WHAT A CONCERT! WHAT A CONCERT! THAT”S IT! I”m out of creativity now. WHAT A CONCERT! Just let it out now.nTo many people, this concert wasn”t amazing at all. Just a cool show. But U2 will always be cool. The music is everchanging. PopMart is U2”s imagination come to life! They have the money for that. They have the management. All they need is the music. And the music is what we received. PopMart is not visionary. But for a band that is so successful, being visionary may not be a good thing. Just make the music and get on with it! But make it good.n—-nWritten June 7, 1997 (at age 18).n’, ‘May 22, 1997 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA – Three Rivers Stadium’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘260-revision’, ”, ”, ‘1997-05-22 07:47:32’, ‘1997-05-22 11:47:32’, ”, 260, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1368’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(87, 1, ‘2005-10-26 02:23:12’, ‘2005-10-26 06:23:12’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Walk On (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono adds a bit of Patti Smith”s ”Rock And Roll Nigger” at the end of Vertigo. He jokes about technical problems during Electric Co. by singing a bit of the nursery rhyme ”Humpty Dumpty.” The printed setlist shows the encore starting with ”The First Time,” but Bono and The Edge do an acoustic Walk On instead, and Bono says he wants to record and send it to Aung San Suu Kyi. 40 is dedicated to John S., Jerry M., and Scott N.- three members of U2”s security crew who live in the area.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nDetroit NewsnU2 brings message of peace to The Palacenby Adam Graham, Detroit NewsnNo one goes to a U2 concert expecting an evening free of political soapboxing. Peace, unity, yada, yada, yada — but hey, you”re still going to play “Where the Streets Have No Name,” right?nEven so, the Dublin quartet took its message of “Love and Peace or Else” to the edge — pun intended — Monday night at the band”s sold-out show at The Palace of Auburn Hills.nDuring a mid-show stretch through the band”s most political material, including “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Bullet the Blue Sky” and “Pride (In the Name of Love),” U2 frontman Bono fell to his knees and crossed his arms above his head while pulling a bandana with the message “Coexist” — decorated with the Islamic crescent moon, the Jewish star of David and the Christian cross — over his eyes, while images of war planes flickered on a wall of lights above his head.nThings were breezier at the onset of the 135-minute, 20-plus song show, with Bono appearing as if out of thin air at the tip of the stage”s ellipse-shaped catwalk, in front of more than 20,000 mostly thirty-something fans.nConfetti already raining from the ceiling, Bono shrugged his shoulders and casually strutted to the stage while the band played “City of Blinding Lights,” the most timeless track on their current album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.”nThe band elegantly powered through “Vertigo” and “Elevation” before dipping into its catalog for a trio of songs — “I Will Follow,” “The Electric Co.,” and “The Ocean” — from 1980”s “Boy.”nDriven with confidence and precision by ace drummer Larry Mullen Jr., bassist Adam Clayton and the Edge”s jangly, effects-laden guitars, U2 hit its stride while muscling through its new material, most notably the soaring “Miracle Drug” and “All Because Of You.”nBut Bono wasn”t entirely on his game Monday.nN/Acting slightly tepid, he stuck a little too closely to his home base on the main stage, only venturing out onto the stage”s massive catwalk — surrounded by fans on either side — a handful of times.nN/Audience response suffered as a result, but when he finally clicked with the crowd, who turned from receptive to rapturous during “Where the Streets Have No Name,” he made sure to make note of it. “Wow,” he said as the crowd roared, “this is a Monday night in Detroit? You can change the world with a sound like that.”nEarlier in the evening, Bono, who did something he rarely does — take off his sunglasses — during the tender “Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own” — remarked, “This feels not at all like a Monday night. This feels like a Saturday night.”nStill, for the poor saps sitting behind the stage, it might as well have been Sunday afternoon; despite the filled seats, the band paid very little attention to the fans in back.nWorst of all was the guy who kept holding up a sign that read “I”ve waited 20 years for this day!!!” Fella, was it worth it just to look at U2”s backs?nNo matter where you were sitting, U2”s stirring and surprising inclusion of “Miss Sarajevo” — recorded with Luciano Pavarotti, under the pseudonym the Passengers, in the mid-”90s — in the set was a revelation, especially with Bono capably filling in Pavarotti”s vocal duties.nFor as much noise as they made during the show, the band — who plays again tonight at The Palace, and best believe they”ll have something to say about the late civil rights legend Rosa Parks — closed quietly with the religous-themed “Yahweh” and “”40,”” from “Atomic Bomb” and “War,” respectively.nCopyright © 2005 Detroit News. All rights reserved.n’, ‘October 24, 2005 – Detroit, Michigan, USA – Palace of Auburn Hills’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-24-2005-detroit-michigan-usa-palace-of-auburn-hills’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-26 02:23:12’, ‘2005-10-26 06:23:12’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=87’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(88, 1, ‘2005-10-26 02:31:21’, ‘2005-10-26 06:31:21’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, Gloria, The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-MLK. Encore(s): The First Time, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, Crumbs From Your Table, Bad.nRemarks:nBono makes repeated references throughout the show to Rosa Parks, the civil rights pioneer who died earlier in the day. He dedicates One to her memory and adds MLK as a eulogy at the end. Vertigo includes a bit of Patti Smith”s ”Rock And Roll Nigger”, and Bad includes a bit of her ”People Have The Power.”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nDetroit NewsnU2 pleases, politicks two sold-out Palace crowdsnby Adam GrahamnNo one goes to a U2 concert expecting an evening free of political soapboxing. Peace, unity, yada yada yada — but hey, you”re still going to play “Where the Streets Have No Name,” right?nEven so, the Dublin quartet took its message of “Love and Peace or Else” to the edge — pun intended — during the band”s very sold-out two-night stand at the Palace of Auburn Hills.nDuring a mid-show stretch through the band”s most political material, including “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Bullet the Blue Sky” and “Pride (In the Name of Love),” U2 frontman Bono fell to his knees and crossed his arms above his head while pulling a bandana with the message “Coexist” — decorated with the Islamic crescent moon, the Jewish star of David and the Christian cross — over his eyes, while images of war planes flickered on a wall of lights above his head.nThings were breezier at the onset of the 135-minute, 20-plus song shows, with Bono appearing as if out of thin air at the tip of the stage”s ellipse-shaped catwalk, in front of more than 20,000 mostly thirtysomething fans each night. Confetti already raining from the ceiling, Bono shrugged his shoulders and casually strutted to the stage while the band played “City of Blinding Lights,” the most timeless-sounding, classic-U2-minded track on their current album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.”nThe band elegantly powered through “Vertigo” and “Elevation” before dipping into its back catalog for songs from 1980”s “Boy” (“I Will Follow,” “The Ocean,” and Monday, “The Electric Co.”) and 1981”s “October” (Tuesday night”s “Gloria”).nDriven with confidence and percision by ace drummer Larry Mullen, Jr., bassist Adam Clayton and the Edge”s jangly, effects-laden guitars, U2 hit its stride while powering through its new material, most notably the soaring “Miracle Drug.”nBut Bono wasn”t entirely on his game Monday. Acting slightly tepid, he stuck a little too closely to his home base on the main stage, only venturing out onto the stage”s massive catwalk — surrounded by fans on either side — a handful of times. Audience response suffered as a result, but when he finally clicked with the crowd, who turned from receptive to rapturous during “Where the Streets Have No Name,” he made sure to make note of it. “Wow,” he said as the crowd roared, “this is a Monday night in Detroit? You can change the world with a sound like that.”nEarlier in the evening Bono, who did something he rarely does — take off his sunglasses — during the tender “Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own” — remarked, “This feels not at all like a Monday night. This feels like a Saturday night.”nIf that was the case, Tuesday felt like an even better Saturday night, with the band pulling out a few crowd faves it didn”t Monday (including an intimate, acoustic “Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” and closer “Bad,” not to mention the powerful newbie-but-goodie “Crumbs from Your Table”) and engaging in less political rhetoric than the night before. Instead, the band paid tribute to Rosa Parks in a pair of songs, with Bono shouting “for Rosa Parks, sing!” during “Pride” and dedicating set-closer “One” to the fallen civil rights legend, whom Bono called the “Mother of civil rights.” “Because of her strength and quiet dignity, America became a better place,” he said.nU2”s stirring and surprising inclusion of “Miss Sarajevo” — recorded with Luciano Pavarotti, under the pseudonym the Passengers, in the mid-”90s — in the set was a revelation, especially with Bono capably filling in Pavarotti”s vocal duties.nBoth nights the band displayed considerable grace and charisma. Though heavy-handed at times — in ways only U2 could get away with — they put on a muscular show that proved why they still hold the title of the World”s Greatest Living Rock and Roll Band.nThe real head-scratcher was opening band Institute. By cranking out more than 40 minutes of recycled grunge riffs, ex-Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale”s new band failed to justify either their exorbitant volume or their opening slot on one of the year”s biggest tours.nCopyright © 2005 Detroit News. All rights reserved.n’, ‘October 25, 2005 – Detroit, Michigan, USA – Palace of Auburn Hills’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-25-2005-detroit-michigan-usa-palace-of-auburn-hills’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-26 02:31:21’, ‘2005-10-26 06:31:21’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=88’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 5),
(89, 1, ‘2005-10-29 07:04:42’, ‘2005-10-29 11:04:42’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co.-Send In The Clowns, The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Fast Cars, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono thanks Houston Rockets basketball player Dikembe Mutombo, who is at the show, for his work with The One Campaign. Other local celebrities at the show include Houston Astros” Craig Biggio and Roger Clemens.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nHouston ChroniclenBig, brassy U2 reigns supremenby Michael D. Clark, Houston ChroniclenIt”s official. No one does live music as big and brassy as U2.nN/A concert stage can be decked out with enough colorful lights to rival the sun, but without an iconic band — led by an enigmatic and charismatic lead singer — creating a sound that is instantly recognizable and distinctly its own, all you have is a hall decorated for a king who isn”t there.nOn Friday, veteran Irish supergroup U2 made the sold out Toyota Center its castle and, in front of thousands of its loyal subjects, the band reigned supreme. Even Astros pitcher Roger Clemens was in attendance to party a little with the lads from Dublin.nThe set was a mix of songs that drew generously from the group”s most recent studio album, How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, as well as 2000”s multi-Grammy winning All That You Can”t Leave Behind. In the spaces were crowd favorites and early singles like I Will Follow, breakthrough anthems like Sunday Bloody Sunday and rock ”n” roll classics like Pride (In the Name of Love) and Where the Streets Have No Name.nEver since the late ”80s, U2 has been more adept than any other rock band at making its shows memorable experiences to cherish for a lifetime. Back then the band did it with anger in its political rants. After that the allure was in the technological and visual gaudiness of the glitzy Pop Mart tour. On Friday, elements from each of those eras were represented in both song and spirit.nThe stage, with its beaded curtains of shimmering lights, lit up the arena like a giant Lite-Brite. It was an appropriate look as vocalist Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr., opened the show with City of Blinding Lights.nOpening to the electric church bell-like jangle that is The Edge”s signature effect, two-thirds of U2 took the stage in front of a large half oval catwalk. The middle was filled with a standing stage-front crowd. Bono then appeared at the tip of the catwalk to sing the opening verses. He flirted and cantered to the stage to join his band.nU2 can be as bold as it wants to be, but unconscious little touches of pop culture savvy set the band apart. Mixing a chorus of Send In the Clowns into The Electric Co. and Peter Tosh”s Many Rivers To Cross into Beautiful Moments (ed. note: he must mean “Beautiful Day”) were once-in-a-lifetime mash-ups that fans will talk about for decades.nU2 does it because it hasn”t lost touch with the fans.nCopyright © 2005 Houston Chronicle. All rights reserved.n’, ‘October 28, 2005 – Houston, Texas, USA – Toyota Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-28-2005-houston-texas-usa-toyota-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-29 07:04:42’, ‘2005-10-29 11:04:42’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=89’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(90, 1, ‘2005-10-30 03:18:48’, ‘2005-10-30 07:18:48’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Angel Of Harlem, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono adds a bit of Patti Smith”s ”Rock And Roll Nigger” to Vertigo. As they often are, ”Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and ”See Me, Feel Me” are included as snippets in The Electric Co. Bono continues the recent tradition of bringing a young fan on stage during Sunday Bloody Sunday. During the encore, Bono brings a male fan on stage to play guitar with U2 on Angel of Harlem. Bono gives the fan his shades at the end of the song. It”s the first time Angel Of Harlem has been played this year.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nDallas Morning NewsnU2 marries religion and politicsnby Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning NewsnNeon is back. U2 says so.nThe world”s biggest rock band – or at least the most revered – bathed American Airlines Center in shimmering light Saturday night. It was an arresting visual backdrop for the Irish quartet”s soaring wall of crystalline sound.nU2”s imminent arrival was heralded by the descent of red neon in the shape of chandeliers, and the sold-out crowd roared in anticipation. As the band took the stage, curtains of fluttering light surrounded them. The song, appropriately enough, was “City of Blinding Lights.”nIt was also a city of deafening, if state of the art, sound as the rockers “Vertigo” and “Elevation” followed. U2 then reached back to its 1980 debut album, Boy, for “The Electric Co.,” confirming a motif that would continue throughout the show: the insertion of snippets of songs by other acts.n”The Electric Co.” bled into the Who”s “See Me, Feel Me.” Before the set was over, Bono had referenced “Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Old Man River” and Patti Smith”s “Rock N Roll Nigger.”nThe show hit its stride with a round of political tunes mid-set, including the provocative “Love and Peace or Else” and the classic “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”nFor the former, drummer Larry Mullen played a tom-tom on the circular catwalk , and Bono donned a headscarf that read, “Co-Exist.” He looked like an ersatz Steve Van Zandt. Images of the Jewish star, the cross, and other religious symbols played across the stage in drapes of light.nN/And during “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” the singer brought a kid on stage and called him “a son of Abraham.” Religion and politics: For U2, it”s a natural marriage.nN/As is typical in rock ”n” roll, the band saved several of its signature tunes for the end of the pre-encore show: “Pride (in the Name of Love),” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “One.”nCopyright © 2005 Dallas Morning News. All rights reserved.n’, ‘October 29, 2005 – Dallas, Texas, USA – American Airlines Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘october-29-2005-dallas-texas-usa-american-airlines-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-30 03:18:48’, ‘2005-10-30 07:18:48’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=90’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1);
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(91, 1, ‘2005-11-02 04:51:38’, ‘2005-11-02 08:51:38’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co.-Send In The Clowns, The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment, With Or Without You, Happy Birthday, All Because Of You, Out Of Control, Fast Cars, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nIt”s a day after Larry Mullen”s 44th birthday, and the show has a party-like atmosphere. Bono mentions Larry”s birthday during Elevation, then leads the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to Larry during the encore. The entire band is wearing ”The Larry Mullen Band” t-shirts when they come out for the 2nd encore. After All Because Of You, Bono invites EXIT, a 4-piece, all-female former U2 tribute band to come on stage and they play Out Of Control to great applause from the crowd. At the end of the show, Larry approaches the mic and thanks the crowd for coming to his party, and thanks Bono, The Edge and Adam for being in his band.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nWas it U2 or the Larry Mullen Band? Either way, it was greatnFontana Herald NewsnBy ANITA FRANCOnN/After nearly six months, U2”s “Vertigo” tour returned triumphantly to Los Angeles last week.nN/At the start of the concert, it was all about teasing drummer Larry Mullen on his birthday, and from that point on, U2 became the Larry Mullen Band.nThis was definitely one special show. Talk about a party; if you were not there, you should have been. “Happy Birthday” signs were all over the place in the crowd, paying tribute to the drummer.nThe band members even had shirts on that said “The Larry Mullen Band.”nN/As Bono opened up the show with “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo,” the crowd was on fire, and there wasn”t an empty seat in the house.nI understand there were also quite a few celebrities in attendance; Bono mentioned Salma Hayek, Heather Graham, Winona Ryder, Charlize Theron, Val Kilmer, and Lionel Richie. I”m sure there were plenty more, but none compared to Mullen; after all, it was his party.nN/As praises and compliments were paid to Larry, he took the mic alone on stage (wearing Bono”s cowboy hat) and thanked the crowd for coming to his celebration. “You can leave your gifts at the door,” he said, and then thanked Bono, Edge, and Adam Clayton for being his backing band.nThere was surprise after surprise throughout the evening.n”Edge, it turns out, is from the future,” said Bono, “but ah, we already knew that.” He”s from a very different planet in the future, coming to us in a time-traveling space ship, Bono said. The guitarist played the same four notes over and over, which opened “Miracle Drug.”nBono”s speech got lots of laughs, and by the time Bono had finished his latest version of the early U2 mythology, the fans behind the stage were chanting “Edge, Edge, Edge.”nSomeone in the audience gave Bono a United States flag (there were lots of flags in the crowd). Hanging the flag over the mic stand for “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” Bono found a girl from the audience who joined him on stage, embraced in his arms, while he sang “for the sons and daughters of Abraham” who are serving in the Armed Forces. I”ll bet she felt like a million bucks.nSong after song was played, including “One” and “With or Without You,” when the place lit up with cell phone lights.nBono walked to the front of the horseshoe-shaped stage and stated that it pays to advertise. The boys pulled four girls up on stage – the all-girl band called Exit. Bono asked them if they wanted to sing “Out of Control.” I think they were a little freaked out; nevertheless, the girls played the band”s instruments and sang with U2, giving them a night they will never forget, I”m sure. I wonder if we will be hearing about these girls in the near future.nThis was a wonderful night of celebration, surprises and the Larry Mullen Band.n’, ‘November 1, 2005 – Los Angeles, California, USA – Staples Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-1-2005-los-angeles-california-usa-staples-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-02 04:51:38’, ‘2005-11-02 08:51:38’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=91’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(92, 1, ‘2005-11-04 20:11:48’, ‘2005-11-05 00:11:48’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, MLK. Encore(s): Walk On (acoustic), Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Bad.nRemarks:n”Pride” and MLK are dedicated to Rosa Parks. Bono sings a bit of ”People Have The Power” during Bad. U2 soundchecks ”Mofo” and ”The Wanderer” during the afternoon, but neither are performed. The latter is recorded as U2”s contribution to an upcoming TV special about Johnny Cash.n’, ‘November 2, 2005 – Los Angeles, California, USA – Staples Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-2-2005-los-angeles-california-usa-staples-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-04 20:11:48’, ‘2005-11-05 00:11:48’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=92’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(93, 1, ‘2005-11-07 03:57:49’, ‘2005-11-07 07:57:49’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co.-Send In The Clowns, The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Can”t Help Falling In Love. Encore(s): Walk On (acoustic), Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:n”Stuck In A Moment” is dedicated to Michael Hutchence (of INXS). Bono channels Elvis during Love And Peace Or Else, his voice and moves imitating The King. During Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bono takes a red/white ”Coexist” flag from a fan and drapes it over Larry”s bass drum. Bono gets ”lost” while kneeling blindfolded during ”Bullet”, and crew member AJ Rankin comes on stage to guide him to the mic stand. A fan dressed as Elvis dances at the tip of the ellipse while Bono sings ”Can”t Help Falling In Love” on the main stage after One. The Edge breaks a string during ”Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”, and much of the song is played with no guitar.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nLas Vegas SunnThe Touching Personal Message of U2”s “Miss Sarajevo”nBy John KatsilometesnThirteen years ago when I was living in Redding, Calif., a worldly friend of mine dating to junior high school pulled into town for a short visit. He brought with him unedited tapes of a documentary film he”d been working on called, “Miss Sarajevo.”n”Brace yourself,” he said as he popped the first tape into the VCR.nFrom Bill Carter, it was sound advice. He had spent the previous few years on a humanitarian effort in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia, which in the early ”90s was under siege during a violent civil war. Bill recorded much of the carnage with a camcorder. Through daring determination and an unbridled belief in his project, he connected with Bono of U2 just before a show in Bologna, Italy, during the European leg of the band”s “Zooropa” tour.nThe band arranged for live satellite reports from Sarajevo to be splashed across 90-foot screens. Bill served as a sort of field reporter, spreading the disturbing news internationally that the city was in the grip of violence. “Miss Sarajevo” was the title for the project, as Bill recorded a stunning beauty pageant that was held even as the city was being pounded by mortar fire.nN/At the end the contestants unfurled a long banner that read “Please Don”t Kill Us All.”nThe footage of the courageous pageant closed the film, which was released in 1995 and has won national and international documentary film awards. Bill has since written his memoirs, “Fools Rush In” (WennerBooks, $14.95) about the events that led him to Sarajevo and the making of the film. The book”s cover is a powerful shot of a young boy, probably 7 or 8 years old, walking along a sidewalk clutching schoolbooks in his right hand and a pistol in his left.nBill”s project inspired the beautiful U2 song “Miss Sarajevo,” in which Bono sings a duet with Luciano Pavarotti. Many years later, as Bono began to tell the story of “Miss Sarajevo” Friday night at the MGM Grand Arena, I felt chills. And more than 15,000 fans, who moments earlier were in full roar, fell silent. It was the unmistakable sound of an audience bracing itself.nIt”s an all-U2 column today, music fans …nN/Adam”s eve: Bono is the center of attention almost constantly. The Edge is the guitar god, frequently out front and under the spotlight. Larry Mullen Jr. is noticed because, hey, the drummer is impossible to ignore. But let us give a nod to Adam Clayton, U2”s no-nonsense bassist.nHe might look like one of Uncle Dave”s golfing buddies, with that short-cropped gray hair and casual long-legged gait, but when the tempo gets loose — and it did a few times Friday — count on Clayton to turn to Mullen and hit reset. Great attire, too — a brick-red shirt with a yellow starburst on the right side, with charcoal-colored cargo pants …nCell of the century: Cell phones have replaced lighters as the audience”s choice of illuminating a concert hall. Thousands were used Friday night, and trying to enforce any “No Cameras Allowed” policy these days is folly. Armed with cell-phone cameras, fans fired away at will …nElvis does Vegas: An Elvis impressionist — this one a 1976 model, clad in the unfortunate cape/sequined jumpsuit ensemble — clambered to the round walkway (at Bono”s invitation) as the band performed a ragged version of “Can”t Help Falling In Love” …nBuy the numbers: A concert program cost $15, T-shirts went for $35 to $40 and a U2 “Vertigo” tour jacket for twice that price. But U2 fans are flush with disposable income these days — a woman in front of me in line, apparently getting the jump on Christmas shopping, spent a quick $260 on her buying spree. Talk about vertigo …n–Las Vegas SunnCopyright © 2005 Las Vegas Sun. All rights reserved.n’, ‘November 4, 2005 – Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – MGM Grand Garden Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-4-2005-las-vegas-nevada-usa-mgm-grand-garden-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-07 03:57:49’, ‘2005-11-07 07:57:49’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=93’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(94, 1, ‘2005-11-07 03:59:59’, ‘2005-11-07 07:59:59’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Mysterious Ways, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-All These Things That I”ve Done, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, Happy Birthday, All Because Of You, In A Little While, Bad.nRemarks:nThough it”s their 4th show in 5 nights, U2 cranks up the energy tonight with an acoustic-free setlist. Mysterious Ways is played for the first time since Dublin in June and includes a bellydancer pulled from the crowd. Until The End Of The World is performed for the first time since Brussels on June 10. ”Sometimes” is dedicated to Vegas resort owner Steve Wynn. Mary J Blige joins U2 for One, her third guest appearance on that song this fall. Bono brings tour manager Dennis Sheehan on stage between encores to wish him happy birthday with cake and a crowd sing-a-long. Brandon Flowers (The Killers) joins the band for In A Little While.n’, ‘November 5, 2005 – Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – MGM Grand Garden Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-5-2005-las-vegas-nevada-usa-mgm-grand-garden-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-07 03:59:59’, ‘2005-11-07 07:59:59’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=94’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(95, 1, ‘2005-11-10 15:58:50’, ‘2005-11-10 19:58:50’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Mysterious Ways, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-One Tree Hill. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBefore the show, Bono and The Edge visit with U2 fan Jack Grandcolas, whose wife Lauren (also a U2 fan) was one of the victims who died on United Airlines flight 93 when it crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania on 9/11. Jack tells Bono and The Edge that ”One Tree Hill” was Lauren”s favorite song. In her honor, Bono and The Edge add a bit of the song to the end of One, saying ”This is for Lauren.” The planned setlist shows ”Bad” as the final song, but U2 plays 40 instead. Celebrities at the show include Sean Penn and Robin Williams.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nMetro Silicon ValleynWe”ve Got to Carry Each OthernWhatever you say about Bono and his Secretariat-sized ego, the man can make an entrancenBy Peter KohtnLIBERACE would be proud. To begin U2”s performance on Nov. 8 at the Oakland Coliseum, Bono burst forth from the top of the long circular catwalk that snaked out from the stage just as thousands of pieces of confetti rained down from the rafters while the band struck up “City of Blinding Lights.” It”s clear U2 has perfected the art of arena rock. After almost 30 years of touring, they”ve learned how to conduct each gesture so that it is made not to the front row but to the third deck. At this point, the group has integrated video technology into its presentation to such a level that its Zoo TV era forays into the medium seem almost contrived.nBut for all its technological wizardry, U2 is still about human connection. During “Mysterious Ways,” Bono picked a girl out of the crowd and carried her around the stage on his back. He handed the mic to a little girl to shout “No More” during the peak of “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” Bono even has the good sense to mock himself. He shared the fact that, during the last 10 years of his life, Bono”s dad, Bob, started most conversations with his son by saying, “When are you going to take those fucking sunglasses off?”nBut while most of the night was a lighthearted love-in, the group isn”t afraid of stirring in some controversy. About two-thirds of the way through, the band unleashed a trio of dark songs, “Love and Peace or Else,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Bullet the Blue Sky.” During “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” a tune originally written about the troubles in Northern Ireland, Bono took an Irish flag from a fan before discarding it and grabbing an American one and declaring, “This is your song now.” Apparently, meeting with Bush last month hasn”t sold Bono on the merits of the war on terrorism. Segueing directly into a chilling, almost scary version of “Bullet the Blue Sky,” the band included a snippet of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” and dedicated it to all the men and women in the U.S. armed forces.nMost rock stars who reach this level of fame could give a rat”s ass about the power of their voice, but U2 has done a damned decent job of using its fame to popularize political causes. One can”t imagine Mick Jagger pausing midset to talk about debt relief or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Like its music, U2”s politics is catered toward mass consumption and grand, overarching gestures, but at least U2 wants to stand for something.nN/All the politics was offset with a nearly orgiastic pair of three-song encores. “With or Without You” made its obligatory appearance at the end of the first, but the real highlights came during the second encore. “Yahweh,” from their latest release, proves, with its message of understanding among religions, that rock bands can write hymns. The band closed the night with a surprising but fitting choice, “40.” This song was first recorded on the band”s War record, and has lingered in obscurity for a long time. The Edge and Adam Clayton traded instruments and sides of the stage while Bono larked about with a spotlight, shining it into the upper decks of the arena, encouraging people to sing along before leaving the stage first. Adam then filed off, followed by the Edge, leaving the crowd in duet with drummer Larry Mullen Jr. singing chorus after chorus of “How long to sing this song?” If the strength of this performance is any indication, it”s likely to be a good long while.n’, ‘November 8, 2005 – Oakland, California, USA – Oakland Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-8-2005-oakland-california-usa-oakland-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-10 15:58:50’, ‘2005-11-10 19:58:50’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=95’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(96, 1, ‘2005-11-10 16:00:49’, ‘2005-11-10 20:00:49’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, Gloria, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Fast Cars, Bad-People Have The Power.nRemarks:nBono sings a bit of ”Rockaway Beach” during Vertigo and some of ”Exodus” during I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For. The ”pixel panel” curtains aren”t working during ”Streets”, and remain in the ”up” position throughout the song, leaving the arena bathed in red and green lights, but without showing the African flags.n’, ‘November 9, 2005 – Oakland, California, USA – Oakland Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-9-2005-oakland-california-usa-oakland-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-10 16:00:49’, ‘2005-11-10 20:00:49’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=96’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 3),
(97, 1, ‘2005-11-14 04:01:13’, ‘2005-11-14 08:01:13’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Mysterious Ways, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Here Comes The Sun, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, Happy Birthday, 40.nRemarks:nN/A loud crowd greets U2 as they play in Florida for the first time since 2001. I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For is dedicated to Section 105, which includes a big group of Dutch fans who traveled to see tonight”s show. During Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Bono mentions his dad”s birthday. Bob Hewson would have turned 80 today. While blindfolded, Bono needs help from crew member AJ Rankin to guide him to the mic during ”Bullet.” Bono wears a fan”s cowboy hat during Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, which is dedicated to ”Patti, the punk rocker.” A young boy is brought on stage during Sunday Bloody Sunday; a female fan dances with Bono during With Or Without You. Bono leads the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to a member of the band”s crew.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nMiami HeraldnU2 blends new songs with the oldnby HOWARD COHENnU2, performing the first of two sold-out shows Sunday night at Miami”s American Airlines Arena on its Vertigo//2005 Tour, played on a ringed stage which suggested the rings of the universe. There was the four-piece band, right in the middle, taking its place as the center of the universe, a position few musical acts truly own.nU2 played it to the hilt throwing off hyper dance-rock hits like Vertigo, political statements in Sunday Bloody Sunday and spiritual reflections (I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For) with energy and verve. At times, U2 was frightfully good, and the fans reacted so excitedly it was often hard to hear the words and musical nuances coming from the stage.nWith this band, you want both. For all of Bono”s extracurricular activities — some have suggested that he be considered a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize for his crusading efforts — it sometimes overshadows the fact his band is in the business of making music. At this stage, U2 is making some of the best music of its three-decade career. The Irish rockers even threaten to steal the handle ””The World”s Greatest Rock and Roll Band”” from the Rolling Stones.nI”d hold off on taking the Stones” crown and passing it to U2 just yet — especially given the vigor of the Stones” latest CD and ongoing tour — but, like the Stones, U2 has lasted long enough to qualify as a classic rock band and its stage shows bristle with ideas.nWhere the Stones offer mostly escapism through expertly executed rock ”n” roll, U2 has greater ambitions — namely, rock as a means to foster social change.nSYMBOLSnDuring the new song, Love and Peace or Else, Bono wore a headband with religious symbols and told his gathering that the message meant, ””Coexist.”” Lighted curtains bore a crucifix, Star of David and crescent moon. ””We”re all sons of Abraham,”” Bono said, tearing into the 1980s political anthem Sunday Blood Sunday. “This is your song now, America.””nHe then pulled the headband over his eyes and knelt on the stage blindly for Bullet the Blue Sky. This portion of the set closed with a listing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on video screens.nEarlier, Bono doffed his trademark sunglasses for a pass at the new Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, a tribute to his late father who died recently. Bono and his dad had had a combative relationship and the singer mentioned how for 20 years his father criticized him for always wearing dark glasses. ””Today is his birthday so I”m taking off the sunglasses,”” Bono said. Melodramatic, maybe, but moving and he hit the tune”s high notes without faltering — not an easy task.nPARTY TIMEnIt wasn”t all about the message, though. Sometimes you just want to party and U2 delivered the goods in that respect, too.nU2 hit the stage at 9 p.m. with the new track, City of Blinding Lights, ostensibly an ode to New York City but we”ll take it, too. ””Special things going down with this band and this place,”” Bono said. “We started the Elevation Tour here and this city gave us a big kiss.””nGlorious ropes of light turned the stage into the world”s largest Lite-Brite board. ””Oh . . . you . . . look . . . so . . . beautiful,”” Bono cried City”s chorus and it really was dazzling.nThe band also distanced itself from its peers by turning the bulk of its set list over to its newest material. It”s one thing to release vital new albums late into one”s career but if the artist isn”t going to take ownership of the material and challenge its adoring audiences by performing it in concert what”s the point?nU2 did just that and its new music was as well received as its old. Given the loving relationship this band has forged with its fans over the years it probably could do no wrong anyway.n’, ‘November 13, 2005 – Miami, Florida, USA – American Airlines Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-13-2005-miami-florida-usa-american-airlines-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-14 04:01:13’, ‘2005-11-14 08:01:13’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=97’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(98, 1, ‘2005-11-15 03:53:17’, ‘2005-11-15 07:53:17’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Walk On, Bad.nRemarks:nBono and The Edge shoot a playful video with fans outside the arena in the afternoon, which includes Bono interviewing fans about The Edge. As the show starts, Bono takes the stage with a handicam and focuses on The Edge for the first half of ”Blinding Lights.” Terry Lawless is on stage for Original Of The Species, U2”s new U.S. single. It replaces Miracle Drug, which isn”t played for the first time this year. The arena sings most of the songs louder than Bono, and security struggle for much of the show to control the crush outside the ellipse.n’, ‘November 14, 2005 – Miami, Florida, USA – American Airlines Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-14-2005-miami-florida-usa-american-airlines-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-15 03:53:17’, ‘2005-11-15 07:53:17’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=98’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(99, 1, ‘2005-11-17 17:59:31’, ‘2005-11-17 21:59:31’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Mysterious Ways, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings a young girl on stage and has her sit near Larry”s drum kit for Original Of The Species. He brings a young boy, Joey, on stage during Yahweh and the boy stays on stage through 40. As the song is ending, Bono gets Joey to help shine a spotlight around the arena. As Bono leaves, Joey takes the spotlight and shines it on Bono, then also shines it on each band member, one at a time, before returning to the crowd.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSt. Petersburg TimesnStill going strongnby Sean Daly, St. Petersburg TimesnTAMPA – There is no greater rock frontman than U2”s Bono.nN/And there is no one who believes this more than U2”s Bono.nPart shaman, part carnival barker, part politico obsessed with saving the whole world, the vainglorious singer of the world”s biggest band led the Irish quartet through more than two hours of fist-pounding anthems, soul-penetrating ballads and over-the-top rock-god posturing at a sold-out St. Pete Times Forum Wednesday.nN/A massive crowd of 21,353 fans – so hungry for the band that moves them like no other – reacted to almost all of the 20-plus songs as if high-priest Bono were blessing them with something far more powerful than rousing radio hits.nN/And who knows? Maybe he was.nWhen U2 is finished spanning the globe in support of 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the band is expected to gross more than $300-million worldwide, a figure that will far surpass earnings by 2005”s other whopper tours, including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen.nSo it was more than appropriate that one of the most talent-stuffed concert seasons in Tampa Bay history would conclude with the year”s hottest (and toughest-to-get) ticket.nN/And don”t you know U2 loves being the cherry on top.nProving that a quarter-century of togetherness has made them one of the tightest outfits in rock ”n” roll, Bono, guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. opened with the new City of Blinding Lights, a crescendoing piece of uplift that makes you want throw your hands in the air and holler. Long, tall drapes of light bulbs acted as blissfully blinding backdrops, and confetti rained from the skies.nN/Although it”s always fascinating listen to Bono work out his issues with The Man Upstairs – a friend once theorized that all of U2”s songs are directed at God, and she might be right about that – the band”s true heart is the Edge, whose tingly, shimmering riffs and piercing solos are the stuff that goosebumps are made of.nN/A true musical magician, the Edge can make his instrument sound raw and raunchy as he did on the thunderous punk rage of Vertigo. He can unleash truly wicked solos as he showed on a slinky, sexy Mysterious Ways. And he can whip up a thick wall of chugga-chugga doomsday punch as he did on Until the End of the World, one of the best cuts from U2”s best album, 1991”s Achtung Baby. (Bring it on, Joshua Tree fans. I”ll debate you all day long.)nUltimately, it always comes back to Bono, of course. There he was, prowling the oval ellipse that enclosed the stage and a few hundred fans, leading the charge of Sunday Bloody Sunday like the good Christian soldier that he is. (“This is your song now!” he screamed.) There he was, crawling on the floor during Bullet the Blue Sky. There he was, busting out opera – in Italian, no less – on Miss Sarajevo, originally a duet with Luciano Pavarotti.nThat lovely song was followed by a short film on human rights – which in turn was followed by epically minded Martin Luther King tribute Pride (In the Name of Love). Say what you will about U2”s speechifying, but these boys sure know how to make a point and make that sucker stick.nOf course, for all his egomania, Bono can also be a charming dude. “Where are we?” he asked at one point. “Ah, yes, Tampa.” He remembered playing a club here way back in 1981. “The End Zone,” he said, before adding the oh-so-Bono-esque: “The Beginning Zone is more like it.”nWithout missing a beat, the band then kicked into the gospel-edged bliss of I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, which naturally turned into a glorious sing-along of lost souls.nThat moment right there was the night”s highlight … well, until Edge plucked out those life-affirming opening notes to Where the Streets Have No Name, which still gets me all weepy almost two decades later.nThe show”s six-song finale was relatively sobering after such a thoroughly rocking show. But that”s just my opinion. I”m sure the young woman who slow-danced with Bono to With or Without You feels a wee bit differently.nCopyright © 2005 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.n’, ‘November 16, 2005 – Tampa, Florida, USA – St. Pete Times Forum’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-16-2005-tampa-florida-usa-st-pete-times-forum’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-17 17:59:31’, ‘2005-11-17 21:59:31’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=99’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(100, 1, ‘2005-11-21 05:23:40’, ‘2005-11-21 09:23:40’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstituternSetlist:rnCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Mysterious Ways, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, The Fly, With Or Without You, Happy Birthday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Yahweh, All Because Of You, 40.rnRemarks:rnHappy Birthday is sung for a member of U2”s crew. Bono brings two young boys on stage to help shine the spotlight during 40. Near the end of the show, Bono thanks Richard Wright of Pink Floyd for their Live 8 performance (Wright is at the show). Also reportedly at the show are the members of R.E.M. Before All Because of You, Bono shares a dedication to Daniel Lanois which is taped for airing at an upcoming Canadian music awards ceremony where Lanois is being honored.’, ‘November 18, 2005 – Atlanta, Georgia, USA – Philips Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-18-2005-atlanta-georgia-usa-philips-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-25 20:25:20’, ‘2010-06-26 00:25:20’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=100’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(1376, 1, ‘1983-03-10 10:35:35’, ‘1983-03-10 14:35:35’, ‘Opening Act(s): The NightcapsnSetlist:nGloria, I Threw A Brick-A Day Without Me, Seconds, Surrender, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Cry, The Electric Co., I Fall Down, October, Tomorrow, Two Hearts Beat As One, Twilight, Out Of Control. Encore(s): Party Girl, 11 O”Clock Tick Tock, I Will Follow, 40.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSounds magazinenBattle Hymnsnby Karen SwaynenN/After going well and truly over the top a year or so ago when I last reviewed U2, I was determined that this time I wouldn”t get too carried away. Problem is, I”d forgotten how overwhelmingly good they can be: their ability to send tingles down my spine remains undiminished and their skill at breaking down barriers between band and audience has never been better.nThe fervour with which they approach their live performances can occasionally backfire when they”re unable to reach the heights they strive so hard for, but more often than not the sense of involvement carries them through and it all comes together perfectly.nTonight was one such occasion, a time for champagne and celebration – “War” had just gone straight into the charts at numero uno – and U2 have never sounded stronger.nIt must be said that the evening was not without the occasional hiccup, invariably due to newer numbers clumsily breaking the mood that had earlier been created with consummate ease. The current critical backlash isn”t just an inevitable result of U2”s new-found commercial success; none of the songs on “War,” apart from the superb “New Year”s Day,” can match the brilliance of the best tracks on “Boy” or “October.”nEven so, U2 have such a wealth of great material that from the distinctive opening chords of “Gloria” to the sheer inspirational power of “I Will Follow,” their set is mesmerising. Bono is not just a stunning vocalist, he”s a charasmatic presence, a true performer whose passion and conviction is uplifting.nThe urgency swept through “A Day Without Me” and “I Threw a Brick,” but the momentum was temporarily halted by a couple new songs. “Seconds” saw Bono and The Edge sharing vocals, and featured a rap-like chorus of “they”re doing the atomic bomb, they want you to sing along,” which seemed somewhat out of place. Likewise, “Surrender” had a similar funky beat which burst into disco in a bizarre moment when Bono launched into a quick snatch of “Billie Jean.”nSuch rum goings on quickly passed, however, as U2 powered through “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” and then delivered “October” and “Tomorrow” with a simplicity and sensitivity that was genuinely moving.nN/Against a backdrop of three white flags and the face of the Boy (in 1983 his eyes are suspicious and fearful), U2 rejoiced in life and love. They conveyed a warmth that is increasingly rare in these cynical times where a worthless bunch of singing hairdo”s can hit the top of the charts. U2”s honesty alone makes them a band to trust and treasure.n© 1983 Sounds magazine. All Rights Reserved.n’, ‘March 10, 1983 – Birmingham, England – Odeon’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘884-revision’, ”, ”, ‘1983-03-10 10:35:35’, ‘1983-03-10 14:35:35’, ”, 884, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1376’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(101, 1, ‘2005-11-21 05:25:28’, ‘2005-11-21 09:25:28’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Happy Birthday, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, MLK. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Bad.nRemarks:nMLK is added after One tonight, while members of the King family are at the show.n’, ‘November 19, 2005 – Atlanta, Georgia, USA – Philips Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-19-2005-atlanta-georgia-usa-philips-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-21 05:25:28’, ‘2005-11-21 09:25:28’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=101’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(102, 1, ‘2005-11-22 03:37:38’, ‘2005-11-22 07:37:38’, ‘Opening Act(s): Patti SmithnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Ol” Man River. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Instant Karma!, Bad-People Have The Power.nRemarks:nThe legendary Patti Smith opens tonight”s show, and makes a guest appearance with U2 on ”Instant Karma.” During the song, she walks toward Larry, stands on his drum riser, and sings part of the song at him.n’, ‘November 21, 2005 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-21-2005-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-22 03:37:38’, ‘2005-11-22 07:37:38’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=102’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(103, 1, ‘2005-11-23 06:58:18’, ‘2005-11-23 10:58:18’, ‘Opening Act(s): Patti SmithnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co.-Send In The Clowns, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, MLK. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Instant Karma!.nRemarks:nMLK is dedicated to John F. Kennedy, who died 42 years ago to the day. Bono brings a young girl on stage during Mysterious Ways and gives her a piggy-back ride. ”Stuck In A Moment” is dedicated to Michael Hutchence on the 8th anniversary of his death. Patti Smith joins the band for Instant Karma again tonight, but the concert comes to an abrupt end at the end of the song. Bono leads Smith off-stage, The Edge follows while still playing the song, then Adam leaves. They come back out and sing another chorus before everyone leaves again. The house lights come on and the show is over, even though two more songs are on the printed setlist. Some fans at the show say Smith looked like she was feeling ill on stage.n’, ‘November 22, 2005 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-22-2005-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-23 06:58:18’, ‘2005-11-23 10:58:18’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=103’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(104, 1, ‘2005-11-26 04:35:38’, ‘2005-11-26 08:35:38’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Arcade FirenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings fans on stage three times, including a young boy during Sunday Bloody Sunday who sings the ”No more” chorus with great enthusiasm. The ”pixel panel” light curtains malfunction during Vertigo and Original Of The Species. Win Butler, Régine Chassagne and William Butler from The Arcade Fire watch the show from inside the ellipse.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nOttawa SunnOne great nightnby Ann Marie McQueen, Ottawa Sunn”IT”S TAKEN 20 years,” boomed Bono, “here goes.”nFrom the moment the charismatic U2 frontman appeared at the bottom of a giant oval stage last night, his arms raised in the air, framed against a curtain of lightbulbs as confetti rained down during the stirring opening notes of City of Blinding Lights, to the last, audience-perpetuated “how long to sing this song?” 40 chorus, U2 made up for lost time.nThe sold-out crowd of more than 18,000, who stayed on their feet right up to the Corel Centre roof throughout the much-anticipated two-hour show, seemed to agree.n”Has this city got soul?” Bono belted out early on in the show, over and over and over, during Beautiful Day, the band”s 2000 gratitude anthem.n”You say that to all the rock stars,” he joked later, during another near-deafening moment.nThere couldn”t have been much more buzz if the building was hosting Game 7 of a Stanley Cup final for its beloved Ottawa Senators. When U2 finally took the stage — 15 minutes late, prompting the restless crowd to launch into an enthusiastic bout of “the wave” — the place seemed ready to take off.n”SEXY PEOPLE”n”Sexy people, here in Ottawa, Friday night,” remarked Bono, shortly after watching us sing the first verse of Elevation.nThe band made full use of the stage throughout, with The Edge, bass guitarist Adam Clayton, even drummer Larry Mullen, at different times seeming to stride out into the crowd, fans on either side rocking out to their tight, precise chords.nThings hit a high right after a human rights message during the elusive Miss Sarajevo, when the group slid from a spine-tingling Pride (In The Name of Love) into a welcome Where The Streets Have No Name. We were there for the music, but the anti-poverty sermon — complete with contact numbers for Canadian political leaders scrolling across an elevated video screen — proved a fitting intro for One. It was made all the nicer when Bono urged everyone to turn on their cellphones, transforming the place into a glittering sea of light.n”We can change the world,” he pleaded, “things don”t have to be the way they are.”nThere was plenty to love and few surprises during the 95-minute concert, augmented by two powerful encores. The group stuck to their script, mostly, though periodically borrowed snippets of tunes like Rock The Casbah and Many Rivers To Cross.nThough some critics have complained about Bono”s vocals this tour, the only times he seemed croaky to me came during a few between-songs sections. It was a nice tribute when, recalling his many conversations with his late father that began with “take those f—— sunglasses off,” Bono removed his trademark eyewear before beginning the sweet ode Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own.nN/And there were a few lovely acoustic moments too, at the beginning of the second encore, when Bono and The Edge stood at the bottom of the oval to perform Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of and the newer Yahweh.nMARRIAGE PROPOSALnI couldn”t help but think about Jack Crocker during With Or Without You, because that”s when the Ottawa chef told me he”d planned to pull out the diamond ring hiding in his pocket and propose to Brie Gilmore, his girlfriend of two years, right down there on the floor. Or imagining being the girl Bono dragged up on stage for a sexy slow dance right about the same time.nN/Ah, music brings us together, doesn”t it? It took 20 years all right, but at least it was worth the wait.nN/And I”ve said it before, but until I caught Arcade Fire”s opening act last night, I couldn”t have meant it: The Montreal-based, partially-Ottawa comprised group played their hearts out.nCopyright © 2005 Ottawa Sun. All rights reserved.n’, ‘November 25, 2005 – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – Corel Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-25-2005-ottawa-ontario-canada-corel-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-26 04:35:38’, ‘2005-11-26 08:35:38’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=104’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(105, 1, ‘2005-11-28 04:49:26’, ‘2005-11-28 08:49:26’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Arcade FirenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World-Instant Karma!, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Yahweh, Bad-The Maker-40.nRemarks:nThe Arcade Fire take the stage with ”Where The Streets Have No Name” on the PA, a tip to U2 taking the stage to their song, ”Wake Up.” The Montreal crowd, which is well-known for being LOUD, doesn”t disappoint tonight. A local radio station has given out 5,000 multi-colored flashing light sticks, and the audience holds them up during ”Sometimes.” Clearly moved by the sight, Bono changes a lyric during the song to describe what he sees. A stunning version of Bad ends the show with Daniel Lanois joining U2 on stage. During the song, they sing bits of Lanois” song ”The Maker” and a bit of U2”s ”40”, before picking ”Bad” back up and closing out the show.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nMontreal GazettenVive U2 … a Montreal!nby T”cha Dunlevy, Montreal Gazetten”Vive U2 … a Montreal!”nThe Arcade Fire may not have been the only hometown band to ignite 20,300 delirious fans last night at the Bell Centre, as Bono proclaims ”U2 vient vivre a Montreal.” Whether they”re serious or not, the world”s biggest rock band proved they would be more than welcomenT”CHA DUNLEVYnThe GazettenSunday, November 27, 2005n”On a une annonce tres importante,” said Bono, after U2 played its fourth song, I Will Follow, to a capacity crowd of 20,300 at the Bell Centre last night.n”U2 vient vivre a Montreal.”nThe audience, obviously, went nuts. And though Bono never explained exactly what he meant by the statement – when, why, for how long – there was definite synergy between band and fans as the group powered through hit after hit, interspersed with moments of spirituality, theatrics and politics.nThis was, after all, U2; perhaps you”ve heard of them – world”s biggest rock band, given to pomp, larger-than-life songs, activism, feel-goodism and occasional existential wisdom.nThey opened with City of Blinding Lights, off last year”s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Confetti raining down, glittering disco curtains, Bono putting the cat in catwalk, venturing out onto the circular ramp surrounding the stage. It was the first song, and already we were in encore mode.n”Ca va bien aujourd”hui?” Bono asked, after. Then: “Vive les Montrealais. Et les Habs! Vive U2 … a Montreal!”nThe last words were swallowed by the roar of the crowd, into which Bono shouted, “Un, deux, trois, quatre,” as the band kicked into Vertigo, Atomic Bomb”s rockin” first track.nEven a nearby beer vendor couldn”t resist the swelling energy; he set down his wares and turned to sing along and dance.nThen came Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day – in that order. There was no stopping this runaway train.nN/Along the way, bits of poetry, trademark Bono spontaneity and showmanship. During elevation, he paused on the catwalk, motioned for the Gazette photographer to hand over his camera, and snapped a few shots.nN/After I Will Follow, he took a moment to praise openers the Arcade Fire, hailing the Montreal band as “troubadours, psychedelic minstrels,” and “the most (amazing) musical thing we”ve seen in a very long time.”nHe took off his shades for Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, striding slowly back onto the catwalk and basking in the deafening cheers of the crowd.n”Wow,” he said.nLove and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky and Miss Sarajevo – time to get serious. After Pride (In the Name of Love) and Where the Streets Have No Name, Bono donned his humanitarian cap.nSaying he had spent the previous day meeting with Canadian politicians, “all of them – Jack Layton, Stephen Harper, Gilles Duceppe and Paul Martin” – he urged everyone to push them, during the coming election, to eliminate Third World debt.nIn this first of two sold-out shows (the band returns tomorrow), U2 proved it can still be all things to all people, while remaining relevant, pushing its humanitarian agenda and putting on a helluva [email protected] © 2005 The Gazette (Montreal). All rights reserved.n’, ‘November 26, 2005 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Bell Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-26-2005-montreal-quebec-canada-bell-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-28 04:49:26’, ‘2005-11-28 08:49:26’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=105’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(106, 1, ‘2005-11-29 04:18:32’, ‘2005-11-29 08:18:32’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Arcade FirenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Get Up Stand Up, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Love Will Tear Us Apart, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nN/Another high-volume, high-energy crowd (typical for Montreal) is out in force tonight. Miracle Drug is back in the set for the first time since Miami on November 13. Arcade Fire joins U2 on stage at the end of With Or Without You to play a cover of Joy Division”s ”Love Will Tear Us Apart.”n’, ‘November 28, 2005 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Bell Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-28-2005-montreal-quebec-canada-bell-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2005-11-29 04:18:32’, ‘2005-11-29 08:18:32’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=106’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(107, 1, ‘2005-12-05 04:02:48’, ‘2005-12-05 08:02:48’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Yahweh, Bad-40, All Because Of You, Fast Cars.nRemarks:nBono sings bits of ”Sgt. Pepper”s” and ”Here Comes The Sun” during Beautiful Day, changing the lyrics (”there goes the sun”) to reflect the cold, snowy weather outside. Bono thanks Ashley Judd, who”s at the show, for her work with the ONE Campaign. During One, Bono brings about a dozen fans on stage with different national flags tied together and they stand behind Larry holding the flags up as a backdrop. U2 comes out for an unplanned 3rd encore, playing All Because Of You and Fast Cars to a shocked crowd made up of fans that haven”t already left. Many fans, including some getting in the GA line for tomorrow”s show, miss the end of the show.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBoston GlobenU2 dazzles with passionate, powerful shownBy Jonathan Perry, Boston Globe Correspondent | December 5, 2005nWhen he”s not busy stumping for human rights across the globe, meeting with world leaders and presidents, or being considered for peace prizes, Bono sings for a fair little rock and roll combo called U2. You might have heard of them: aside from some geezers called the Rolling Stones, they”re just about the biggest band touring the world right now.nLast night”s dazzlingly celebratory, pitch-perfect performance (the first of two sold-out shows in Boston, and one of seven this year in the city alone) illustrated why. Jubilant, poignant, impassioned, grateful, and always, always musically brilliant — U2 was all of these things during a show in which one magnificent song from one era (an urgent, joyous ””I Will Follow”) bled into another (””I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For”) and fed into yet another (””Beautiful Day”).nWhat U2 reminds us every time the four take the stage, some 25 years into their run as Ireland”s most popular export this side of Guinness, is that they”ve never let up, looked down, or looked back. They”ve been the ambitious architects of monumental rock statements (””The Joshua Tree”), brazenly thrown themselves headlong into new sonic adventures (””Achtung Baby”), and effortlessly re-established their greatness by hitting new creative peaks (””How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb”). But they keep striding forward, a pop institution yet inimitable and still challenging themselves, and us.nSurrounded by a circular catwalk and flanked by a curtain of blinking lights that constantly shifted patterns and flashed like Las Vegas neon with a message, U2 had no trouble matching the electricity of the surroundings. At the center was Bono, of course, a bulky yet sensual presence in superb, soaring voice, preening and exhorting the crowd to exultation like a left-wing holy roller, as if he were leading a political rally inside the world”s biggest pub. At his side, as always, was The Edge, peeling off those lovely shimmering guitar tones to match the easy majesty of the songs.nThe evening started, appropriately enough, with ””City of Blinding Lights,” dipped into the slippery dance-floor groove of ””Vertigo,” and then the boisterous pomp and stomp of ””Elevation,” with The Edge”s bumblebee guitar buzz swirling Bono”s cavorting romp around the lip of the stage.nShowmanship and sincerity collided beautifully on the evening”s early showpiece, ””Sunday Bloody Sunday,” an apocalyptic war-torn vision still timely to the world”s events. ””America, this is your song now!” Bono called out. Someone from the audience then handed him an American flag, which he gingerly draped across an amplifier onstage, before shouting ””No More!” He immediately dedicated a howling, white-hot ””Bullet the Blue Sky” to the ””brave young men and women of the United States military.” The sequence proved something of a paradox, but it was honest. And that”s what U2 has always been about.nCopyright © 2005 Boston Globe. All rights reserved.n’, ‘December 4, 2005 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – TD Banknorth Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-4-2005-boston-massachusetts-usa-td-banknorth-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-05 04:02:48’, ‘2005-12-05 08:02:48’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=107’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 6),
(108, 1, ‘2005-12-06 06:36:00’, ‘2005-12-06 10:36:00’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Dirty Water-Take Me To The River, Elevation, Gloria, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Original Of The Species-Norwegian Wood, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-She”s A Mystery To Me. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Crumbs From Your Table, Instant Karma!, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nIt”s a Christmas-themed show tonight, the last one of the year in Boston. Bono says his Christmas list includes 5 million people for the Make Poverty History Campaign, a fire engine, more time with his kids, and that The Edge wants a train set. During Beautiful Day, Bono sings ”See Santa Claus right in front of you” to a Santa in the ellipse and adds a bit of ”Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” and ”Jingle Bells.” Fans in the arena make a display of white One Campaign signs during One. Fans dressed as Santa Claus and Elvis Presley dance on stage during Mysterious Ways, and Bono wishes them a Merry Christmas.n’, ‘December 5, 2005 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – TD Banknorth Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-5-2005-boston-massachusetts-usa-td-banknorth-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-06 06:36:00’, ‘2005-12-06 10:36:00’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=108’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(109, 1, ‘2005-12-08 04:24:14’, ‘2005-12-08 08:24:14’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Happy Christmas (War Is Over), Original Of The Species-Norwegian Wood, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, Help. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Instant Karma!, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nOn the eve of the 25th anniversary of John Lennon”s murder, Bono tells the crowd ”everything we do tonight is in his memory,” and says ”Here”s a song we stole from him” as the band begins Original Of The Species. Lennon is mentioned several times during the show. The main set ends with Bono and The Edge performing ”Help.”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nHartford CourantnLennon Recalled As Bono Powers U2nBy ERIC R. DANTON, Courant Rock CriticnIt was a raspy-sounding Bono who took the stage Wednesday night when U2 played to a packed house at the Hartford Civic Center.nN/A solid year of touring will do that to a person.nBut the iconic singer powered through a few hoarse moments as he and his mates delivered 20 songs spanning U2”s 25-year career and some of the Irish band”s influences.nJohn Lennon was chief among the latter. Bono dedicated the show to the late singer, who was murdered 25 years ago Thursday, and sneaked in Beatles and Lennon lyrics to several of U2”s songs. The crowd roared each time, but U2”s own songs were the main attraction.nThe band performed on a sleek, modern stage, augmented by a horseshoe-shaped runway that curved through the crowd, and various lighting configurations, including a series of lighted beaded curtains that were among the coolest stage effects of any act touring this year. They shimmered in the dark on the opening number, “City of Blinding Lights,” and produced images of crosses, crescents and Stars of David on “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” As Larry Mullen Jr. tattooed a martial beat on the drums, Bono called on the crowd to embrace the idea of co-existence with those who are different.nIt was one of several political statements the singer made, and not all of them were verbal. Wearing a white headband over his eyes like a blindfold, Bono kneeled during “Bullet the Blue Sky” and crossed his hands over his head at the wrists, mimicking a pose used during interrogations. The band also projected the Universal Declaration of Human Rights onto its video screens as a female voice read aloud the various tenets (after the crew worked out a technical glitch).nMost of the time, though, Bono simply sang. He and guitarist the Edge work together like they”re extensions of the same brain. As Bono played up the seductive lyrical rhythm of “Elevation,” the Edge dialed in a dirty buzzing sound on his guitar. The two built the chorus of “Beautiful Day” into a joyous explosion of reverberating guitar and soaring vocals, and the Edge nailed the staccato dikka-dikka-dikka riff on “Pride (In the Name of Love)” as Bono reached up for the high notes.nThe rasp in Bono”s voice enhanced the emotion of “Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own,” and conveyed the deep-seated sense of yearning that drives “Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For.”nU2”s main set lasted 17 songs (including a brief bit of the Beatles” “Help!”) and about 90 minutes, and then the band returned for a three-song encore. “Until the End of the World” led to the swampy riff of “Mysterious Ways,” and then the quiet opening strains of “With or Without You” began filling the arena. The Edge”s clanging guitar riff unfurled midway through like a sail catching the wind, and the song glided to a breathtaking finale. The band returned for a second four-song encore that opened with “Stuck in a Moment” and finished with “40,” from 1983”s “War.”nContact Eric R. Danton at [email protected]’, ‘December 7, 2005 – Hartford, Connecticut, USA – Civic Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-7-2005-hartford-connecticut-usa-civic-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-08 04:24:14’, ‘2005-12-08 08:24:14’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=109’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(110, 1, ‘2005-12-10 17:48:52’, ‘2005-12-10 21:48:52’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Help. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Instant Karma!, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nU2”s plane doesn”t arrive in Buffalo until 7:30 pm (three hours late) thanks to a snowstorm in Boston that had closed the airport there temporarily this afternoon. The show goes on, and Bono again includes several reference to John Lennon on the day after the 25th anniversary of his death. He mentions that U2 were playing in Buffalo the night of Lennon”s murder.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nDemocrat and ChroniclenU2 concert embraces you, toonby Jeff SpevaknI don”t know if I can do justice to the opening moments of U2 at Buffalo”s HSBC Arena Friday night. But I”m paid to try.nFirst, set the stage: An oval ramp covering one half of the arena floor, with the stage set inside one edge, and a couple of hundred fans holding randomly marked tickets escorted inside the oval for an intimate experience with the band.nNineteen-thousand fans in the darkened, sold-out arena, their presence betrayed by the flicker of blue cell-phone screens, unleashed an unearthly howl. Guitarist The Edge walked out, playing one of his familiar, chiming riffs, drummer Larry Mullen Jr., and bassist Adam Clayton took their places, vast curtains of shimmering lights were lowered, red-and-silver confetti fell from the ceiling and lead singer Bono emerged from beneath the far end of the ramp for the opening “City of Blinding Lights”: “Oh, you look so beautiful!” That led straight to “Vertigo,” from the latest album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, with red light patterns bouncing off the curtains as the crowd sang along.nRight there, that $165 ticket had paid for itself in pent-up anxieties and frustrations flung to the rafters. The final encores, including an arena-rattling “With or Without You,” and acoustic “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of,” were too sweet for these wordsnFriday night, we got the ultimate U2 mix tape in a stunning and inspired performance.nMidway through the show was a prime example of how to dismantle an atomic bomb: A brilliantly conceived anti-war set of old U2, opening with “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” then “Bullet the Blue Sky,” with Bono tacking on, “When Johnny comes marching home again, hurrah, hurrah.” I believe the line he improvised at the end was “Johnny stay home,” before dedicating the song to the men and women of the U.S. military.nThe ballad “Miss Sarajevo,” with Bono tackling the Pavarotti parts with gusto, led to a woman reading the Geneva Convention as the words scrolled across huge video screens. “Pride in the Name of Love,” with Bono making a reference to peace and John Lennon, before the anti-war set was brought home with “Streets With No Name.”nBono turned to Lennon throughout the night, noting that his murder 25 years ago coincided with the Irish band”s first trip to America: Bono said he was playing a video game before the band was to play a show at a Buffalo club when he learned about the tragedy in New York City.n”He whispered things in our ear that have brought us to where we are now,” Bono said of Lennon, setting up “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For,” then “Beautiful Day.” He broke in to describe a scene of a 12-year-old kid in his bedroom, listening to the Beatles: “We”re Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” he sang.nWith encores that included “Instant Karma,” Lennon does live. U2 was Instant Karma in Lennon”s name Friday night, doing what a great band does: Embracing people and urging them to come together.n’, ‘December 9, 2005 – Buffalo, New York, USA – HSBC Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-9-2005-buffalo-new-york-usa-hsbc-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-10 17:48:52’, ‘2005-12-10 21:48:52’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=110’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(111, 1, ‘2005-12-13 02:25:57’, ‘2005-12-13 06:25:57’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-She Loves You, Elevation, Gloria, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Original Of The Species-Norwegian Wood, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Help. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Instant Karma!, Yahweh, 40.n’, ‘December 10, 2005 – Cleveland, Ohio, USA – Gund Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-10-2005-cleveland-ohio-usa-gund-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-13 02:25:57’, ‘2005-12-13 06:25:57’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=111’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(112, 1, ‘2005-12-13 02:27:42’, ‘2005-12-13 06:27:42’, ‘Opening Act(s): InstitutenSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Gloria, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nHalf a dozen cameras from the ESPN sports network film the concert tonight. U2 has given ESPN permission to use ”City Of Blinding Lights” for its upcoming coverage of the 2006 World Cup. Before the show, U2”s crew works with the ESPN crew to shoot the pixel panels as they show the flags of all the countries that will be taking part in next year”s World Cup. Also Happy Birthday is sung for Frank Sinatra, who would have turned 90 on this day.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe Charlotte ObservernU2 Bonds With Friendsnby Courtney Devoresn”I want to turn this song into a prayer,” Bono said near the end of an emotional, show-stopping rendition of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” Monday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.n”That prayer is that we do not become a monster in order to defeat a monster,” he continued.nInstead of preaching to the crowd — as Bono and U2 have often been accused — the Irish quartet and arguably the biggest band in the world wove powerful political and social commentary throughout their songs.nBono dedicated a controversial “Bullet the Blue Sky,” during which he donned a blindfold and posed on his knees with his hands above his head like a prisoner of war, to U.S. troops serving in the Middle East.nHits and heart made up the centerpiece of Monday”s show, although the early songs were plagued by uneven sound.nThe volume was low for opening act Institute considering the recently formed rock quartet features former Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. The group updated 1990s grunge rock, which included a few reworked Bush singles.nU2, on the other hand, was almost too loud at times.nN/As 17,000 people clapped with arms raised high, Bono emerged at the front of the wide stage circle that extended out into the crowd, showered in confetti for “City of Blinding Lights.” During the second song, “Vertigo,” also from their most recent, Grammy-nominated album “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” the audience sang along with enthusiasm matched only by a chorus of screaming kids at a punk show.nThat spirit carried through “Elevation,” “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For,” and “Beautiful Day.”n”Gloria,” from 1981”s “October” and “Beautiful Day” suffered the most. Quiet moments were crisp, but as the band ascended into a booming chorus fuzz began to overcome them.nLuckily the problem was alleviated as Bono grabbed an acoustic guitar and Edge moved to keyboard for “Original of the Species.”n”For the last 10 years of my father”s life, every time we”d have a conversation he”d start it with `Would you just take off those stupid fly shades, please?” ” Bono said, removing his trademark sunglasses while introducing “Sometimes You Can”t Make it on Your Own.”n”Love and Peace or Else” began with Bono and Larry Mullen Jr. perched at the end of the circle. The funk-soul cry to end war was the first in a chilling plea for peace and tolerance. The word “Co-Exist” was scrawled across Bono”s bandana, and projected on the lights behind the group during “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” 20 years old but still resonant.n”Miss Sarajevo” was followed by “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “Where the Streets Have No Name.” The combo, along with “One,” capped off a moving, politically charged set.n’, ‘December 12, 2005 – Charlotte, North Carolina, USA – New Charlotte Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-12-2005-charlotte-north-carolina-usa-new-charlotte-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-13 02:27:42’, ‘2005-12-13 06:27:42’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=112’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(113, 1, ‘2005-12-15 04:00:41’, ‘2005-12-15 08:00:41’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-She Loves You, Elevation, Gloria, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Many Rivers To Cross, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Instant Karma!, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nKanye West joins the tour for the first of his opening night slots, and Bono does a surprise introduction before West takes the stage. West admits to being nervous about opening for U2. During U2”s set, Bono also adds a bit of West”s hit ”Jesus Walks” during Beautiful Day and Sunday Bloody Sunday. But many in the crowd boo later in the show when Bono thanks West for opening tonight”s show. U2 calls a fan on stage to play piano during Yahweh. The fan struggles a bit with the end of the song, but gets some vocal direction from Bono and hands-on help from The Edge and brings it to a nice close.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSt. Louis Post-DispatchnU2/Kanye West Sing From Heartnby Kevin C. JohnsonnThe Rolling Stones may be offering a bigger bang, but U2 remains the biggest band in the land. It”s also the most important – and, possibly, the most self-important.nN/All of this was evident Wednesday night at Savvis Center, where the long-running Irish band – Bono (vocals), the Edge (guitar), Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums) – performed its blowout of a show in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 18,000. Some fans began lining up outside Savvis the night before the concert to ensure a spot in the pit in front of the stage.nOpening for the band was one of the few artists who can match U2 in the self-importance category, Kanye West. Thankfully, in the case of both of these passionate artists, their music is potent enough that we”re willing to indulge most anything.nN/A surprise appearance from Bono at the top of the evening kicked things off, as he introduced West in typically overblown, though not necessarily inaccurate, fashion. The controversial West, one of Grammy”s top dogs when nominations were announced last week, nicely lacked a posse, dancers and other often unnecessary rap-concert conventions, keeping the focus squarely on himself as he performed songs from his “The College Dropout” and “Late Registration” CDs.nFlanked by a DJ and an all-female string section that sometimes overshadowed his vocals, West opened with the message-laden “Diamonds From Sierra Leone.” “The New Workout Plan,” “Touch the Sky” and “Heard ”Em Say” were among the early songs in his set. “Slow Jamz,” “All Falls Down,” “Through the Wire” and, of course, “Jesus Walks” and “Gold Digger” finished out an entertaining set.nWest”s performance was his first on U2”s seemingly never-ending “Vertigo” tour. But when a tour is the year”s biggest grosser, bringing in $260 million from 90 sell-out concerts, why end it?nFrom the opening moment of “City of Blinding Lights,” amid a confetti shower, it was clear the band was out to thrill, and it”s a testament to U2 that it”s still able to deliver at this level. Though any real fan is familiar with the U2 live set, either through a past tour or the new concert DVD, the performance never felt stale or repetitive. Even the heavy proselytizing, both political and religious, was presented in ways that made it tolerable.nBono and the boys still know how to put on a heck of a show – visually, vocally and musically – and at this point can probably mount a tour in their sleep. They remain amazingly on top of their game live, even without benefit of gigantic lemons. The show felt stripped down from past road treks, which sometimes leaped over the top from a production perspective.nU2 offered such staples as “Pride (in the Name of Love),” “Mysterious Ways” and “Where the Streets Have No Name,” songs the band can never – and should not – escape. Some songs came in pairs: “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For” with “In a Little While,” “Beautiful Day” with “Many Rivers to Cross” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” with “Rock the Casbah.” Future staples were worked in nicely, with the band performing “Love and Peace or Else,” “Sometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own” and “Yahweh” from last year”s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” another Grammy favorite.nThe two-hour show ended with band members exiting the stage one by one after John Lennon”s “Instant Karma” (newly added to the set in honor of the recent 25th anniversary of his death), “Yahweh” and “40.” And fans left feeling better for the experience.n’, ‘December 14, 2005 – St. Louis, Missouri, USA – Savvis Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-14-2005-st-louis-missouri-usa-savvis-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-15 04:00:41’, ‘2005-12-15 08:00:41’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=113’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(114, 1, ‘2005-12-17 01:23:50’, ‘2005-12-17 05:23:50’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-She Loves You, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-All I Want Is You. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Crumbs From Your Table, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nU2 perform in Nebraska for the first time ever. With no club dates in Omaha from 25 years ago to talk about, Bono instead chants ”Oh, Nebraska” early in the show. Bono sings a bit of ”Jesus Walks” during Vertigo.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nOmaha World-HeraldnU2 rocks Omaha with atomic forcenby Niz Proskocil, Omaha World-HeraldnWith passion and precision, U2 delivered an exhilarating concert that transcended entertainment.nDuring the Irish rock band”s sold-out performance Thursday night at the Qwest Center Omaha, the arena took on the reverence of a worship service and, at times, the urgency of a human-rights rally.nBefore a crowd of more than 16,000 fans, the band used its music to convey compassion, hope, tolerance and spirituality during a jubilant two hour and 20-minute performance.nThe veteran rockers stopped in Omaha as part of the third leg of the band”s “Vertigo” tour, which has grossed $260 million and was recently named the year”s top-grossing tour by Billboard magazine.nThe concert started with a 40-minute set from confident, charismatic rapper-producer Kanye West.nN/Accompanied by an all-female, six-piece string section, a harpist and a turntablist, West delivered an entertaining set of songs from his latest album, “Late Registration,” and his Grammy-winning debut, 2004”s “The College Dropout.”nN/About 9:25 p.m., U2 took the stage as confetti rained from the rafters. The band opened with “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo” from its latest album, 2004”s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.”nThe opening numbers, and the rest of the set, for that matter, generated deafening cheers, enormous applause and lots of crowd participation.n”I don”t know why we don”t come down to these parts more often,” Bono told to the crowd. “Thank you for giving us a great life.”nThough the Omaha show was the band”s third-to-last concert of a North American tour that began in March, band members showed no signs of wear.nFrontman Bono commanded the stage with his powerful lyrics and rock-star charisma. Guitarist the Edge laid down one searing riff after another. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton provided solid, muscular rhythms.nThe show was a visually stunning production with retractable curtains of beaded lights that flashed images during certain songs. Other cool elements included the “ellipse,” an oval-shaped ramp that served as a catwalk for band members and enclosed several hundred lucky fans on the arena floor.nThe set list featured a nice mix of old and new songs. For old-school fans, there were classics like “I Will Follow” from 1980. Newer cuts included “Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own,” which Bono dedicated to his late father, Bob Hewson.nHe dedicated “Original of the Species” to Omahan Susie Buffett, who serves on the board of his DATA organization (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa).nN/An outspoken political and social activist, during the opening notes of “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” Bono exclaimed: “This is your song now, America.”nDuring the chills-inducing performance, he pulled a young girl on stage with him to help him chant “No more!” over and over again. He also told the audience that “we must not become a monster in order to defeat a monster.”nThe band then launched into an explosive version of “Bullet the Blue Sky,” in which Bono pulled a white bandanna with the words “coexist” over his eyes, fell to his knees and put his hands over his head like a prisoner of war.nBefore the anthem “One,” Bono asked crowd members to hold up their cell phones, which lit the arena with thousands of blue-tinted screens. He encouraged fans to join his ONE Campaign to combat AIDS and end poverty.nN/After a short break, the band returned for two encores. Among the highlights of the first encore was “With or Without You.” Bono plucked a young woman from the crowd, then danced with and embraced her onstage throughout the song.nU2 proved that the band hasn”t lost its ability to take fans on an awe-inspiring, musical journey.nCopyright © 2005 Omaha World-Herald. All rights reserved.n’, ‘December 15, 2005 – Omaha, Nebraska, USA – Qwest Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-15-2005-omaha-nebraska-usa-qwest-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-17 01:23:50’, ‘2005-12-17 05:23:50’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=114’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(115, 1, ‘2005-12-18 02:38:43’, ‘2005-12-18 06:38:43’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)-Norwegian Wood, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nDuring Beautiful Day, Bono brings a girl on stage who”s wearing a Santa Claus suit and sings bits of a couple Christmas songs. Norwegian Wood is performed by Bono alone on an acoustic guitar.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSalt Lake TribunenU2”s bombast and subtlety rock Delta Center Crowdnby Dan Nailen, Salt Lake TribunenIt sometimes seems that as long as U2 keeps touring, the state of rock music can”t be too bad.nSaturday at the Delta Center, the long-running Irish quartet delivered the kind of inspirational, life-affirming set that only feels routine in this band”s hands. Touching on all eras of its career, U2”s energetic performance was only surprising in that it came at the end of nearly a year straight of touring in support of the band”s “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” album.nOpening with “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo,” both from that album, U2 set the stage for an intense evening as glaring lights filled the venue with color and giant video screens projected the band”s images to the far reaches of the upper deck.nBono was in a frisky mood from the start, racing around an oval ramp on the Delta Center floor, pulling a “beautiful Santa” on stage from the crowd during “Beautiful Day” and boasting a bit after singing the praises of opening act Kanye West as a “great American voice.”n”We”re just a young band,” Bono announced in an interlude between “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For” and a verse of “In a Little While.” “We”re still getting started. We”re still hungry.”nU2 paid tribute to its influences several times, particularly The Beatles. “Vertigo” ended with a snippet of “She Loves You,” while Bono picked up an acoustic guitar for “Norwegian Wood.” “Beautiful Day” ended with a chorus of John Lennon”s “Happy Christmas (War is Over).”nThe band”s newest songs came to vivid life in the hands of guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr., much more enthralling than their recorded versions. “Original of the Species” was an epic ballad, while “Sometimes You Can”t Make It on Your Own” was a poignant dedication to Bono”s father.n”Sunday Bloody Sunday” turned into a benediction of sorts, with Bono saying the song, originally about the civil war in Ireland, now belongs to America.n”Co-exist,” Bono intoned, pulling a small child on stage. “Co-exist. A beautiful, simple thought that”s getting harder and harder to hold on to.”nThe remainder of the show alternated between moments of power and bombast and moments of subtle intensity. An explosive “Bullet in the Blue Sky” made way for the gentler “Miss Sarajevo.” The churning “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” led to the stunning close, “One.”nN/Among the encore songs that left the audience spent and satisfied were “Mysterious Ways,” “Until the End of the World” and “With or Without You.”nCopyright © 2005 Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved.n’, ‘December 17, 2005 – Salt Lake City, Utah, USA – Delta Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-17-2005-salt-lake-city-utah-usa-delta-center’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-18 02:38:43’, ‘2005-12-18 06:38:43’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=115’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(116, 1, ‘2005-12-20 17:48:14’, ‘2005-12-20 21:48:14’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Happy Christmas, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One, Help, Instant Karma!. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nN/At the final Vertigo concert of the year, fans greet the band with a display of red glowsticks as the show starts, and displays of THANK YOU signs during Elevation and One. Bono is surprised by the gesture (before Elevation he says ”No, thank you!” and then asks The Edge and Adam how to say ”thank you” in Gaelic). During several songs, Bono thanks members of the crew by name. He sprays champagne on the crowd at one point, and mentions ”going home” many times. In between the 1st and 2nd encores, the entire crew stands around the ellipse, wearing single-letter t-shirts that spell out THE U2 CREW WOULD LIKE TO THANK EDGE BONO LARRY AND ADAM FOR A GREAT 2005.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe OregoniannRelevance rockets from U2”s inspiring spectacle of a shownBono – If the music wasn”t quite stellar, at least the band walks its talk magnificentlynby MARTY HUGHLEYnYou have to wonder how Bill and Melinda Gates celebrated.nOn the day the Seattle billionaire philanthropists made the cover of Time magazine as “Persons of the Year” for 2005, the fellow who shared that honor with them — some Irish guy with a made-up name and a big mouth — sang for joy.nN/And for hope, for pain, for yearning, for truth, for struggle, for unity, for kindness and justice, peace and love.nBono, honored for his activism on issues of global poverty and health, sang with his band U2 on Monday night at the Rose Garden arena, and together they put the lie to something once said by an earlier Time honoree, 1958 “Man of the Year” Charles de Gaulle: “Nothing enhances authority better than silence.”nThe former French president”s maxim might hold true for politicians, but not for rock stars. Never mind for the moment how rare it is to be able to speak of rock stars with moral authority; Bono and his indispensable cohorts, bassist Adam Clayton, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and guitarist the Edge, enhanced theirs with more than two hours of glorious noise.nIt is possible, perhaps likely, that this wasn”t the band at its finest. In the early part of the set, on songs such as the stirring opener “City of Blinding Lights,” “Elevation” and the classic “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For,” Bono”s voice lacked the flexibility to find the notes comfortably. “Vertigo,” for one song, lacked the sort of forward thrust that makes the album version such a pure rock rush, and as great as the band sounded most of the time, it didn”t seem to find that elusive high gear that inspired veterans can reach on the right night.nN/And yet, that hardly mattered. Whether or not this was one of the best shows ever to hit the Rose Garden, it surely was among the most inspiring.nN/After all, it can”t be easy to come out night after night in front of thousands of expectant fans and be not simply entertaining but majestic.nThe 21st-century superstar concert experience is, of course, partly about performance. But $160 tickets become justifiable with the addition of two things: spectacle and meaning.nU2 delivered spectacle with lighting effects that were dazzling yet never overdone, employing circles of tracer lights along the borders of the elliptical stage set, a half-dozen shuttlecock-like chandeliers, and huge, retractable curtains of golf-ball-sized reflective beads. Still, many of the show”s most powerful moments came with nothing but plain white light, when the ringing guitar architecture of, say, “Pride (in the Name of Love)” dovetailed with the years of personal associations fans have with the song. Often, the crowd nearly took over the songs, singing refrains loudly, passionately, beautifully.nIt may seem cliched to speak of chills and goosebumps, but they were everywhere in this show. The stark opening to “I Will Follow” still sounds, after 25 years, like a clarion call to the spirit, the first flowering of a genius for motif and tone that Edge has continued to cultivate. And Bono telling the crowd, “America! This is your song now!” as the band launched into “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” then tucking “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” into the middle of “Bullet the Blue Sky,” moved me to tears.nWar and peace are longtime components of the U2 dynamic, and Bono bolstered one side of that equation by evoking the spirit of John Lennon repeatedly, adding bits of “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” to a couple of tunes and leading a wonderfully raw cover of “Instant Karma.” Perhaps more than any other rock band, though, U2 has taken its peace-and-love ideals beyond sloganeering, and into not just the streets, with grass-roots organizing by the anti-poverty One Campaign, but into the corridors of world power.nN/And Monday night”s show was a wonderful celebration of all of that.nMarty Hughley: 503-221-8383; [email protected]Images:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery35]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego01-thumb-90×120-3886.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery35]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego02-thumb-120×90-3888.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery35]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego03-thumb-120×90-3890.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery35]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego04-thumb-120×80-3892.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery35]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego05-thumb-120×80-3894.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery35]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego06-thumb-120×90-3896.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery35]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/121905_portland_orego07-thumb-120×90-3898.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by © Catzy; © greg; © David Klatt; © gavin jensenn’, ‘December 19, 2005 – Portland, Oregon, USA – Rose Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-19-2005-portland-oregon-usa-rose-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2005-12-20 17:48:14’, ‘2005-12-20 21:48:14’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=116’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
INSERT INTO `wpposts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(117, 1, ‘2006-02-13 03:53:13’, ‘2006-02-13 07:53:13’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Secret MachinesnSetlist:nVertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, Beautiful Day-She”s A Rainbow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, City Of Blinding Lights, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Bad-Cielito Lindo, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Yahweh, Vertigo.nRemarks:nU2 opens the 4th leg of its Vertigo Tour in Monterrey, the band”s first show in Mexico since 1997. At the start of I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Bono apologizes for being gone so long. Beautiful Day includes a bit of the Rolling Stones” ”She”s A Rainbow.” Bad ends with Bono singing a bit of a traditional Mexican song. Before the show, police seize counterfeit merchandise outside the stadum, leading to a confrontation with merchants. One officer shoots his gun into the air to maintain control of the situation.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021206_monterrey_mexico/monterrey021206_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021206_monterrey_mexico/monterrey021206_1-thumb-120×81-1798.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”monterrey021206_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021206_monterrey_mexico/monterrey021206_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021206_monterrey_mexico/monterrey021206_2-thumb-80×120-1800.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”monterrey021206_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021206_monterrey_mexico/monterrey021206_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021206_monterrey_mexico/monterrey021206_3-thumb-120×110-1802.jpg” width=”120″ height=”110″ alt=”monterrey021206_3.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Juan Manuel Villasenor (AP).n’, ‘February 12, 2006 – Monterrey, Mexico – Estadio Tecnológico’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘february-12-2006-monterrey-mexico-estadio-tecnologico’, ”, ”, ‘2006-02-13 03:53:13’, ‘2006-02-13 07:53:13’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=117’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(118, 1, ‘2006-02-16 04:17:50’, ‘2006-02-16 08:17:50’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Secret MachinesnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Mysterious Ways, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Cielito Lindo, Norwegian Wood, Original Of The Species, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky-The Hands That Build America-When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Unchained Melody. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nU2 performs in the vast Azteca Stadium, but plays a setlist that looks like one from the indoor Vertigo tours. City Of Blinding Lights opens a stadium show for the first time. New Year”s Day makes its first appearance since Lisbon last August. The flags of Mexico and Latin American countries appear on screen during ”Streets.”nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_1.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_1-thumb-120×81-1804.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”mexicocity021506_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_2.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_2-thumb-120×81-1806.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”mexicocity021506_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_3.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_3-thumb-106×120-1808.jpg” width=”106″ height=”120″ alt=”mexicocity021506_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_4.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_4-thumb-120×87-1810.jpg” width=”120″ height=”87″ alt=”mexicocity021506_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_5.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_5-thumb-120×73-1812.jpg” width=”120″ height=”73″ alt=”mexicocity021506_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_6.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_6-thumb-120×72-1814.jpg” width=”120″ height=”72″ alt=”mexicocity021506_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_7.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_7-thumb-120×85-1816.jpg” width=”120″ height=”85″ alt=”mexicocity021506_7.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_8.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_8-thumb-84×120-1818.jpg” width=”84″ height=”120″ alt=”mexicocity021506_8.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_9.jpg”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/021506_mexico_city_mexico/mexicocity021506_9-thumb-120×89-1820.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”mexicocity021506_9.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Eduardo Verdugo (AP) and Andrew Winning (Reuters).n’, ‘February 15, 2006 – Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio Azteca’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘february-15-2006-mexico-city-mexico-estadio-azteca’, ”, ”, ‘2006-02-16 04:17:50’, ‘2006-02-16 08:17:50’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=118’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(119, 1, ‘2006-02-17 01:22:22’, ‘2006-02-17 05:22:22’, ‘Opening Act(s): The Secret MachinesnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Cielito Lindo, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Fast Cars, Original Of The Species, 40.nRemarks:nU2 continues to mix up the setlist with several songs moving to different parts of the show tonight. Bono sings a bit of ”She Loves You” at the end of Vertigo, and again addresses the huge crowd in Spanish throughout the night. The second encore opens with Fast Cars, which Bono tells the crowd is a ”brand new song.”n’, ‘February 16, 2006 – Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio Azteca’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘february-16-2006-mexico-city-mexico-estadio-azteca’, ”, ”, ‘2006-02-17 01:22:22’, ‘2006-02-17 05:22:22’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=119’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 1),
(120, 1, ‘2006-02-22 13:24:49’, ‘2006-02-22 17:24:49’, ‘Opening Act(s): Franz FerdinandnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Norwegian Wood, Original Of The Species, 40.nRemarks:nIt”s U2”s first show in South America since 1998, and the concert airs on Brazilian TV. Bono drops in snippets of other sings throughout the show, including a bit of ”Jean Genie” before The Fly and some of ”Satisfaction” at the end of the same song. A female fan enjoys an intimate dance with Bono during Mysterious Ways and With Or Without You. Bono thanks Brazil”s president and promotes the country”s Zero Hunger campaign at the start of 40.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_1-thumb-120×88-1822.jpg” width=”120″ height=”88″ alt=”saopaulo022006_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_2-thumb-75×120-1824.jpg” width=”75″ height=”120″ alt=”saopaulo022006_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_3-thumb-120×85-1826.jpg” width=”120″ height=”85″ alt=”saopaulo022006_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_4-thumb-120×80-1828.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”saopaulo022006_4.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_5.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_5-thumb-90×120-1830.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”saopaulo022006_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_6.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_6-thumb-120×80-1832.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”saopaulo022006_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/022006_sao_paulo_brazil/saopaulo022006_7-thumb-120×107-1834.jpg” width=”120″ height=”107″ alt=”saopaulo022006_7.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Victor R. Caivano (AP) and Rickey Rogers (Reuters).n’, ‘February 20, 2006 – São Paulo, Brazil – Estádio Cícero Pompeu De Toledo (Morumbi)’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘february-20-2006-sao-paulo-brazil-estadio-cicero-pompeu-de-toledo-morumbi’, ”, ”, ‘2006-02-22 13:24:49’, ‘2006-02-22 17:24:49’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=120’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 4),
(121, 1, ‘2006-02-22 13:27:13’, ‘2006-02-22 17:27:13’, ‘Opening Act(s): Franz FerdinandnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, The First Time (acoustic), Desire, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Yahweh, All I Want Is You-Love Rescue Me.nRemarks:nMore changes to the setlist tonight, as Desire makes its Vertigo Tour debut with just Bono and The Edge performing the song. The First Times makes its first appearance since New York in November. All I Want Is You gets its first full performance since October, and Bono adds a bit of ”Love Rescue Me” on the end. Earlier in the show, Bono namechecks Quincy Jones and Brazil”s culture minister, Gilberto Gil. Both are at the show.n’, ‘February 21, 2006 – São Paulo, Brazil – Estádio Cícero Pompeu De Toledo (Morumbi)’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘february-21-2006-sao-paulo-brazil-estadio-cicero-pompeu-de-toledo-morumbi’, ”, ”, ‘2006-02-22 13:27:13’, ‘2006-02-22 17:27:13’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=121’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 9),
(122, 1, ‘2006-02-27 23:04:56’, ‘2006-02-28 03:04:56’, ‘Opening Act(s): Franz FerdinandnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, The First Time (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Mothers Of The Disappeared (acoustic), Yahweh, All I Want Is You.nRemarks:nEarly in the day, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos gives Bono a traditional Chilean instrument called a Charango. Shortly before the show, Bono visits with relatives of political dissidents who disappeared during the rule of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. That all comes together during tonight”s concert when Bono and The Edge (playing the Charango) perform Mothers Of The Disappeared for the first time since U2”s last show in Chile in 1998. Bono toasts ”the new Chile” with champagne at the end of the show. Lagos and President-elect Michelle Bachellet are in attendance.n’, ‘February 26, 2006 – Santiago De Chile, Chile – Estadio Nacional’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘february-26-2006-santiago-de-chile-chile-estadio-nacional’, ”, ”, ‘2006-02-27 23:04:56’, ‘2006-02-28 03:04:56’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=122’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 7),
(123, 1, ‘2006-03-02 03:31:08’, ‘2006-03-02 07:31:08’, ‘Opening Act(s): Franz FerdinandnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, The First Time (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Fast Cars, Yahweh, All I Want Is You, Love Is Blindness.nRemarks:nU2 return to Argentina for the first time in 8 years. Tonight”s show is filmed with 8 high-definition 3D camera rigs for an expected IMAX film release. Before Elevation, Bono takes a piece of paper from a fan, makes a paper airplane, and throws it to the crowd. Some in the crowd follow suit, making and throwing paper airplanes. The show ends with a big surprise, as Love Is Blindness is played for the first time since the end of the Zoo TV tour in December 1993.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_1.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_1-thumb-120×81-1836.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”buenosaires030106_1.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_2.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_2-thumb-120×99-1838.jpg” width=”120″ height=”99″ alt=”buenosaires030106_2.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_3.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_3-thumb-120×75-1840.jpg” width=”120″ height=”75″ alt=”buenosaires030106_3.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_4.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

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“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_5-thumb-120×83-1844.jpg” width=”120″ height=”83″ alt=”buenosaires030106_5.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_6.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_6-thumb-98×120-1846.jpg” width=”98″ height=”120″ alt=”buenosaires030106_6.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_7.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_7-thumb-120×89-1848.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”buenosaires030106_7.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_8.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_8-thumb-120×80-1850.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”buenosaires030106_8.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_9.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_4th_leg_-_latin_america/030106_buenos_aires_argentina/buenosaires030106_9-thumb-120×73-1852.jpg” width=”120″ height=”73″ alt=”buenosaires030106_9.jpg”/></a>n</div>nPhotos by Natacha Pisarenko (AP) and Marcos Brindicci (Reuters).n’, ‘March 1, 2006 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Estadio River Plate’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘march-1-2006-buenos-aires-argentina-estadio-river-plate’, ”, ”, ‘2006-03-02 03:31:08’, ‘2006-03-02 07:31:08’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=123’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 2),
(124, 1, ‘2006-03-03 01:56:44’, ‘2006-03-03 05:56:44’, ‘Opening Act(s): Franz FerdinandnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, The First Time (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Mothers Of The Disappeared, Original Of The Species, All I Want Is You.nRemarks:nWith five members of the Mothers of the Plaza De Mayo at tonight”s show, Mothers Of The Disappeared makes an appearance in the setlist. Bono also acknowledges them at the end of Miss Sarajevo. Like last night, tonight”s show is filmed with high-definition 3D camera rigs for an expected IMAX film release. The show is also broadcast live on Argentina radio 107.9. Bono sings a bit of ”Rock The Casbah” during Sunday Bloody Sunday, and a bit of ”Satisfaction” during The Fly.n’, ‘March 2, 2006 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Estadio River Plate’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘march-2-2006-buenos-aires-argentina-estadio-river-plate’, ”, ”, ‘2006-03-03 01:56:44’, ‘2006-03-03 05:56:44’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=124’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 15),
(125, 1, ‘2006-11-08 17:58:18’, ‘2006-11-08 21:58:18’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, Yahweh, Walk On, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Angel Of Harlem, Kite.nRemarks:nU2 launches the 5th leg of its Vertigo Tour, which had been delayed since the spring (this show was originally scheduled on March 21, 2006). It”s the first time U2 has played in Australia since February 1998. Since the Elevation Tour never reached these shores, U2 adds ”Walk On” and ”Kite” into the setlist as a taste of what fans missed in 2001. Kite features a guest appearance by Tim Moriarty on didgeridoo. The 2nd encore opens with a cover of ”The Saints Are Coming.” Several familiar elements remain in the show, including snippets of ”Johnny Comes Marching Home” and ”The Hands That Built America” during ”Bullet.” During the show, Bono pays tribute to The Go-Betweens co-founder Grant McLennan, who died earlier this year.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe AustraliannCity sees blinding light as U2 better late than evernby Iain SheddennDRESSED in black, shrouded in white light, Bono made his late, dramatic entrance on to an Australian stage last night.nEntering to the sounds of Arcade Fire”s song Wake Up, Bono emerged from a ramp in the middle of the audience at Queensland”s Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane and led U2 into their first song on Australian soil for eight years, City of Blinding Light.nCovering every metre of the massive stage, Bono then inspired a 50,000-strong singalong of the group”s hit Vertigo before once again disappearing into the audience.nIt was the start of a well-received two-hour performance by the Irish superstars that included a parade of hits spanning their entire career, including Elevation, Until the End of the World and New Year”s Day.nEight months after it was first scheduled, U2 finally got the Australian leg of its Vertigo world tour under way.nThe crowd heard Bono and his three colleagues – The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen – power through a catalogue of hits including Pride (In the Name of Love), Where the Streets Have No Name and Beautiful Day.nThe group was backed by a 25m-high wall of light and an assortment of screens beaming images of the band to all points of the vast arena. U2 have spent the past week in Australia, relaxing on the Gold Coast and rehearsing at the Brisbane venue for their first band shows since March.nBefore the show, the four members were given a send-off by fans at their Gold Coast hotel with Bono kissing babies and the rest of the band signing autographs, some of them on female fans” Melbourne Cup day frocks.nThe band then flew by helicopter from the Gold Coast to the venue. Tickets for last night”s show were snapped up in less than a day when they went on sale last year.nHowever, the tour, scheduled for March, was postponed due to an illness in the family of guitarist The Edge.nLast night”s show was also the biggest in Brisbane since U2 last played on their Popmart tour in February 1998 and the Elton John-Billy Joel show the following month. Bono said before the show that U2 wanted to give Australian audiences something that hadn”t been seen anywhere else on the tour, to make amends for the postponement of the dates and for the fact that they hadn”t played in Australia for eight years.nEarlier in the evening, American hip-hop superstar Kanye West opened the show and entertained with a dance-heavy set that included his hits Touch The Sky and Gold Digger.n’, ‘November 7, 2006 – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia – Queensland Sport And Athletics Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-7-2006-brisbane-queensland-australia-queensland-sport-and-athletics-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-08 17:58:18’, ‘2006-11-08 21:58:18’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=125’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(126, 1, ‘2006-11-11 14:59:11’, ‘2006-11-11 18:59:11’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Here Comes The Sun, Yahweh, Walk On, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You-Love Will Tear Us Apart, The Saints Are Coming, Angel Of Harlem, Kite.nRemarks:nIt rains during the early part of the show, prompting Bono to reference the weather from the stage and sing a bit of ”Here Comes The Sun” when it finally stops. A female fan is brought on stage during ”With Or Without You.” ”Kite” closes the show, and as in Brisbane, is performed with Tim Moriarty on stage playing a didgeridoo. At the end of the song, Bono releases a kite into the sky.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/111006_sydney_australia/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/111006_sydney_australia/01-thumb-120×90-3900.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by © anthonyn’, ‘November 10, 2006 – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia – Telstra Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-10-2006-sydney-new-south-wales-australia-telstra-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-11 14:59:11’, ‘2006-11-11 18:59:11’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=126’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(127, 1, ‘2006-11-12 15:01:07’, ‘2006-11-12 19:01:07’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Blackbird, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You-Love Will Tear Us Apart, The Saints Are Coming, Desire, Kite.nRemarks:nBono extends several songs with extra song snippets tonight. ”Stuck In A Moment” is played in its full electric form for the first time since December 2, 2001 (all earlier Vertigo Tour versions were acoustic). Desire receives its first pre-planned full electric Vertigo Tour performance (its previous appearance on February 21, 2006 was unplanned and occurred in response to a fan”s request).n’, ‘November 11, 2006 – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia – Telstra Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-11-2006-sydney-new-south-wales-australia-telstra-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-12 15:01:07’, ‘2006-11-12 19:01:07’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=127’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(128, 1, ‘2006-11-14 05:05:04’, ‘2006-11-14 09:05:04’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Angel Of Harlem, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Party Girl, Kite.nRemarks:nI Will Follow returns to the Vertigo setlist for the first time since being dropped after the fourth leg”s first show in Monterrey. Party Girl is played for the first time since November 2005 and is very ramshackle due to a lack of rehearsal. The band rehearse it before its next appearance six days later in Melbourne (and at that concert, Bono claimed this performance took place in Adelaide).n’, ‘November 13, 2006 – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia – Telstra Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-13-2006-sydney-new-south-wales-australia-telstra-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-14 05:05:04’, ‘2006-11-14 09:05:04’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=128’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(129, 1, ‘2006-11-17 19:11:27’, ‘2006-11-17 23:11:27’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Here Comes The Sun, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Angel Of Harlem, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Desire, Kite.nRemarks:nU2 plays Adelaide exactly 13 years to the day since their last concert here. Bono sings a bit of ”Singing In The Rain” during ”The Fly” for reasons unknown (it wasn”t raining), and he brings a female fan on stage during ”With Or Without You.”n’, ‘November 16, 2006 – Adelaide, South Australia, Australia – AAMI Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-16-2006-adelaide-south-australia-australia-aami-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-17 19:11:27’, ‘2006-11-17 23:11:27’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=129’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(130, 1, ‘2006-11-18 19:13:58’, ‘2006-11-18 23:13:58’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestrnSetlist:rnCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Here Comes The Sun, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Angel Of Harlem, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You-Love Will Tear Us Apart, The Saints Are Coming, Desire, Kite.’, ‘November 18, 2006 – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – Telstra Dome’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-18-2006-melbourne-victoria-australia-telstra-dome’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-20 02:25:05’, ‘2010-06-20 06:25:05’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=130’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
INSERT INTO `wpposts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(1367, 1, ‘2005-10-23 03:05:15’, ‘2005-10-23 07:05:15’, ‘Opening Act(s): Damian MarleynSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co.-Send In The Clowns, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Happy Birthday, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Party Girl, With Or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40.nRemarks:nBono brings two young boys on stage for Sunday Bloody Sunday. One is dedicated to former Treasury Secretary Paul O”Neill, who went to Africa with Bono on a 10-day trip in 2002. O”Neill is at the concert tonight. Bono brings a male guitarist on stage and sprays champagne over the crowd during Party Girl.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nPittsburgh Post-GazettenU2 brings powerful music and message to Mellon Arenanby Ed Masley, Pittsburgh Post-GazettenU2 lead singer Bono, at center, acknowledges fans during their sold-out concert last night at Mellon Arena.nLong before he”d sprayed the crowd down front with the foam from a bottle of champagne during a spirited encore performance of “Party Girl,” with an audience member joining The Edge on acoustic guitar, it was clear that Bono had come to Mellon Arena last night in the mood to celebrate.nThis is the year of U2”s Hall of Fame induction after all, not to mention the 25th anniversary of “Boy,” the band”s debut.nBut Bono was clearly more thrilled at the thought of the quarter of a million Africans he said were still alive this year because of U.S. aid, more thrilled that 2 million people and counting have joined the ranks of “One,” a Bono-led campaign “to make poverty history.” By 2008, he said, those numbers should grow to 5 million. “And that”s bigger than the NRA, ladies and gentlemen,” he announced with a grin.nThroughout the concert, he offset impassioned performances of U2”s greatest hits and new material with a message of hope while advancing a social agenda based in human rights and bringing an end to not just poverty but war. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was scrolled across the giant screen above the stage at the end of a moving rendition of “Miss Sarajevo,” in which he asked “Is there a time for human rights? Is this the time?” And in the most dramatic gesture of the night, after singing a line of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again” in the middle of “Bullet The Blue Sky,” he dropped to his knees, arms raised above his head, a blindfold covering his eyes.nIt”s rare to see a pop star work so hard at advancing a social agenda in the context of a big arena show. Not even Springsteen goes to these extremes. But it made for a natural fit with the music — at times on an obvious level (an electrifying “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and an anthemic “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” in particular).nThey dug as deep as “I Will Follow,” which sounded as fresh as ever, and blew the dust off “The Electric Co.,” going on to touch on many of the early songs that still in many ways define their legacy — “With Or Without You,” “I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For,” “Where The Streets Have No Name.”nBut this was not an oldies show. They set the stage with two songs from their latest album — “City of Blinding Lights” and “Vertigo” — and a third from their previous effort, “Elevation.” And even after “I Will Follow,” it didn”t hurt the show”s momentum any when they kept coming back to those two latest albums. In fact, if anything, they spawned a number of the concert”s highlights, from an anthemic “Beautiful Day” and a stripped-down, soulful performance of at least one critic”s pick for U2”s finest hour, “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of,” to such lesser-known treasures as “Miracle Drug” and “Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own,” which Bono sent to his dad in a moving elegy.nThat speech about his dad was merely one of several very human moments in a huge arena show. And that human connection more than likely has as much to do with all those bodies they keep packing into the Mellon Arena as all the millions they sold of “The Joshua Tree.”nCopyright © 2005 Post-Gazette. All rights reserved.n Webmaster”s Review:nI Get The PicturenBy Jonathan Wayne — nOne minute past nine o”clock, I fumble for my digital camera and frantically look around me in a momentary state of vertigo. I gaze 10 o”clock and see the extraterrestrial, Edge, hovering around on the left corner of the stage, picking the beginning of that fantastic opening song called City of Blinding Lights, but I don”t see Bono. The next moment, red light comes streaming down from the roof and all of these other directions, like from a UFO, crisscrossing right into my face. I”m standing in the photo pit at a U2 Vertigo concert in Pittsburgh, PA, on a chilly and rainy October evening, awaiting for the show to start. Suddenly, I see a short figure dressed in black standing literally right in front of me (or maybe its 30 seconds later), and there I am trying to keep my digital camera from not magnetically wobbling in my hands. Streams of confetti are floating down from the dome-shaped roof onto my face and Bono has his head turned skyward, 47 inches from where I am standing. I look around me trying to get my bearings, hesitant in taking the first of hundreds of pictures. A couple of photojournalists scurry past me and I try to keep my sign in one place. I am the only person with a photo pass who actually has a ticket to the concert this evening. I even bring a slightly vain sign I”ve made that I am hoping to hold up in my brief stay in the photo pit next to the stage, but my first instinct is to snap that picture. SNAP.nThose first few moments when Bono magically materializes on the walkway like some alien and stands like a statue right in front of me is a moment suspended in time. FREEZE.nIt was freezing though. The rain and wind lashed out all morning, afternoon and evening. Of course, how would I know? I was only waiting in the General Admission line for 3 hours. I met a diehard fan from Philadelphia who was waiting since 2:30am, camped out on the sidewalk. Sixteen hours before the concert, he sent me a text message saying he was the 16th in line and it was pouring rain. About 15 minutes later, I headed to bed. The young man paid triple the face value of a GA (General Admission) concert ticket and bought bus fare on Greyhound to come to the show from Philadelphia. He was just one of many dedicated U2 fans who travelled from other cities to see the band play another show. Some people who had tickets to the show viewed it as just another rock concert, some people waited a few months or years for the show, and some waited their whole lives to see U2 in person. One of those latter fans who never saw U2 managed to log onto Ebay and bought a pair of tickets (the seats were literally right along the roof high above, on the opposite side of the stage). He brought along a friend who wasn”t really a U2 fan. His dream was to hear Where the Streets Have No Name live. About 20 minutes before U2 took the stage, I called him up on my cellphone to tell him I obtained a photo pass and got into the “bomb shelter”. I waved my orange sign (rolled up) to see if he could spot me, and he did. A few minutes earlier, as I entered the photo pit with half a dozen other photographers, the diehard fan from Philly called out my name from the outside edge of the ellipse (or the bomb shelter). He wasn”t one of those lucky fans who were randomly selected to enter the ellipse, but he probably had the best view on the floor, as he stood in the very first row. I flashed my sign and smiled and pointed to that photo pass sticker I stuck on my tshirt (we had talked for a good half-hour earlier that afternoon whilst waiting in line about hoping to obtain that pass). So he got what he wanted, a great spot on the floor, the guy up on the roof got what he wanted, his first U2 concert, and I got what I wanted, that elusive photo pass. Now we all just wanted the show to begin.nTwo nights later, I”m still thinking about that blur of a concert. That opportunity to see the band up real close. The chance to make the most out of a 2 hour event. I”ve read a lot of reviews on this Vertigo tour from high profile critics from various newspapers and media sources, some praising Bono”s humanitarian efforts, while others bashing his attempt to politicize an otherwise musical event. Tonight in Pittsburgh, U2 were not on autopilot though, coming off of some big shows in New York City, DC and Philly, playing with the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Mary J. Blige.nRecalling the last time U2 played in Pittsburgh (during the Elevation tour in 2001), from my observations, I”d like to say Bono and the band appeared relaxed on stage. That trend continued tonight. Bono invited a young man to play Party Girl on stage with the entire band and then celebrated the fact that it was a Saturday night, by popping open an expensive bottle of champagne. Bono and the Edge even signed autographs for a fan in the audience, proclaiming that “we haven”t done this before”. Four years ago, when I was at the concert, Bono took a bottle of bubbles from a female fan in the audience and blew some bubbles in the final song in their encore. Whether it was suds from champagne or bottled bubbles, U2 have had a history of being in party-mode in Pittsburgh.nTearing through a searing version of Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bono brought two young boys on stage to help in singing “no more” (as related in that song, no more war, strife, hunger and bloodshed). A magical moment appeared when Bono asked everyone to display their cellphones to create a surreal type of milky way galaxy, all in support of the One campaign, where later on in the show, callers” names appeared on a giant screen.nThe night didn”t go flawlessly however, as Bono apparently had to repeat some lyrics in Stuck in a Moment (You Can”t Get Out Of). In addition, at least compared to their Elevation show in Pittsburgh, Bono didn”t display that youthful energy he”s been known to have, specifically running around the catwalk, posing in front of screens (a la the Fly, which was missing from the setlist) and doing some more Achtung antics (Bono and Edge”s bull and matador moments from the Elevation tour were a lone memory in the mind). However, after playing over 80 concerts on this tour and tirelessly touring the world, I don”t blame Bono for being worn out. Only one song from their classic album, Achtung Baby, was performed, appropriately named One. Missing were many 90”s songs, but then again, U2 have mixed up their setlists throughout the tour, incorporating such staples as Mysterious Ways, Until the End of the World, The Fly, Zoo Station and most recently, The First Time (played tonight) on the Vertigo tour.nTonight, the one real highlight was Miss Sarajevo, a song originally performed in 1995 with Luciano Pavarotti for a special concert in Modena, Italy, to raise money for Bosnian children war victims (later that year, the band performed it live in a special War Child-supported concert in Sarajevo in front of 50,000 fans). Illuminated in blue light, Bono uplifted the Arena in his operatic voice. Though the song didn”t carry as much emotional or meaningful weight in tonight”s show, it was still a vastly underappreciated song in the rock n” roll canon. U2 both educated and enlightened the audience with this soaring tune, in which he asked “Is there a time for human rights? Is this the time?”.nIn Bullet the Blue Sky, Bono dropped to his knees with a blindfold and bandanna on (with Islamic, Jewish and Christian symbols), pleading for us all to co-exist, no matter which religion you were.nPerhaps there is nobody out there, not even Springsteen, who works this hard at a rock concert to promote social awareness, centering on African poverty and human rights. Four years ago, U2 played a controversial video on the NRA, Charlton Heston and gun control at their Elevation show, but this time around the band”s political messages were more well-received (perhaps the difference being last time U2 were in Pittsburgh, 9/11 hadn”t occurred yet and the United States weren”t fighting insurgents in Iraq). Of course, there are those national critics out there who openly bash Bono for overextending his political campaign activism in a musical setting. In contrast, the cliche titles of “shaman” and “spokesman” have been used endless times in more positive U2 concert reviews. At least to me, personally, Bono is almost a separate entity from U2 itself. Yet, amazingly, when Bono and U2”s ever-changing musical and lyrical themes all come together live, something otherworldly occurs. Audience members are pulled into the power that U2 generates, the Edge”s futuristic sonic guitar booms reverberate through human flesh and as witnessed on October 22, 2005, an arena of thousands of people all pull out their cellphones, display it like single stars in space and transmit their names through the atmosphere to satellites high in celestial orbit. Then like magic, minutes later, their names come back to Earth and like one of many marquees in Times Square, come flashing across a single screen. Instances of names like these that come to mind from other events are notably the 2002 Superbowl Halftime Show with the names of the victims of 9/11 rolling like credits up a massive monolith of a screen. Tonight in Pittsburgh, however, these were not names of remembrance, but names all actively seeking to revitalize life itself, to help humanity, to change the world. Even if Bono ultimately cannot singlehandedly save the world from poverty and AIDS and even if his concerts and legions of diehard fans (who camp out all night to see the band) cannot save the world, concerts like the one witnessed in Pittsburgh (one that has no true meaning in the bigger scope of the world, one that is just “another show”, or one that is the big event of the weekend in a small city), reaffirmed one”s faith in the love of music, in the love of rock n” roll and in the name of love.nN/And so, right after I get out of my momentary freeze as I watch Bono tower over me from the photo pit, I hear the booming bass of Adam Clayton”s, the barrage of drums from Larry Mullen and the Edge”s hailstorm of guitar riffing. I swing around and come back to my senses and realize I have three songs (and probably 10-15 minutes) to snap my shots before security ejects me out of the bomb shelter and I”m back on the GA floor again. But snap away I do though, and as the house lights come back on, and fans slowly exit the arena after that blur of a concert takes place, I jump over a barrier and sit down for a moment with my Argentinian buddy and watch the crew members quickly take apart the whole scene, faster than they put it together. It”s off to another city, another state, another world, for a band to ride the crest of their momentum and spread their messages and music to more souls in their encounters. I get their music. I get their message. I get the picture.nJonathan WaynenOctober 25, 2005nCopyright © 2005 U2 Station.com. All rights reserved.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/102205_pittsburgh_pennsylvania/DSC07882%20copy.JPG” rel=”lightbox[gallery96]

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“><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_3rd_leg_-_north_america/102205_pittsburgh_pennsylvania/DSC08015%20copy-thumb-120×90-3884.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”DSC08015 copy.JPG”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by Jonathan Wayne/n’, ‘October 22, 2005 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA – Mellon Arena’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ’86-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2005-10-23 03:05:15’, ‘2005-10-23 07:05:15’, ”, 86, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1367’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(131, 1, ‘2006-11-20 19:16:19’, ‘2006-11-20 23:16:19’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestrnSetlist:rnCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Beds Are Burning, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Angel Of Harlem, The First Time, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Unchained Melody. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Party Girl, Kite, Bad-40.’, ‘November 19, 2006 – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – Telstra Dome’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-19-2006-melbourne-victoria-australia-telstra-dome’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-20 02:22:49’, ‘2010-06-20 06:22:49’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=131’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(1366, 1, ‘2006-11-18 19:13:58’, ‘2006-11-18 23:13:58’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Here Comes The Sun, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Angel Of Harlem, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You-Love Will Tear Us Apart, The Saints Are Coming, Desire, Kite.nRemarks:nBefore the show, U2 are heard rehearsing ”One Tree Hill”, but the song isn”t played tonight. It”s likely to be played during the upcoming shows in New Zealand. With several extra video cameras in action, its believed tonight”s show is being filmed. Bono brings a young boy on stage to sing during ”Sunday Bloody Sunday,” as he”s been doing at most recent shows. Nearly 200 fans are stranded outside the stadium because their tickets couldn”t be scanned for entry.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe AgenWorld”s greatest band explodesnby John MangannIN 1993 they gave us multimedia TV at the MCG, in 1998 it was a cosmic lemon at Glen Waverley. Last night at Telstra Dome, U2, the biggest band in the world, dazzled Melbourne with a passionate, pulsating set and surely the biggest, brightest venetian blinds the world has ever seen.n”Victoria, Garden State … let”s go to St Kilda tonight,” said Bono from the stadium”s Coventry End, and 60,000 cheered their agreement.nThen it was down to love, justice, God and all those other vivid yet frustratingly evanescent subjects that U2 insist on singing about.nTributes abounded, to Michael Hutchence, the Clash”s Joe Strummer, and Australian film-maker Richard Lowenstein.nBono dedicated Sunday, Bloody Sunday to the victims of the Bali bombing, saying: “You don”t have to become a monster in order to defeat a monster.” A young boy named Aidan was lifted from the crowd and sang along with the Time magazine Man of the Year.nBono emerged wrapped in an Australian flag bringing the crowd to its feet with City of Blinding Lights. The singer began a long night covering every inch of the broad stage, The Edge made his guitar wail, and Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen jnr kept the rhythm rock solid. It was the first of a clutch of songs from the recent album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.nPride (In the Name of Love) shook the Docklands, while in Miss Sarajevo he displayed his vocal versatility, singing the part originally performed by Luciano Pavarotti. With the help of show designer Willie Williams, the band demonstrated its own brand of shock and awe with a spectacular translucent video wall.nN/Aboriginal dot painting, a bandana featuring a crescent, a cross and a Star of David and a sea of mobile phones completed the picture.nSoaring emotions are the name of U2”s game, despite the sunglasses that Bono keeps as a barrier between himself and us.nYet even they came off for Sometimes You Can”t Make it on Your Own, a searing song dedicated to the singer”s late father, Bob.nKanye West, a huge contemporary act in his own right, had earlier impressively entertained with tracks including Gold Digger, but the crowd was only ever concerned about the main act.nJust another night in the office for the Dublin foursome?nMaybe, but exposing yourself emotionally in front of 60,000 punters, even friendly ones, still deserves a round of applause.n(c) The Age, 2006.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/111806_melbourne_australia/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/111806_melbourne_australia/01-thumb-120×82-3902.jpg” width=”120″ height=”82″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by the Herald Sunn’, ‘November 18, 2006 – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – Telstra Dome’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘130-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-18 19:13:58’, ‘2006-11-18 23:13:58’, ”, 130, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1366’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(132, 1, ‘2006-11-25 04:13:55’, ‘2006-11-25 08:13:55’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestrnSetlist:rnCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Here Comes The Sun, One Tree Hill, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own-One Tree Hill, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Angel Of Harlem, Kite.’, ‘November 24, 2006 – Auckland, New Zealand – Mt Smart Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-24-2006-auckland-new-zealand-mt-smart-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-20 02:19:46’, ‘2010-06-20 06:19:46’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=132’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(1364, 1, ‘2010-06-20 02:20:53’, ‘2010-06-20 06:20:53’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Here Comes The Sun, One Tree Hill, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own-One Tree Hill, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Angel Of Harlem, Kite.’, ‘November 24, 2006 – Auckland, New Zealand – Mt Smart Stadium’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘132-autosave’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-20 02:20:53’, ‘2010-06-20 06:20:53’, ”, 132, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1364’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(1365, 1, ‘2006-11-20 19:16:19’, ‘2006-11-20 23:16:19’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-Beds Are Burning, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Angel Of Harlem, The First Time, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One-Unchained Melody. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Party Girl, Kite, Bad-40.nRemarks:nMidnight Oil”s Peter Garrett is at the show, and Bono sings a bit of ”Beds Are Burning” in his honor. Technical problems plague The Edge during Beautiful Day and continue into Angel Of Harlem, but the crew fixes things during an acoustic version of The First Time. Tim Moriarty makes his final guest appearance playing the didgeridoo during Kite. Bad seems like an unplanned addition to the show. At the end, Adam and The Edge both say goodbye to Australia, but The Edge exclaims: “Thank you Sydney!” As some fans boo his mistake, The Edge quickly corrects himself, giving thanks to fans in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/111906_melbourne_australia/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/111906_melbourne_australia/01-thumb-120×90-3904.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by Gavin Jensenn’, ‘November 19, 2006 – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia – Telstra Dome’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘131-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-20 19:16:19’, ‘2006-11-20 23:16:19’, ”, 131, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1365’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(133, 1, ‘2006-11-26 20:00:37’, ‘2006-11-27 00:00:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestrnSetlist:rnCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Angel Of Harlem, Walk On (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Bad, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Desire, One Tree Hill.’, ‘November 25, 2006 – Auckland, New Zealand – Mt Smart Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-25-2006-auckland-new-zealand-mt-smart-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-20 02:19:22’, ‘2010-06-20 06:19:22’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=133’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(1363, 1, ‘2006-11-25 04:13:55’, ‘2006-11-25 08:13:55’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Here Comes The Sun, One Tree Hill, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own-One Tree Hill, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Angel Of Harlem, Kite.nRemarks:nU2 perform in New Zealand for the first time since the Zoo TV tour in 1993. In honor of former tour crew member and New Zealander Greg Carroll, they play a full-band version of One Tree Hill for the first time since 1990. Bono talks about attending Carroll”s funeral in 1986 after the song, and relates it to his father”s funeral in 2001 as a prelude to Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nNew Zealand HeraldnU2, Kanye West, at Mt Smart Stadiumnby Russell Baillie, New Zealand HeraldnThey might have not played here for 13 years, postponed for another 8 months and then got delayed coming on stage because of the rain which cleared on cue (thanks to the man upstairs, possibly).nBut U2 more than made up for their tardiness with a riveting, affecting and boldly passionate show before the first of two sold-out Mt Smart stadium crowds.nIt was one which neatly binded the songs of their 21st century albums to their breakthrough days of the 80s, leaving their often confusing, intervening decade largely untouched. That worked a treat, whether it was leaping back in time to early single I Will Follow or causing happy pandemonium – complete with a visual message about the plight of Africa – during The Streets Have No Name.nIt was a show to remind that whatever you think of Bono and his campaigning ways, the man sure can sing – among the night”s most affecting highlights was his ode to his late father Bob, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own. While later in Miss Sarajevo he easily ascended the original”s Pavarotti bit.nN/And he and band figured out some canny ways of connecting to their NZ fans. There were rewritten lines in Beautiful Day referencing the long of the long white cloud and aroha. That was followed by One Tree Hill with a tribute to late Kiwi U2 crew member Greg Carroll who inspired what is still a grand song, while the light show glowed with koru patterns. And one of the other lyrics songs that Bono magpied into U2”s lyrics was Four Seasons in One Day, though there were snatches of the Beatles, the Clash and others throughout.nN/Also sampling up a storm was opening act hip-hop megastar Kanye West who did his best in his early set battling against the elements and a certain lack of projection into the arena. But he departed grateful, saying it had been the warmest welcome he had got on his U2 excursion Down Under.nThe U2 set did hit its own damp patch mid set with Bono”s bit of blindfolded political street theatre out on the extended ramps in the aftermath Bullet the Blue Sky. But the performance soon regained an energy which sustained and inspired all the way through to the encores.nFor the most part, it was a performance that managed to do the impossible of a stadium show – marry real emotional punch to extravagant gesture.nBrilliant.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/112406_auckland_new_zealand/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/112406_auckland_new_zealand/01-thumb-92×120-3906.jpg” width=”92″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by New Zealand Heraldn’, ‘November 24, 2006 – Auckland, New Zealand – Mt Smart Stadium’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘132-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-25 04:13:55’, ‘2006-11-25 08:13:55’, ”, 132, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1363’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(134, 1, ‘2006-11-30 07:42:15’, ‘2006-11-30 11:42:15’, ‘Setlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo-She Loves You, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Window In The Skies, Walk On (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Bad-40, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Angel Of Harlem, One Tree Hill.nRemarks:nThis is U2”s first concert in Japan since March 1998. Window In The Skies makes its live debut. Love And Peace Or Else is dropped for the second straight show. There is no opening band for any of the shows in Japan.n’, ‘November 29, 2006 – Tokyo, Japan – Saitama Super Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-29-2006-tokyo-japan-saitama-super-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-30 07:42:15’, ‘2006-11-30 11:42:15’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=134’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(135, 1, ‘2006-12-01 07:43:42’, ‘2006-12-01 11:43:42’, ‘Setlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until the End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Angel Of Harlem, The First Time (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, One Tree Hill, Sunday Bloody Sunday-Rock The Casbah, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Window In The Skies, Desire, All I Want Is You.nRemarks:nThis is one of three shows scheduled to make up for the postponed show that was planned to take place on April 4, 2006 at Yokohama”s Nissan Stadium. This is the only show on the fifth leg of the Vertigo Tour that does not feature a cover of ”The Saints Are Coming” in the setlist.n’, ‘November 30, 2006 – Tokyo, Japan – Saitama Super Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘november-30-2006-tokyo-japan-saitama-super-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2006-12-01 07:43:42’, ‘2006-12-01 11:43:42’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=135’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(136, 1, ‘2006-12-06 17:49:09’, ‘2006-12-06 21:49:09’, ‘Setlist:rnCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Out Of Control, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Angel Of Harlem, The First Time, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Bad, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Window In The Skies, Vertigo.rnRemarks:rnOut Of Control is played for the first time on Vertigo”s fifth leg of the tour (and its also the first time in 13 months its performed).’, ‘December 4, 2006 – Tokyo, Japan – Saitama Super Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-4-2006-tokyo-japan-saitama-super-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-20 02:18:39’, ‘2010-06-20 06:18:39’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=136’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(1362, 1, ‘2006-11-26 20:00:37’, ‘2006-11-27 00:00:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): Kanye WestnSetlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Until The End Of The World, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Blackbird, Angel Of Harlem, Walk On (acoustic), Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Bad, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Desire, One Tree Hill.nRemarks:nLove And Peace Or Else is dropped for tonight”s show (being the first time since the start of the Vertigo Tour in early 2005 that the song isn”t performed). Bono dedicates One Tree Hill to the family of Greg Carroll, who are at the show tonight.nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/112506_auckland_new_zealand/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/112506_auckland_new_zealand/01-thumb-120×90-3908.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by Olivern’, ‘November 25, 2006 – Auckland, New Zealand – Mt Smart Stadium’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘133-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2006-11-26 20:00:37’, ‘2006-11-27 00:00:37’, ”, 133, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1362’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(137, 1, ‘2006-12-11 15:24:57’, ‘2006-12-11 19:24:57’, ‘Opening Act(s): Rocko and the Devils, Pearl JamrnSetlist:rnCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day-Sgt. Pepper”s Lonely Hearts Club Band-Blackbird, Angel Of Harlem, Who”s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, The First Time, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, Window In The Skies, The Saints Are Coming, Rockin” In The Free World, All I Want Is You.’, ‘December 9, 2006 – Honolulu, Hawaii, USA – Aloha Stadium’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘closed’, ”, ‘december-9-2006-honolulu-hawaii-usa-aloha-stadium’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-20 02:18:07’, ‘2010-06-20 06:18:07’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=137’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
INSERT INTO `wpposts` (`ID`, `post_author`, `post_date`, `post_date_gmt`, `post_content`, `post_title`, `post_excerpt`, `post_status`, `comment_status`, `ping_status`, `post_password`, `post_name`, `to_ping`, `pinged`, `post_modified`, `post_modified_gmt`, `post_content_filtered`, `post_parent`, `guid`, `menu_order`, `post_type`, `post_mime_type`, `comment_count`) VALUES
(1361, 1, ‘2006-12-06 17:49:09’, ‘2006-12-06 21:49:09’, ‘Setlist:nCity Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, Out Of Control, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For-In A Little While, Beautiful Day, Angel Of Harlem, The First Time, Sometimes You Can”t Make It On Your Own, Bad, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet The Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, One. Encore(s): The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With Or Without You, The Saints Are Coming, Window In The Skies, Vertigo.nRemarks:nOut Of Control is played for the first time on Vertigo”s fifth leg of the tour (and its also the first time in 13 months its performed).nn<!–more–>nImages:n<a href=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/120406_tokyo_japa01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/vertigo_-_5th_leg_-_pacifica/120406_tokyo_japa01-thumb-120×90-3910.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All photos by Clayn’, ‘December 4, 2006 – Tokyo, Japan – Saitama Super Arena’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘136-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2006-12-06 17:49:09’, ‘2006-12-06 21:49:09’, ”, 136, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1361’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0),
(138, 1, ‘2001-03-24 07:54:22’, ‘2001-03-24 11:54:22’, ‘Opening Act(s): The CorrsnSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Discotheque, Staring At The Sun, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSouth Florida Sun-SentinelnN/After a tumble, Bono is ”All That”nby Sean PiccolinSUNRISE — The most anticipated rock tour of 2001 opened Saturday night with an unplanned scare: Bono, lead singer of the Irish rock band U2, fell from a head-high catwalk onto the floor of the National Car Rental Center three songs into the first night”s show. Witnesses said the singer lay stunned-looking and motionless for several seconds, with the house lights inside the building briefly darkened, before rising to his feet and climbing back onstage to resume singing a number called Until the End of the World.nBono”s tumble caused those who saw it a fright but, remarkably, did little to interrupt opening night. U2 went on to deliver an emphatic, big-hearted two-hour set anchored by a new album, All That You Can”t Leave Behind and full of anthemic songs from throughout a celebrated 20-year recording career.nN/A sellout crowd approaching 20,000 saw a black-clad Bono, guitarist The Edge, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton make a no-frills entrance shortly after 9 p .m. The house lights were up and stayed up for the first verses of the dance-rocking opener, Elevation. Spectators sang along from the first note. The group followed with the Grammy-winning single, Beautiful Day, projecting all of that song”s lofty empathy to an audience bathed in flashes of airport-runway lighting.nUntil the End of the World barely registered the mishap with Bono, which occurred halfway through the song. The Edge churned out waves of guitar, propelled along by the punctual interplay of Mullen and Clayton, in a performance that went seamlessly despite what could have been a ruinous injury to the singer.nNew Year”s Day, with Edge playing the baleful piano lines, came as an early surprise in the set, considering its importance in the U2 canon. But the band was not saving its best, most momentous or fan-admired songs for last. Numbers such as I Will Follow and Sunday Bloody Sunday, gems from the band”s early days, mingled comfortably with material from All That and 1997”s Pop.nThe staging of “Elevation 2001” was necessarily downscaled from the massive outdoor stadium tableau that comprised the 1997 “Popmart” tour. A minimal lighting scheme used the crowd as a canvas, sending laser-printed patterns of shadow and light across lower and upper sections and giving the whole spectacle a kind of warm, enclosing feel not present in the “Popmart” colossus. As with the new album, the new tour appears designed to make the band seem more approachable, from the twin catwalks that curled well out into a festival-seating floor to the generous inclusion of the songs that fans love best. Stuck in a Moment That You Can”t Get Out Of was typical of the evening”s inclusive vibe, a genial R&B-styled number that urged listeners to live well and encouraged the audience to sing along. All That may not be U2”s strongest album, but the accompanying tour might well be an occasion for U2 to restore some sense of proportion to its act and let people close enough to see that even rock stars are human enough to stumble now and then.nSean Piccoli can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4832.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/01-thumb-91×120-1854.jpg” width=”91″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/02-thumb-75×120-1856.jpg” width=”75″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/03-thumb-79×120-1858.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/04-thumb-120×79-1860.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/05-thumb-120×77-1862.jpg” width=”120″ height=”77″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/13-thumb-120×90-1878.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”13.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/14.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/15-thumb-120×90-1882.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”15.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/16.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/16-thumb-76×120-1884.jpg” width=”76″ height=”120″ alt=”16.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/17.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/17-thumb-120×96-1886.jpg” width=”120″ height=”96″ alt=”17.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/18.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/18-thumb-80×120-1888.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”18.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/19.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/20-thumb-120×80-1892.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”20.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/21.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/21-thumb-120×90-1894.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”21.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/22.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/22-thumb-120×90-1896.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”22.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/23.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/23-thumb-120×90-1898.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”23.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/24.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery23]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_24_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/24-thumb-120×90-1900.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”24.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Yahoo! Inc., and Reuters Limited; © U2.com; © Martin; © Andrew Macpherson; © Kevin Mazur.n’, ‘March 24, 2001 – Sunrise, Florida, USA – National Car Rental Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘march-24-2001-sunrise-florida-usa-national-car-rental-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-03-24 07:54:22’, ‘2001-03-24 11:54:22’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=138’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(139, 1, ‘2001-03-26 09:12:28’, ‘2001-03-26 13:12:28’, ‘Opening Act(s): The CorrsnSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Discothèque, Staring At The Sun, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, New York, New Year”s Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Angel Of Harlem, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nRemarks:nN/Angel of Harlem, not having been played since December 10, 1993, is performed by only Bono and The Edge. Bono misses the lyrics so badly that he apologizes to the crowd at the end of the song. Bono recites verses from Psalm 116 during the intro to ”Streets.”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nU2.comnU2 Elevate It A Little Higher Stillnby U2.comnU2”s second show of their fifty date North American leg of Elevation 2001, raised the temperature higher still.n”What surprised me most was the emotional level of the show, said Show Designer and Director Willie Williams. “I expected it to be high but both the first two shows exceeded anything I”ve seen before at a U2 show.”nThis from a man who has been to 638 U2 shows. Kicking off again with Elevation, house lights up, audience amazed, the band stormed into Beautiful Day and End of the World before switching from the previous night”s set and performing Discotheque.nN/As that rolled into Staring At The Sun, the entire 19,000 capacity crowd seemed to be singing along and the temperature was rising.n”This is hot here, if you”re Irish,” said Bono. “You have sunshine 365 days a year when we have it only 36 days, that”s why the melancholy. It”s all that rain, which sometimes turns to blue and to black.”n”Sometimes,” he continued, “You have to write a song like this for a mate of yours that slips away into the black. This is for Michael Hutchence.”nStuck In A Moment gave way to New York and New Year”s Day; Sunday Bloody Sunday (Did Bono introduce it by saying, “For the first time, a new song”?) led to The Sweetest Thing and In A Little While (“For my wife Ali who”s here with a baby in her belly”).nThe band came centre stage and to the tip of the heart for their introductions, just in case there remained any doubt at this late stage. Larry (“Mullen Not So Jr, but he still looks like it.”), Adam (“Sporting the camouflagges and just-back-from-Pakistan look and very much the same as when I first met him at sixteen.”) and Edge (“Even his mother calls him The Edge, “Good morning The Edge, how would you like your cornflakes this morning?”) had no time to introduce their singer who was reading a note passed to him from a fan.n”Dear Bono, I love Larry!”nEdge and Bono then broke into an acoustic version of Angel of Harlem, during which it appeared Bono forgot his lyrics, finishing the song with the words, “Angel Try Harder.”nNo need at all, Miami was in U2”s gift for a second succesive night.n”I wondered if I should be more careful in implementing the visuals,” said Willie Williams, “Because we are clearly dealing with emotional plutonium here.”nWilliams, who was thanked from the stage by Bono – along with Mark Fisher and Catherine Owens – for their work in designing the show, said that he felt he had succeeded in creating a situation which “facilitated communication between band and audience.”n”I”ve been aiming to intrigue with the visual content but not distract from the music, so what we are doing this time is a lot more atmospheric and discreet than with previous tours. Much of the time all I have to do is get out of the way.”nOne point where Williams and Owens do not keep out of the way came at the end of the first part of the show, after Bono had departed into the crowd during The Fly – and before the band returned for the encore. In the gap, a short but extraordinary video was aired on a pair of huge screens in which Charlton Heston, champion of the American gun lobby, was shown explaining that “a gun is only bad in the hands of a bad person”.nN/As the chilling video piece finished, a small child, of perhaps three or four, picked a gun out of a bag in her hallway like a toy….. and the opening bars of Bullet The Blue Sky burst out of the monitors.n”Thank you South Florida,” said Bono after the final song Walk On, “It”s a great place to start, hope we can go on from here.”nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/01-thumb-120×90-1903.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/02-thumb-120×90-1905.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/03-thumb-90×120-1907.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/04-thumb-90×120-1909.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/05-thumb-110×120-1911.jpg” width=”110″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/06-thumb-120×106-1913.jpg” width=”120″ height=”106″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/07-thumb-120×113-1915.jpg” width=”120″ height=”113″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/08-thumb-71×120-1917.jpg” width=”71″ height=”120″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/09-thumb-85×120-1919.jpg” width=”85″ height=”120″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/10-thumb-87×120-1921.jpg” width=”87″ height=”120″ alt=”10.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/11.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery22]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_26_2001_-_sunrise_florida_usa_-_national_car_rental_center/11-thumb-104×120-1923.jpg” width=”104″ height=”120″ alt=”11.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © U2.com; © Martinn’, ‘March 26, 2001 – Sunrise, Florida, USA – National Car Rental Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘march-26-2001-sunrise-florida-usa-national-car-rental-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-03-26 09:12:28’, ‘2001-03-26 13:12:28’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=139’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(140, 1, ‘2001-03-29 09:24:58’, ‘2001-03-29 13:24:58’, ‘Opening Act(s): Nelly FurtadonSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Staring At The Sun, New York, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nRemarks:nU2”s flight to Charlotte is delayed by rainy and icy weather. The band apparently arrives at the Coliseum shortly before showtime, and goes on to play a shortened set compared to the first two nights in Miami.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nCharlotte ObservernU2 Goes Back To Basics In Heart-Shaped Shownby the Observer staffnThe house lights blazed mercilessly as Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton simply walked on stage to the opening chords of “Elevation.” No pyrotechnics. No dazzling light displays.nIt was just the boys and the music.nN/After confusing hardcore fans with “PopMart” and “ZooTV” tour excesses, U2 returned to its roots Thursday at a sold-out Charlotte Coliseum. Gone were the giant mirror-ball lemons and cars hovering over the stage. The 19,705 fans – ranging from kids to Baby Boomers – that stayed on their feet for nearly two hours, didn”t brave a dreary night for those gimmicks. They came for the songs.nU2 opened the show with “Elevation,” off the latest album, the Grammy-award winning “All That You Can”t Leave Behind.” The song built slowly with Bono”s vocals barely a murmur, and it built steadily with Edge”s shrieking guitar and Mullen”s crashing drums driving the crowd into a jumping fit. U2 maintained the momentum with “Beautiful Day,” the first single off the new album.nThen the band from Ireland took a nostalgic tour of past albums. They performed popular anthems, “With or Without You,” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “Bad” – one of the strongest songs of the night.nThe show also had quiet, tender moments. On “Sweetest Thing,” Bono played the keyboards and sang during a rare time when he wasn”t running around the stage. At one point he looked at Edge and flashed a satisfied smile. The U2 that fans had discovered in the late ”70s and endured through the challenging ”90s was back.n”Thank you very much for coming out in the rain,” Bono said tentatively. “We”ve been through a lot over the years and you”ve put up with it. Thank you.”nBono also introduced the band, something he rarely does. It wasn”t that the band needed any introductions, but it gave the audience a chance to express its love for the individual members.nN/A giant heart catwalk enveloped the stage with fans standing in the center and outside of the heart. Six video screens flashed images of the show, typically showing each of the band members on a separate screen. Although there were no pyrotechnics, standard effects in concerts these days, there were plenty of light displays that beamed geometric shapes and star maps onto the audience and sheer curtains.nBono rarely stayed on the main stage. He prowled the catwalk, wailing, sprinting, strutting and dancing. On the first few songs, he kept striking a crazy Spiderman-like pose, crouching low to the ground and sticking one leg out. Or he held one leg in the air like a flickted Karate Kid about to kick someone. The fans didn”t seem to mind. They were just glad to see the band, which hasn”t played here since 1992.nN/And once again, U2 showed why it”s one of the few bands whose longevity and musicianship have made it a cultural force. For more than 20 years, the group has consistently taken fans on a musical exploration of spirituality and politics. The mid-90s saw the band experimenting with techno dance music. The new album surprised critics with its broad appeal that earned it three Grammys in a music market wallowing in pop and angry rock. And concerts are spectacles; music videos brought to life.n”All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” is a somber album about preparing for death, but the tour burns with life – the simple life.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery61]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/01-thumb-120×77-1925.jpg” width=”120″ height=”77″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery61]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/06-thumb-120×77-1935.jpg” width=”120″ height=”77″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery61]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/07-thumb-120×90-1937.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery61]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/08-thumb-120×90-1939.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery61]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_29_2001_-_charlotte_north_carolina_usa_-_charlotte_coliseum/09-thumb-120×90-1941.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Charlotte Observer.n’, ‘March 29, 2001 – Charlotte, North Carolina, USA – Charlotte Coliseum’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘march-29-2001-charlotte-north-carolina-usa-charlotte-coliseum’, ”, ”, ‘2001-03-29 09:24:58’, ‘2001-03-29 13:24:58’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=140’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(141, 1, ‘2001-03-30 09:36:12’, ‘2001-03-30 13:36:12’, ‘Opening Act(s): Nelly FurtadonSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Discothèque, Staring At The Sun, New York, Sunday Bloody Sunday, I Will Follow, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One-Losing My Religion-Everybody Hurts, Walk On.nRemarks:nU2 perform snippets of R.E.M.”s ”Losing My Religion” and ”Everybody Hurts” during U2”s ”One”. Members of R.E.M. are in attendance at this show.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nN/Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionnFans Can”t Leave Behind Passion For U2”s Straight-Ahead RocknBy Nick Tate, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff WriternThey”re calling it the Elevation Tour. But U2”s stellar performance Friday night at Philips Arena was more about evolution than elevation, with the veteran Irish rockers making a clean (and welcome) break from the formulaic Vegas-style roadshows they mounted in the 1990s.nN/Among the things Bono and the boys have left behind this time out: the disco-ball gimmickry that overwhelmed 1997”s schlock-rock PopMart tour and the special effects of U2”s over-the-top Zoo TV roadshow. There were no giant lemons or martini glasses on the stage Friday. No distracting Cher-style costume changes. No headache-inducing visual effects.nInstead, Bono and the boys kept it simple, delivering a largely unscripted, stripped-down rock show that put song and spontaneity front and center. From the get-go, it was clear that U2 has turned a page -inadvertently acknowledging its 1990s techno-disco experiments were an unfortunate detour from the political anthems, straight-ahead rockers and from-the-gut ballads that made U2 an ”80s radio staple.nN/After concert opener Nelly Furtado delivered a throbbing set of her genre-bending pop, Bono and his bandmates walked casually onto the stage – with the house lights on – creating an immediate rapport with the Philips crowd. With the opening strains of the up-tempo rocker “Elevation” – from U2”s Grammy-winning 2.2 million-selling new album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind” – the house lights went down, the spotlights came up and the crowd leapt to its feet, where it stayed for the entire two-hour show.nFrom “Can”t Leave,” the band covered a half dozen songs from the new album, including the double-Grammy-winning “Beautiful Day” and “Stuck In a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of,” and delivered retooled versions of such U2 gems as “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “New Year”s Day” and “One,” in which Bono quoted R.E.M.”s “Losing My Religion.”nFrom start to finish, the focus was on the classic U2 mix of Bono”s tortured-banshee wail, Dave “Edge” Evans” cascading guitar lines and the rumbling rhythm section of bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. singalongs.nDespite suffering allergy-related throat problems, Bono – ever the showman – was in fine form, prancing, posing and dancing around a heart-shaped catwalk that extended into the audience. Three songs into the show, he leaned down and kissed a woman in the audience, then stepped off the catwalk into the crowd without missing a beat.nThe concert was one of the most anticipated of the year, with all 18,000-plus tickets (topping out at $132) selling out in minutes and scalpers doing a brisk, profitable business outside the arena before show time. And for all the hype, Bono and the boys didn”t disappoint.nNear the end of the concert-closing new song, “Walk On,” Bono admonished: “All that you can”t leave behind … you”ve got to leave it behind.” It”s a piece of advice the Irish rockers are wisely heeding on their own, as they move beyond the excesses of the 1990s to embrace a new, if familiar, sound.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery6]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/01-thumb-120×80-1943.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery6]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/02-thumb-120×90-1945.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery6]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/03-thumb-120×79-1947.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery6]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/04-thumb-80×120-1949.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery6]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/05-thumb-79×120-1951.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery6]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/06-thumb-120×97-1953.jpg” width=”120″ height=”97″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery6]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/07-thumb-120×79-1955.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery6]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/march_30_2001_-_atlanta_georgia_usa_-_philips_arena/08-thumb-92×120-1957.jpg” width=”92″ height=”120″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Atlanta Journal-Constitution; © U2.com; © Michael Muellern’, ‘March 30, 2001 – Atlanta, Georgia, USA – Philips Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘march-30-2001-atlanta-georgia-usa-philips-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-03-30 09:36:12’, ‘2001-03-30 13:36:12’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=141’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(142, 1, ‘2001-04-02 09:45:53’, ‘2001-04-02 13:45:53’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Discothèque, Staring At The Sun, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nHouston ChroniclenU2, Bono Rise To The Occasion For ”Elevation Tour 2001” Herenby Michael D. Clark,nThere were no skyscraping golden arches or psychedelic lemons bearing human fruit at this U2 show. The vintage car-headlight illumination and super-sized Achtung Baby screens were all left back on planet Zooropa.nIrish supergroup U2”s first tour in four years wasn”t about fly sunglasses or how many people could be wedged into a football stadium to watch lead singer Bono strut to Pop Muzik. This was a rock ”n” roll concert, and it was the sweetest thing.nN/At the opening night of the “Elevation Tour 2001″ on March 24, U2 told its Miami audience that it was reapplying for the job of biggest band in the world. On Monday, the sold-out crowd at Compaq Center offered the group the position.nU2”s latest album, All That You Can”t Leave Behind, is its most energetic, straightforward rock album since The Joshua Tree in 1987. The difference is then they were looking forward. Now, they are looking back and taking fans of all ages with them.nEven the Grammy awards chose the first single from the album, Beautiful Day, as the song and record of the year. For better or worse, U2 is the newest of the “oldies,” trading youth for immortality.nN/All came to see what was promised to be a stripped-down affair compared with the exhausting Vegas stage shows of the ”90s. U2 didn”t disappoint. After a decade of voice manipulations and synthesizer-assisted melodies, U2 is back to where it was at its peak — moving rock ”n” roll forward by exploring its past.nPlaying to their smallest crowds since a few indoor dates in the late ”80s, Bono, The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. spent just over two hours mining their catalog.nFrom the first notes of new song Elevation, this was a different experience than the satellite TVs. On a stage adorned only with a heart-shaped platform maybe 20 yards into the audience, the members simply started playing as if it were a living-room jam.nU2 has the luxury of so many hits that it doesn”t have to save its recent radio success for the encore. Beautiful Day was the second song and the official beginning of the rock. After stomping the main stage in black pants and leather jacket, Bono and Edge began at opposite ends of the heart-shaped arc for Until The End of the World.nBono was pacing a catwalk slowly during Sunday Blood Sunday, a song about the ravages of war in Ireland. He would shake and cry when singing it in the Blood Red Sky days. This rendition was soft-spoken.n”Thanks for hanging around all those years,” Bono said during a break. “We”ve got a lot of friends in Texas and here in Houston.”nStuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, dedicated to Michael Hutchence, the former INXS vocalist who died of accidental strangulation, was one of the most riveting moments. With Bono center stage, he sang with compassion and sympathy. Edge”s rare falsetto accompaniment on the final coda was perfect contrast to Bono”s calm.nHowever, not every gimmick livened up a pyro-free stage. The inhuman techno-beat of Discotheque merging into Staring at the Sun muted the effect of both songs. It was a brief respite, broken by the blaring alarm of Edge”s guitar on the 1980 first single I Will Follow.nMore than 20 songs were played, and the wish list wasn”t nearly fulfilled. Bad was little changed, except instead of yelling the chorus of “wide awake,” Bono whispered it, indicating there shouldn”t be a question. B-side favorite The Sweetest Thing, featuring Bono on keyboards, and soundtrack extra The Ground Beneath Her Feet were interesting curiosities.nIn the end, it was the The Joshua Tree hits that still brought the biggest roar.nSaved as encores, Bullet the Blue Sky still worked as an anti-war protest and With or Without You is the greatest love song that doesn”t necessarily end happily. As good as All That You Can”t Leave Behind is, or anything U2 does after it, Where The Streets Have No Name will be this band”s legacy.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery87]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/01-thumb-84×120-1959.jpg” width=”84″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery87]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/02-thumb-120×88-1961.jpg” width=”120″ height=”88″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery87]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/03-thumb-120×90-1963.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery87]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/04-thumb-120×90-1965.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery87]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/05-thumb-120×90-1967.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery87]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/06-thumb-120×90-1969.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery87]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_2_2001_-_houston_texas_usa_-_compaq_center/07-thumb-120×90-1971.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Houston Chronicle; © U2.com; © Kyle Mardenn’, ‘April 2, 2001 – Houston, Texas, USA – Compaq Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-2-2001-houston-texas-usa-compaq-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-02 09:45:53’, ‘2001-04-02 13:45:53’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=142’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(143, 1, ‘2001-04-03 09:52:13’, ‘2001-04-03 13:52:13’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Discothèque, Staring At The Sun, New York, Sunday Bloody Sunday, I Will Follow, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Desire, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nDallas Morning NewsnPower Outage: Bono Lacks Energy, Drains U2 Concertnby Thor Christensen, The Dallas Morning NewsnU2”s mission on its week-old U.S. tour is crystal clear: Reclaim the title of best band in rock.n”This is our ”Reapplying for the Job Tour,”” Bono said midway through the band”s two-hour show at Reunion Arena.n”Did we get the job?”nUm … we”ll have to get back to you after we interview the other applicants. Coming from a band known for its transcendent concerts, Tuesday”s performance was underwhelming at best.nThe blame goes squarely on the shoulders of Bono, who was singing way below his usual capacity. Though he never complained about being sick, his voice was tired and raspy as he spoke to the capacity crowd between songs, and the results weren”t much better once the band kicked into gear.nHis missed high notes gave “Sweetest Thing” a slightly sour taste. “With or Without You” was a washout. And he shot nothing but blanks in “Bullet the Blue Sky” — his ol” vocal showpiece from The Joshua Tree.nJust as disappointing as his voice was his showmanship. He started off his charismatic self — doing Elvis-like karate kicks and charging the Edge like a bull attacking a toreador.nBut as the show progressed, you could practically see his lights starting to dim. Instead of his usual prowling and leaping and sprinting, he mostly sauntered around the heart-shaped runway that jutted out into the main floor. When he did muster up the energy to dash around the runway, he had to spend the next two minutes lying on his back while singing “Mysterious Ways.”nMusically, the show was a mixed bag as well. New tunes such as “Elevation” and “Beautiful Day” were every bit as tight and potent as sure-fire classics such as “I Will Follow” and “Bad.” And the band”s country-folk overhaul of “Desire” was narcotic.nYet other newly arranged older songs were filled with kinks, such as the toothless versions of “Discotheque,” “Gone” and “Staring at the Sun” — three songs from Pop, the hit-and-miss 1997 CD that caused the Irish quartet to fall off the best-band perch.nU2”s current tour has loads more going for it than its overblown PopMart tour — the spotlight this time is back on the music, not 40-foot-high mirrored lemons and 150-foot-wide video screens. But before it makes good on the promise, U2 needs a few more rehearsals and a re-energized lead singer.nPJ Harvey was the rare opening act actually worth ending your parking-lot drinking early to go see. The English singer might have looked like a Vegas lounge act in her glittery low-cut red dress, but her music didn”t sparkle — it seethed.nRock ”n” roll doesn”t get much more galvanizing than the wrist-slitting blues-punk of “Rid of Me” and “This Is Love.” And the key was Ms. Harvey”s opera-strength howl, which was a big question mark before showtime. Last week the singer was so sick she had to cancel several shows with U2, but Tuesday night she was moaning and caterwauling at 110 percent.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/01-thumb-98×120-1973.jpg” width=”98″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/02-thumb-120×90-1975.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/03-thumb-120×90-1977.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/04-thumb-90×120-1979.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/05-thumb-120×90-1981.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/06-thumb-120×90-1983.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/07-thumb-120×90-1985.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/08-thumb-120×90-1987.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/12-thumb-80×120-1995.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”12.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/13.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/13-thumb-80×120-1997.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”13.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/14.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/14-thumb-79×120-1999.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”14.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/15.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery12]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_3_2001_-_dallas_texas_usa_-_reunion_arena/15-thumb-120×79-2001.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”15.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Dallas Morning News; © U2.com; © Bill Tiede; © Chris Sillsn’, ‘April 3, 2001 – Dallas, Texas, USA – Reunion Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-3-2001-dallas-texas-usa-reunion-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-03 09:52:13’, ‘2001-04-03 13:52:13’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=143’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(144, 1, ‘2001-04-06 10:05:34’, ‘2001-04-06 14:05:34’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Discothèque, Staring At The Sun, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nDenver Rocky Mountain NewsnU2 Delivers No-Nonsense Shownby Michael MehlenWhat”s a U2 concert without a wall of television screens, an evening of costume changes and a heavy dose of irony poking fun at pop culture?nFor starters, refreshing. Add to that commanding. And (though they”d be loath to hear it) a tad nostalgic.nU2 brought its understated Elevation Tour 2001 to the Pepsi Center on Friday and showed a sold-out crowd that less is more if you”ve got the songs to back it up. The show was far from flawless, but that was also part of its charm. This was unrehearsed, unpolished, meat and potatoes (or would that be corned beef and cabbage?) arena rock, a U2 specialty put on the back burner while the band pumped up its act for stadiums.nThe group set the tone early by taking the stage with all the house lights on, blasting into the exuberant Elevation while unsuspecting fans scrambled to their seats.nThe message: If you were waiting for flash and fancy props, you came to the wrong show. Like an investor with a portfolio full of tech stocks, U2 lived large for a few years before realizing that this was a good time to downsize and get back to basics. Cars suspended above the stage as spotlights? Gone. A giant disco ball shaped like a lemon, enormous golden arches and lounge-like alter egos? All gone.nRedemption came Friday in the form of a stripped-down, no-nonsense rock show that kept the crowd on its feet for two hours. The band peppered its concert with two decades worth of hits, uncorked live versions of new songs and got up-close with a crowd that hadn”t seen U2 in an arena in more than a decade.nThe show”s one flourish was a heart-shaped walkway that extended halfway across the arena floor, allowing Bono and The Edge to cavort with a general admission crowd charged just $45 a person to stand on the floor. (Seats on the sides went as high as $135).nDuring Until the End of the World, the two sparred like bull and toreador, Bono with his fingers on top of his head like horns and The Edge slashing at his guitar.nN/At the end of the first set, while the band barreled through The Fly, Bono left the ramp and pushed his way through the crowd and to the back of the arena. But mostly the band stayed closed to the stage and its rhythmic backbone, content to charge through their repertoir minus theatrics.nThe concert”s zenith came 45 minutes into the evening when the band followed its bristling, early ”80s breakthrough, I Will Follow, with its bellwether anthem Sunday Bloody Sunday. If the audience”s attention had wavered a bit before that, U2 had the throng locked in for the duration afterward, following that potent one-two punch with the brilliant B-side, Sweetest Thing.n”That”s the most expensive apology,” Bono explained to the crowd afterward. “That song was written for the missus, having forgotten her birthday.”nOther highlights included the mournful Stuck In a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, a gorgeous mid-tempo ballad dedicated to INXS” late frontman, Michael Hutchence, and punctuated by The Edge”s warm falsetto on backing vocals. Later, U2 raised the roof with another heavyweight combination of Bad and Where The Streets Have No Name.nWhile the concert offered some sublime moments, it also had its share of klunkers. For starters, the band played three songs from Pop, which was at least two too many. Also, in the time that it took for the quartet to plod through the new, tuneless New York, it could have served up at least two of dozens of gems that didn”t make the set list.nN/Also, Bono wasn”t 100 percent. His voice was splendid, but he spent much of the evening sauntering across the stage. Where”s the frontman who sprinted to the top of the towers at Red Rocks? Maybe that”s just the difference between 23 and 40.nBut the band is adamant that their salad days aren”t behind them, and the strength of the new material from All That You Can”t Leave Behind backed them up on Friday. On some stops, Bono has declared this the “Reapplying For the Job Tour.” And the job he”s referring to is that mythical position as the greatest band on earth.nSo, after Friday”s show, do they get the job?nWe won”t waste our time on U2”s egotistical exercise. But we would be happy to invite the band back for a second interview.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_6_2001_-_denver_colorado_usa_-_pepsi_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_6_2001_-_denver_colorado_usa_-_pepsi_center/01-thumb-79×120-2003.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_6_2001_-_denver_colorado_usa_-_pepsi_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_6_2001_-_denver_colorado_usa_-_pepsi_center/02-thumb-95×120-2005.jpg” width=”95″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_6_2001_-_denver_colorado_usa_-_pepsi_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_6_2001_-_denver_colorado_usa_-_pepsi_center/03-thumb-98×120-2007.jpg” width=”98″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_6_2001_-_denver_colorado_usa_-_pepsi_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_6_2001_-_denver_colorado_usa_-_pepsi_center/04-thumb-120×100-2009.jpg” width=”120″ height=”100″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Denver Rocky Mountain News; © Tom Johnsonn’, ‘April 6, 2001 – Denver, Colorado, USA – Pepsi Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-6-2001-denver-colorado-usa-pepsi-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-06 10:05:34’, ‘2001-04-06 14:05:34’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=144’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(145, 1, ‘2001-04-09 10:14:11’, ‘2001-04-09 14:14:11’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Discothèque, Staring At The Sun, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Desire, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly, Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One-40-The Ocean, Walk On.nRemarks:nSegments of “The Ocean” are sung at the end of One (it had been over 18 years since the full song was last performed).nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nCalgary HeraldnU2: The Elevation Tournby Heath Jon McCoynU2”s arrival in Calgary seems like a religious event to their worshipping fansnU2 performed a sold out show Monday at the Saddledome. Attendance about 18,000. A second sold-out performance takes place tonight.nYou”d think it was the second coming of Christ. Actually, it was the first coming of U2, but with all the passion and frenzy this concert has inspired since it was announced last January, mistaking it for a religious event would have been easy.nBono does nothing to discourage such thoughts. Last Friday in Denver, he tweaked the lyrics in the spiritual anthem One, singing “Have you come here to play Jesus? Cause I did.”nSo the Saddledome was kind of a church Monday night, with U2”s particular brand of rock spirituality aiming to save souls, and Bono, 40, relishing the role of fiery gospel preacher.nIt”s a role he played well.nThe house lights were still on when the band casually sauntered on stage. It was a subtle move that caught the crowd off guard and provoked a feverish roar. The stage set up was also subtle, compared to the flashy, conceptual excesses of 1997”s PopMart Tour where in the band, at one point, walked out of a giant disco ball lemon.nThere were no lemons for Calgary. Just a bare-boned stage, surrounded by a giant, heart-shaped ramp which Bono circled throughout the night, a pulpit from which he reached to all corners of the stadium.nIn the middle of the heart were about 300 lucky fans, who lined up all day to take advantage of the show”s general admission policy on the floor so they could be as close to the band as possible.nThey got their wish in spades, able to reach up and touch Bono, as he strutted past them, dressed head-to-toe in black, with his tinted shades and slicked back hair.nThe set-up created a sense of intimacy with the audience that many felt U2 lost in recent years.nThey began their set with the new rocker Elevation before kicking into the bombastic joy and optimism of Beautiful Day, as blinding white lights lit up the stage.nIn one surprise, the band played Until the End of the World, one of the more obscure tracks off 1991”s Achtung Baby.nIt was a great moment with Bono and The Edge demonstrating their powerful chemistry. At one point, the two went head to head, Edge playing a matador to Bono”s snorting bull jagged, razor-sharp notes bringing Bono to his knees, finally knocking him over backwards like lightning from heaven.nMuch to the audience”s glee, the band offered up a good helping of their greatest hits, from I Will Follow to the seething highlight, Bullet the Blue Sky.nBut they also served a number of tunes from the new album. Most of them went over exceptionally well with the crowd singing along.nReports that the Elevation Tour is strictly a back-to-the-basics affair are exaggerated. There are frills.nOn Mysterious Ways, Bono moaned with ecstasy, lying on his back atop a rising pillar. Inside the pillar, was the erotic silhouette of a dancing woman. By the song”s end, Bono pressed himself against the female figure, suggestively. On New York, curtains and lighting created an impressive effect, where the band”s shadows loomed like giants.nThroughout drummer Larry Mullen Jr. proved what a rhythmic powerhouse he is, switching gears from the dance rhythms of Discotheque to the muscular, militaristic march of Sunday Bloody Sunday. Bono re-staked his claim alongside the likes of Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison, as one of rock”s great front men. Like them, he”s an actor, communicating emotion like a young Marlon Brando.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/01-thumb-89×120-2011.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/02-thumb-83×120-2013.jpg” width=”83″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/03-thumb-87×120-2015.jpg” width=”87″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/04-thumb-88×120-2017.jpg” width=”88″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/05-thumb-82×120-2019.jpg” width=”82″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/06-thumb-93×120-2021.jpg” width=”93″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/07-thumb-84×120-2023.jpg” width=”84″ height=”120″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/08-thumb-92×120-2025.jpg” width=”92″ height=”120″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_9_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/09-thumb-120×87-2027.jpg” width=”120″ height=”87″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Calgary Sun; © Reutersn’, ‘April 9, 2001 – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – Saddledome’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-9-2001-calgary-alberta-canada-saddledome’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-09 10:14:11’, ‘2001-04-09 14:14:11’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=145’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(146, 1, ‘2001-04-10 10:22:40’, ‘2001-04-10 14:22:40’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Even Better Than The Real Thing, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore(s): Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nCalgary SunnTwice The ElevationnBy Mike BellnN/Another night, another Beautiful Day.nYes, it was deja vu all over again inside the Saddledome last evening as monstrous Irish rock act U2 took to the stage for the second of two sold-out Calgary shows, and the ninth of its current Elevation tour.nFor those in attendance who hadn”t caught Monday night”s event — and the band”s first performance ever inside the city”s limits was an event in every sense of the word — it was an opportunity to see the world”s biggest rock band in a slimmed-down performance that hearkened back to the glory days of The Joshua Tree.nFor those lucky enough to be seeing the band for the second time in two nights, it was an opportunity to have reaffirmed the fact that at this point in their career, with nothing left to prove to themselves or their fans, U2 are at the top of their game.nThe band turned in yet another real rock show, as equally energetic and entertaining as the previous night”s.n(That”s surprising, really, because if you believe every one of the umpteen reported U2 sightings, the band members spent all of yesterday drinking and eating and shopping at local establishments — not to mention partying at a half-dozen different nightclubs on opposite ends of the city after the Monday show.)nMusically and in the basic structure of the show, Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton pretty much stuck to the same script as the night before, waltzing onto the modest heart-surrounded stage to a recorded version of All That You Can”t Leave Behind”s Elevation, before launching into it live with the houselights on full.nFrom there, it was again on to Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Discotheque and Staring At The Sun. But if the set list seemed predictable, the performance itself was far from it. There were some wonderful memorable moments of honesty that made last night”s show unique. Bono taking a white flag from the crowd during Until The End of the World and carrying it Christ cross-like on his back.nThe Edge and Bono playing with one another like two friends who know each other so well.nN/And the black leather-clad frontman — who was somewhat more talkative than the previous night — pulling a young girl from the audience and slow-dancing with her during New Year”s Day.nThey may have been small differences, but they made all the difference in the world.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery72]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/01-thumb-120×114-2029.jpg” width=”120″ height=”114″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery72]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/02-thumb-120×89-2031.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery72]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/03-thumb-89×120-2033.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery72]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/04-thumb-89×120-2035.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery72]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_10_2001_-_calgary_alberta_canada_-_saddledome/05-thumb-120×89-2037.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Calgary Sun; © Otto Kitsingern’, ‘April 10, 2001 – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – Saddledome’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-10-2001-calgary-alberta-canada-saddledome’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-10 10:22:40’, ‘2001-04-10 14:22:40’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=146’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(147, 1, ‘2001-04-12 10:29:27’, ‘2001-04-12 14:29:27’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Even Better Than The Real Thing, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Desire, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One-Unchained Melody, Walk On.nRemarks:nThe entire Evans family, including The Edge”s parents, are in the arena. Bono dances on stage with two of The Edge”s daughters during different songs.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSeattle Post-IntelligencernU2 Returns To Basics, Rocks Crowd In Tacomanby Gene StoutnDitching the giant lemon and mammoth LED screen of its 1997 “PopMart” tour, Irish supergroup U2 treated fans to a stripped-down but no less exhilarating performance last night at the Tacoma Dome.nThe two-hour show was part of the group”s current “Elevation” tour, which is playing smaller venues than the last tour. In December 1997, U2”s “PopMart” was the last major rock tour to visit the now-demolished Kingdome, marking the end of an era for rock shows in Seattle.nLead singer Bono and his bandmates — guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. — performed on a flat stage in the middle of a circular, strobe-lighted catwalk that allowed band members to venture into the crowd. Just below the stage were several hundred fans lucky enough to get passes to the exclusive area.n”Standing Only” tickets on the main floor, priced at $45 each, also allowed fans a close-up view of the legendary band.nBono and company entered the stage with no fanfare, with the house lights still turned up, for the opening song, “Elevation.” During the second song, “Beautiful Day,” from the new album “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” a half dozen video screens flickered to life above the stage. In the middle of the song, Bono lay down on the catwalk and rolled over to kiss a female fan standing in the exclusive catwalk corral. Throughout the show, Bono crouched to shake hands with fans on either side of the catwalk.nThe new songs were as exciting as the classics. The crowd exploded for “New Year”s Day,” a soaring, signature song accompanied by a video projected onto the ceiling.nBono told the crowd that the band”s hometown of Dublin, Ireland, had something profoundly in common with Seattle and Tacoma — rain. He described rain as “an extraordinary force” in the creative process. His comment preceded a new song, “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of.”nDuring another new song, “New York,” Bono performed in front of one of a half dozen semi-transparent screens lowered from the ceiling. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, Bono looked like a ”30s gangster, his giant shadow sprawled across the screen.nThe capacity crowd again exploded for “I Will Follow,” the group”s anthemic coming-of-age song from the 1980s. Fans were on their feet clapping along to another early hit, the moving “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” into which Bono interjected Bob Marley”s words of solidarity, “Get up, stand up. Stand up for your rights.”nN/After inviting band members one-by-one to the edge of the catwalk, Bono performed a sweet version of “In a Little While” while The Edge played beside him. Bono followed with a powerful acoustic “Desire” as the crowd sang along.nThe Tacoma Dome quivered during a soaring version of “Where the Streets Have No Name.” Bono sprinted around the catwalk while fans rocked back and forth. Lying atop a pop-up video screen at the rear of the stage, Bono sang another unforgettable anthem, “Mysterious Ways.”nFollowing an anti-gun video that featured a clip of NRA spokesman Charlton Heston, the main set concluded with a trio of blockbuster songs: “Bullet the Blue Sky,” “With Or Without You” and “Pride (In the Name of Love.”nBono and the band finally bid adieu with an encore of “One” and “Walk On.”nOpening act was British singer-songwriter PJ Harvey, whose edgy, 35-minute set focused on songs from her current album, “Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea.” Backed by a four-piece band, she mixed hard-rocking songs with melancholy ballads. Her show would have been more at home in a large nightclub.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/01-thumb-120×78-2039.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/02-thumb-120×94-2041.jpg” width=”120″ height=”94″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/03-thumb-78×120-2043.jpg” width=”78″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/04-thumb-120×85-2045.jpg” width=”120″ height=”85″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/05-thumb-120×83-2047.jpg” width=”120″ height=”83″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/06-thumb-120×78-2049.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/07-thumb-120×78-2051.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/08-thumb-120×79-2053.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_12_2001_-_tacoma_washington_usa_-_tacoma_dome/09-thumb-120×80-2055.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Seattle Post-Intelligencer; © Randy Greencornn’, ‘April 12, 2001 – Tacoma, Washington, USA – Tacoma Dome’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-12-2001-tacoma-washington-usa-tacoma-dome’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-12 10:29:27’, ‘2001-04-12 14:29:27’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=147’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(148, 1, ‘2001-04-13 10:43:55’, ‘2001-04-13 14:43:55’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Even Better Than The Real Thing, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Desire, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One-Wake Up Dead Man, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nU2.comnElevation: Vancouvernby U2.comnIt might be Friday the 13th but there was nothing unlucky about tonight”s show.n”Thank you for the gifts that you bring to us” reads the sign of one fan, while another – let”s face it, pretty optimistic fan – has a t-shirt with the request, “Bono, Take Me With You.”n”We played our first gig here 20 years ago this week in a place called The Commodore Club,” says Bono at the opening chords of Stuck In A Moment. “Is it still here?”n”Thanks for hanging around so long, for all the people who didn”t exist then, you didn”t have to hang around so long, this is for Michael Hutchence, a great singer, who never used to hang around….”nGillian Anderson from the X-files is here tonight, so is Charlize Theron (Ciderhouse Rules), Stuart Townshend (Shooting Fish, About Adam) and the writer William Gibson.nEdge is wearing his ”55” t-shirt tonight – how many numbers has he got in his wardrobe ? Even if it gets to ”55,000” the singer will still be kissing photographers and dancing with fans on the heart walkway round the elevation stage.nThis is what happens during The End of the World, before Bono, bull-like, duels with the matador Edge and declines the first of several cowboys hats to be offered. He is wearing one by New York, which is followed by the deafening appreciation which greets the arrival of Sunday Bloody Sunday. And after The Sweetest Thing come the introductions – and a revelation.n”I”d like to do something that”s new for us,” explains Bono. “It”s almost impossible for singers to do, I”d like to introduce the band. “The man that gave me my first and perhaps even only job, Larry Mullen Jnr – get up and take some credit.”n”U2,” he explains, “For the first day of our life it was The Larry Mullen Band.”nN/At this point Larry whispers something in Bono”s ear – no prizes for lip-reading.n”He just said it still is,” laughs Bono, “But God is fair in his wisdom and Larry can”t sing…thank God.”nN/And so to “our first manager, the jazzman and musical conscience with the biggest instrument, Lord Adam Clayton, the poshest member of U2.”nN/And of course, “The scientist of the band, even his mother calls him The Edge, our very own card carrying genius, come on down The Edge!”nIn A Little leads into Desire, with Bono on mouth organ and an explanation at the start of The Ground Beneath Her Feet.n”When you come from the northside of Dublin, you”re allowed to sing a love song, this is a good one…it”ll have to be good, we had help on this one, it”s written by Salman Rushdie.”nFor Mysterious Ways he is lying atop the video screens again while Edge grooves at the front of the stage. So he is on his knees, dancing with his image on the screen and then, when a girl in the heart holds out flowers to him, he tries to bite a stem.nIt”s just out of reach and Bono gets petals in his mouth, grins and spits them out. It”s Friday the 13th, but it”s not unlucky in Vancouver.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/01-thumb-90×120-2058.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/02-thumb-120×90-2060.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/03-thumb-120×90-2062.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/04-thumb-90×120-2064.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/05-thumb-120×80-2066.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery74]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_13_2001_-_vancouver_british_columbia_canada_-_gm_place/06-thumb-120×78-2068.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © U2.com; © Randy Greencornn’, ‘April 13, 2001 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – GM Place’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-13-2001-vancouver-british-columbia-canada-gm-place’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-13 10:43:55’, ‘2001-04-13 14:43:55’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=148’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(149, 1, ‘2001-04-15 10:50:37’, ‘2001-04-15 14:50:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Discothèque, Staring At The Sun, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Desire, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One-I Remember You, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono dedicates ”One” to Joey Ramone, who died earlier in the day of lymphoma, and adds Amazing Grace as the coda. He sings a cover of The Ramones” ”I Remember You” immediately afterwards. Joey Ramone was 49.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nU2.comnTen Things You Might Like to Know About U2 in Portland for Elevation 2001nby U2.comn1. It was Easter Sunday and some surprise songs were resurrected for the occasion. They played 24 in total (see Set List)n2. Special guests included Woody Harrelson (and friends – he”s currently on a cycling tour of the U.S), Paul Allen of Microsoft, Robbie Robertson (of The Band).n3. For The End of the World Bono is a bull with horns and Edge a matador with electric guitar.n4. The band covered The Ramones ”I Remember You”, a tribute to Joey Ramone who died of cancer today (see news story). U2 debuted the track at their Irving Plaza gig in December and Joey had attended the bands” Saturday Night Live appearance at the time as their special guest. Bono also dedicated One to Joey Ramone, adding a snatch of Amazing Grace.n5. Amongst the signs carried by fans tonight are ”Sunday Easter Sunday”; ”Take me slow dancing”; ”You touch my heart and move my lips, you get in my head and sway my hips and I love it.”nSomeone in the heart looks suspiciously like Macphisto.n6. Bono introduces the members of the band. “I”d like to do something that”s almost impossible for a singer to do, I”d like to introduce you to the band. ”Before we were U2 or even the Hype, before we lived up to that, before all those names, for one lunchbreak we were The Larry Mullen Band. ”The man who gave us our first and only jobs and has never stopped reminding us, Larry Mullen Jnr.”nThere is a deafening response as Larry walks from the drums to the front of the heart, whispering in Bono”s ear as he passes.n”Larry says he”s big in Portland.”nN/And then.n”The jazz man, the musical conscience, the man with the biggest instrument, the first manager and by far the poshest member of the U2, Lord Adam Clayton.”nN/And also, as well, not forgetting.n”The scientist of the band, he could fly the space shuttle but no, he came to Portland on the train, even his mum calls him The Edge…. ”The Edge, would you like some breakfast?”n7. Edge is wearing a No.16 t-shirt.n8. The huge audience become massed choirs for Sunday Bloody Sunday, all singing the words to the opening bars, threatening to raise the roof, the Sunday Easter Sunday banner riding high.n9. If the spirit of a Ramone is present tonight, The Ground Beneath Her Feet was written by another ”famous punk rock singer, Salman Rushdie.” Desire is ”for anyone who is starting a band, this is for you…call Robbie Robertson.”n10. Bad segues into Forty, a psalm, which everyone is singing as Bono is reading another over the opening chords of Streets, “And when I go there, I go there with you…”nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde01-thumb-120×77-2070.jpg” width=”120″ height=”77″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde02-thumb-120×78-2072.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde03-thumb-120×78-2074.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde04-thumb-120×80-2076.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde05-thumb-120×76-2078.jpg” width=”120″ height=”76″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde06-thumb-120×79-2080.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde07-thumb-120×77-2088.jpg” width=”120″ height=”77″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde08-thumb-120×88-2082.jpg” width=”120″ height=”88″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde09-thumb-120×77-2086.jpg” width=”120″ height=”77″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery83]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_15_2001_-_portland_oregon_usa_-_rose_garde10-thumb-77×120-2084.jpg” width=”77″ height=”120″ alt=”10.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Matt McGee; © Randy Greencornn’, ‘April 15, 2001 – Portland, Oregon, USA – Rose Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-15-2001-portland-oregon-usa-rose-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-15 10:50:37’, ‘2001-04-15 14:50:37’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=149’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(150, 1, ‘2001-04-17 11:02:28’, ‘2001-04-17 15:02:28’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Even Better Than The Real Thing, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Desire, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, I Remember You, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSan Diego Union-TribunenTop Of The World, Baby!nU2 leaves nothing behind in high-flying, triumphant Elevation tour stopnby George Varga, Pop Music CriticnMoving forward by moving back is a daunting task for anyone. But U2 made it look easy during the Irish band”s stripped-down yet rousing Tuesday night concert at the San Diego Sports Arena.nFrom the opening notes of the first song, the aptly titled “Elevation,” to the last refrain of the final encore, “Walk On,” U2 performed with renewed passion and commitment, as befits a veteran group seeking to reclaim its rock ”n” roll throne in an era dominated by teen-pop poseurs, rap-metal louts and swaggering hip-hop braggarts.nOr, as U2”s 40-year-old front man Bono sang during the concert”s emotionally revealing “New York”: Still I”m staying on to figure out my midlife crisis / I hit an iceberg in my life / But you know I”m still afloat.nMake that afloat, and back on course, as the 125-minute, two-dozen song concert handily demonstrated.nThe sold-out Elevation 2001 show was U2”s first here since its uber-high-tech PopMart tour stopped at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium in 1997, and its first at the Sports Arena since 1992”s similarly elaborate Zoo TV tour.nThe move back to arenas, after nearly a decade in stadiums, coincides with U2”s latest album, the Grammy Award-winning “All That You Can”t Leave Behind.” It finds the band turning back to guitar-driven basics and away from the edgy, experimental, techno-drenched approach featured on the three albums it released during the 1990s, “Achtung Baby,” “Zooropa” and “Pop.”nN/Artistically, the new album is a retreat to commercially safer ground. But as Tuesday”s concert reaffirmed, there”s much to be said for musical simplicity and directness, especially when a band produces such stirring, anthem-like songs as U2.nWitness the first two selections of the show, both from “All That You Can”t Leave Behind.”nThe first, “Elevation,” was initially heard on tape. Then, with the arena”s house lights still on, U2”s four members strode on stage to a deafening ovation and began playing the same song live, without missing a note.nN/Anchored by a thumping beat from drummer Larry Mullen and bassist Adam Clayton, and a liberating blast of fuzzy guitar from The Edge, the song surged with no-frills power. So did Bono”s falsetto vocal refrain, which the near-delirious crowd of almost 13,000 happily sang back at him.nThe house lights were turned off for the similarly uplifting “Beautiful Day.” But the band and the crowd glowed for the remainder of the performance, which alternated between still-vital U2 classics like “New Year”s Day,” “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” and such winning new songs as “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of” and the Al Green-inspired soul-ballad “In a Little While.”nBono was in a playful mood throughout. He repeatedly inserted fleeting musical quotes — which ranged from Radiohead”s “Creep” and Bob Marley”s “Get Up, Stand Up” to Marvin Gaye”s “Sexual Healing” and David Bowie”s “Young Americans” — into U2”s own songs.nN/A master showman, the fist-pumping singer transcended most of the rock-god poses he struck as he pranced around the heart-shaped catwalk that extended from the stage to nearly the center of the arena floor. A few hundred lucky fans were in the center of the “heart,” but most of Bono”s interactions were with the crowd beyond.nThe sound and lighting were both first-rate. So was the imaginative use of the black-and-white video screens that hung above each side of the stage.nBut this show was about music, not props, and the band seemed to gain new strength by focusing on the power of its songs. Yet, for all its redemptive rock ”n” roll thunder, some of the concert”s most touching moments were also its quietest.n”Desire” and “The Ground Beneath Her Feet” were performed as spare duets by Bono and The Edge, who stood together at the tip of the catwalk. Both songs achieved an intimacy rarely heard in arenas. So did the impromptu, a cappella (and initially out-of-tune) encore of the Ramones” “I Remember You,” one of two songs Bono dedicated to the pioneering punk-rock band”s lead singer, Joey Ramone, who died this week.nEarly on in the show, Bono fondly recalled the aftermath of U2”s 1987 Sports Arena show, when fans of the band gathered next to downtown”s U.S. Grant Hotel and serenaded the band.nHe concluded Tuesday”s concert by offering repeated thanks to the audience for “a great night,” words that rang as loud and true as U2”s music.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery58]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/01-thumb-120×90-2090.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery58]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/03-thumb-69×120-2094.jpg” width=”69″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery58]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/04-thumb-88×120-2096.jpg” width=”88″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery58]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/05-thumb-108×120-2098.jpg” width=”108″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery58]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_17_2001_-_san_diego_california_usa_-_san_diego_sports_arena/06-thumb-62×120-2100.jpg” width=”62″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © U2.com; © Andrew O”Donnelln’, ‘April 17, 2001 – San Diego, California, USA – San Diego Sports Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-17-2001-san-diego-california-usa-san-diego-sports-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-17 11:02:28’, ‘2001-04-17 15:02:28’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=150’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(151, 1, ‘2001-04-19 11:10:18’, ‘2001-04-19 15:10:18’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Even Better Than The Real Thing, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Desire, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, I Remember You, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSan Jose Mercury NewsnFire and PassionnU2 fills out a strong application for best band in the worldnby Candace MurphynIn this space is supposed to be a review of the performance staged by U2 Thursday evening at Compaq Center San Jose. A tally of the songs played, the outfits worn, the banners waved, the flags raised.nBut U2 renders a reviewer”s words mere folly.nBecause the Irish supergroup achieved a musical rarity Thursday evening: The band rewarded its fortunate ticket holders with a two-hour passion play, a soaring arc of the band”s brilliant career. The four ageless Dublin rockers unleashed a torrent of memories both old and new, all interchangeably timeless, from the driving punk chords of “I Will Follow” to the soul-stirring, anthemic “Walk On.” Cobbled together was musical brilliance. A moment in time not easily described.nThe band took the stage unconventionally. With the arena lights blazing and the opening licks of “Elevation” blaring, the four strode onto the main floor through a doorway just beneath Section 117. First was Bono, in black leather and wrap-around shades. Then the Edge in a red No. 16 Joe Montana jersey. Adam Clayton, in fashion-plate red camouflage pants, followed. Bringing up the rear was Larry Mullen Jr., the quiet drummer whose fists would soon grip sticks of militant rage, in an understated blue T-shirt.nFor a solid 60 seconds, the band played with the lights on, a glaring scene usually reserved as a slap in the face for opening acts who should be neither seen nor heard. But U2 has never been a band to play by the rules. It wasn”t until Bono wove a stolen lyric from the band Radiohead — “I”m a creep” — into “Elevation,” an underrated song from the new album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” that the lights dimmed. And it wasn”t until after the band played “New Year”s Day,” its first top 10 single back in 1983, that Bono properly addressed the crowd.n”The last time we were in San Jose, it was in a school gym. It held 1,000, but about 2,000 people came. It was one of the best nights of our lives!” proselytized Bono in a sentimental, yet possibly apocryphal moment, since the moment was never officially documented. “It was one of the best nights of our lives. That was a long time ago. If anyone who was there is here tonight, thank you.”nThe concert, which relied most heavily on the new album and 1991”s “Achtung Baby,” was packed with thanks. The band thanked San Jose. Oakland. San Francisco. Even Marin County, a swath of land that garnered a precious two nods. It was also an evening of tributes. Before singing “Stuck in a Moment,” Bono explained it was written for Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of INXS who died in 1997. During the coda of “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” Bono verbally saluted Bob Marley by weaving in a lyric from “Get Up, Stand Up.” Marvin Gaye was acknowledged at the end of “Mysterious Ways” with a line from “Sexual Healing.” And twice the band eulogized Joey Ramone, the lead singer of the Ramones who passed away last weekend, by dedicating the new album”s “In a Little While,” early in the evening to the musician, and by later performing a stripped-down duet of the 1977 Ramones song, “I Remember You” with the Edge.nIt was the unscripted moment just before Bono and the Edge sang “I Remember You” that subtly revealed the band”s cohesion, a byproduct of performing together for 24 years. With Clayton and Mullen prepared to play the set list”s next song, “Walk On,” the two looked on from the back of the stage as Bono leaned forward and whispered in the Edge”s ear. Clear that there would be a break from the agenda, Clayton and Mullen disappeared into the shadows as Bono and the Edge delivered their mournful tribute.nWhat was remarkable, too, is how little the band, as a whole, has changed since forming in 1977. The Edge still peels off guitar licks that ring like the bells of a cathedral. Clayton is as stoic as ever. Mullen — whom Bono introduced to the crowd by claiming that the band, in the early years, for a lunch break, was known as the Larry Mullen Band — just gets the job done.nN/And Bono is still the preening rock star, a larger-than-life performer who writhed on his back on the bent horseshoe-shaped walkway that jutted out into the audience, who kissed the Edge on the lips during “(Until) The End of the World,” who sprinted in circles like a white, Irish Michael Johnson during “Where the Streets Have No Name,” who placed his index fingers to the sides of his head and acted the bull to the red-jerseyed toreador Edge.nBut allow Bono to preen. He and his mates have never succumbed to the pop industry, despite the fact they have been filling stadiums since the 1980s. And their political, hard-edged rock, a style abandoned only briefly during the “Zooropa” and “Pop” albums, hasn”t grown old. Though it took until the end of the night for U2 to get political — a snippet of conversation from Charlton Heston in support of guns broadcast on 13 screens behind the stage before the band launched into “Bullet the Blue Sky” — it was a blast of fresh air in an era in which five-membered moony-eyed boy groups have become a barometer of music”s mediocrity.nThe only evidence of those types of histrionics apparent in San Jose were the ludicrous pink balloons that radio station Channel 104.9 inflated and forced those on the floor to bounce around. The security guard who captured one during “New Year”s Day” and summarily punctured it should be given a hearty raise. The imbecile who bounced one on stage during “Sunday Bloody Sunday” while Bono was taking an Irish flag from the crowd and draping it over the keyboards as if it were a coffin should have been ejected.nBut in the end, after the balloons were put out of their misery and the final notes of “Walk On” dissipated into the night air, the words Bono uttered at this year”s Grammy Awards lingered. There, he announced that the band was applying for the job again. For the job as the best band in the world.nLads, it”s yours.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/01-thumb-120×90-2102.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/02-thumb-120×90-2104.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/03-thumb-120×90-2106.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/04-thumb-120×90-2108.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/05-thumb-120×90-2110.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/06-thumb-120×90-2112.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/07-thumb-120×90-2114.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/08-thumb-120×89-2116.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/09-thumb-120×89-2118.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/10-thumb-120×89-2120.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”10.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/11.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/11-thumb-89×120-2122.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”11.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/12.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery95]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_19_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/12-thumb-120×88-2124.jpg” width=”120″ height=”88″ alt=”12.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Lynne Sands; © Otto Kitsingern’, ‘April 19, 2001 – San Jose, California, USA – San Jose Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-19-2001-san-jose-california-usa-san-jose-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-19 11:10:18’, ‘2001-04-19 15:10:18’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=151’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(152, 1, ‘2001-04-20 21:15:35’, ‘2001-04-21 01:15:35’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Angel Of Harlem, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nRemarks:nU2 shake up the setlist tonight with Kite and Stay (Faraway, So Close!) making their debuts (the latter also being the first song from the Zooropa album ever performed live in North America).nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nSan Francisco ChroniclenU2 Strips Down to the Music: Nothing detracts from the naked emotions of Bono and bandnby Joel Selvin, Chronicle Pop Music EditornU2 acted like a band with something to prove.nFrom Bono”s judo kick as drummer Larry Mullen crashed into the opening of “Elevation” to the rousing finale of “Walk On,” the four-man rock band stayed close to basics Thursday in the first of two sold-out shows at the Compaq Center in San Jose (formerly the San Jose Arena).nN/After the technological overkill of the 1997 PopMart tour, which surpassed even the extravagant staging and multimedia manipulation of the band”s previous football-stadium juggernaut, “Zoo TV,” there was some question whether U2 could stand in front of an audience and just play.nThe answer is yes. From the opening chord, it was a towering performance by a monumental band — emotional, painfully earnest and authentically inspirational.nSurrounding the stage was a heart-shaped ramp with its tip reaching halfway across the arena. With chairs gone from the floor and a roiling mass of people pushing against the runways, Bono could bring the show right into the audience.nMore than once, he stepped into the hands of the people, who held him aloft as he continued to sing.nThe Edge showered the band with a virtual orchestra in his guitar and foot pedals, while the engine room of drummer Mullen and bassist Adam Clayton kept steady thunder rolling underneath. The four men moved with a steely unity of purpose.nThe stage design cut down the size of the hall, and the lighting illuminated the unique connection this band has with its fans. Bathed in broad beams of white light, the audience stayed in the picture. The band even began the concert with the house lights up full. It was as if the U2 musicians had gone in the opposite direction from the technocratic excess of PopMart and Zoo TV, and wanted to stress the humanity of this concert.nThat humanity always has been at the center of the band”s music and message,neven if it has been overshadowed at times by the flashing video screens, giant lemons, phone calls to the White House and all the other happy foolishness. But the band has always appealed to the best instincts of its audience. And with the distractions and enhancements removed, the stark emotionalism at the core of U2 stands out in bold relief.nThe band”s new album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” also benefited from the new lean, mean U2 focus.nSix songs were the backbone of the program. Bono dedicated “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of” to the late INXS vocalist Michael Hutchence; it”s a song that builds carefully in gospel-flavored choruses to a sweet, hopeful conclusion. He said “In a Little While” was the last song Joey Ramone heard before he died (“In a little while . . . this hurt will hurt no more”). Bono later finished with the softly lyrical, sentimental love song “I Remember You, ” saying, “Joey Ramone, that”s for you.”nThe concert reached critical mass with “Where the Streets Have No Name.” “Mysterious Ways” found Bono toying with giant video screens at the back of the stage. The group played “Bullet the Blue Sky” and “With or Without You” as if they were trump cards. By the time the band left the stage after “Pride (In the Name of Love),” U2 had swept up everything in its path. The three-song encore was just final punctuation.nIf anyone thinks that U2 has gone flabby with age and celebrity, that the exposed-nerve electricity that ignited the group”s most powerful passions has long ago vanished, well, they just shoulda been there.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_20_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery56]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_20_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/01-thumb-120×77-2126.jpg” width=”120″ height=”77″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_20_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery56]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_20_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/02-thumb-98×120-2128.jpg” width=”98″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_20_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery56]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_20_2001_-_san_jose_california_usa_-_san_jose_arena/03-thumb-79×120-2130.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © San Francisco Chroniclen’, ‘April 20, 2001 – San Jose, California, USA – San Jose Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-20-2001-san-jose-california-usa-san-jose-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-20 21:15:35’, ‘2001-04-21 01:15:35’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=152’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(153, 1, ‘2001-04-23 21:22:03’, ‘2001-04-24 01:22:03’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Desire, Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, I Remember You, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nOrange County RegisternU2 Good But Not Great In Opening Night At The PondnThe veteran Irish band rewards patient fans but forgets to satisfy its own creative hungernby Ben WenernOh, what a heavy burden U2 carries.nNot since the Beatles has there been an internationally adored rock band – an Important Band that sings about Serious Things – whose prime mission, obvious to all, is to spread peace and love.nEntertainment, pushing the boundaries of popular music – that”s secondary.nEven at its most ironic, U2 has been about (cue dramatic strings) love”s power to change, to heal the world.nBut the weight of the world, though still significant, isn”t the chief burden anymore. Now the tricky part is this: How to keep the message alive without boring yourself or your audience?nYou can”t say they didn”t ask for it, but U2 has assumed the unenviable role of prophets in perpetual reinvention. They did it so spectacularly – perhaps too spectacularly – with 1992”s “Achtung Baby” and the ensuing Zoo TV tour that we have come to expect fresh wonders from them at every turn.nOrdinary rock won”t be tolerated from such an extraordinary band. The sad news, then, as discovered at the group”s first of three sold-out shows Monday night at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, is that U2 still isn”t sure what to do for a third act. As with its half-brilliant-half-lousy last album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” its Elevation Tour is a jumble – a good jumble, mind you – that tries too hard to satisfy everyone.nWhat it should have done is satisfied U2, which at times it clearly did. The most magical moment, in fact, was the most spontaneous, when midway through the two-hour set Bono called an audible to the Edge, then the pair of old friends delivered a spellbinding version of “Stay (Faraway, So Close!),” illuminated by a lone spotlight at the center of the arena.nSometimes the magic worked as planned, as with the declaration of independence “Kite” (in only its second live rendition) followed by Bono”s devious shadow dancing during “New York.” Both are recent songs that were more convincing live. As Bono pointed out between those tunes, it felt like this was about getting “back to singing for your life, not for your supper.”nNot that they”re going hungry, seeing as choice seats went for $130. Was it worth it? You don”t want my answer.nSurely there was plenty to compliment, starting with not one but three tributes, assuming you don”t count a soul-filling take on “Pride (In the Name of Love).” “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of,” was for Michael Hutchence; the song, Bono explained, is “an argument I would like to have with a friend I wish I still had.” The other two were for Joey Ramone – “In a Little While,” which Joey reportedly heard days before his death, and a cover of the Ramones” “I Remember You.” “Where the Streets Have No Name” galloped gallantly while a glowing red backdrop reminded of “Joshua Tree” days. “Bullet the Blue Sky,” introduced by a laughable Charlton Heston speech and the chilling image of a child picking up a handgun, was just as harrowing with its meaning directed at gun control as when its target was El Salvador. And “New Year”s Day” was unusually sensual.nBut forget the songs – the staging was fantastic. You want U2 up close and personal – as up close and personal as you can get in a hockey rink – well, this couldn”t have been better. Prancing about a huge heart-shaped catwalk with four black-and-white video screens hanging overhead, hambone Bono and ever-cool The Edge worked the arena from every angle.nIn short, it was a visually arresting concert whose minor but clever gimmicks didn”t distract from what the fans demanded: U2, without costumes, in a small(er) venue, playing the hits.nYet it fell short of restoring U2 to its past glory. Indeed, for the first time it”s painfully obvious that the band is following their fans” lead, not the other way around.nIn retrospect, the PopMart monstrosity seems less like a bold move than U2 giving its legions what it thought they wanted – more of the same, which at that time was over-the-top Zoo TV madness. With this show, they are just as pandering, right down to entering like old war heroes (to the charging tune of “Elevation”) with the house lights still on – as if to say, “Hey, we”re serious. There”s no giant, mirrored, lemon-shaped disco ball anywhere in this building.”nThey call it a thank you to fans, I call it an apology – and it”s both. Either way this isn”t the maverick that U2 can be. The band simply seems bored with the routine, and Bono is becoming the definition of lethargic; compare his exhausted shtick and mugging to the steady swagger of Springsteen, who has 10 years on him but moves with twice as much robust energy.nOften you could hear it in the delivery. “I Will Follow” was so sluggish it made “Bad” seem speedy. (Though “Bad,” extended with a touch of “40,” brought goosebumps to anyone with a pulse.) “Mysterious Ways” was so dispirited you could barely discern the melody. And a crawling “Sunday Bloody Sunday” proved only that the rousing Irish anthem should be put on a shelf, only to come down for special occasions, lest its meaning be devalued entirely.nThat speaks to the catch-22 that traps U2: It can”t put away those classics for fear it will lose fans; lose fans and there goes clout needed to wage key battles, like its current cause, getting First World nations to forgive Third World debt. “An entire continent is being flushed down the toilet,” Bono said before playing “One,” “and it isn”t even on page 3, 2 or 1.”nU2 – and particularly Bono – needs minions to back a message of peace and love. Only, it seems like they”re itching to take that message to the next level, that maybe it”s time to leave certain “masterpieces” behind and write new ones that might stir more than the usual fan base.nIt”s time, then, for them to stop pleasing us and please themselves. Let”s make a deal: They vow to trust their instincts and plow ahead into the future, we will follow. Like the man says, “We get to carry each other.”nIf there is one thing that U2 did right, it was hiring PJ Harvey as opening act, providing the cult figure with an opportunity to widen her appeal. Tough and glittery in a silver sequined dress and black boots, the darkly intense performer made the most of her plum spot, delivering 40 minutes of leathered, ideally oversized rockers, notably “Sheela-Na-Gig” and a riveting, almost disquieting solo reading of “Rid of Me.”nPerhaps she baffled most of the crowd – at least the lukewarm response indicated as much – but even if only a fraction of U2”s audience was intrigued by Harvey”s biting work, it was time well spent.nContact Wener at (714) 796-2248 or [email protected]Images:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/04-thumb-120×84-2138.jpg” width=”120″ height=”84″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/06-thumb-120×79-2142.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/07-thumb-98×120-2144.jpg” width=”98″ height=”120″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/08-thumb-91×120-2146.jpg” width=”91″ height=”120″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery41]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_23_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/09-thumb-78×120-2148.jpg” width=”78″ height=”120″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Orange County Register; © Associated Pressn’, ‘April 23, 2001 – Anaheim, California, USA – Arrowhead Pond’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-23-2001-anaheim-california-usa-arrowhead-pond’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-23 21:22:03’, ‘2001-04-24 01:22:03’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=153’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(154, 1, ‘2001-04-24 21:27:47’, ‘2001-04-25 01:27:47’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Even Better Than The Real Thing, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Angel Of Harlem, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono begins ”Elevation” by singing ”Oranges, poranges, who says there”s no rhyme for oranges?”, which is a line from a song sung by the Witchiepoo character on the old kids TV show H.R. Pufnstuf. Bono references the presence of his wife, Ali Hewson, during The Sweetest Thing and The Fly. He sings 10-15 seconds of ”I Walk The Line” after One, and dedicates Walk On to Johnny Cash.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nOrange County RegisternBono displays his showmanshipnHe”s no longer an eager lad out to change the world, but a well-schooled entertainer.nby Jeffrey Miller, The Orange County RegisternHe was a grizzled gent in his late 40s, wearing horn-rimmed glasses and a funky beige fedora, looking every bit the aging, would-be hipster.nN/As he climbed the stairs from the floor of the Arrowhead Pond before U2”s performance Tuesday, the person next to me gave him a dismissive glance. “The hat doesn”t work,” he said.nElvis Costello had walked by, not just unrecognized but the target of derision. Middle age can be unkind to once cutting-edge performers.nBono seems to know this. The U2 singer isn”t the fresh-faced, eager-to-inspire leader of a ragtag outfit from Ireland, nor the newly crowned heir to the rock throne, nor even the postmodern superstar who turned stadium extravaganzas into an ironic commentary on pop-culture idolatry and excess. He”s outgrown all that.nHe”s a battle-tested showman, packing the full arsenal of entertainer”s tricks. He knows he doesn”t need to incite the crowd. Sure, he might break a sweat jogging around the enormous, heart-shaped catwalk of the band”s Elevation tour set. He”ll reach out to accept a fan”s offering of a rose, a necklace or a spangled cowboy hat, allowing a momentary illusion of contact. Then it”s on to the next move.nIt”s a time-honed technique: coaxing and then withdrawing, teasing but never really putting out. Forget the Rock Star 101 ploy of thrusting the microphone into the air to get the audience to sing along. U2”s fans do so without prompting, freeing Bono to lean back and bask in the adulation.nIt helps that the band he fronts has raised the arena-rock spectacle to an art form with brilliantly conceived set design, lighting and video screens. Then there are the musicians – The Edge churning out his trademark riffs, Larry Mullen Jr. providing brisk, workmanlike drumming and Adam Clayton doing his nightly bit as the anonymous bassist, plunking root notes and doing his best to stay out of the way.nCombined, the performance and presentation transformed the sterile, air-conditioned expanses of the Pond into a sweaty roadhouse, with all 18,000-plus fans – even those in the rafters – on their feet throughout.nThose familiar with the band”s set Monday would have found few surprises here. The quirky choice of “Kite” was jettisoned in favor of more familiar tunes, “Even Better Than the Real Thing” and “The Sweetest Thing,” as well as “Gone” from the “Pop” album.nN/At the prescribed point in the evening, Bono and The Edge marched to the front tip of the catwalk to perform as an acoustic duo. This time they did a refreshing “Angel of Harlem” and “The Ground Beneath Her Feet” instead of “Desire” and “Stay (Faraway, So Close!).” Oh, and they dropped “I Remember You” from the final encore.nBeyond that, it was the same show as Monday – indeed, the same as any other date on the tour. Hardcore fans will take note of minute differences, like Bono slipping a slice of Van Morrison”s “Into the Mystic” into “Mysterious Ways.” But for anyone else, it was the same.nN/And sameness is not necessarily bad. Listening to the band blast its way through “The Fly” at the end of the main set left no doubt that this was as good an arena-rock show as people around here are likely to see for a while. Whether it”s worth $130 is a matter of personal choice (and one”s tolerance for living off nothing but ramen for several months).nThrough it all, Bono entertained the crowd with subdued assurance, appearing to expend no more energy than was essential to complete the band”s mission of sending the folks home happy. It wasn”t a spill-your-guts-on-the-stage, try-to-change-the-world performance.nMaybe it”s because he”s almost 40, an age when such idealistic fervor might look a bit silly.nSort of like if the guy in the fedora were still trying to be an angry young man.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/01-thumb-120×87-2150.jpg” width=”120″ height=”87″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/02-thumb-90×120-2152.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/03-thumb-120×89-2154.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/04-thumb-120×89-2156.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/05-thumb-89×120-2158.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_24_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/06-thumb-89×120-2160.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Orange County Register; © Julie Burton; © Otto Kitsingern’, ‘April 24, 2001 – Anaheim, California, USA – Arrowhead Pond’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-24-2001-anaheim-california-usa-arrowhead-pond’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-24 21:27:47’, ‘2001-04-25 01:27:47’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=154’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(155, 1, ‘2001-04-26 21:33:11’, ‘2001-04-27 01:33:11’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Angel Of Harlem, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nRemarks:nN/After the “your eyes make a circle” verse of I Will Follow, Bono adds “into the heart, into the heart of a child”. Also, The Edge breaks guitar strings during both Sunday Bloody Sunday and Angel Of Harlem – in the former, Bono sings “I won”t heed the battle call/Edge broke a string, it don”t mean nothing at all”, while after the latter, he comments that he sometimes forgets The Edge is human.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nU2.comnThe Third Los Angeles Concert – Your Questions Answerednby U2.comnWhat T-Shirt Was Edge Wearing? Edge was wearing a No.23 t-shirt tonight.nTell Me Something Unusual About This Show? Well, Edge broke a couple of strings and then Bono forgot some of his words, but, word is, this was the best of the three LA shows.nWhat signs were fans carrying tonight? To Better Days, Play It With Pride; It Pays To Advertise (following comment from Bono on Tuesday when the girl who danced with him had an Angel Of Harlem sign); Meow!; St Bono; Hail Lord Adam; Schoo Too (reference to Dallas Schoo, Edge”s guitar tech); Thank you For The Moments; Noooo, thank you for taking our money.nN/Any Dedications Tonight? Stuck In A Moment is, as always, dedicated to Michael Hutchence. And then Stay arrives and Bono admits that while he cannot always remember how to perform it, he can remember who it is for. ”One more song, it”s a tune we very, very, very rarely play because I very rarely can remember it, for an extraordinary man who I love very much, it”s his movie we wrote this for so tonight I”d like to thank Wim Wenders…..” There was another dedication too, see below.nHow did those band introductions go tonight? Something like this. ”How are we doing out there?,” asked Bono. ”Thank you all for coming out this evening, I”d like to introduce you to the family business so to speak. So our hit man on the drums tonight and every other night, Larry Mullen Jnr. These are my brothers, know what I”m saying, if you”re looking for trouble Larry Mullen is going to find you some. ”The Ladies man, still a batchelor boy, the musical conscience of our family business, Lord Adam Clayton. ”On my right, he”s the complex one, he takes sexual pleasure in collecting data, the newest resident to LA, tonight bringing peace to Malibu, a card carrying genius The Edge.”nIt”s Los Angeles where the famous people live. Anybody turn up that we might have heard of? Cher; Cameron Diaz; Rick Rubin; Wim Wenders; Bobby Shriver; Neil Diamond; Clem Burke (Blondie”s drummer); Joe Elliot (Def Leppard); Jonas Ackerlund; Meg Ryan; Paul Oakenfold; Depeche Mode; Dennis Hopper; Melissa Etheridge; Alicia Silverstone; Herb Ritz; Queen Noor of Jordan; Counting Crows…. That do?nN/Any juice on the songs? During The End Of The World Bono gets on his hands and knees and bows to Edge in ”we are not worthy” style. He ends the song kicking at Edge and then kissing him. ”We”re gonna get airborne,” explains Bono, at the start of I Will Follow. ”Know what I”m saying, gotta get right off here into another place…” For The Fly the singer monkey-walks along the catwalk, turns in circles, steps into the audience, clutches the hands of fans, pulls them to and fro – and even ends up biting someone”s hand. Will it ever be washed again? Wearing the Irish flag with pride for Pride, Bono wraps it around his face, and walks the catwalk with it. ”That was madness,” he says at the end, ”You”re amazing…” For Bullet The Blue Sky, Bono has his arm over his face and lamp in hand marching slowly down the catwalk. He turns the light on Edge, points it at the audience, around the entire venue starting a huge Mexican wave.nWhat About Those Mistakes? Inexplicably, the guitarist plays a wrong note in Sunday Bloody Sunday and the singer can”t believe it: ”Edge made a mistake!” he exclaims, as the audience go wild. ”We sang this a long time ago, explains Bono, introducing the opening chords of Angel Of Harlem, but then Edge breaks a string. ”He never breaks strings the Edge, that”s two this evening.” There”s further technicals for All I Want Is You: ”I sometimes forget that he”s human,” admits Bono.”Dr Spock are you with us?”nHow did it all end? With Walk On, as ever, rapidly becoming the show-stopper to top all U2 show-stoppers. ”Thank you for paying your hard earned dollars on a rock show, and thanks for giving us a great life… ”Happy Birthday to Joe O”Herlihy (U2”s veteran sound man) ”cos he”s driving the train down on the mix desk tonight… ”Thank you for just so much really, for following us down the road for Jubilee 2000.” And then that other dedication. ”There”s someone here tonight from a great family, whose birthday it also is, a great and extraordinary man who really helped us out with the cause here, Bobby Shriver – Thank you. ”We will not stand by while an entire continent gets flushed down the toilet. I don”t know what rock”n”roll is but if it means anything it”s being free. You can”t be free when you”ve got no food in your belly and no water in sight, you”ve got no dignity. Call your congressman and call your senators, you could really, really make a difference.”nWalk On.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery39]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/01-thumb-89×120-2162.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery39]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/02-thumb-120×89-2164.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery39]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/03-thumb-89×120-2166.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery39]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/04-thumb-120×89-2168.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery39]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/05-thumb-89×120-2170.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery39]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/06-thumb-120×89-2172.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery39]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_26_2001_-_anaheim_california_usa_-_arrowhead_pond/07-thumb-120×89-2174.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Otto Kitsingern’, ‘April 26, 2001 – Anaheim, California, USA – Arrowhead Pond’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-26-2001-anaheim-california-usa-arrowhead-pond’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-26 21:33:11’, ‘2001-04-27 01:33:11’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=155’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(156, 1, ‘2001-04-28 21:38:49’, ‘2001-04-29 01:38:49’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, I Remember You, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nN/Arizona RepublicnU2 Raises Crowd To New ElevationnStars within fans” reach as tour leaves spectacle behindnby Kerry LengelnU2 is billing its current “Elevation” tour as a stripped-down, back-to-basics, all-about-the- music return to the good old days before the stadium extravaganzas of “Zoo TV” and “PopMart.”nBut don”t let the absence of supersize cartoons and giant lemon mirror balls fool you: The Irish superstars” concert Saturday night at America West Arena was a painstakingly planned tour de force of arena-rock showmanship.nN/After an energetic (if coolly received) opening set by post-punk diva PJ Harvey, the four lads from Dublin hit the stage in laid-back style. Casually dressed under undimmed lights, they launched with no fanfare into the soaring, soulful Elevation, from their current hit album, All That You Can”t Leave Behind.nBono started working the crowd almost immediately. Singing easily and striding along the runway that looped onto the floor, he stretched out his hand to his adoring fans. It was a gesture he would repeat all night, now teasing them by waving his fingers inches from theirs, now grasping hands firmly like a Pope offering his blessing.nIs this guy a rock star or what?nN/At first the staging was low-key. Four video screens offered close-ups of each band member in understated black and white, and after the house lights went down, the band was illuminated by simple spotlights during such serious-minded anthems as New Year”s Day. But before long it was time to serve up a little spectacle in return for the top dollar fans had spent on tickets.nDuring New York, giant scrims were lowered so Bono”s undulating shadow could be enlarged to mythic proportion. For other songs, there were dazzling light patterns dancing across the faces in the packed arena, or colorful animation on a series of video screens that rose and then disappeared behind the stage.nN/As for the music, well, these guys are pros. While Bono plied his rock-god shtick, the Edge pounded out those ringing guitar riffs that define U2”s sound. As always, Larry Mullen Jr.”s eloquent drumming laid the rhythmic foundation, with a little help from bassist Adam Clayton. Whether playing the fierce and pounding Sunday Bloody Sunday, the grandly hypnotic Bad or the angular, serrated The Fly, they recaptured the energy that has made them legendary live performers.nThe sheer breadth of the band”s two-decade repertoire made for some odd clashes in tone. One minute, Bono was crossing himself and praising God during Where the Streets Have No Name, and the next he was shaking his pelvis at the technicolor silhouette of a video-screen dancing girl during Mysterious Ways.nThe band performed these transitions with practiced ease, but what held it all together was the deafeningly devoted crowd, which sang along as readily to new tunes such as Beautiful Day as it did to already immortal anthems like Pride (In the Name of Love) — the concert”s heart-swelling climax.nN/After that, a return-to-casual encore of One and Walk On was just the proverbial icing.nReach Lengel at [email protected] or (602) 444-4896.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_28_2001_-_phoenix_arizona_usa_-_america_west_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery18]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_28_2001_-_phoenix_arizona_usa_-_america_west_arena/08-thumb-120×88-2190.jpg” width=”120″ height=”88″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_28_2001_-_phoenix_arizona_usa_-_america_west_arena/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery18]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_28_2001_-_phoenix_arizona_usa_-_america_west_arena/09-thumb-120×93-2192.jpg” width=”120″ height=”93″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_28_2001_-_phoenix_arizona_usa_-_america_west_arena/10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery18]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_28_2001_-_phoenix_arizona_usa_-_america_west_arena/10-thumb-120×111-2194.jpg” width=”120″ height=”111″ alt=”10.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_28_2001_-_phoenix_arizona_usa_-_america_west_arena/11.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery18]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/april_28_2001_-_phoenix_arizona_usa_-_america_west_arena/11-thumb-120×110-2196.jpg” width=”120″ height=”110″ alt=”11.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Arizona Republicn’, ‘April 28, 2001 – Phoenix, Arizona, USA – America West Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘april-28-2001-phoenix-arizona-usa-america-west-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-04-28 21:38:49’, ‘2001-04-29 01:38:49’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=156’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(157, 1, ‘2001-05-01 22:13:43’, ‘2001-05-02 02:13:43’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nStar TribunenU2 And Bono Give Emotional Concertnby Jon BreamnNever has an arena seemed so small. So intimate. So personal.nThere were Bono and the Edge of U2, the band that extravagantly redefined stadium rock in the 1990s, standing at the point of a heart-shaped runway extending from the stage at Target Center on Tuesday night. Bono had just dedicated a number to punk-rock pioneer Joey Ramone, a U2 friend who had died two weeks ago, by saying, “Joey has turned a song about a hangover into a gospel tune. That”s how cool he is.”nWith a weary falsetto, backed only by Edge”s guitar, Bono sang about how “in a little while the hurt will hurt no more.” He was not singing to a rabid sellout crowd. He was singing from his heart to that special place we all have — to our inner self — like it was a prayer to his soul.nFor once, Bono, who tends to turn every song — even ballads — into anthems, underplayed it and played it just right. He and Edge continued, with the lustful “Desire” set to a Bo Diddley beat and the pleading “Stay,” crooned like Sinatra — both songs delivered with undeniable conviction but as if these stars were in a living room with no audience but their own Muses.nThen Bono, 40, slipped into his rock-star role, one he has played so well for the past two decades. He rallied the faithful for “Bad” and then sprinted around the heart runway for “Where the Streets Have No Name,” invigorating the faithful like a politician giving a fire-and-brimstone speech.nThe intimacy and the anthems added up to a wonderfully satisfying concert, with as much deep emotional resonance as you”ll ever experience at an arena rock concert — unless you”re seeing Bruce Springsteen.nThe focus of U2”s 130-minute concert was songs from its exceptional 2000 album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” which was more personal and less global. Eschewing the spectacles of the past few tours, Bono, Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen walked onstage while the houselights were still on and started “Elevation,” sending the crowd into an up-close-and-personal rock ”n” roll frenzy.nThe ensuing “Beautiful Day,” which just won Grammys for record and song of the year, showed what sets U2 apart even when the quartet plays nonpolitical anthems. The tune energized the crowd in a happy way, not in the typical rock song as release of aggressioanger/angst, but in a celebration of joy.nN/Although the concert ran the gamut of human emotions from goodbye, despair and death, to love, religion and Irish politics, it felt like an evening full of joy. Those aforementioned intimate moments stand out, but the 18,000 fans likely went home singing such oldies as the urgent “I Will Follow,” the ever-galvanizing “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and the determined “With or Without You.” Every way you look at it, it was a beautiful night.n– Jon Bream is at [email protected] or 612-673-1719.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/01-thumb-120×83-2198.jpg” width=”120″ height=”83″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/02-thumb-120×90-2200.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/03-thumb-90×120-2202.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/04-thumb-120×90-2204.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/05-thumb-90×120-2206.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/06-thumb-90×120-2208.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/07-thumb-90×120-2210.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/08-thumb-90×120-2212.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/09-thumb-120×90-2214.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/10-thumb-90×120-2216.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”10.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/11.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/11-thumb-90×120-2218.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”11.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/12.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/12-thumb-120×90-2220.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”12.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/13.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/13-thumb-90×120-2222.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”13.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/14.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery71]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_1_2001_-_minneapolis_minnesota_usa_-_target_center/14-thumb-90×120-2224.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”14.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Star Tribune; © Stephane Magnen’, ‘May 1, 2001 – Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA – Target Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-1-2001-minneapolis-minnesota-usa-target-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-01 22:13:43’, ‘2001-05-02 02:13:43’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=157’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(158, 1, ‘2001-05-03 22:21:35’, ‘2001-05-04 02:21:35’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, I Remember You, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nCleveland Plain-DealernBono”s Applicants For World”s Best Band Show They Qualifynby John SoedernN/A few months ago at the Grammy Awards, U2 lead singer Bono said his group was applying for the position of “best band in the world.” Performing last night at Gund Arena, the Irish quartet flaunted all the necessary qualifications, including a charisma-dripping frontman and a sterling repertoire of enduring rock anthems.nThe job interview – er, concert – got under way when Bono, guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. strolled onstage with the lights up and launched into “Elevation,” a rousing new tune.nThis was their first Northeast Ohio appearance since 1992, when the Zoo TV tour rolled into the Richfield Coliseum. Five years later, the PopMart tour passed us by because the demolition of Cleveland Municipal Stadium left no local venue large enough to accommodate U2”s most elaborate production.nNow U2 has gone back to basics, ditching the sensory overload of its ”90s shows in favor of a more intimate arena-rocking experience. Nobody missed the giant lemon or other props.nMuch of the action last night took place on a heart-shaped runway that extended into the sea of humanity on the arena floor. The unique setup virtually eliminated the barrier between band and audience.nDuring “Until the End of the World,” Bono stooped to kiss a female fan. He spent the rest of the night making a noble effort to touch every last one of the concertgoers who reached out to him as if he were a faith healer.nThe show drew heavily from U2”s latest album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” with a few ”80s gems scattered throughout the set. Bono slipped a few bars of Bob Marley”s “Get Up, Stand Up” into “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” the Edge”s guitar rang out like a bell during “I Will Follow” and the familiar groove of “New Year”s Day,” propelled by Clayton and Mullen, drew a roar of approval.nBono projected his powerful voice to every corner of the packed venue. He”s not as breathy as he used to be, although he still looks as if he”s riding an invisible surfboard up there.nSurely Bono was referring to himself during “Kite” when he sang: “The last of the rock stars / When hip-hop drove the big cars.”nHe dedicated the latter tune to the old-timers who caught U2 in concert 20 years ago at the Agora in Cleveland. The gospel-tinged “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of” was offered up on behalf of the late Micheal Hutchence of INXS.nBono paid tribute to another fallen hero, Joey Ramone, before “In a Little While,” which Bono sang with only the Edge”s acoustic guitar as accompaniment. The unplugged interlude also included “Desire” and the breathtaking ballad “Stay.”nCongratulations, lads. By the final encore, a soul-stirring version of “Walk On,” it was clear: You got the job.nOpening act PJ Harvey got everyone”s attention with a solo rendition of “Rid of Me,” an unhinged love song. Her growls and caterwauls scared the daylights out of the gathering throng.nThe riveting British singer-guitarist was joined by a four-piece band for “This Is Love,” “Man-Size” and other raw rock outbursts that packed a cathartic punch.nE-mail: [email protected] Phone: 216-999-4562nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/01-thumb-120×90-2226.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/02-thumb-120×90-2228.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/03-thumb-90×120-2230.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/04-thumb-120×90-2232.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/05-thumb-120×90-2234.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/06-thumb-90×120-2236.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/07-thumb-120×90-2238.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/08-thumb-120×90-2240.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery26]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_3_2001_-_cleveland_ohio_usa_-_gund_arena/09-thumb-120×90-2242.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Daniel Hazardn’, ‘May 3, 2001 – Cleveland, Ohio, USA – Gund Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-3-2001-cleveland-ohio-usa-gund-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-03 22:21:35’, ‘2001-05-04 02:21:35’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=158’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(159, 1, ‘2001-05-04 22:35:52’, ‘2001-05-05 02:35:52’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nLexington Herald LeadernU2 Reinvents Itself With Old, New NumbersnElevation Tour takes band to new heightsnBy Walter Tunis, contributing music criticn”All right, Kentucky… elevate!”nThat was the friendly but firm battle cry Bono used to unleash U2 on a Rupp Arena crowd of 16,000 last night for its first Bluegrass performance in more than 13 years.nBy mixing a lean blend of new tunes, old favorites and a few affectionate nods to fallen heroes, U2 didn”t so much re-establish its vitality as a band and its place in today”s mainstream as reinvent it.nGone largely from the two-hour performance was the pomp and props of U2”s ”90s years. In their place was an intensely audience-friendly show that placed lead singer Bono and the boys squarely in the hands and hearts of their fans.nN/After the band opened with Elevation and a celebratory Beautiful Day, one of the evening”s most remarkable and energized moments unfolded. As Bono and U2 guitarist The Edge journeyed down the stage”s extended heart-shaped ramp to the center of the Rupp crowd, the singer wound up on his back. Whether it was by accident or intent was hard to say, but as The Edge bore down with a solo that seemed to rattle the earth, Bono responded by kicking his compadre”s guitar. Then slapping it with his hand. Then whipping it with his microphone. It was a snapshot of U2 at its most delightfully reckless.nLater, in the exact same spot the heart”s tip Bono and The Edge squared off again, but with far friendlier fire, thanks to a soulful and ragged duet version of Desire and an acoustic reworking of Zooropa”s Stay (Faraway, So Close!).nIn practical terms, these seemingly opposing moments spoke volumes for the 21st-century U2. There were echoes of the band”s upstart ”80s beginnings, as in a still-solemn Sunday Bloody Sunday. But the real power came when U2 re-examined the promise of its past before last night”s largely college-age crowd.nCase in point: brief footage just before the concert”s half-hour encore of film icon-turned-National Rifle Association chieftain Charlton Heston proclaiming “a gun is only bad in the hands of a bad person.” The clip faded to a shot of a toddler playfully pulling a firearm out of a shopping bag and U2 blasting into Bullet the Blue Sky.nBut the band”s current Elevation Tour seems to seek peace and prayer as much as it does protest. Kite, one of the most striking numbers from its new All That You Can”t Leave Behind album, was performed as a quiet and contemplative song of loss. Such loss was calculated more exactly in two other new songs. Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of eulogized the late Michael Hutchence of INXS while In a Little While was dedicated to punk forefather Joey Ramone, who died last month.nLest the program sound like it was mired in sorrow, there were two set-closing Achtung Baby hits Mysterious Ways and The Fly that turned U2”s mighty mortality play into a pure pop party. PJ Harvey”s 40-minute opening was a quieter delight, mostly because the bulk of the crowd was unfamiliar with her work. But whether it was with the trio crunch of 1993”s Man Size or the more reflective quintet setting of You Said Something, Harvey”s set was a tough, spirited summit of Patti Smith-style street smarts and Chrissie Hynde-pop accessibility.nThe highlight in this Derby Eve spectacular: another U2 reinvention of the old where 1984”s Bad and the chorus from 1983”s 40 were slapped merrily together as a preface to 1987”s Where The Streets Have No Name. It was a crowning touch to a show that merrily tossed past triumphs to an eager and willing young crowd.nPerhaps no one was elevated in the strict sense of the term. But you can bet more than a few souls were uplifted.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_4_2001_-_lexington_kentucky_usa_-_rupp_arena_lexington_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery77]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_4_2001_-_lexington_kentucky_usa_-_rupp_arena_lexington_center/06-thumb-120×90-2254.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_4_2001_-_lexington_kentucky_usa_-_rupp_arena_lexington_center/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery77]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_4_2001_-_lexington_kentucky_usa_-_rupp_arena_lexington_center/08-thumb-120×90-2258.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Kevin Shaden’, ‘May 4, 2001 – Lexington, Kentucky, USA – Rupp Arena, Lexington Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-4-2001-lexington-kentucky-usa-rupp-arena-lexington-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-04 22:35:52’, ‘2001-05-05 02:35:52’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=159’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(160, 1, ‘2001-05-07 23:12:34’, ‘2001-05-08 03:12:34’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nColumbus DispatchnU2 Shows The Way To Rock An Arenanby Aaron Beck, Dispatch pop music criticnEarly last night in a sold-out Nationwide Arena, U2 finished New Year”s Day, and Bono addressed the congregation:n”The last time we saw you, we were looking at you out of a mirror- ball, lemon spaceship. The first time we saw you, almost 20 years ago to the week, we were looking at you inside the Agora, which was about as big as the mirror-ball, spaceship lemon. . . . It”s nice to be back to Earth . . . but I still miss that lemon.”nThe Irish rock band”s concerts on the Elevation Tour 2001 aren”t exactly stripped-down. Guitarist, lead singer and showman Bono, lead guitarist the Edge, drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton aren”t playing on a flatbed truck or anything. Fifteen semis are hauling U2”s stage and gear across the United States.nBut for U2, its concerts are a giant step back from the preposterous spectacles that were the past two tours. Popmart and Zooropa tried to entertain football stadiums full (or half-full in some locales) of people with giant video screens, a nightly phone call to the president, hanging automobiles and other modes of frosting.nBono didn”t make any calls last night, although he did sing into a cellphone handed to him from one of two general admission sections on the floor.nThe stage was designed to bring people closer to the band and the band closer to the people. A heart- shaped catwalk 5 feet or so above the floor encircled 300 people close to the stage. The catwalk was designed to allow Bono and the Edge to make the show feel like a show inside the Newport Music Hall (formerly the Agora), and the design did that — at least for the people inside and outside on the floor.nFor those in the cheap $45-$131 seats, four video screens in a line above the stage brought fans closer with projected black-and-white images of each band member playing U2 anthems such as Sunday Bloody Sunday, I Will Follow and Where the Streets Have No Name and several songs from the band”s back-to-basics rock album, All That You Can”t Leave Behind, including what”s become a tribute to Joey Ramone, In a Little While.nBefore the song, Bono said, “One of the reasons we thought we had a right to get together as a band was the Ramones.”nU2 started last night with the house lights up and a new tune, Elevation. They followed with Beautiful Day. The latter — a song of rebirth, living in the present tense, forgetting mistakes and noticing details that make up moments that spill into days and lives lived — was a glorious thing.nN/All night, the small stage brought the band members closer together musically than they were during Popmart. The Edge strummed a wall of notes, Clayton and Mullens Jr. nailed it all down, and Bono sang as well as he ever has. If only arena rock were played with such skill, conviction, nuance and grace every night, every day would be a beautiful day.nPJ Harvey, who opened for U2, created a menacing, fat sound with her band in songs such as Down By the Water, C”mon Billy and tunes from her new album, Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea.nN/[email protected]Images:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery91]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/01-thumb-73×120-2406.jpg” width=”73″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery91]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/08-thumb-99×120-2420.jpg” width=”99″ height=”120″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery91]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/15-thumb-120×90-2434.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”15.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/16.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery91]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/16-thumb-90×120-2436.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”16.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_7_2001_-_columbus_ohio_usa_-_nationwide_arena/17.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery91]

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(161, 1, ‘2001-05-09 23:19:17’, ‘2001-05-10 03:19:17’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-Ruby Tuesday, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One-Happy Birthday, Walk On.nRemarks:nThis is U2”s first concert in Milwaukee since 1981. On the eve of his 41st birthday, Bono sings Happy Birthday to himself at the end of ”One.”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nMilwaukee Journal-SentinelnU2 Pares Special Effects, Relies On Musicnby Dave Tianen, Journal Sentinel staffnEarly in U2”s sold-out show Wednesday night at the Bradley Center, Bono announced that he still missed his lemon.nThe lemon, in case you were one of the fortunate many who missed the band”s “Pop Mart” tour in 1997, was a giant citrus that transported the band across stadiums and then disgorged them at the front of the stage.nI suspect that not many of the fans at Wednesday”s show missed the giant fruit or, for that matter, the songs from the “Pop” album, which have disappeared along with the huge munchies. The band”s “Elevation” tour is an altogether better show.nWhat U2 has done is re-create themselves as an arena-rock band. In so doing, they”ve become bigger by going smaller. The special effects are minimal. Some translucent screens for playing off shadows. Seven risers with neon animated dancers for “Mysterious Ways.” A hand-held floodlight that Bono used to illuminate the upper decks during “Bullet the Blue Sky.”nIt was a simple stage with a heart-shaped catwalk in front and just the four band members on the stage proper. But by dispensing with all the toys, U2 was forced to rely on its music, which always has been the first and best reason to see this band.nNone of this should be taken to imply that the show was static in any sense. Bono is an active and theatrical frontman and used the large catwalk to its fullest, even putting his almost 41-year-old heart and lungs to the test of a full sprint around the perimeter.nBut this is a band that naturally generates energy through its music and the chemistry it has with its audience.nTake “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” which is a kind of battle cry for pacifism. Like many U2 songs, it has a powerful anthem quality, particularly when you have thousands and thousands of fans pumping their fists in the air and singing along. Standing at the forefront of the stage, Bono was surrounded by pumping arms. It was one of those images at large rock shows that”s mesmerizing, hypnotic and almost a bit frightening.nThis tour appears to be U2 at its most relaxed and playful. During “Until the End of the World,” Bono and The Edge engaged in a bit of bull-and-matador horseplay. At one point, Bono sang “Happy Birthday” to himself (his 41st birthday is today). He also stopped to reminisce a bit about the band”s last appearance at the old Palms club 20 years ago.nMore importantly, the band appears to have confidence in its new material and played most of the new album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind.” Although the lyrics have a typical U2 ambivalence, juxtaposing scenes of wonder and desolation, the song itself is celebration on a grand scale. In a similar vein, “New York” celebrates the city”s odd ability to both energize and exhaust, but in the context of a tune that adds its own rousing voice to the mythic experience of the Irish immigrant.nOpening for U2 was PJ Harvey. U2 often has opted for opening acts that are edgier than they are, and Polly Jean Harvey probably fits the profile. She was one of the great alt-rock critical darlings of the ”90s, but she”s never had a tiny fraction of U2”s mass audience.nThe odd thing about Harvey”s set was that she didn”t appear do anything different than she would have done if playing for a New York club crowd of 200 devoted fans. She had to be playing in front of thousands of people who had little or no idea who she was, but she hardly spoke to them or made any serious attempt to introduce herself.nN/About 25 minutes into her 45-minute set, she appeared to be finally making a connection with the crowd – partially on the strength of talking dirty to them. Nothing like an incessant chorus of “lick my legs” to wake up a crowd.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/01-thumb-120×114-2440.jpg” width=”120″ height=”114″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/03-thumb-120×93-2444.jpg” width=”120″ height=”93″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/04-thumb-120×105-2446.jpg” width=”120″ height=”105″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/05-thumb-90×120-2448.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/06-thumb-116×120-2450.jpg” width=”116″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/07-thumb-70×120-2452.jpg” width=”70″ height=”120″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/08-thumb-120×79-2454.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/09-thumb-120×84-2456.jpg” width=”120″ height=”84″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_9_2001_-_milwaukee_wisconsin_usa_-_bradley_center/10-thumb-120×78-2458.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”10.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Milwaukee Journal-Sentineln’, ‘May 9, 2001 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA – Bradley Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-9-2001-milwaukee-wisconsin-usa-bradley-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-09 23:19:17’, ‘2001-05-10 03:19:17’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=161’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(162, 1, ‘2001-05-10 00:51:47’, ‘2001-05-10 04:51:47’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation-Happy Birthday, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono celebrates his birthday, turning 41, and the band helps him celebrate it by playing a bit of The Beatles” ”Birthday” as a coda to ”Elevation.” During ”Mysterious Ways,” Bono invites a few dozen girls on stage who dance while he sings ”It”s my birthday….”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nIndianapolis StarnU2 Offers Party, Not Spiritual Experiencenby David Lindquist, Indianapolis StarnU2”s performance Thursday night was more rambunctious than the prevalent back-to-basics hype, as the band transformed Conseco Fieldhouse into a customized romper room.nIt”s possible the observance of Bono”s 41st birthday put an extra charge into the singer, his band and an audience of 16,000.nIt”s certain that no one walked away from the event equating “stripped-down performance” with “boring” or “low-tech.”nU2 — returning to arenas after the stadium adventures of Zoo TV and PopMart — rocked on a modest stage encircled by a heart-shaped catwalk.nN/About 300 fans stood inside the heart, and Bono spent much of his evening at the point — essentially the center of the arena”s floor.nIt was here that he showered himself with gold confetti, played a cell-phone gag, portrayed a bull to guitarist Edge”s matador and embarked on a full-sprint birthday lap.nPristine acoustics weren”t part of this top-dollar concert experience, but Bono”s charisma probably pushed you through.nDuring a rendition of Mysterious Ways, his bring-a-girl-up-for-a-dance routine swelled to a gaggle of 25 women. While Bono said he felt like Hugh Hefner, the moment was G-rated Bloodhound Gang fare.nStill, any spontaneity was appreciated on a night when the reprise of Sunday Bloody Sunday sounded rote rather than revolutionary.nFortunately, Bono and the Edge became generous with memorable moments when they busked as a twosome during Desire and Zooropa gem Stay (Faraway, So Close!).nFans in the balcony had to enjoy a break from Adam Clayton”s ultra-reverberating bass, and it was simply nice to see singer and guitarist in tight interaction.nHope and encouragement are the overriding themes of the band”s current album, All That You Can”t Leave Behind.nSomewhat surprisingly, the hardscrabble tune New York was the best of the tunes played from that album.nBono, channeling Big Apple icons Lou Reed and Frank Sinatra, stalked the heart amid shadowy girders.nThe arid, organic imagery of The Joshua Tree is ancient history.nU2 has emerged on the other side of Zoo TV/PopMart more tough than warm and fuzzy.nIf souls were elevated on Thursday night, concertgoers met the band on those terms.nContact David Lindquist at 1-317-444-6404 or via e-mail at [email protected]Images:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery15]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/02-thumb-120×90-2462.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery15]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/03-thumb-120×90-2464.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery15]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/04-thumb-120×90-2466.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery15]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/05-thumb-120×90-2468.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery15]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_10_2001_-_indianapolis_indiana_usa_-_conseco_fieldhouse/06-thumb-120×90-2470.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Indianapolis Star; © Kevin Shaden’, ‘May 10, 2001 – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA – Conseco Fieldhouse’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-10-2001-indianapolis-indiana-usa-conseco-fieldhouse’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-10 00:51:47’, ‘2001-05-10 04:51:47’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=162’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(163, 1, ‘2001-05-12 01:29:40’, ‘2001-05-12 05:29:40’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation-Happy Birthday, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One-Wake Up Dead Man, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono invites a fan named Jonathan on-stage to play piano during ”Stay.” By all accounts, the fan plays flawlessly and this version of the song is a big success. Bono also dances with a girl during ”Mysterious Ways” (which is a regular occurrence in general at U2 Elevation shows).nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nChicago Daily HeraldnU2 Elevates The Music, Tones Down The Stagenby Mark Guarino, Daily Herald Music CriticnTraditionally, politicians and rock stars are like oil and water. But there was Bono – lead singer of the Irish rock band U2 – pressing the flesh and posing for photos at the United Center Saturday like a candidate motivated by fear of hanging chads.nN/A band strident about politics in the past, the major issue on this current “Elevation” tour – including three more nights in Chicago – is just the music. Strange that should be big news for a group of musicians, but what happens when a band makes its best albums and becomes the biggest band in the world, and its members are only in their early thirties?nIf that band is U2 over 10 years ago, it plows on, attempts to reinvent itself numerous times and embarks on high-concept stadium tours that grow more and more elaborate until irony-inducing stage props like giant mirrorball lemons and hanging Volkswagens take over – literally and figuratively – the music.nWith U2 entering its third decade, it became time to reassess, which is what this current tour, and its accompanying album, is all about.nLike Bruce Springsteen, who last hit the road touting just his glory days without draped flags and fist-pumping patriotism, U2 stuck to the basics. The only stage novelties were two ramps that curved into the floor, creating a heart-shaped pit for about 350 fans to cram into and for Bono and band to walk out on top of.nThat simple device became an essential part of the show. A larger-than-life stage prop himself, Bono strode through the crowd striking poses, stepping out onto security barricades and playing the raging bull to guitarist The Edge”s bullfighter. The entire floor was general admission, which, while making security watchdogs antsy, provided handy visuals – like the sea of hands clapping out the Bo Diddley beat on “Desire.”nCrafty manipulation like that was not necessary when the band performed classic anthems early in the set including “New Year”s Day” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” often with the house lights thrown up. “I Will Follow,” recorded when they were still teens, sounded cranked out of a garage as each of the foursome, including bassist Adam Clayton, huddled around drummer Larry Mullen Jr.nBut even as those early songs shaped U2”s political thought, political statements were tossed aside, kind of like those Irish flags that kept landing at Bono”s feet from the crowd. Tasteful theatrical touches – a thin bank of lights behind the band, draped scrims, a smattering of strobe lights – gave an artful effect that never became overbearing.nThe often powerful show was stunted somewhat when Bono played both runway model and Frankenstein”s monster for the new song “New York.” He woefully tried getting the Second City crowd to wax romantic about the Big Apple. Then there was that backhanded tribute to Joey Ramone, who died just weeks ago. Instead of launching into a Ramones song, the band played the U2 song he heard just as he passed away.nIn the night”s most impromptu moment, a fan touting his piano skills was invited up to play keyboards for “Stay (Faraway, So Close!),” which he did with skill.nBono told the crowd it was 20 years ago this week when U2 played the Park West at $1 a ticket. “Some things have changed,” he said. But as one banner in the crowd declared “U2 remembers,” it was a show tough to forget.nN/As U2 downscaled its stadium appeal, opener P.J. Harvey was just trying hers out. With her banshee octave wailing filling the arena, the songs from her new album were sexy, rugged and dangerous.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/01-thumb-120×98-2472.jpg” width=”120″ height=”98″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/02-thumb-120×81-2474.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/03-thumb-120×80-2476.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/04-thumb-80×120-2478.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/05-thumb-75×120-2480.jpg” width=”75″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/06-thumb-80×120-2482.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/07-thumb-120×80-2484.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery51]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_12_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/08-thumb-93×120-2486.jpg” width=”93″ height=”120″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Chicago Daily Herald; © David Connelln’, ‘May 12, 2001 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-12-2001-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-12 01:29:40’, ‘2001-05-12 05:29:40’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=163’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(164, 1, ‘2001-05-13 01:40:11’, ‘2001-05-13 05:40:11’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, Discothèque-Staring At The Sun, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nThe Music BoxnN/All You Need Is Lovenby John MetzgernN/After a decade of pushing the boundaries of their stage show, the members of U2 decided to pare things down significantly for their latest concert tour. Gone were nearly all of the fun-filled gimmicks and gadgets. There were no giant lemons. No suspended automobiles. And no calls to President Bush (the first or second). All that remained were four musicians, several video screens, and a giant stage, which sprawled out into the audience and provided an intimate glimpse of the band for most of those in attendance at Chicago”s United Center on May 13.nSome might question whether U2 could handle the pressure the group had created for itself. Even before the tour had begun, Bono had proclaimed the group as the greatest rock band, and here he was — along with Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr., and The Edge — to prove it. There was little fanfare or flash, and there were no crutches upon which the band could lean. Just music. Tremendously wonderful, powerful, inspirational music.nYes, U2 had pulled it off — better than anyone might have imagined. The band opened the show with a rousing Elevation and flawlessly kept the momentum building from there. Bono”s energy was seemingly boundless as he ran circles around the stage, pouring his heart and soul into his liquid vocals. Instead of playing it safe, he and the band tackled the virtually unknown The Ground Beneath Her Feet; they recast familiar songs like Mysterious Ways and The Fly, bathing them in the dance-beat essence explored on Pop; and at times, they fearlessly veered off, taking a song into another musical direction entirely. For example, INXS”s Devil Inside emerged from the ecstasy-drenched beat of Discotheque, and this too transformed itself into a sparse Staring at the Sun, only to fall flat when the audience failed to carry the vocals beyond the first line of the chorus. But instead of caving in, the band dug in deeper, pushing New York from a bare whisper to a crushing onslaught of guitar and rhythm and delivering I Will Follow with a blazing intensity that fell somewhere between Them and The Ramones.nWhere some artists attempting this same stripped-down, back-to-their-roots feat might turn quite heavily to their first few albums, U2 scattered the tried and true among its more recent creations. Of the 22 songs performed, only seven of them pre-dated the ”90s — and half were culled from the band”s last two albums (if you include The Ground Beneath Her Feet, which was written between them). This allowed the group to keep its message in tact — one which it has been exploring and expanding upon for much of the past decade and one which is an integral part of the recent release All That You Can”t Leave Behind.nDuring the initial portion of the concert, the songs (Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone) were grouped together in a gentle prodding to forsake material possessions and seek something more meaningful. The middle segment (I Will Follow and Sunday Bloody Sunday) seemed to be a call for change, while the final act (The Sweetest Thing, All I Want Is You, In a Little While) focused on opening one”s heart to love.nTaking a page from their own book, U2 simplified the show significantly, allowing the music to carry this message. Elevation was sung without even dimming the house lights, and the special effects were kept to a minimum throughout the first half of the show. It wasn”t until the end of the night that the screens really began to spring to life, but by then, they were merely ornamentations, not the focus of attention. As such, they provided images and text that underscored or mutated the meanings behind the songs. Charlton Heston and the NRA were ravaged by Bullet the Blue Sky, and With or Without You became more about the group asking its audience to follow its lead than a struggle with spirituality. And the encores of One and Walk On were the most fitting conclusion possible. The former has been performed countless times by the band, and yet it still sounded as refreshed and vital as ever. More so, it”s become akin to John Lennon”s Imagine: A universal prayer for mankind. And as the latter”s coda scrolled up the walls of the arena, U2 drove home their point: Love is the answer. It”s all you need and all that you can”t leave behind.nPJ Harvey opened the show with a high-energy, but largely innocuous set of angst-riddled rock. No doubt part of the problem lay in the horrific, echo-laden sound mix, which was about as bad as that of Tinley Park”s New World Music Theatre. However, lead singer Polly Jean Harvey”s tendency to belt out banshee-like wails and the band”s lack of sonic diversity also played a role in the group”s inability to engage the audience.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery19]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/01-thumb-120×90-2488.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery19]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/02-thumb-120×90-2490.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery19]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/03-thumb-79×120-2492.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery19]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/04-thumb-79×120-2494.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery19]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_13_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/05-thumb-80×120-2496.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Keith Jakubowski; © Ian Hiaringn’, ‘May 13, 2001 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-13-2001-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-13 01:40:11’, ‘2001-05-13 05:40:11’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=164’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(165, 1, ‘2001-05-15 01:46:54’, ‘2001-05-15 05:46:54’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Discothèque-Staring At The Sun, New York, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, 11 O”Clock Tick Tock, Out Of Control, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nRemarks:n”11 O”Clock Tick Tock” makes its tour debut tonight, but it takes the band two tries to get it right. The Edge has guitar problems and has to get a new guitar from his technician before the song can proceed. That song is followed by ”Out of Control”, which is played for the first time in over 11 years. Interestingly, the last time these two songs were played at a full tour concert (January 10, 1990, Rotterdam), they were also played consecutivelynn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nU2.comnU2 Elevation 2001, United Center, Chicago, Show Threenby U2.comnCould this be the start of a trend ?nN/A female fan is wearing an ”Edge Girl” slogan on her t-shirt tonight. A sign from another fan reads, Larry Rocks.nThese are not the only firsts in Chicago. Tonight we have the first Elevation 2001 outings for both 11 o”clock Tick Tock and Out of Control, still thrilling after all these years.nIn fact Out of Control is so special that the band can”t recall playing it live for the best part of two decades. And as for special guests, tonight we have an extra special guest, the son of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.nMeanwhile, a fan apparently fingered by the nimble-fingered vocalist at Saturday”s show, is desperately seeking shades. ”Please can I have my glasses back Bono?” reads the sign, while another says ”Bono, did you find what you were looking for?”. Doubtless someone else did – their sign reads, ”My first U2 Concert”nEdge is wearing his No. 21 t-shirt tonight, but in a subtle sartorial variation, it”s a black T, not the customary red. Beautiful Day offers a special lyrical nod to the Windy City (”Love this town, Chicago”) which perhaps explains the energy tonight.n”This is our first single on Island Records,” explains Bono, as the band start up ”11 o”clock Tick Tock”. Edge”s guitar seems to be out of tune so they do a double-take. ”This is our second single on Island Records.” Same problem, another false start. ”I”m not sure my heart could take that twice.” Third time lucky and the song goes down a storm.nN/And to another debut. From ”our first single on Island Records” to ”our very first single”. This, apparently, is a surprise to Edge, who later reveals that he had been expecting the song to be in the final Chicago performance – they haven”t played it in 20 years. Still no-one extemporises like Edge.nSoon Bono is introducing Adam and Larry to the good people of Chicago, most of whom seem to have extensive previous knowledge.n”This is a song that Joey Ramone transformed,” says the vocalist as In A Little While is introduced. ”A lovely song and he turned it from a song about a hangover into a gospel song, well that”s all I”m hearing now when I hear this song.”nN/As Edge sings the last line, the guitarist and singer clasp hands and embrace.n”So any punk rock groups or any kind of bands or DJ”s or anyone stuck on the trail that might take you 20 years later to a city like Chicago…” Desire is for all of them.nN/And then a longer than usual introduction to Stay from Bono, recalling a night long ago just after it was time to dream it all up again and just before the Baby was born. ”Berlin, it was very, very fucking cold there when we wrote this song and a couple of others at Hansa Studios by the wall. ”We came into Berlin when the wall was coming down and there was a party to celebrate the unification of Germany. We were on the last flight into Berlin, we had the skies to ourselves and the captain said over the loud speaker, ”We”re the last flight into Berlin and we”re going to take you on a tour of the town. ”We flew over Berlin and we thought this is a bombs away situation but we were happy. They were throwing a party for the celebration but everyone looked like they were having a crap time. We realised we came to the party that was protesting the pulling down of the wall..”nStay closes with ”London, Belfast, Chicago” before Bad opens up and Mysterious Ways is here with a lyrical nod to travelling companion P J Harvey as Bono sings ” Lick my legs, I”m on fire.” (Expect fan signs shortly reading, ”Bono, my tongue is yours” and ”Will lick your legs anytime.”)n”What does that sign say ?” asks Bono as The Fly begins. ”You want to dance with my wife, I don”t dance, I dance for my life…” whereupon The Fly tears the United Center apart and Bono rips his shirt up, pressing himself against the video screens and singing ”Goodbye, goodbye” until the end of the song.n”Thanks for coming out and thanks for giving us a great life,” he says after Pride (In The Name of Love) and before One. ”Thanks to PJ Harvey, thank you for following us down the Jubilee trail. There”s a lot that 18,000 people can do if they put their minds to it.”nThere”s a lot that just one can do. Walk On is dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest in Burma. Her son, here tonight, will doubtless pass on the message.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/01-thumb-120×90-2498.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/03-thumb-120×90-2502.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/04-thumb-120×90-2504.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/05-thumb-79×120-2506.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/06-thumb-83×120-2508.jpg” width=”83″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/07-thumb-83×120-2510.jpg” width=”83″ height=”120″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/08-thumb-120×79-2512.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_15_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/09-thumb-80×120-2514.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Keith Jakubowski; © Ian Hiaringn’, ‘May 15, 2001 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-15-2001-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-15 01:46:54’, ‘2001-05-15 05:46:54’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=165’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(166, 1, ‘2001-05-16 01:53:32’, ‘2001-05-16 05:53:32’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, The Fly, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, One, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, Angel Of Harlem, I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For, All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky-Young Americans, With Or Without You, Beautiful Day, I Remember You, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nU2.comnU2 Elevation 2001, United Center, Chicago, Show Fournby U2.comnThank You for the ElephantnFourth of four sold out nights here at the United Center in Chicago and the last show before band and crew take a short break mid-tour – maybe this explains why suddenly a lot of things get thrown up in the air just to see how they might land.nI Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For gets a debut airing tonight, Wake Up Dead Man receives a small resurrection and Beautiful Day goes from one end of the set to another.nStill, what can you expect with the debut appearance of a small battalion of feather boas in the heart tonight, someone carrying a sign reading ”The Edge for Pope” and another, suggesting the unusual demographic of the audience, ”Dance with me and my mum”. And so courteous and thoughtful this audience – someone even carries a sign thanking members of the crew.nThe band have enjoyed their week in Chicago. ”We have a lot of friends here,” explains Bono, ”Some really beautiful long nights here. ”I spent my birthday here – thank you for the elephant, it was a great present to find outside. This is for a friend we lost along the way, a great mate and a great singer. It”s kind of an argument you might have but you can”t ”cos they”re not around anymore…”nThe Real Thing has become One which has become Until The End of the World and New Year”s Day before this nightly dedication to the late Michael Hutchence.n”The Irish have been coming here for years,” says Bono, as New York begins and he snatches a line from Joy Division”s Transmission – ”dance, dance, dance to the radio” – and, he is still reminiscing in I Will Follow. ”Twenty odd years ago I came walking down these streets, twenty odd years ago same tunes, same beats, I got a song to sing, I got a melody, I got a song to sing… ”Never trust a singer telling every city the same thing just to make it go their way but I”m … different.”nN/And the ovation of approval from the crowd suggest they agree and are soon singing Sunday Bloody Sunday with U2, while Bono hugs Edge and knocks the plug out of his guitar, helpfully humming a tune to pass the time as the guitarist sorts it out.nHe kisses an Irish flag from a fan and hands it back before they take it carefully home to a thousand anecdotes and, with Sweetest Thing, refers to his own sweetest: ”Going home, gonna see my baby, my baby has a baby.”nLarry Mullen Jnr plays drums for U2, ”Lord” Adam Clayton (”looking a bit sleepy tonight”) plays bass guitar, The Edge (”Wearing the No. 7 shirt tonight.”) plays the other guitar and the band play on, surprising everyone with the reconfigured set list. Angel of Harlem, Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For (”haven”t sung this for about 3 years, it”s an old b-side of ours.”) All I Want Is You, Where the Streets Have No Name , Pride (In The Name of Love).n”Thanks for taking us in, says Bono to Chicago. ”I want to dedicate this to the Chicago Peace Museum, lest we forget, lest we forget…”nBeautiful Day leads to I Remember You, ”a song that Joey Ramone taught me when I was 16 years old” which segues into Walk On and the Chicago chapter of Elevation 2001 draws to a close.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_16_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery73]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_16_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/01-thumb-120×84-2516.jpg” width=”120″ height=”84″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_16_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery73]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_16_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/02-thumb-89×120-2518.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_16_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery73]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_16_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/03-thumb-120×71-2520.jpg” width=”120″ height=”71″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_16_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery73]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_16_2001_-_chicago_illinois_usa_-_united_center/04-thumb-98×120-2522.jpg” width=”98″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Missy; © Linda Wasten’, ‘May 16, 2001 – Chicago, Illinois, USA – United Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-16-2001-chicago-illinois-usa-united-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-16 01:53:32’, ‘2001-05-16 05:53:32’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=166’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(167, 1, ‘2001-05-24 21:18:32’, ‘2001-05-25 01:18:32’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation-Mr. Tambourine Man, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Discothèque-Staring At The Sun, New York, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One-Forever Young, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono adds parts of Bob Dylan”s ”Mr. Tambourine Man” in ”Elevation” and sings an abbreviated ”Forever Young” at the end of ”One” as tribute to the legendary singer who turned 60 years old today.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nToronto SunnU2 Hit Lift-Off At ACCnBono and band in outstanding form as Elevation 2001 Tour thrills Toronto fansnBy Jane StevensonnTORONTO — Bono may not have his magician”s license.nBut there was plenty of levitation, rock ”n” roll style, going on at last night”s wildly uplifting U2 show — the first evening of a sold-out two-night stand at the Air Canada Centre.nThe frontman for the veteran Irish band, who became a dad for the fourth time just this past Monday, playfully led his group through an energized and exciting two-hour concert in front of some 18,000 fans. Ê Touring arenas in North America for the first time in a decade, U2 have strived to get closer to their audience this time out by performing in smaller venues on their Elevation 2001 Tour and constructing their tiny stage inside a heart-shaped, red-coloured catwalk on the floor.nThe intimacy thing appears to have paid off, both for them and their faithful following. Ê About 300 lucky concert-goers, who payed for general admission tickets, lined up early to receive wristbands that would allow them inside the hollowed-out heart with the band.nN/As U2 did on their opening night two months ago in Florida, Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr., casually strode into the arena with the lights fully up and launched the concert with Elevation from their latest album, All That You Can”t Leave Behind.nBono, who”s been dropping other people”s songs into U2 classics since the beginning of the tour, wasted no time with the opener as he shouted out “Happy Birthday Bob Dylan!” and then sang a snippet of Mr. Tambourine Man as he patrolled the catwalk. (Dylan turned 60 yesterday and for the encore, Bono delivered an abbreviated, stripped-down version of Forever Young.)nClearly two months of touring, not to mention the heady experience of siring a son, have bolstered the singer”s already awesome stage presence. When Bono wasn”t lying down on the catwalk or diving off it into the crowd, he was running sprints around it.nN/As for The Edge, his trademark echoey-guitar sound was the other highlight of a big-sounding show.n”We played the Maple Leaf Ballroom (a 300-seater on St. Clair West) here about 20 years ago, and I just want to say, you have a lot of patience,” said Bono. “It”s taken us a few years to get back in a ”club”. We have a lot of mates here in Toronto, and it”s just really spoiled us.”nThe band followed their equally powerful second song, Beautiful Day, with Until The End Of The World, and to the delight of fans, Bono and The Edge played bull and matador, respectively, on the catwalk while audience members stretched out their arms towards them.nThe fourth tune of the night, Discotheque, saw Bono perched at the very front of the catwalk holding onto fan”s hands while he grooved to the music, and the follow-up, New York, proved to be just as effective a hipshaker.nN/Another big improvement over opening night was the show”s pacing, with nary a dull moment last night. They made better use of the four overhead video screens, onto which black-and-white images of each individual band member were projected, along with transparent screens that dropped down around the stage.nBono got more serious on the fifth and six songs, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of and Kite, dedicating them to his late friend, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence and “people you love,” respectively.nBut the group quickly upped the energy level again, most dramatically during I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday — which prompted the first big singalong of the evening — and the barnburners Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways and The Fly.nN/Another difference from the tour launch was the inclusion of an anti-gun film right before Bullet The Blue Sky, which showed CharltonHeston spouting pro-gun nonsense before an unattended little girl ran through her livingroom and stumbled upon a weapon.nIt took Bono until the encore before he mentioned his newest family member: “Thanks to my missus for giving me such a beautiful boy.”nIn the same speech, he thanked Canadian Finance Minister Paul Martin for all he”s done towards third-world debt. “In Canada, you”re leading the way on debt issues. So you”ve got to give him credit. He”s a good man.”nFamous fans spotted at last night”s show included movie star Harrison Ford, who took in the Oasis/Black Crowes gig at the Molson Amphitheatre earlier this week and also reportedly attended David Gray”s Warehouse concert last month. Who does this guy think he is? Leonardo DiCaprio?nOpening last night for U2 was British singing-songwriting dynamo PJ Harvey who was chosen by the band for their entire North American tour, although she was unable to make the launch in Florida due to a nasty fever. (Canadian Nelly Furtado was chosen as a last-minute replacement for two early dates.)nHarvey, backed by a loud, tight four-piece, certainly seemed fully recovered last night as she howled her way through an 11-song, 45-minute set dominated by material from her latest, New York City-inspired album, Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/01-thumb-82×120-2524.jpg” width=”82″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/02-thumb-84×120-2526.jpg” width=”84″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/03-thumb-88×120-2528.jpg” width=”88″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/04-thumb-87×120-2530.jpg” width=”87″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/05-thumb-80×120-2532.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/06-thumb-120×80-2534.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/07-thumb-80×120-2536.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/08-thumb-120×80-2538.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_24_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/09-thumb-85×120-2540.jpg” width=”85″ height=”120″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Associated Press; © Toronto Sunn’, ‘May 24, 2001 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-24-2001-toronto-ontario-canada-air-canada-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-24 21:18:32’, ‘2001-05-25 01:18:32’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=167’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(168, 1, ‘2001-05-25 21:25:32’, ‘2001-05-26 01:25:32’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, Out Of Control, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One-Unchained Melody, Walk On.nRemarks:nCanada”s MuchMusic TV network broadcasts live from the arena before the show and airs snippets of several songs throughout the night. Tonight”s ”Stay” is shown June 3 at an Amnesty benefit concert in London.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nToronto SunnU2: Up Close And PersonalnAfter finishing second show at ACC, Irish supergroup meets and greets fans at MuchnBy Jane StevensonnTORONTO — There was some major added value to U2”s second sold-out show at the Air Canada Centre last night in Toronto.nN/After whipping through an hour-and-forty-minute set, the Irish supergroup raced over to MuchMusic”s studios at Queen and John Sts. where they took part in an lengthy, lively chat with veejay George Stroumboulopoulos.nHundreds of people waited for hours in the rain outside the Much environment to get a glimpse of U2 frontman Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. in conversation.n”Particular hairdo”nN/And fans were rewarded with some choice bon mots, from Bono in particular, along with a visit outside to the street where the four band members signed autographs and shook hands with fans.nWhen initially shown some footage from U2”s 1981 show at the now long-gone Maple Leaf Ballroom in Toronto, Bono looked aghast and said to Stroumboulopoulos: “You want to step outside? As extraordinary as that particular hairdo is, much more extraordinary was to follow. We had the mullett, right about the mid-”80s.”nN/As for queries about the secret to U2”s longevity and what”s kept them together for the past two decades, Bono joked: “We”re all gay. You have a problem with that?nHe added later: “Being in a band is a bit like being in the mob or the priesthood, you won”t get out of it while you”re alive.”nBono also claimed all of the band arguments revolved around “the deli tray, mostly.”nOn a more serious note, Bono spoke about the recent death of Joey Ramone, who reportedly passed away of cancer in his New York hospital bed listening to the U2 song, In A Little While, from their latest album, All That You Can”t Leave Behind.n”Joey Ramone, what was extraordinary about him, is he”s more of an anti-hero really. Punk rock — it”s a spirit, more than it is anything else. Once it becomes a uniform or a set of records, it”s not as interesting. What Joey Ramone did for us, he told us, when we were 15 and 16, that you could be in a rock ”n” roll band and take it all away. That”s what The Ramones meant to us.n”And even though it”s hard for a lot of people to believe that people who are transported in a mirror ball lemon spaceship on their last tour came out of punk rock, in our heads, that was a punk-rock thing to do.”nBono also said rock-and-rollers have a tougher time getting old than artists in other fields.n”If you”re a photographer or if you were a novelist or a poet or a painter or a filmmaker, you”d just be getting the hang of things in your 30s. But most rock-and-roll bands are burnt out by their 30s. I”d like to think we”re burning up.”nStill, Bono admitted it”s not always been easy being as political a group as U2 has been over the years.n”I just sometimes would prefer we were just a pop group. I just can”t get over that Destiny”s Child record. I”m thinking, ”I want to be in a R&B band and get those dance moves down.” “nEarlier in the evening, U2 drew a crowd of 18,000 for a second night at the ACC.nIn addition to their set being 20 minutes shorter than Thursday”s show, the group didn”t quite pack the same punch of the heady first night proceedings, although Bono himself seemed to be enjoying the experience more.n”This feels good,” he said early to the crowd. “This feels looser tonight.”nSome songs included in last night”s performance that didn”t make it into Thursday”s concert were the excellent Gone from 1997”s Pop; the oldie but goodie Out Of Control from U2”s 1980 debut Boy; the recent B-side The Sweetest Thing; a stripped-down version of Desire and a pumped up All I Want Is You from 1988”s Rattle And Hum, and an abbreviated, a cappella rendition of Unchained Melody during the encore.n”Baby boy”nLast night”s celebrity du jour was none other than Saturday Night Live”s Chris “Mango” Kattan. Thursday night saw Harrison Ford grooving to the tunes.nBono, who at times struggled with his voice, admitted he”d lost the top part of his voice since coming to Toronto but garnered sympathy when he explained the reason.n”That”s because I just had a baby boy,” he said of his son born on Monday.nLater, Stroumboulopoulos presented Bono with small MuchMusic merchandise for his newborn and asked whether the infant had a name yet.n”No, it is untitled,” he said.nNext for up for U2 is a show tomorrow night in Montreal.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/01-thumb-90×120-2542.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/02-thumb-90×120-2544.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/03-thumb-120×90-2546.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/04-thumb-120×90-2548.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/05-thumb-120×90-2550.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/06-thumb-120×90-2552.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/07-thumb-120×90-2554.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery89]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_25_2001_-_toronto_ontario_canada_-_air_canada_centre/08-thumb-120×90-2556.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Hayley Coristinen’, ‘May 25, 2001 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Air Canada Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-25-2001-toronto-ontario-canada-air-canada-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-25 21:25:32’, ‘2001-05-26 01:25:32’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=168’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(169, 1, ‘2001-05-27 21:32:05’, ‘2001-05-28 01:32:05’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Discothèque-Staring At The Sun, Mysterious Ways, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, Out Of Control, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close), Bad-Norwegian Wood, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One-She”s A Mystery To Me, Walk On.nRemarks:nU2 use Spice Girls themes during the band”s introductions. Bono refers to Larry as ”Baby Spice”, Adam as ”Posh Spice” and asks The Edge if he”s ”Sporty” or ”Scary”.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nMontreal GazettenN/A Beautiful Day For U2 FansnMark Lepage, The Gazetten”Sign a petition for Jubilee 2000″ read the sign at the political action table – “Make Bono proud.”nThe implication was that good works by the kids would make the U2 singer a proud papa. But this relationship between band and fan is less parent-child than, in a sense, between peers, and 20 years on perhaps there”s enough pride to go around for everyone.nIn the first of two sell-outs, Bono was capable of remembering that far back for 20,000 fans. He remembered when “we played a place with the imaginative name of Le Club,” meaning Le Club Montreal.n”I don”t remember how many people were there but this” he gestured to a Molson Centre stuffed to the gunwales “feels just great.”nTaking the minimalist, heart-shaped stage with house lights up, the band was absurdly loose and confident, powering through Elevation, Beautiful Day, Discotheque, and Stuck in a Moment, dedicated to Michael Hutchence, the late lead singer of INXS. Even this early in the evening, it was apparent that passion and physicality would be married on that heart-shaped stage.nFirst the entrance, with Bono in heavy boots and what looked like an upmarket Plateau leather jacket, the pumping intro of Elevation with house lights up. Then the lights came down with a crackle and Beautiful Day illuminated the hall. The vocal was ragged but heartfelt – which might stand as a description of the singer.nN/A girl inside the heart-shaped crowd pit held up a sign reading Dance With Me!!! She had the right idea but the wrong execution. This was to be a redesigned version of U2 Stardom.nBono worked the crowd all night, with that lumbering grace (another Bono title – His Lumbering Grace), part drunken matador, part boxer, but all comfort. He was close, but he did it his way, reacting less to the crowd”s pleas and gestures than directing them. It was the most physical show this side of vintage Iggy, albeit with the danger sucked out and replaced with arena love and adulation.nMeanwhile, Edge worked his invisible sonic enhancements with a visible FX rack, and techno toys were revealed song by song – individual video screens in Day, strobelit floor strips in Until the End of the World, a backdrop monitor in Discotheque.nWe were moving inexorably to rock-as-church, as we always have with U2. Most churches have a charismatic leader. And here”s another great thing about church – all is forgiven.nHaving survived the weekend MusiquePlus marathon rerunning of Rattle and Hum – a friend calls it their white bellbottom-giant belt-buckle phase, their Vegas-Elvis phase – here was U2 making it better. In the Molson Centre hallways, tables for Greenpeace and Amnesty International invited fans to help build a better world. Inside, U2 had built a better band for a better mass-venue rock experience.nThere is only one way for a band that has always insisted on significance, to make this experience work, and that is to enjoy itself, to let the songs stand on their merits without turning them into a history lesson. Out of Control, reanimated after Bono knows how long, was both nostalgia and vitality. The Sweetest Thing, with Bono at the keyboard (!) was sweet. Happy, settled, confident – let him say it.n”I”d like to introduce you to the rest of the Spice Girls,” he said. “On drums, Baby Spice.” Bassist Adam Clayton was Posh, and Edge? “Are you Sporty or Scary?”nDesire and Stay (Far Away So Close) were performed as busker tunes by Bono and Edge. Bad and Where the Streets Have No Name were performed as hero anthems, as they should have been, with the singer running victory laps around the stage perimeter. Then Bono was thanking the crowd for its years of support – through the “Olympique” shows and Zoo TV, thanking them for spending their hard-earned money. It was touching, and polite, and apt.nGive credit to the crowd (Bono informed them that a stage meter had confirmed them the loudest of the tour), whose welcome for opener PJ Harvey would have been an admirable display of manners had it not simply been proof that they had the ears and eyes to recognize talent. She might have blown any other band out the back doors. As it was, she justified a touch of pride in the entire enterprise. Ninety-seven million albums later, U2 will not give up on this compromised and vital music.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery97]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/01-thumb-120×69-2558.jpg” width=”120″ height=”69″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery97]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/02-thumb-90×120-2560.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery97]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/03-thumb-90×120-2562.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery97]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/07-thumb-90×120-2570.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery97]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/08-thumb-90×120-2572.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery97]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/15-thumb-120×90-2586.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”15.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/16.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery97]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/16-thumb-90×120-2588.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”16.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/17.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery97]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_27_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/17-thumb-90×120-2590.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”17.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Montreal Gazette; © Hayley Coristinen’, ‘May 27, 2001 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Molson Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-27-2001-montreal-quebec-canada-molson-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-27 21:32:05’, ‘2001-05-28 01:32:05’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=169’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(170, 1, ‘2001-05-28 21:41:04’, ‘2001-05-29 01:41:04’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, One, Help-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Angel Of Harlem, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, The Fly, I Remember You, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono experiences vocal problems during the show, and the band drops two songs from the pre-written setlist: The Ground Beneath Her Feet and With Or Without You.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nBrad FentonnDid It Really Have To End?nby Brad FentonnI was hoping that I”d be stuck in a moment that I couldn”t get out of, but the lights eventually come back on.nSimply put, the 2 shows were amazing; the whole weekend felt like an out of body experience to me. I did my best imitation of a “groupie” walking around town for three days, checking out hotels, even walking into the Irish Pubs looking for the Boys, hey you never know!nHard work pays off. I got to “meet” Bono and the Edge before the first show, and Edge the second night. Unfortunately the “meeting” was cut short because of some over enthusiastic beatlesque fans frightened them off…. Oh well, it definitely was unforgettable though.nN/As for the shows themselves? They were great, despite some shortcomings, which weren”t necessarily all due to the band.nFirst of all, it was a shame that Bono was losing his voice, although he sounded much better the second night, but it was a true demonstration of his passion and professionalism to see him struggle so valiantly and heroically.nSecondly, it”s too bad that they had to drop a few songs because of problem #1 (With or Without You and the Ground Beneath… night 2) and cut Monday”s show short.nBut, what really disappointed me the most about both shows was the crowd. Sure they may have been loud, but they didn”t exhibit much savy. The first night saw Bono sing the Sweetest Thing, without the crowd seeming to catch on, and “40” came and went with about 40 people singing along….Heck, people stared at me like I was from another planet while I sang along to “40” (I know I can”t sing, but come on).nI think the worst examples of fan ignorance occurred the second night, when practically no one jumped on board to help on obviously struggling Bono during Help. How can you not know that one???? Also, it was a shame that I Remember You, the Joey Ramone tribute, was a curiosity at best to most.nWell, enough complaining. I just mentioned those shortcomings because several people have complained that the band didn”t make much of a connection with the crowd, but I disagree. I believe that the fans didn”t make the connection. U2 can only give as much as they can take. Boy, did I give them all I could give, and I felt like I was in heaven…….nPJ Harvey? What a voice. What passion. What a show. I”m coming to see you if you ever come to do your own show gal! Just make sure the sound is better and that your naughty amp doesn”t act up again.nCross your fingers and hope that the rumors are true; that U2 is coming back here or Ottawa in the fall.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_28_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_28_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/01-thumb-120×83-2592.jpg” width=”120″ height=”83″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_28_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_28_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/05-thumb-120×80-2600.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_28_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_28_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/06-thumb-120×80-2602.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_28_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_28_2001_-_montreal_quebec_canada_-_molson_centre/07-thumb-120×76-2604.jpg” width=”120″ height=”76″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Vira; © Matthew Anderson; © Kellyn’, ‘May 28, 2001 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – Molson Centre’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-28-2001-montreal-quebec-canada-molson-centre’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-28 21:41:04’, ‘2001-05-29 01:41:04’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=170’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(171, 1, ‘2001-05-30 21:50:37’, ‘2001-05-31 01:50:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Discothèque-Staring At The Sun, Mysterious Ways, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire-Gloria, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono sings the first verse of The Beatles” ”In My Life” as an intro to ”Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of.” For the first time this tour, ”Desire” is played by the entire band at the tip of the heart. During the concert, Bono accidentally botches the concert location and exclaims “Detroit, Ohio!”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nLive DailynReview: U2 In Auburn Hills, Mich.nby Christina Fuoco, LiveDaily Contributing WriternN/AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – As the saying goes, less is more. But “more” might have improved U2”s Wednesday (5/30) performance at the Palace of Auburn Hills, a show that was hampered by the Irish rock band”s vibe of apathy.nU2 is taking a minimalist approach to this tour, leaving behind theatrics, props and banks of lights. Instead, it”s opting for a large stage layout, featuring a heart-shaped runway that juts midway through the main floor.nLead singer Bono used the runway early in the set to run laps around a group of fans enclosed in an orchestra pit-like area, but he seemingly lost interest in such calisthenics after a few songs. He refrained from stage banter throughout most of the performance, save for a few political statements and a show of love for the recently deceased Joey Ramone.n”The band that got us into wanting to be a band is called the Ramones,” Bono told the crowd of more than 19,000 in introducing “In a Little While,” a song from the band”s most recent album, 2000”s “All That You Can”t Leave Behind.”n”I recently got to meet Joey Ramone,” Bono continued. “He was sick, but he loved this song.” Bono claimed that the song was the last song that Ramone heard before he died.nBono eschewed Irish politics at this show, opting to speak his piece about third-world debt relief. One speech, which led into “Pride,” urged fans to speak to their congresspeople.nU2”s politics didn”t always go over so well. In an attempt at irony, a videotaped statement by National Rifle Association chief Charlton Heston was projected on a large screen. When Heston said that guns are O.K. as long as they”re in the hands of good people, the audience responded with cheers. U2–who followed the videotape with “Bullet the Blue Sky”–is staunchly anti-guns.nThe band”s limited interaction with the crowd wasn”t the only problem with the performance. Some songs, such as “Mysterious Ways” and “Pride,” were slowed down a bit. The result turned what could have been highlights into low-lights.nBut the evening wasn”t without its rewards. The band”s one-by-one entrance–after Stevie Wonder”s “Higher Ground” blared from the sound system–was surprising, as the the house lights were still on. During the instrumental portion of “Bullet the Blue Sky,” the house and stage lights were cut off and Bono used a search light to illuminate the arena. The lights dropped dramatically during “Beautiful Day,” revealing four black and white video screens, one for each band member.nBono fashioned devil horns with his fingers and lunged toward guitarist the Edge during the third song, “Until the End of the World”; this would be the last bit of playfulness until deep into the gig. At the end of the song, the Edge aimed his guitar at Bono, who was laying on the floor, as if to say he won the battle of the lunges.nN/At the tip of the runway, the foursome–which also includes drummer Larry Mullen and bassist Adam Clayton–played an acoustic rendition of “Desire,” which wrapped up with Bono”s spirited, bluesy harmonica solo.nN/All told, however, U2 failed to provide the spectacle that fans have come to expect. Perhaps next time, U2 will bring back the interesting diversions– like the giant martini glass or cars hanging from the ceiling–it used on previous tours.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_30_2001_-_auburn_hills_michigan_usa_-_palace_of_auburn_hills/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery93]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_30_2001_-_auburn_hills_michigan_usa_-_palace_of_auburn_hills/22-thumb-120×90-2648.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”22.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_30_2001_-_auburn_hills_michigan_usa_-_palace_of_auburn_hills/23.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery93]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_30_2001_-_auburn_hills_michigan_usa_-_palace_of_auburn_hills/23-thumb-120×90-2650.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”23.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_30_2001_-_auburn_hills_michigan_usa_-_palace_of_auburn_hills/24.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery93]

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(172, 1, ‘2001-05-31 22:03:52’, ‘2001-06-01 02:03:52’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One-She”s A Mystery To Me, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBuffalo NewsnMusical MissionnBono and U2 deliver a message of faithnby Craig Seymour, News Pop Music CriticnIrish rockers U2 brought its blazing brand of secular gospel to the HSBC arena Thursday night, marking the first time the band has played Buffalo since 1987. The band was on a singular mission to restore the audience”s faith in the importance of rock, humanity, of life itself.nN/A large chunk of the two hour show paid tribute to the group”s late friends and fallen rock icons. Bono paid homage to John Lennon, who was murdered on the night of U2”s first gig in Buffalo, by singing a verse from the Beatles “In My Life.” He also worked bits of classics by Marvin Gaye (“Sexual Healing”) and Bob Marley (“Get Up, Stand Up”) into the set.nThe band performed “Stuck in a Moment That You Can”t Get Out Of,” from their latest album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” which is dedicated to ex-INXS fronman Michael Hutchence who committed suicide in 1997.nN/And the Southern Soul-inflected “In a Little While” was delivered by the band in recognition of New York”s own Joey Ramone, the former lead singer of the seminal punk group the Ramones, who died from cancer last month. Bono stated that “In A Little While” was the last song that Ramone listened to before dying. “Now when I hear this song, I don”t hear it as a song about a hangover. It”s become a gospel tune. That”s how cool Joey Ramone was.”nThis song represented one of the night”s many moments that were devoted to the importance of people needing each other. “If I crawl/will you be there,” he crooned like an Irish Al Green.nHe introduced his bandmates before bringing them down front for a rattling version of “Desire.” And there was something touching about him delivering introductions for people whom everyone in the audience knew. It served to represent another of the night”s inspiring themes: Don”t take anything you hold dear for granted.nIt was called the “Elevation” tour, and the band”s intent was to uplift and enlighten. (Although, given the $130 tickets, $45 T-shirts and $20 programs, the tour”s name had an unintentional double meaning.) Even the background music played before the show had a spirit raising theme: Jackie Wilson”s “(You”re Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” Stevie Wonder”s “Higher Ground,” and Curtis Mayfield”s “Move On Up.”nThe stage had a breathtaking simplicity. It was a hollow heart made with curved red catwalks. You almost expected to see a fashionista strut down the stage, and indeed Bono did ape the moves of a male supermodel at one point in the show. The earnest set-up could have come off as corny, but the stylish design made it work.nFans stood in the middle of the heart and also surrounded the stage. And the people on the floor seemed to enjoy being physically close to a band with whom they”ve felt such a close emotional connection.nDespite initial concerns about the show”s general admission seating policy, the crowd was very well-behaved. There were some body surfing incidents. At one point, Bono even had to tell a particularly hefty crowd surfer: “You weren”t designed to fly, friend.” But, overall, you”d see more pushing, shoving and beer-spilling on any given night on Chippewa.nThe last time U2 played Buffalo, Bono was having vocal trouble, but he was in fine form Thursday night. He growled, crooned and even worked up some sanctified falsetto swoops. His voice has the intimacy of a storyteller. He doesn”t so much sing a song as weave a heartfelt tale.nThe rest of the band was also in top shape, as evidenced by the Edge”s propulsive guitar licks; Adam Clayton”s throbbing, sometimes funky, bass; and Larry Mullen Jr.”s steady, unfussy drumming.nOpening act P.J. Harvey delivered several hard driving tunes from her latest album “Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea,” which is all about falling in love. “Do you remember your first kiss,” she sang on “One Line,” with her voice sounding as edgy and straight-forward as the music. And the black and white projection of Harvey on the overhead monitor only added to the raw power of her set.nN/A lot of the thrills in U2”s show came from the backdrops and light displays. Large drapes that evoked skyscrapers came down during “New York City.” Rays of light splayed like blooming flowers. And the video screens showed silhouetted dancers swaying during “Mysterious Ways,” and flickering images of gun violence and grief during the impassioned “Bullet in the Blue Sky.”nN/Although U2 played their other social change anthems “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “Pride (In the Name of Love,” which was followed by an impassioned plea from Bono on forgiving Third World debt, the night wasn”t really about politics. It was less about changing the world than treating life and other people more preciously.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_31_2001_-_buffalo_new_york_usa_-_hsbc_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_31_2001_-_buffalo_new_york_usa_-_hsbc_arena/04-thumb-120×90-2660.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_31_2001_-_buffalo_new_york_usa_-_hsbc_arena/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery37]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_31_2001_-_buffalo_new_york_usa_-_hsbc_arena/05-thumb-60×120-2662.jpg” width=”60″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Associated Press; © Buffalo Newsn’, ‘May 31, 2001 – Buffalo, New York, USA – HSBC Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘may-31-2001-buffalo-new-york-usa-hsbc-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-31 22:03:52’, ‘2001-06-01 02:03:52’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=172’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(173, 1, ‘2001-06-02 22:08:48’, ‘2001-06-03 02:08:48’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One-Unchained Melody, Walk On.nRemarks:nDuring ”Bad,” Bono sings a brief bit of The Verve”s ”The Drugs Don”t Work” and some of the Rolling Stones” ”Time Is On My Side” and alters the lyrics to “time is not on my side”, likely in reference to his ill father who passes away a couple of months later.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nTimes UnionnU2 As Good As They Were B4nBy Greg HaymesnWhen U2 last strafed the Capital Region with shows at Knickerbocker Arena and the Saratoga Equine Sports Center nine years ago, they were in the midst of their Zoo TV tour with vocalist Bono portraying the Ironic Pop Star, a role he managed to play only semi-convincingly.nOn Saturday night, Bono and the boys returned to the Pepsi Arena (formerly the Knickerbocker), sounding more like the open-hearted rock evangelists that made three stops at the long-defunct Albany nightclub J.B. Scott”s during their first American tour two decades ago.n”I still have my T-shirt that says ”J.B. Scott”s,” ” Bono proudly told the sold-out crowd on Saturday.nWhile some may say the band”s return to form is mere nostalgia, perhaps U2 is simply acknowledging its strong suit – heart-on-its-sleeve rock ”n” roll anthems exploring spiritual themes.nThey kicked off the two-hour show with “Elevation” and the joyous, life-affirming “Beautiful Day.” Playing on a stage inside a huge red, heart-shaped runway that stretched halfway into the arena floor, Bono and his mates – guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullins – served up new songs, highlighted by the soaring “Kite” and the gospelesque “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of.”nOf the old favorites, the back-to-back blast of “I Will Follow” and “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” was an undeniable highlight. So, too, was the final pairing of the set, the cathartic “Where the Streets Have No Name” and the galvanizing “Pride (In the Name of Love).”nN/Along the way, Bono dipped into the grab-bag of rock history, splashing bits of songs by Bob Marley, Buddy Holly and Van Morrison into the mix. But most touching was an impromptu a cappella rendition of the Beatles” “In My Life.”nBono was more than a bit under the weather, but he didn”t flag. During “Until the End of the World,” he and The Edge engaged in a mock bullfight, with Bono eventually collapsing on the runway and kicking the strings of his bandmate”s guitar in a barrage of feedback.nHis voice sounded most ragged during “Stay (Faraway, So Close),” performed as a quiet duet with The Edge on acoustic guitar, but Bono”s crackling voice made the song seem all the more poignant.nWhile U2”s music tapped directly into the bright white light of hope, opening act PJ Harvey clattered through the dark shadows of the heart. Clad in a slinky, ruby-red sequined dress and matching high heels, Polly Jean Harvey wailed through the new (“The Whores Hustle, and the Hustlers Whore”) and the old (“Man-Size”) as her versatile backing quartet built the momentum to the apocalyptic “Big Exit.”nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_2_2001_-_albany_new_york_usa_-_pepsi_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery61]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_2_2001_-_albany_new_york_usa_-_pepsi_arena/08-thumb-120×77-2678.jpg” width=”120″ height=”77″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_2_2001_-_albany_new_york_usa_-_pepsi_arena/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery61]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_2_2001_-_albany_new_york_usa_-_pepsi_arena/09-thumb-120×82-2680.jpg” width=”120″ height=”82″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Hayley Coristine; © Steve Mainsn’, ‘June 2, 2001 – Albany, New York, USA – Pepsi Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-2-2001-albany-new-york-usa-pepsi-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-02 22:08:48’, ‘2001-06-03 02:08:48’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=173’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(174, 1, ‘2001-06-03 22:17:22’, ‘2001-06-04 02:17:22’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One-She”s A Mystery To Me, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nHartford CourantnIntimate, Moving Night Of U2nby Roger CatlinnMinus the overblown production and menacing stage personas, U2”s return to the Hartford Civic Center Sunday night for its first show here in nine years was comparatively stripped-down and intimate.nOn a generally sparse set that sent singer Bono, guitatrist the Edge and even bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullens out deep into the arena on a heart-shaped catwalk, the players were enhanced by a deceptively low key lighting design (and smartly focused individual video screens – one for each member).nBut the evening was won by their broad catalog of strong material, their ringing performance that still allows for unpredictability and the power of the moment – and a surprisingly humble stage presence from Irishmen who once let vainglorious thoughts of Messianic rock stardom go to their heads.nWhen Bono sang “Did you come here to play Jesus?” in the climactic “One,” he added with a smirk, “Well, I did.”nBut he”s convinced now much of his concert”s power comes from what the audience brings to it, singing along to decades-old anthems and new songs, becoming a part of these shows that are staged right in the middle of them.nBono, who turned 41 last month, looked a bit ragged at first and admitted to feeling ill at last night”s show in Albany until the crowd “lifted him up.” He had to ask “What day is it?” When he found out he added, “It is kind of a church feeling we got here anyway.”nCertainly there was a fervency in the crowd matched by the band, who seemed welled up with gratitude at 20 years of tours to and in America. The Hartford stop allowed Bono to reminisce about the band”s first shows in the state, at Toad”s Place in New Haven shortly after John Lennon”s death in December 1980.nCaught up in that memory, Bono sang half of Lennon”s “In My Life” a cappella, beginning, “There are places I remember all my life …”nThat it ended with the poignant “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of,” which had been written in memory of another dead rocker, Michael Hutchence of INXS, was just the first of many unexpectedly touching moments in the two-hour show.nJoey Ramone was remembered, too, when they played the U2 song he loved before his Easter death, “In a Little While.”nWhen a woman climbed on stage to clutch on to Bono during the performance of “Stay,” it seemed to symbolize the relationship between fan and artist.nContrasting with these moving segments were powerful themes from deep in their catalog, retooled and made relevant, from the rat-at-tat call to arms of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” to “Bullet the Blue Sky,” reinvented to strongly address American gun violence.nBono was less cogent in a Jubilee 2001 speech during “Pride (In the Name of Love)” but was a consistently arresting frontman throughout the marvelous show, with crisp backing from a band that still clearly loves what they do.nIt was noticed by Bono, too, who seemingly was changing the lyrics to “I Will Follow” spontaneously to declare: “Ring those bells from 20 years ago/We don”t sound old/We sound fresh as a daisy, as sharp as a knife.”nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/01-thumb-82×120-2682.jpg” width=”82″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/02-thumb-82×120-2684.jpg” width=”82″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/03-thumb-120×76-2686.jpg” width=”120″ height=”76″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/04-thumb-93×120-2688.jpg” width=”93″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/05-thumb-89×120-2690.jpg” width=”89″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery60]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_3_2001_-_hartford_connecticut_usa_-_civic_center/06-thumb-92×120-2692.jpg” width=”92″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Kellyn’, ‘June 3, 2001 – Hartford, Connecticut, USA – Civic Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-3-2001-hartford-connecticut-usa-civic-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-03 22:17:22’, ‘2001-06-04 02:17:22’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=174’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(175, 1, ‘2001-06-05 22:22:30’, ‘2001-06-06 02:22:30’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire-Gloria, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One, Walk On.nRemarks:nNearly two dozen cameras are in the arena tonight to tape the concert for an upcoming home video release (Elevation 2001: Live From Boston) and TV special. Bono makes repeated references to U2”s early shows in Boston at The Paradise. The Edge frustratingly slams his guitar on the stage at the end of Gone (and this is included from the footage shot).nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBoston GlobenN/At Opener, It”s U2 Minus 1nBono holds back, but powerhouse bandmates prevailnby Steve MorsenGood, but not great. Not to damn with faint praise, but that”s the story of last night”s opener of U2”s four-night run at the FleetCenter. The Irish heroes delivered a subtly powerful sound-and-light display – and a proud-as-ever song list – but they didn”t sustain their usual energy peaks, partly because singer Bono was clearly babying his voice, either due to a spring cold or the accumulated road rot of touring the United States for the past two months.nU2”s engine was in strong order – as guitarist the Edge, bassist Adam Clayton, and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. stepped up their roles – but their front-man pilot, Bono, couldn”t match them, which is highly uncharacteristic. Instead of the normal, over-the-top Bono, whose energy usually can power a small city, we heard a Bono who was hanging back and being careful not to throw his voice out. He didn”t attack the songs as he typically does.nIt was still an impressive show – and the sold-out crowd of 18,800 fans shouted themselves hoarse by night”s end – but it was not up to the opening show in Miami in late March. Or, for that matter, up to many of U2”s previous gems in Boston, which has long been one of their favorite cities since debuting at the Paradise club in the late ”70s ( a memory that Bono recalled last night).nPerhaps there might have been some tension, too, because HBO was there last night (a crew of 92 people, no less) to tape the show for an upcoming special. The cable network will also be on hand at tonight”s performance.nU2”s precision and Bono”s guile still carried the night, from the opening “Elevation” (with the house lights on, fosterng an immediate intimacy), the euphoric radio hit “Beautiful Day,” the crunching, Edge-dominated “Till the End of the World” (with Edge and Bono out on the heart-shaped catwalk that went to the center of the arena), and the elegant “She Moves in Mysterious Ways,” followed by a snatch of the Beatles” “My Life.” (Bono later improvised on Bob Marley”s “Get Up, Stand Up,” but didn”t perform the Ramones tribute he often has on this tour).nThe band followed with some new songs – “Stuck in a Moment that You Can”t Get Out Of” (a Memphis-like soul ballad), the understated “Kite,” and the street-rocking, Lou Reed-like “New York,” with Bono singing about “how the Irish have been coming here for years.”nTwo groups of fans offered him an Irish flag to hoist aloft at this point (as he sometimes does), but he declined.nU2 then romped down memory lane with the chiming psychedelic rocker “I Will Follow” and all-time anti-war classic, “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” which drew the night”s loudest response.nBono took a break to address the crowd about the group”s oft-quoted desire to be “the best band on the planet.”nThe remark has drawn criticism – does U2 really need to hype itself this way? – but as Bono said, “You know where that”s coming from, don”t you? It comes from being Irish. … Irish people are not cool; Irish people are hot. That”s where that”s coming from.”nU2 valiantly hit the home stretch with “Desire” (with all four members on the catwalk, as Mullen played a Bo Diddley beat on a single drum), a touch of Van Morrison”s “Gloria” (give us more), and a spiritual closing of “Where the Streets Have No Name” and the Martin Luther King tribute, “Pride (In the Name of Love).”nThe encores included a rampaging “Bullet the Blue Sky,” and raps by Bono against handguns and for unity with “African brothers.” His politics were intact, even if his voice needs to heal.nOpener P.J. Harvey delivered an exquisite set of tough-as-nails, punk-influenced rock, but it was a shame that so few people had yet arrived to hear her. U2 fans should be more supportive than that.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/01-thumb-120×105-2694.jpg” width=”120″ height=”105″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/02-thumb-120×74-2696.jpg” width=”120″ height=”74″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/03-thumb-103×120-2698.jpg” width=”103″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/04-thumb-120×100-2700.jpg” width=”120″ height=”100″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery52]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_5_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/05-thumb-100×120-2702.jpg” width=”100″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Associated Press; © Boston Globen’, ‘June 5, 2001 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – Fleet Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-5-2001-boston-massachusetts-usa-fleet-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-05 22:22:30’, ‘2001-06-06 02:22:30’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=175’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(176, 1, ‘2001-06-06 22:27:48’, ‘2001-06-07 02:27:48’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire-Gloria, People Get Ready, Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One-Wake Up Dead Man, Walk On.nRemarks:nNBC-TV airs ”Streets” live and ”Elevation” on tape during their NBA Finals coverage. Bono and Edge drop ”Stay” and bring a fan on-stage to play guitar on ”People Get Ready.” Tonight”s show, like last night, is taped for a future home video release (Elevation 2001: Live From Boston) and TV special and a bulk of the footage from the video release is used from this particular concert.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBoston GlobenBono Belts Out U2”s Return To The Roots Of Rock At Fleetcenternby Joan AndermannThey say you can”t go home again. But after nearly a decade of ironic bombast and bloated concept tours, U2 has returned to the rock classicism – and the generous spirit behind it – that made them great in the first place.nEverything about the new album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” and the tour, titled “Elevation,” is geared toward getting back to the fundamentals of music and of living. The symbolism of playing on a hollow heart-shaped stage – of filling the empty spirit with life- affirming music – infused the show from beginning to end.nThey dispensed with artifice from the moment Bono (who proclaimed that his voice was back, and indeed it was), the Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., and Adam Clayton walked, with no fanfare, into a brightly lit arena and played “Elevation.” The production was both minimalist and aggressively egalitarian by arena standards. The spare stage was postcard-size; there were no props, and little high-tech lighting.nThe most prominent features of this show were the massive speakers – a testament to U2”s renewed focus on the music over the musician”s posturing – and a giant heart-shaped catwalk that brought Bono face-to-face and hand-to-hand, over and over again, with his fans. It was a triumph of intimacy over attitude.nN/As much as the FleetCenter could, it felt like a nightclub. “Touch me, touch me, touch me” Bono wailed during “Beautiful Day,” as he leaped onto the heart”s tip for the first time. He lay his body into the crowd during “Until the End of the World,” slithered and crawled nearly off the catwalk on “Mysterious Ways,” kissed and dueled and rested his body against the inimitable Edge – with whom Bono shared a powerful musical and physical chemistry. It would seem they”ve missed the closeness as much as the fans have during a decade of sometimes brilliant, but increasingly alienating, musical personas.nBut last night it was all about the music and the love, which for the most part felt inextricably bound.nThe sold-out crowd at the FleetCenter shared it with 45 million television viewers during a shamanic “Where the Streets Have No Name” and the hauntingly melodic “Pride (In the Name of Love),” which were broadcast live during halftime of the NBA finals game in Los Angeles.nBut U2 knew exactly where they were. Bono name-checked Harvard Square, the Big Dig, and the Irish on Summer Street in a riff on a stripped, pummeling version of “Desire.” And one lucky Boston fan was pulled onstage, handed one of the Edge”s guitars, and accompanied Bono on Curtis Mayfield”s “People Get Ready,” the B-side he”d requested.nIn a poignant moment, Bono dedicated “In a Little While” to the late Joey Ramone, noting that “it was the last song he heard in his life here.”nIt”s sentiments like those that freed U2 from the ironic distance they once brought to their concerts. Intensity and passion – that much sweeter for being lost and found – carried them through last night.nPJ Harvey opened with a set of dense, visceral rock. Her uncharacteristic evening dress – a sparkling, supper-club-style backless pantsuit – and elegant makeup was a jarring juxtaposition to the darkly roiling sonic and emotional landscapes she cobbled.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_6_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_6_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/01-thumb-90×120-2704.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Boston Globen’, ‘June 6, 2001 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – Fleet Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-6-2001-boston-massachusetts-usa-fleet-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-06 22:27:48’, ‘2001-06-07 02:27:48’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=176’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(177, 1, ‘2001-06-08 22:32:16’, ‘2001-06-09 02:32:16’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, 11 O”Clock Tick Tock, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, Angel Of Harlem, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBoston HeraldnFor Openers, U2 Show Superbnby Brett MilanonNo doubt about it, one of the most mesmerizing acts in modern rock was at the FleetCenter last night. And by the way, U2 weren”t half bad either.nBut its time to give some propers to PJ Harvey, whose 45-minute opening set was one of the season”s highlights on its own. Backed by an inventive band including two lead guitarists, she cut a striking figure in a long white dress and black stiletto boots. And her songs explored extremes of love and lust, desire and danger. The lush pop songs from her recent album “Stories From the City” drew the audience in, but the volume and the intensity level built up on the set went on. Her early single, “Sheela-Na-Gig,” had a screaming finale that got the blood racing.nLast night”s U2 set may have been the most adventurous they”ve played at the Fleet this week. With their taping commitments to HBO taken care of, they were free to shake up the set list, drop some of the obvious numbers (including the lengthy “Bad”) and put in some surprises. Newly added was a two-song acoustic set toward the show”s end, with Bono and the Edge alone onstage doing stripped-down versions of “Angel of Harlem” and “The Ground Beneath Her Feet.” Instead of “Bad,” the nights big ballad was “All I Want Is You,” a steamy slow-burner from the “Rattle & Hum” soundtrack.nN/Also new was the recent single “The Sweetest Thing,” which sounded surprisingly Beatle-esque with Bono making a rare appearance on piano. And the biggest surprise of all (played in place of “I Will Follow”) was “11 O”Clock Tick Tock” – a rare single, built on a killer Edge guitar riff, that hasn”t been played since the very early tours. Bullet the Blue Sky” was moved from the set to the encore, which Bono”s anti-violence rap (including a mention of John Lennon”s killer) sounding far scarier than it used to be.nThe show opened full-throttle with “Elevation” (performed with the house lights still up) and took in some of the gentler songs from the latest album. There were plenty of big rock gestures –including Bono and Edge running up the heart-shaped stage ramp on “Until the End of the World” – but there was just as much heart and subtlety; two rare qualities in arena rock.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_8_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_8_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/01-thumb-120×90-2706.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_8_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery59]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_8_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/02-thumb-120×90-2708.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Anthony Crinellan’, ‘June 8, 2001 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – Fleet Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-8-2001-boston-massachusetts-usa-fleet-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-08 22:32:16’, ‘2001-06-09 02:32:16’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=177’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(178, 1, ‘2001-06-09 22:36:36’, ‘2001-06-10 02:36:36’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Pride (In The Name Of Love), Until The End Of The World, The Fly, Even Better Than The Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, Out Of Control, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Desire-Psalm 51, Party Girl, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Beautiful Day. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One-She”s A Mystery To Me, Walk On.nRemarks:nWith Elvis Costello on hand, Bono quotes from ”Pump It Up” in ”Elevation” and ”Alison” in ”Bad.” He also quotes from ”Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” in honor of Boston”s own Aerosmith. ”Party Girl” is played for the first time since June 6, 1993. When Bono is singing snippets from Van Morrison”s Gloria at the end of Desire, he inserts some other lyrics that one may initially assume to be U2”s Gloria, due to some similarities: “Oh Lord, open my lips/Anything I can, I will do for you/And my mouth shall shout up your praise”. However, although the last line does not resemble any in Gloria, the lines do bear a strong similarity to Psalm 51 from the Bible. As the connection to Psalm 51 appears stronger, the snippet is credited to it rather than Gloria. A fan also gets on stage during ”Walk On”, embraces Bono and then runs a lap around the heart.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBoston GlobenU2 Leaves Many Memories Behind At The FleetCenternby Jim SullivannN/And so it ended, four nights of U2mania in the American city that first adopted the Dublin rockers so long ago. The band was playing “Walk On,” its final encore at the sold-out FleetCenter Saturday, when a large, muscular guy leapt up onto the heart-shaped catwalk and sprinted to the stage before a security man tackled him. The man reached out plaintively, theatrically, to singer Bono, who spied him, rushed over, and angrily wrestled the security man off the fan. Bono and the fan hugged. The fan picked the fireplug-built Bono up, twirled him around, set him down. The fan went off, backstage. The band finished up. The crowd was delirious.nWe suspect it was a set-up, the guy a plant, but it made for good drama and that, to a degree, is what U2 is about, once again. On their latest CD, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” and on this “Elevation” tour, they”ve embraced the wide-screen, anthemic rock sound that once defined them, leaving behind the more experimental/techno direction of “Pop” and the ironic trappings of the “Pop Mart” tour. It”s back to home base for U2, and if it is a conservative move, it”s also an effective one. Yes, they”re the greatest band of our time.nMuch has been made of the band”s, and particularly Bono”s, celebrity. Fair enough, it”s the age we live in. But celebrity comes about for a reason (sometimes), from a source, and that”s the connection U2 has made musically. They”re the rare band that understands cynicism and negativity and still whooshes us toward the light. There”s an undertone of spirituality and a palpable political punch. And there”s a history of this. U2 may be one of the last bands to have this kind of career, with rock becoming more and more disposable, tastes shifting with the wind, and everybody oriented toward the quick hit, not the career build. The fact that the band”s composition remains the same – the ace rhythm section of drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton being the unsung half – means something, too, in an ever-fractured age.nSome particulars: They moved “Pride (In the Name of Love)” up to No. 2 in the set, bringing the crowd close to ecstasy, took everyone to the top with “Out of Control,” a rarely played early tune, and spun the sensual spell of “Mysterious Ways.” Bono gave the Beatles” “In My Life” an a cappella treatment.nHow much of a love affair was it? Bono, who was in fine voice, and guitarist the Edge used the catwalk to interact with each other (a peck on the cheek from singer to guitarist) and the audience. During “The Fly,” which featured a snippet from Iggy Pop”s “Lust for Life,” Bono appeared to be making love to the audience. After “Out of Control,” Bono referenced the Edge”s instrument and said, “This guitar has carried us a long way: You people have carried us a long way; this city has carried us a long way.” Then came “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” a blast of righteous rock with a bit of Bob Marley”s “Get Up, Stand Up,” tossed in, and “Desire” with a Bo Diddley beat beginning and a “Gloria” end. “Bad,” the most moving laundry list of human emotions you”ll ever here, incorporated Elvis Costello”s “Alison” – “I know this world is killing you” – doubly clever because Alison is Bono”s wife”s name and Costello was in the house.nMore hits came: “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “Beautiful Day,” “Bullet the Blue Sky” (with a Charlton Heston pro-gun video clip segueing into a shot of a young child picking up a handgun and Bono intoning about an America “at war with itself”), “With or Without You,” and “One.” For the encore, the Edge donned a Bruins jersey and Bono saluted ex-Bruin Ray Bourque and the Colorado Avalanche (Boston”s adopted hockey team) as it was headed toward a Stanley Cup victory. That triumphant spirit was everywhere Saturday – a very good day to be alive.nWe raved about P.J. Harvey when she played the Paradise last fall. Nothing”s changed our mind. She and her band”s opening set was terse, shimmering, sexy – strong in its own right and a perfect tablesetter for U2.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_9_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_9_2001_-_boston_massachusetts_usa_-_fleet_center/01-thumb-120×65-2710.jpg” width=”120″ height=”65″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © David Desolan’, ‘June 9, 2001 – Boston, Massachusetts, USA – Fleet Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-9-2001-boston-massachusetts-usa-fleet-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-09 22:36:36’, ‘2001-06-10 02:36:36’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=178’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(179, 1, ‘2001-06-11 22:40:59’, ‘2001-06-12 02:40:59’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day-Night And Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In A Little While, Desire-Gloria, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono references the execution of Timothy McVeigh earlier in the day during ”Bullet The Blue Sky”, singing: ”On a closed-circuit TV, before an invitation audience only, we watch as Timothy … runs into the arms of America.”nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nPhiladelphia InquirernU2 Ends The Artiness, Goes For The Galvanizingnby Tom MoonnN/A stage encircled by a giant heart. A set saturated with rock-radio favorites, many unheard on recent stadium treks. A singer, almost on bended knee, confiding that his band has more to prove now than it did at its first U.S. performances 20 years ago.nMaybe U2 should have called this the Atonement Tour.nMonday at the First Union Center, at the first of two sold-out performances, U2 put its “experimental” phase in the rearview mirror, and returned to the thundering military drums, needlepoint guitars, and Bono”s keening, indignant voice that galvanized rock and roll during its Joshua Tree heyday.nThe group members entered with the house lights still on, took their positions, and began “Elevation,” one of the more compelling pieces from All That You Can”t Leave Behind, the album that allegedly makes U2 accessible again. The rhythm slurped and surged in a no-man”s swamp between rock and funk, and by the time the lights went down halfway through, its repetitive guitar and bass phrases had aligned into a trance-inducing groove. All doubts about U2”s continued ability to rouse the faithful were erased, at least for a minute, as the Dublin four-piece achieved a stirring, righteous fervor that few in pop even attempt anymore.nNext came the single “Beautiful Day,” an extended crescendo in search of a song. Bono worked to make its dewy-eyed celebration of nature come alive with only intermittent success. The threadbare theme was exposed when, at the song”s end, he began singing the more substantial Cole Porter standard “Night and Day.” The accompaniment fell away, and there was Bono the Sinatra-worshiping crooner toying with tempo, spinning through the gorgeous melody as though auditioning at a jazz club.nThat wasn”t his only solo moment: Bono also did a gawky version of the Beatles” “In My Life,” and appended bits of classic pop and rock to U2 songs. “Mysterious Ways” blossomed beautifully, then ended with a nod to Marvin Gaye”s “Sexual Healing,” while the Marley chant “Get Up, Stand Up” expanded the message of “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” And the thrilling “Bad” inspired Bono to quote a bit of the Rolling Stones” “Wild Horses.”nThe band did everything possible to show it had learned from its ”90s transgressions. There were none of the Popmart Tour”s floating lemons, no fireworks. And though the visuals were spectacular – particularly the screens that showed a woman dancing in silhouette during “Mysterious Ways” and trippy lighting sequences of “Desire” – the whole presentation, even the heart-shaped ramp that jutted into the crowd, was minimal.nSomewhere in the middle of the set, after U2 had dispensed with its current album, Bono got on the soapbox to introduce “Stay (Faraway, So Close!)” from 1993”s Zooropa. He explained that the song was from a “period when people say we got all arty on ya, got a little ”out there,” ” and became a little defensive.n”I think we found some very interesting bits and pieces while we were out there,” he said, sticking up for the band”s ”90s output.nThis time Bono was right. With the help of Edge”s trembling guitars, “Stay” became a bittersweet elegy, a rare moment of genuine subtlety. After that respite – the only selection from the so-called experimental era – U2 went back to its hammering hits in rapid succession. All were rendered competently, but the evening felt markedly different from previous outings. Even at its most grandiose, U2 has always been known for gathering its audience into what felt like a crusade. This time, even the faithful who stood from start to finish witnessed a performance rather than participated in it or helped push U2 up the mountain.nThe show”s most provocative moment came in the encore, which began with the crowd chanting “Beat L.A.!” Following a gun-control video that obliquely satirized NRA president Charlton Heston, the band returned with the spoken-word “Bullet the Blue Sky.” During its closing verse, Bono shined a handheld spotlight into the crowd as he incorporated Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh into his anti-violence narrative. Here, at last, was classic U2: political commentary set to a thumping beat that doubled as riveting theater.nTom Moon”s e-mail address is [email protected]Images:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_11_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_11_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/01-thumb-120×78-2712.jpg” width=”120″ height=”78″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Steven’, ‘June 11, 2001 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – First Union Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-11-2001-philadelphia-pennsylvania-usa-first-union-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-11 22:40:59’, ‘2001-06-12 02:40:59’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=179’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(180, 1, ‘2001-06-12 22:46:02’, ‘2001-06-13 02:46:02’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Desire-Gloria, All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways-We Could Have It All, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nBy Jim WallsnEarly in the 2nd night at U2”s sold-out show at the F.U. Center in Philadelphia, Bono told the crowd that he was feeling “a little sick.” And the man looked like he”d been ploughed over by a hit-and-run driver: pasty white, squinty, and sweating a river.nHe asked the crowd for help. And they were ready to chip in. But with the full weight of the band behind him–including the world”s most confident rhythm section and a guitarist with the kick of an Apollo rocket (and the technology to boot)–it was clear a few songs in that he wouldn”t need it. And even with a flu (or was it a hangover?) you can never count this showman out. The band and crowd together picked him up, and he wasn”t about to come down.nMake no mistake about it, U2 still is a corporate rock band, but with all the trappings and drive of four kids at a small club. And from inside the heart, you get the sense that you could very well be down at yer local, albeit with a few million quid in lighting effects.nUp close, you can see Bono”s versatility at working a crowd; sometimes gazing to the upper decks like he”s just spotted an old friend, other times whispering words of thanks to the diehards in the heart. Sick or not, the man was dead on.nThey opened with house lights up, as usual, a fitting departure from the bombast of the 90s. They launched into a blistering “Elevation,” followed by a tight “Beautiful Day” that hit the right notes with the jubilant crowd. And the setlist soon took us all into familiar, but welcome, territory…”New Year”s Day,” “I Will Follow,” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” complete with the passing to the stage of the Irish flag from halfway up the arena. Mixed in were a few haunting songs about love and loss that will hold their own in the years to come: “Kite” and “Stuck in a Moment,” the former hitting home with a little touch of Philly soul.nMidway through the show the band takes to the tip of the heart for “The Ground Beneath Her Feet,” a request from a woman in the front row, (Nice, but it wouldn”t be painted on my request sign.) Before a bluesy “Desire,” Bono gathers the team together at midcourtn”Picture this,” he says, pointing to Larry. “He”s 14. Edge is 16. I”m 16. And Adam”s 66.” In those days, he confided, “we had nothing. But together, we had everything, because we had one thing…and that was faith.” Taking on the baby bands, the men score a point. If the goal truly is soul, count U2 up 1-0.nN/After a beautiful and well received “All I Want is You” (on which Edge did lilting justice to Van Dyke Parks” string coda), the band weighed in with the heavyweight “Where the Streets Have No Name,” a song that, if you”ve ever seen it live, will instantly clue you in to why the band vows it will always be played.nDuring the final encore, Bono grabbed a cell phone from a girl in the front row. But even though Bush Jr.”s in the White House, this wasn”t a call to the seats of power. “It”s your ma,” Bono told the girl as he cradled the phone, before telling her mother “she”s gonna be alright.”nDuring the closer, “Walk On” Bono looks as if he”s ready for more. Without the fly shades or the caked on MacPhisto getup, sweat drips steadily from the 40-year-old”s tousled forelocks. From the heart, you can see the fire of Red Rocks light up Bono”s eyes as he scans the crowd one more time.nHe”s playing for the first time. The medicine”s kicked in. And he”s 16 again.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/01-thumb-120×80-2714.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/02-thumb-120×80-2716.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/03-thumb-120×80-2718.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/04-thumb-120×80-2720.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/05-thumb-120×80-2722.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/06-thumb-80×120-2724.jpg” width=”80″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/07-thumb-120×80-2726.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/08-thumb-120×80-2728.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery88]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_12_2001_-_philadelphia_pennsylvania_usa_-_first_union_center/09-thumb-120×91-2730.jpg” width=”120″ height=”91″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Jay Yankowyn’, ‘June 12, 2001 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – First Union Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-12-2001-philadelphia-pennsylvania-usa-first-union-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-12 22:46:02’, ‘2001-06-13 02:46:02’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=180’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(181, 1, ‘2001-06-14 22:54:25’, ‘2001-06-15 02:54:25’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire-Gloria, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad-Wild Horses-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nNational ReviewnHey U2: Shut Up And SingnA great concert, an irritating piece of propaganda.nby John Miller & Ramesh PonnurunLast night”s U2 concert in Washington, D.C., had too many great moments to count, from the band”s entrance with the MCI Center”s lights turned on to lead singer Bono crooning into a cell phone handed to him from the audience. This may be one of the biggest rock-and-roll groups on the planet, but its four members can seem humble. There”s something nice about a global celebrity like Bono taking a deep bow before getting things underway and later telling the crowd, in a plain statement free of cynicism, “Thank you for giving us a great life.” It”s not what one expects from, say, Limp Bizkit.nThen there were the songs: A groovy version of the current hit “Elevation,” a stripped-down rendition of “Desire,” and a rousing performance of “Where the Streets Have No Name.” One of the secrets to the band”s success is an outstanding live show. The current tour”s stage design, featuring catwalks extending deep into the arena, is ingenious. U2 also is riding on the wave of its best album in more than a decade; the band proved it”s no dinosaur act by playing seven songs from All That You Can”t Leave Behind, released late last year.nU2 has always flirted with left-wing politics, though never too aggressively. The information booths for Greenpeace and Amnesty International were kept in the hallways, not the arena proper. Bono”s brief statement on stage for Third World debt relief last night was short and sincere — and certainly not an attention-grabbing pose for a trendy cause. Plus, many of U2”s more conservative-minded fans have appreciated that the band”s views are more complex: In one of their videos, Bono clutches a copy of The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis. There aren”t a lot of rock acts that infuse any Christian themes into what they do, let alone so many and with such warmth.nYet there was a single, disappointing moment last night: A propagandistic screed against guns. A large monitor displayed Charlton Heston announcing, “Any gun in the hands of a good man is a threat to no one except bad people” — followed by a poignant image of a little girl pulling a pistol from a bag left on the floor of her kitchen. Then U2 performed “Bullet the Blue Sky,” and Bono railed against gun deaths in the spoken-word portion of the song. During a week in which Washington has listened to Euro-weenies lecture its leaders about everything from the execution of Timothy McVeigh to greenhouse gases — and without even bothering to say thanks for the Marshall Plan — this was a bit much to take from a bunch of foreigners.nIt was an annoying little stunt, but at least it wasn”t a show spoiler. U2 put on a great concert. Go see them when they come to your town, even if you”re a fan who carries an NRA membership card. Next time, though, perhaps the band will take the advice it dispenses during the chorus of “Walk On,” the final song it played last night: “Leave it behind.”nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_14_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery64]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_14_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/01-thumb-120×90-2732.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_14_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery64]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_14_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/02-thumb-120×90-2734.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_14_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery64]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_14_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/03-thumb-120×90-2736.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_14_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery64]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_14_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/04-thumb-120×90-2738.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Ravinn’, ‘June 14, 2001 – Washington, District of Columbia, USA – MCI Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-14-2001-washington-district-of-columbia-usa-mci-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-14 22:54:25’, ‘2001-06-15 02:54:25’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=181’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(182, 1, ‘2001-06-15 23:00:35’, ‘2001-06-16 03:00:35’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Kite, New York, 11 O”Clock Tick Tock, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono brings a fan on-stage towards the the end of ”Bullet The Blue Sky” and shines the spotlight on the fan while they recite the end of the song.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nBy Sean GatesnTonight, U2 taught the District how to rock and roll, and awoke the heart of this usually soulless city. Tonight, Washington got elevated, and the MCI center got leveled.nWashington DC is normally a pallid wash of greys. Dark-suited yuppies prowl the ever-shifting streets with cell-phones screwed in their ears and runaway taxis scatter pedestrians like so many pigeons, insignificant scavengers feeding on the bottom end of the food-chain. Everyone here has tunnel vision. But not me, I come from the outside. I”m a country boy and where I come from we hold doors, we smile and wave to perfect strangers and it”s not dangerous to spare a dollar for a guy who”s down on his luck. I come from a different world.nIn downtown DC, the MCI center is situated on what used to be a city block. On one side is an upscale district full of fashionable coffee houses and parking garages, being built on top of the husks of historic buildings, row houses and shopfronts; on the other side is Chinatown, a whole country conveniently on your left. Most striking tonight is the crowd circling the block; all age groups are represented, teenagers to forty-somethings all with one goal. Every five yards someone asks my friends and I if we have spare tickets to sell.nU2 have arrived, and so at last have we.nN/An hour later, having seriously depleted our bank accounts on $30 t-shirts and $4 sodas, we find our way to our seats; high in the upper concourse and slightly to Adam”s side of the stage, though still frontal. PJ Harvey ripped through her set list, of which I only knew one song, which is probably because I only have one of her albums. The sound was way out of proportion for her, it was very difficult to hear (let alone understand) her over her band. But “Down By the Water” got me in the mood to rock, so despite the half-hour wait between her departure and U2 taking the stage, I was definitely ready when they finally made their entrance.nN/Almost comical watching stage hands rove the set like automatons, testing the instruments and mics to make sure they work properly. Someone in the heart had an inflatable lemon, but they kept bouncing it onto the stage until security took it away near show time.nThe band was tight, and Bono”s voice was in good form. Until tonight I thought I had enjoyed POPMart four years ago, but tonight”s performance was vastly superior. Not overshadowed by a gargantuan stage set or the football stadium needed to hold it, seated instead at the center of a smaller arena, U2 got down to business and proved that it”s their music that fills the space, reaches and unites the crowd.nThere was nothing from POP, curiously. Also surprising, there was no “goal is soul” in Beautiful Day, but he added something new to the end of Elevation (at least it”s new to me): it seemed spontaneous, so it”s impossible to remember all of it. “Elevation, elevate this nation, elevation, revelation, jubilation…” 11 O”clock Tick Tock turned up early in the set: “You don”t get to hear this very often, this was our first single.” Also, they played my favorite ATYCLB song, Kite. Sweetest Thing made my best friend and his wife very happy – this is the exact story of their relationship, right down to the eye colors.nBono was very talkative tonight. He said they”ve been having a great week and the fans in Washington have just spoiled them. This was good to hear since their last two visits to DC (not counting the political crusading) hadn”t gone so well. In ”97 a Memorial Day rainstorm wiped out the POPMart TV screen, and on an occasion years ago Bono broke his arm at a gig in DC. Tonight, however, the streak is finally broken: Elevation came to town, U2 played beautifully, nothing went wrong, both the band and the fans had a great time.n”Now I”m gonna, um, do something that”s hard for singers. I”m gonna introduce… the REST of the band.” Cheers flooded the arena. “Before we were U2, we had some other names. Once we were The Hype – long before we lived up to it. But for one lunch break,” Bono laughed, struggling to speak over the crowd, “For one lunch break, we were the Larry Mullen Band.” Larry takes a walk up the catwalk, and a stage hand gives him a drum. “Now, the man who eats the most exotic lunch. The best dresser of the band, the poshest member of the band… Adam Clayton.” Clayton gently thumping his bass, making his way to the tip of the heart to stand with Bono and Larry. “And now, wearing the number 55 shirt tonight… the man with more children than Abraham… even his mother calls him The Edge.” And as The Edge joins them at the tip of the heart, they rip into Desire, with Bono on harmonica.n”This next song we began writing in Berlin, at the start of the nineties. It was right about that time when a lot of American fans decided that we”d just gone completely batty. But I just want to say, we got a hotel… I mean we”re from the north side of Dublin – and we”re in Washington DC, you know. We were out there, floating around, and we found some really… interesting sh*t. This is a beautiful song.” Stay (Faraway, So Close!).nThe Fly (“I like to have the lights off for this one… things look different in the dark…”); I heard they didn”t play this last night but I was pleased to see it return, it”s one of my all-time favorites and the new arrangement is just amazing. At the end of this song, Bono took a lap around the heart and then seemed to become one with the video wall. I”m not sure how that happened, but the whole show is full of optical tricks; words projected onto the audience, semi-transparent screens that descend from the rafters for certain songs.nThe arena felt like it was going to break apart during Pride, just split open and crumble to the ground; disperse the soulful sounds across the city, from the Smithsonian to Chinatown, and for me that was the moment – the moment when I knew DC was alive.nIn the last encores, One must have taken ten minutes to play – because Bono just kept on talking. He talked about his political visits to DC, and thanked the people who helped with the Jubilee project, talked about canceling third-world debt… then he started in on the subject of the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and it got him preaching. “It”s on your shoulders, ”cause Europe is waiting for America to take the lead here. We always thought America was a great idea. Is it still? Is it still a great idea?” Eventually he stopped himself: “I could go on for hours…” he joked. Finally he started singing One, and to my surprise, he went back to using the “lepers in your head” line… but it was so appropriate after the speech he gave.nThis song just lit the place up. Somehow in the moment my friends and I all wound up arm in arm, singing along, “one life, with each other, sisters, brothers…” and everywhere I looked the same thing was happening with the rest of the audience. And as the last notes of “Walk On” faded away, it seemed that, for a few hours at least, the Capital Beltway had been like that heart-shaped catwalk, with all of DC inside it – and if the goal was soul, we got there. Sometime during the show, during one of his talkative moments, Bono said something that kind of sums up the theme for the evening:n”We like to mix it up a bit – Pop, Rock, Blues, Funk, Soul – we just blend it all together. Because that”s when it really gets exciting.”nI would that I could the words to record that feeling here… because “exciting” doesn”t even begin to cover it.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_15_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery34]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_15_2001_-_washington_district_of_columbia_usa_-_mci_center/12-thumb-90×120-2786.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”12.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Bill Almoney; © Tim Johnsonn’, ‘June 15, 2001 – Washington, District of Columbia, USA – MCI Center’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-15-2001-washington-district-of-columbia-usa-mci-center’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-15 23:00:35’, ‘2001-06-16 03:00:35’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=182’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(183, 1, ‘2001-06-17 23:09:31’, ‘2001-06-18 03:09:31’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire-Gloria, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-Wild Horses-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One, I Remember You, Walk On-Hallelujah.nRemarks:nFor the first time since 1992, U2 perform at Madison Square Garden (and the VIP area is packed). Before ”Desire,” Bono wishes Happy Birthday to Paul McGuinness, who turned 50 the day before.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nNew York PostnGood Old U2 Is Great Old U2nby Dan AquilantenRather than lumbering off into oblivion like so many other aging bands, U2 last night rekindled the unforgettable fire it ignited more than 20 years ago.nMidway through the Madison Square Garden show, U2”s lead singer, Bono, reminisced about coming to New York City.n”It was 21 years ago,” he said. “It was the Mud Club, The Ritz – there were times when there was just 11 people in the audience.n”Still, we played like our lives depended on it. That”s how we”re going to play tonight.”nHe lived up to his word. At the opening night of a two-show gig, the Irish quartet was terrific.nInstead of using inflatables, fireworks and the other doo-dads that seem to be essential to the gymnastics of music these days, the band won the hearts and minds of 19,000 fans the old-fashioned way – with music.nOld tunes, such as “I Will Follow,” “Anthems,” “Sunday, Bloody Sunday” and new songs off last year”s disc, such as “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” were the core of the show.nStarting with the present and exploring the evolution of the band as the evening progressed, Bono and the boys kick-started the event with “Elevation,” the number from which the tour derives its name.nPlaying off of the huge anticipation of this concert, U2 established major drama by entering the stage under full bright house lights one man at a time. The applause thundered as bassist Adam Clayton entered first, followed by drummer Larry Mullen, then guitarist The Edge – and, finally, U2 voice Bono.nTogether, they hammered out “Elevation,” one of the best from the new U2 album. The song had a sense of urgency that had audience members on their feet from the start, and was U2”s signature for the night.nBono bellowed, The Edge struck the strings of his guitar as if he were displeased, and the ClaytoMullen beat-machine was like clockwork.nN/And that was just the first song of the 2-hour performance. Last night wasn”t U2”s best show ever, but it was the band”s top New York concert in a decade.nThe distance between past and present was bridged nicely with studio-perfect renditions of some best-known, best-loved tunes, including “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “With or Without You,” “Pride (In the Name of Love)” and the new soulful “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of.”nOne of the night”s most interesting treatments was the stripped-down-to-its- frame ode to the Big Apple, simply called “New York.”nBono”s voice was a little squashed by the instrumental backup, but as the band worked toward the encore, that problem was cleaned up nicely. His voice was very scratchy when he spoke, but the problem wasn”t evident when he sang.nWatching Bono work, you see a guy who hasn”t just memorized words. With every phrase, he squeezes out meaning and emotion. His gestures are bold, and he wears his bombast like a badge. And the crowd loves him for it.nWhat helped him get it all across in this show is the unique, heart-shaped catwalk that extends to the center of The Garden”s floor. From that narrow path, he was able to get up close and personal with fans in a way few lead singers ever do.nU2 continues at The Garden tomorrow night, and will be at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey on Thursday and Friday. All shows are sold out, but this is one of those gigs for which you should do whatever you can to snag a ticket.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_17_2001_-_new_york_new_york_usa_-_madison_square_garde01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery64]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_17_2001_-_new_york_new_york_usa_-_madison_square_garde14-thumb-85×120-2814.jpg” width=”85″ height=”120″ alt=”14.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Reuters; © Associated Press; © Mike Takesn’, ‘June 17, 2001 – New York, New York, USA – Madison Square Garden’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-17-2001-new-york-new-york-usa-madison-square-garden’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-17 23:09:31’, ‘2001-06-18 03:09:31’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=183’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(184, 1, ‘2001-06-19 23:20:55’, ‘2001-06-20 03:20:55’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, Out Of Control, 11 O”Clock Tick Tock, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, I Remember You, Desire, Staring At The Sun, Bad-Wild Horses-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nRemarks:nN/At tonight”s show, Daniel Lanois joins U2 on stage to play guitar and sing backup vocals during ”Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of.” ”Staring at the Sun” is an acoustic version with The Edge playing and Bono singing.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nBy Jim FreemannThis was my fourth Elevation show and first at the GA level. I arrived at MSG around 1 pm in a near state of panic thinking that the line would be out on the street and I would be hanging in the back with Joe O. but much to my surprise I was numbered 129.nI met a great group of people from Germany, Mexico, Brazil, the UK and good old NYC while waiting in line. As absurd as this sounds, the management of one of the buildings raised issues with people sitting so for most of us we literally stood the entire period. One girl bought $50 worth of magazines to read while waiting to get in a concert for a ticket that cost her $45. I heard that the person with number one arrived at 6 am. Oddly, there was a tremendously larger line across the opposite entrance for people in line for a block of tickets yet to be sold. The folks at MSG did a relativley good job at handling everything and we dashed in the building in groups of 10-15 racing down the cavernous MSG and getting our wristbands right before the stage entrance (and special green wristbands for inside the heart) at around 7pm.nI perched myself on the outer edge of the heart near the tip on Edge”s side–perfect view of main stage and firsthand viewing of band for catwalks. Everyone seemd to have some sort of camera and you could have brought in a live giraffe and no one would have minded.nThe energy down there was outstanding and I think the band felt that as well as Bono commented that this was like a “Hometown” show. The band was terrific and really enjoyed the gig. Bono was in great spirits too as he told the crowd he learned that the Congress was about to forgive another $100 million in third world debt. From our level of viewing you can feel his passion in the songs he sings–he is in the zone.n”Out of Control” and “Tick Tock” back to back were fantastic with Edge harking back to the old days with his Explorer chiming away–although I am not sure the sequence entirely planned in advance. Seeing Danny Lanois play with the band was fun as well and a nice surprise.nThe full acoustic version of “Staring at the Sun” was a real treat and a little fact: The U2 crew actually taped a piece of paper on the stage for Edge with note and chord sequences and a corresponding sheet with lyrics for Bono! Not sure if people could see them looking down but they definitely were looking at the cheat sheets. All in all a good performance for a song not played that way in a long time.nTwo highlights. I was next to the girl Bono plucked from the crowd. She did a great job and bowed for Bono after the dance during “In a Little While.” A friend of hers put her on his shoulder and she wore a Ramones tank top–perfect timing and a touching moment as Bono dedicated to joey Ramone and mentioned his family members were attending. It was instantaneous bedlam in our section–I either cracked or severely briused a rib from the throng of fans clamoring to get closer but it was worth it. The people I was with were fantastic. Edge also shook my hand during one of the acoustic pieces with guitar pick still in hand and never dropped it after the embrace! Thanks Edge!nCatch Larry drumming for “Walk On”–great musicianship. He and Adam were just thundering throughout the show–they never missed a beat. The retooled version of the “Fly” is absolutely fierce and piercing as Bono remained plastered to the digiwalls at song”s end like a giant bug. It is like psychedelia in the digital age! At one point some fan flew across the stage down in the heart wrapped in what seemed to be the tri-color. Bizarre.nThe lighting and props are tasteful, yet spare, but well done–these guys always seemd to get this stuff right. Willie is a genious. You know it is a good show when during “Sunday Bloody Sunday” one of the guys in the spotlight tower on the truss is rocking out in his chair!nUnquestionably, the single best rock and roll show I have ever seen and perhaps will ever see. It is almost unfathomable to me how this show can be topped or this tour can be any better.n”Grace” is piped in the PA at show”s end. Wow. The goal was soul and I was elevated!nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_19_2001_-_new_york_new_york_usa_-_madison_square_garde01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery70]

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(185, 1, ‘2001-06-21 23:27:47’, ‘2001-06-22 03:27:47’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-Wild Horses-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono dedicates ”Stay (Faraway, So Close!)” to Baz Luhrmann, director of the movie ”Moulin Rouge”, who is in the arena tonight.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nBergen RecordnElevated By The Band That”s Never Out Of Stylenby Ryan JonesnTheir names are Marisa and Jackie, they”re 15 years old, and they”re pressed against the metal barrier that separates the paying customers from the rock stars. About five feet in front of them, crouched and crooning on a heart-shaped catwalk, Bono works his way through the soaring single “Beautiful Day.” Just two songs into his band”s set Thursday night at Continental Arena, the second-to-last night of his group”s U.S. tour, the charismatic U2 frontman has the packed house exactly where he wants it, happily in his grasp.nMarisa and Jackie are no exception, clearly enjoying their first U2 concert, singing the words to all the new songs and some of the old ones. Standing a few feet from them, equally enthralled, I can”t help but wonder: What are these kids doing here? I don”t begrudge them the experience. It”s just that I”m 27 years old, and I”ve been listening to this band since the mid-Eighties, half my life, basically, buying every record, seeing it live six or eight times over the years. I grew up on this band, but these girls? The first time I saw U2 in concert, Marisa and Jackie were a year old.nYet here we are, sharing a railing, watching a quartet of forty-something Irishmen who reportedly spent the past decade drifting slowly but steadily toward irrelevance. And yet here they are, seemingly relevant as ever, playing to the latest in a three-month string of energized, capacity crowds.nHaving loudly advertised its desire to reclaim the title of “World”s Greatest Rock Band,” U2 used the “Elevation”tour as proof it still deserves it. Judging by Thursday night”s effort, Bono, Larry, Adam, and the Edge are as worthy as they”ve ever been.nTaking the stage with the house lights up, the band literally leaps into “Elevation,” the buoyant track from last fall”s multiplatinum album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind.” Following with “Beautiful Day,” the first single from that album, U2 reiterates what the album has confirmed since its release: that, despite signs to the contrary, the band never forgot how to craft lofty, soul-searching, life-affirming arena rock. Nor have the members forgotten their youth. In faithful treks through early- and mid-Eighties classics like “I Will Follow,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” and “Pride (In The Name of Love),”the band effortlessly summons the raw, punkish energy that made those songs so good in the first place. Neither time nor use has deadened their effect.nStart to finish, the 140 minutes of music showcase every era of U2”s divergent history. Among the highlights: an incendiary version of “Bullet the Blue Sky,”in which Bono invokes Charlton Heston and Mark David Chapman (John Lennon”s assassin) in a vicious anti-gun rant; a rollicking take on “Until the End of the World”; the never-disappointing live standard “Bad”; and the rarely performed “Gone,” from 1997”s “Pop” album. All of those complement a heavy dose of new songs, none better than the sad, beautifully poignant “Kite.”nThroughout the set, each band member dependably plays his long-defined role. Drummer Larry Mullen remains stoic and steady.nBassist Adam Clayton, the other rhythmic rock, constantly gives away his faux-indifference with that casual smirk. The Edge, still the effortlessly cool guitar wiz, sports his ever-present skullcap and a contented grin. And Bono, black-clad from his custom-made leather jacket to his clunky Prada boots, is alternately lusty, romantic, high-minded, teasing, and political. Regardless, he never forsakes that cool, earnest magnetism.nFor those who”ve never liked the band, too preachy, too arrogant, too married to the easy outs of anthemic riffs and Big Question lyricism this show makes no efforts at conversion. This is what these guys do, and despite their much-maligned musical experimenting during the Nineties, what they do has never fundamentally changed.nN/All they”ve done, really, is get older, and think a lot about it, apparently. Mortality is an overriding theme on “All That You Can”t Leave Behind,” and a sense of hopeful fatalism permeates the show. “Walk On,” another new track and the concert”s closer, is an ode to a friend who is “packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been.” As sad as it is reassuring, “Walk On” boasts a classic U2 sound with a decidedly late-model U2 perspective. The words have changed, but the sound and the feel and the heart are the same as they ever were.nN/And so, here we are, Marisa and Jackie and I, two different demographics amid what might be rock”s most generationally diverse fan base. I ask these two friends what brought them here, and Marisa tells me her parents are “obsessed” with U2 and she”s been hearing it in her house as long as she can remember. Then Jackie says, “I”ve been into U2 forever.” Asked to explain “forever,” she says she”s loved the band since she was 8 years old. Half her life, basically. Since the band is as good now as it.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_21_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery75]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_21_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/06-thumb-120×81-2856.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_21_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery75]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_21_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/07-thumb-120×81-2858.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_21_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery75]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_21_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/08-thumb-120×81-2860.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Jim Lawhead; © Sascha Kremern’, ‘June 21, 2001 – East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA – Continental Airlines Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-21-2001-east-rutherford-new-jersey-usa-continental-airlines-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-21 23:27:47’, ‘2001-06-22 03:27:47’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=185’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(186, 1, ‘2001-06-22 23:33:53’, ‘2001-06-23 03:33:53’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire, Wild Honey, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, Bad-Everybody Hurts-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways-Sexual Healing, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On-Hallelujah.nRemarks:nWild Honey debuts and is performed acoustically, with Bono and The Edge at the heart and Daniel Lanois on guitar at the main stage. Lanois also performs there during The Ground Beneath Her Feet. A few of the celebrities spotted at tonight”s show include: Michael Stipe, Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton, The Beastie Boys, Gavin Friday and Guggi.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nPunk Rock Notionsnby Josh ValentinenNew York, London, Paris, Munich. Well, in this case it”s Miami, Buffalo, Albany, Hartford, Boston, New York, and East Rutherford. Not exactly what you would call the best of America. Especially Hartford. Man, I”d forgotten what a dump that place is. Ten shows in all on this Elevation first leg. From decadent Miami Beach all the way back to The Meadowlands. I experienced the birth and, possibly, the peak of U2”s finest hour. But, to end it in Jersey… man, what a hell hole.nNew Jersey sucks. The people are obnoxious, the traffic annoying, the accents irritating, and the stench sickening. Don”t get me wrong, I was raised and lived in Jersey for a long time. I love New Jersey. It”s produced some legends like The Boss, Little Steven, Paulie Walnuts, Lawrence Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Route 17, you name it. It”s just when Bono sings “Twenty years ago… I walked these streets,” during “I Will Follow,” he”s not singing about the beautiful avenues of Rutherford, Lyndhurst, or Newark. He”s singing of the other nastiness that is Manhattan. You know, the island across that river? Anyway, even Bonovox can”t warm up to New Jersey. Yes, Manhattan is also a dump, but at least it”s home to the most stimulating, culturally-enriching (if you”re rich and white), hottest melting pot of an amazing city on this rock we call Earth. So, when U2 visits the gorgeous confines of The Meadowlands and it”s many unmarked graves for former “made guys,” it”s like an extension of their NYC jaunt. Not a bad deal.nU2”s show in Buffalo could not top this one. Although it did tie it for first place. The band”s stay in the upper regions of the Northeast was, in some respects, a sort of homecoming. Buffalo”s crowd embraced the raw energy which still exists from the band twenty-five years after its inception. Albany saw Bono feed off the crowd”s powerful loyalty in light of his illness and inability to hit some key high notes. Hartford saw the comeback kid prove that he and his band still have it and NEVER lost it in the nineties (that”s right… the ten year “experiment” was the best thing to happen to the band… so shut up). The four night stay in Boston was the first leg”s big to-do. A film crew, the inevitable “old-school” setlist inclusions like “11 O”clock Tick Tock,” “Out of Control,” and “Party Girl,” and the return to the first American city to really embrace the unique sound that is U2.nWhen reaching the promised land in New York City (or, should I say, the NYC area) for the final four shows, U2 had it made. The show”s production was in it”s peak mode; everyone knew their place; and the band was ready to prove itself once again.nIn a recent interview in Toronto, Bono made mention of the fact that U2 came out of punk rock. He also pointed out that most of their doings from 1976 onward were composed of punk rock notions… the fact that the band felt like they were part of the audience. U2 were never a punk rock band and never tried to be or sound like their idols The Ramones or The Clash or The Sex Pistols. But, they have also not forgotten where they come from. Their “roots,” so to speak. They have been together even before they were a band and before they were able to play their instruments. When reaching the home of The Ramones in New York City, they came to prove themselves when they shouldn”t even have to. Twenty-five years, many millions of dollars, and a lot of mainstream exposure later, U2 came to the Big Apple to show that they are the greatest band on the planet. Well, at least for those four nights.nThe final night in New Jersey saw a culmination and a slight tweaking of the “standard” Elevation setlist. It”s important to point out what was omitted because, well, I just feel like it. Gone were songs like “Gone” with it”s newly revamped guitar duel between guitarist (The Edge) and singer (Bono). Other rarely played POP tunes like “Discotheque” or “Staring at the Sun” will most likely resurface in Europe. Surprisingly absent from the NY/NJ run were songs like “Angel of Harlem” and “All I Want is You,” two of which I thought were shoe-in alternates. Of course, the band is going to have to start playing “11:00” and “Control” a little more.nN/Anyway, off with the horns and on with the show…nELEVATIONnThe greatest U2 opener ever. Next to “Mofo” and “Zoo Station,” of course.nBEAUTIFUL DAYnIf Bono leaps stage right, you know you”re in for an “on” night.nUNTIL THE END OF THE WORLDnOne of U2”s greatest songs performed to near perfection in the great toxicity of Jersey.nNEW YEAR”S DAYnOne piano. One Edge. Only one song in need of a piano. Only U2 could get away with this. Why not play “The Sweetest Thing” or “Running to Stand Still” or “October” while that thing is still up there?nKITEnThe strongest version I”ve witnessed. It”s about letting go. And that”s what they did.nNEW YORKnSo, this live version gets better every time I see it. I remember being home in Boston three weeks earlier only to hear chants of “Yankees suck!” at a U2 show. I do hate the Yankees and I hate the Red Sox even more. But leave that stupidity outside.nI WILL FOLLOWnCould have been “Out of Control” or “11:00″ or both! There”s always the third leg.nSUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAYnN/An Irish flag was thrown from the rafters into the hands of love. While and American flag was left behind.nIN MY LIFE STUCK IN A MOMENTnThe gospel of U2.nIN A LITTLE WHILEnThe gospel of U2, with a little bit of Joey Ramone”s soul. I”d like to hear you try this, Mr. Rollins.nDESIREnThe usual “Desire” medley of “Gloria” and “Not Fade Away” was omitted for the next surprisenWILD HONEYnThe “world premiere” of this tune brought out Mr. Daniel Lanois on guitar and vocals. He added the lap-steel effects you hear on the album.nTHE GROUND BENEATH HER FEETnBono and Edge”s acoustic rendition has come a long way from Miami. With a little more Lanois.nBADnSTREETSnClassic.nMYSTERIOUS WAYSnU2 at their funkified best. Adam and Larry”s finest seven minutes.nTHE FLYnNothing could top the version in Buffalo when Bono donned my neighbor”s Fly shades, but this one held my attention. It”s an interesting concept when this song sometimes precedes “With or Without You:” you take the sincerity of The Joshua Tree era and follow it with the Fly on the wall, and you”ve got elevation. But those are just labels of their career, really.nBULLET THE BLUE SKYnThis amazing rendition has basically turned in to a death warrant for Charleton Heston (still an ass) and Mark Chapman (a bigger ass).nWITH OR WITHOUT YOUnWomen at the tip of the heart… get ready.nPRIDEnMartin Luther King… still sings. Yes sir.nONEnPreceded by an ovation for spectator Bill Clinton… still feeling loved.nWALK ONnThat “Hallelujah” bit at the end is why I stay to the end of each and every Elevation show. Hallelujah indeed, the greatest band of all time has just completed yet another authentically punk rock, anthemic, soul digging, essence of love pounding on the hearts of all things human, rock and roll spectacle.nNow, as easy as it is to put music into words (it”s freaking impossible), it”s even harder to describe the true nature of this amazing band. They have been together since they were fifteen and sixteen. Larry was fourteen. That”s a long time to be with three buddies. The music is pure. The playing is much-improved. To me, the greatness of U2 all started with the BOY album with it”s widescreen, anthemic soundtracks and punk-rock riffs, lined up with a voice so powerful and soulful, yet so darn white. U2”s greatness was highlighted by ZOO TV”s rendition of “Running to Stand Still,” with it”s revamped chord structures and the band”s urging to bring an 50,000 seat stadium to intimacy. The greatness of U2 was in Popmart and all of its excesses. And in Passengers with its ambience. Elevation 2001 is U2 at full circle. No, it is not a return to roots. Their roots come from music played in their teens. Elevation 2001 is the further exploration of those punk-rock notions Bono, The Edge, Adam, and Larry aspire to. To conquer the world with satellite television; to stroll down the catwalk in a fifty-foot lemon; and to now dig deep for the soul they have been searching for. The goal is soul.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_22_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery29]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_22_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/06-thumb-120×81-2872.jpg” width=”120″ height=”81″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_22_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery29]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_22_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/07-thumb-120×79-2874.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_22_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery29]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_22_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/08-thumb-120×80-2876.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_22_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery29]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/june_22_2001_-_east_rutherford_new_jersey_usa_-_continental_airlines_arena/09-thumb-120×80-2878.jpg” width=”120″ height=”80″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Associated Press; © Bill Almoneyn’, ‘June 22, 2001 – East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA – Continental Airlines Arena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘june-22-2001-east-rutherford-new-jersey-usa-continental-airlines-arena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-06-22 23:33:53’, ‘2001-06-23 03:33:53’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=186’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(187, 1, ‘2001-07-06 23:48:42’, ‘2001-07-07 03:48:42’, ‘Opening Act(s): StereophonicsnSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways-Sexual Healing, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire, Staring At The Sun, Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On-Hallelujah.nRemarks:nU2 kick off the 2nd leg of the Elevation 2001 Tour at the 10,000 seat Forum in Copenhagen. The arena is extremely hot, and Bono sings the final two songs of the main set shirtless. Later he pours water on The Edge during the concert.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nInternetavisen Jyllands-PostennU2 i K¿benhavn: Store bev¾gelser i saunaennN/Af Peter SchollertnForum, K¿benhavn:nU2nFredagnDen irske kvartet U2 formŒede ved den f¿rste koncert af to i Forum i K¿benhavn aldrig for alvor at bevise, at det gjorde en forskel, at bandet optrŒdte indenfor foran cirka 10.000 tilskuere i stedet for at optr¾de for det tre- og firedobbelte antal under Œben himmel som det skete pŒ Gentofte Stadion i 1993 og i Parken for fire Œr siden.nMŒske var storsk¾rmene lidt mindre og i sort-hvid, men rockkvartetten var som til stadionkoncerterne stadig til meget store bev¾gelser i arrangementer og melodier.n”Tak for et dejligt liv”nDer var ikke levnet plads til improvisation, men kun til akustiske set-ups. Og dialogen mellem band og publikum foregik som hidtil gennem Bono, der stort set holdt sig til at takke publikum for “at have givet bandet et dejligt liv” og andre venligheder. Det var afgjort et sympatisk tr¾k, men man savnede alligevel hans dj¾velsk gode optr¾den fra 1993, da U2 og Bono i et overdŒdigt show af storsk¾rme, satellitter og hemmelige telefonnumre fors¿gte at komme i kontakt med hele verden – og kun glippede Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, der ikke var hjemme.nI 1993 havde U2 bygget sin koncert op om bandets stadig st¾rkeste og et af 1990”ernes allerbedste album, “Achtung Baby”. I Forum var udgangspunktet det seneste album, “All That You Can”t Leave Behind”. Et album, der har opnŒet ganske stor kommerciel succes, men som slet ikke har samme kunstneriske tyngde og de st¾rke melodier som “Achtung Baby”.nDet blev understreget straks med Œbningssangen “Elevation”, som med sin energi nok er en velvalgt igangs¾tter, men i Forum fremstod rodet i et meget dŒrligt lydudtryk, der sk¾mmede specielt f¿rste del af den to timer lange koncert.nVand pŒ stenene i saunaennVed koncertens begyndelse var der som noget sj¾ldent lys i salen, og bandet kunne dermed konstatere, at publikum allerede svedte, som om de var i fuld gang med fitness-timen. Forum var i sommerheden blevet opvarmet til temperaturer som i en sauna, nŒr der er smidt vand pŒ de varme sten, og arrang¿rerne gjorde alt for lidt for at skabe gennemtr¾k og luft. I l¿bet af koncerten kunne man da ogsŒ opleve personer blive sl¾bt af sted af venner og bekendte, drivvŒde af sved og groggy.nPŒ scenen havde guitaristen The Edge derimod sin karakteristiske tophue pŒ under hele koncerten, mens Bono holdt sin sorte l¾derjakke pŒ indtil ekstranumrene. Det afholdt ham dog ikke fra at svede igennem og ofte bev¾ge sig ud pŒ den specielt designede catwalk, der kunne f¿re ham og bandet l¾ngere ud i salen og ud til publikum.nDet tog begejstret imod “Beautiful Day” og efterf¿lgende to af de st¾rkeste sager fra “Achtung”-albummet, “Until The End Of The World” og “Mysterious Ways”, hvor sidstn¾vnte dog ikke blev leveret med tidligere tiders skarphed. SŒ fulgte “Kite” fra det nye album, “Gone” fra “Pop”-albummet og “New York” fra den nye CD, som til dels blev ¿delagt af dŒrlig lyd, men som hverken i deres oprindelige styrke eller i live-arrangementerne virkede som oplagte valg fra et bagkatalog af sj¾ldent st¾rke numre.nBro mellem band og publikumnBlandt dem er “I Will Follow” fra bandets begyndelse, og i Forum blev dŽn sang trukket frem i et velkendt, men st¾rkt arrangement, og herfra var der for alvor bygget bro mellem band og et publikum, hvor saunaforholdene bet¿d, at selv den mest stillestŒende kunne m¾rke tr¿je, underbukser, bukser og str¿mper klistre til den vŒde hud. Og det blev bare v¾rre med stigende temperaturer pŒ grund af begejstringen over en klassiker som “Sunday Bloody Sunday” og det nye hit “Stuck in a Moment you Can”t Get Out Of”, hvor lydforholdene endelig for alvor kom til at fungere.nBŒde pŒ Gentofte Stadion og i Parken forlod The Edge og bassisten Adam Clayton samt trommeslageren Larry Mullen Jr. de faste stŒsteder pŒ scenen for at spille et nummer pŒ et sceneareal t¾ttere pŒ publikum.nDet samme skete i Forum med nummeret “Desire”, der i al sin planlagte enkelhed fungerede godt og blev fulgt op af Bono og The Edges vellykkede, n¾sten intime udgave af “Staring at the Sun”, hvorefter trumfer som “Where the Streets have no Name” og “Pride” blev brugt som hele bandets effektfulde afslutning pŒ koncerten f¿r de obligatoriske ekstranumre.nHerlige f¾llessangenFor selv om U2 virkelig har udforsket koncertformlen, har heller ikke dette band fundet et andet exit end at sige farvel – og komme tilbage pŒ scenen et par minutter senere med flere numre; “Bullet in the Blue Sky”, “With or Without You” og sŒ det umiddelbart naturlige exitnummer, “One”.nMen U2 fortsatte videre til enden med “Walk On” fra den nye CD, der ogsŒ var den musikalske udvej ved koncerterne i New York, Washington og Philadelphia. Hvilket i sig selv ikke er overraskende, da en r¾kke kunstnere k¿rer efter ret faste s¾tlister, fordi det ogsŒ skal v¾re muligt for lys- og lydfolk at realisere det samlede koncertudtryk, som bandet ¿nsker.nMen nŒr U2 i Forum stadig ville de faste rammer, det store rockudtryk og de herlige f¾llessange og ikke var ude i et ¾rinde, hvor koncertens indre logik og logistik skulle nedbrydes med spontane trommesoli og stenet guitarlir af The Edge, kunne det alligevel undre, hvorfor det ikke bare kunne have v¾ret endnu en stor stadionkoncert med plads til alle dem, der desperat fors¿gte at k¿be billetter f¿r koncerten.nEn ung kvinde fulgte f¿r koncerten efter mig over gaden til Forum med ordene:nJeg f¿lger lige med, sŒ jeg kan fŒ din billet, hvis du nu skulle blive k¿rt ned!nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_6_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery44]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_6_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/01-thumb-79×120-2880.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_6_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery44]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_6_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/02-thumb-79×120-2882.jpg” width=”79″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_6_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery44]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_6_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/03-thumb-120×79-2884.jpg” width=”120″ height=”79″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Internetavisen Jyllands-Postenn’, ‘July 6, 2001 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Forum’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘july-6-2001-copenhagen-denmark-forum’, ”, ”, ‘2001-07-06 23:48:42’, ‘2001-07-07 03:48:42’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=187’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(188, 1, ‘2001-07-07 23:58:27’, ‘2001-07-08 03:58:27’, ‘Opening Act(s): JJ72nSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nU2.comnTen Things You Might Not Know About The Second Copenhagen Shownby U2.comn1. Edge was wearing his red No. 2 shirt.n2. The opening act was JJ72n3. Helena Christiansen was there for the second time in two nights but the girl on the singers mind was Eve, his daughter, who is also there for her birthday. Dad sends best wishes.n4. Introducing Kite, Bono says: ”You know you Danish people have a very big influence on our national tongue – just like you to know that.” At which point he slips into the local tongue for a moment.” It”s very warm and they are cool, let”s face it, it”s a pretty obscure language, do you speak Irish? That”s a very obscure language. Larry speaks good Irish. Larry Mullen Jnr”s father, Larry Mullen Snr, is with us in the house tonight and young whippersnappers JJ72 were in the house with us tonight, they were extraordinary anything else?” ”God is in the house,” someone shouts. ”Amen.. he”d better be,” says the singer. ”This is a song about, I”m not going to tell you. It”s called Kite.”n5. Another characteristically sweltering Scandinavian night and for the first time on the tour to date Adam takes his shirt off – during Mysterious Ways and Fly.n6. Charlton Heston has been taken out and a new film has replaced him, which introduces Bullet the Blue Sky. Text as follows: ”The five permanent members of the UN security council are: USA, UK, France, China and Russia ”The five biggest arms traders in the world are: USA, UK, France, China and Russia.”n7. ”Ring those bells Edge, let”s make those bells ring,” commands Bono as I Will Follow is introduced. ”We wrote a love song on two strings, twenty years ago we came walking down these streets, twenty years ago Copenhagen, same melody, same beats; rings those bells Edge; they shine like mercury and gold; ring those bells Edge, those bells never gonna grow old, those bells never gonna grow old; my spirit will never grow old”n8. Stuck In A Moment is dedicated to ”the Christiansens.”n9. Bono and Edge perform Stay together, at the point of the heart. ”This is a song that we started in Berlin at the start of the 90”s, in a studio called Hansa. A lot of folks figured that this was the period when U2 went all arty on you, we didn”t see it that way ”cos when you”re out there, floating out there, you find all sorts of interesting shit like this beautiful song.” The song closes with ”Miami, New Orleans, Copenhagen, Paris, France”n10. The Fly begins with a birthday girl. ”You walk into a sports hall, the lights go down and you see a little girl and she”s your girl and it”s her birthday today in Copenhagen, her name is Eve and she”s into two digits, she”s ten, oh my lord, what a win, I”m gonna love this girl.”nN/And ends with a drenching, as someone throws water at Bono and suddenly it is coming from all directions and the singer stands on the catwalk trying to throw his arms around the audience while getting completely soaked. One fan manages to get up on the catwalk. Bono hugs him. As if to say, Thank you Copenhagen.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery90]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/01-thumb-120×76-2886.jpg” width=”120″ height=”76″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery90]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/02-thumb-90×120-2888.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery90]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/03-thumb-90×120-2890.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery90]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/04-thumb-90×120-2892.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery90]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/05-thumb-90×120-2894.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery90]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_7_2001_-_copenhagen_denmark_-_forum/06-thumb-90×120-2896.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Michael Skoog; © Hayley Coristinen’, ‘July 7, 2001 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Forum’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘july-7-2001-copenhagen-denmark-forum’, ”, ”, ‘2001-07-07 23:58:27’, ‘2001-07-08 03:58:27’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=188’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(189, 1, ‘2001-07-09 00:04:44’, ‘2001-07-09 04:04:44’, ‘Opening Act(s): StereophonicsnSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One, Wake Up Dead Man, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nExpressennNŠstan Gudomligt, U2nHalleluja, vilket drag! Det U2 presterade i Globen i natt var klassiskt, vŠrldsklass, nŠstan gudomligt.nN/Av Anders NunstedtnJag har redan sett tvŒ spelningar av den hŠr turnŽn, och det har varit švertygande. I gŒr blev man, som de sŠger dŠr borta, bortblŒst. Jag har slut pŒ invŠndningar. Ja, det skulle vara en dŒ. De kunde gŠrna fŒtt hŒlla pŒ ett tag till. Inledningen Šr blŠndande. Fšrsta lŒten Šr “Elevation” i fullt strŒlkastarsken, och fšr fšrsta gŒngen pŒ de spelningar jag sett sprintar Bono varvet runt pŒ det gigantiska hjŠrta som omsluter scenen redan under fšrsta lŒten. Det Šr en uppumpad, uppblŒst till synes ošvervinnerlig frontman som bestŠmt sig fšr att ge allt.nDet kan fšrstŒs vara inbillning, men jag har en liten kŠnsla av att Sverige har en sŠrskild plats i irlŠndarnas hjŠrtan. De rankar Globen-konserten dŠr de spelade “Dancing queen” med Bjšrn och Benny till sina bŠsta och i gŒr ropade Bono “hur Šr lŠget” innan han hšll en liten monolog om att irlŠndarna uppfann svenska sprŒket. Dessutom improviserar han fram en text under upplšsningen av “I will follow” som handlar om nŠr bandet kom till Stockholm och spelade pŒ legendariska klubben Underground fšr tjugo Œr sedan, och nŠr konserten Šr pŒ vŠg att ta slut tackar han Thomas (konsertarrangšren Ema-Telstars starke man Johansson) fšr allt stšd genom Œren.nShowen Šr tvŒ timmar och nitton lŒtar lŒng, vilket Šr kortare Šn bŒde Miami och Kšpenhamn. Och det Šr framfšr allt lŒtarna frŒn senaste albumet som fŒr stryka pŒ foten. I stŠllet kastar U2 in akustiska “Stay (Faraway, so close!)” och oerhšrt vackra “Wake up dead man”. BŠttre Šn tidigare funkar framfšr allt “Beautiful day”, “Until the end of the world” och “The Fly”. Mycket Šr skamlšst men pricksŠkert publikfrieri: en majestŠtisk “Where the streets have no name”, en tung “Pride (In the name of love)” och en omtumlande “Sunday bloody sunday” som denna gŒng klockar in pŒ elva minuter.nN/AllsŒngen ekar, The Edge gitarr lŒter som tre pŒ en gŒng, rytmsektionen MulleClayton skapar ett elektriskt groove och Bono krŒmar sig, slŠnger sig och šppnar sig. Han Šr som en besatt predikant som fšrsšker frŠlsa publiken i varje sekund. Som i avslutande, himmelska “Walk on”. En lŒt som vŠxer till en psalm och som avslutas med att Bono kastar hŠnderna i luften och sjunger “Hallelujah”. KvŠllens konsert Šr Šven den utsŒld och jag vet inte vad inte vad svarta bšrs-biljetterna kan kosta. Men jag vet en sak. Det Šr vŠrt det.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_9_2001_-_stockholm_sweden_-_globe01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_9_2001_-_stockholm_sweden_-_globe01-thumb-120×67-2898.jpg” width=”120″ height=”67″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Expressenn’, ‘July 9, 2001 – Stockholm, Sweden – Globen’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘july-9-2001-stockholm-sweden-globen’, ”, ”, ‘2001-07-09 00:04:44’, ‘2001-07-09 04:04:44’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=189’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(190, 1, ‘2001-07-10 00:22:14’, ‘2001-07-10 04:22:14’, ‘Opening Act(s): StereophonicsnSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, Out Of Control, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire-Gloria, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Wake Up Dead Man, Walk On.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nExpressennNŠstan VŠrldsklass Igen, U2n”U2 fick en minst lika entusiastisk publik under Globens andra kvŠll, men lyckades inte riktigt prestera samma hisnande rock”n”roll-mŠssa”, skriver Expressens Anders Nunstedt om U2:s andra konsert under Sverigebesšket.nN/Av Anders NunstedtnEn rasande start i en rasande fart och med en skitsnygg “New year”s day” redan som fjŠrde lŒt. U2 inledde gŒrdagens konsert i Globen lika lysande som de avslutade mŒndagskvŠllens spelning. Bandets “Elevation tour” Šr Œrets stora Œkattraktion och de som lyckats knipa biljetter till nŒgon av de tvŒ Stockholmsspelningarna Šr bara att gratulera. €ven om jag flšg hšgre av den fšrsta Œkturen. U2 fick en minst lika entusiastisk publik under Globens andra kvŠll, men lyckades inte riktigt prestera samma hisnande rock”n”roll-mŠssa. Ibland saknades det dŠr lilla extra, och paradoxalt nog kan det bero pŒ en av den hŠr turnŽns stora styrkor: den ofšrutsŠgbara lŒtlistan.nU2 spelar pŒ kŠnn, och slŠnger in lŒtar som de kŠnner fšr fšr stunden. Det innebŠr ocksŒ att de slŠnger ut, och den hŠr gŒngen fšrsvann bland andra “Pride (In the name of love)” och “I will follow” till fšrmŒn fšr “Desire” och “The ground beneath her feet” och det lŒtvalet kan inte ens den lysande “New year”s day” rŠdda. Men mycket Šr fšrstŒs det samma, och Šnnu en gŒng framstŒr Globen som skrŠddarsydd fšr U2:s show. Den svŠngda rampen ut i publiken som Bono anvŠnder som lšparbana fŒr maximal effekt, ljusshowen och ljudet Šr oklanderligt och trots storleken pŒ arenan skapar irlŠndarna en intim publikkontakt med en Bono som hela tiden bjuder in i gemenskapen. Och nŠr “Walk on” slutligen drar i gŒng Šr det defilering. U2 Šr ohotade kungar pŒ rockarenan, som sŒ mŒnga gŒnger fšrr.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_10_2001_-_stockholm_sweden_-_globe01.jpg” rel=”lightbox”><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_10_2001_-_stockholm_sweden_-_globe01-thumb-120×67-2900.jpg” width=”120″ height=”67″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Expressenn’, ‘July 10, 2001 – Stockholm, Sweden – Globen’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘july-10-2001-stockholm-sweden-globen’, ”, ”, ‘2001-07-10 00:22:14’, ‘2001-07-10 04:22:14’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=190’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(191, 1, ‘2001-07-12 00:36:37’, ‘2001-07-12 04:36:37’, ‘Opening Act(s): Die Soehne MannheimsnSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, New York, I Will Follow-Ring Those Bells, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Hawkmoon 269-Desire-Running To Stand Still, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-Wild Horses-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways-Sexual Healing, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.nRemarks:nHawkmoon 269 and Running To Stand Still are played in a medley with Desire. ”Hawkmoon 269” hasn”t been played since December 1989 and ”Running To Stand Still” not since December 1993. ”In A Little While” is dedicated to Dutch artist Herman Brood who committed suicide yesterday.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nFrankfurter Allgemeine ZeitungnStill Haven”t Found What They”re Looking Fornby Robert J. MudgenCOLOGNE. Those of us who thought rock music had been contaminated by a perfidious, soul-ravaging, coma-inducing disease can breathe again: If Thursday night”s performance by the Irish band U2 in the sold-out Cologne Arena is anything to go by, rock ”n” roll is very much alive.nOf course, the Greatest Band in the World, as they like to refer to themselves without the slightest trace of irony or self-effacement, has gone through various forms of reincarnation. Never one to shy away from a challenge, the band has managed with an almost chameleon-like quality to assimilate pop music”s varying styles and forms and turn them into something fresh. And, against the odds, they have done so successfully and without losing their credibility.nN/And although they have gone off on all these different tangents, their fans have remained faithful to them. One of their very first gigs in their hometown of Dublin was performed in front of a grand total of four people. Thursday saw them enthralling an 18,000-strong adoring crowd, and so far almost every stop on this arena tour has been sold out. Indeed, the sales figures for the album “All That You Can”t Leave Behind” are also impressive. Before its release, the band had not had a No. 1 in over three years. This album shot to the top in 32 countries and has now sold in excess of seven million copies worldwide.nThe tour has poignantly been named the “Elevation” tour (after one of the tracks on the latest album). U2 has that rare quality of being able to sound up-lifting while remaining down-to-earth at the same time. Granted, lead singer Bono has been called many things, pompous, overbearing and overblown being some of the more pleasant terms used to describe him. And although he likes to see himself as the thinking man”s rock musician, his lyrics and mannerisms, thankfully, have not so far turned into some uncontrollable, excessively cerebral animal.nDespite their various musical incarnations, U2 will always have their trademarks: The swirling, cascading guitar riffs produced by The Edge (so dubbed because of his edgy, clipped way of playing enhanced by multiple effects); Bono”s voice, which can go from a yearning, soul-wrenching yelp to a crooning, caressing whisper; and the raw, driving rhythm work provided by drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and bass player Adam Clayton.nInstead of turning the house lights off as is customary, they remained on until halfway through the first song, giving the occasion a slightly surreal feel. The show featured almost all the material from the latest album, and while songs like “Elevation” and “Beautiful Day” were greeted joyously like long-lost friends and belted out by the audience word for word, the reaction to the piano intro to one of their biggest hits, “New Year”s Day” almost tore the roof off.nSomewhat surprisingly, they also played “Sunday, Bloody Sunday,” a song about the infamous 1972 incident when British soldiers shot at unharmed protesters in Derry. Surprising, because they have not played the tune for quite some time and it had been rumored that they would not be playing it on this tour. However, in light of the recent escalation of violence in Northern Ireland, the band obviously wanted to make a statement.nThankfully it remained a musical one. Never one to shirk a political argument, Bono has been known to insist on airing his views on anything remotely in the political spectrum. Not necessarily a bad thing, as he has acted as an untiring campaigner on the issue of human rights and debt cancellation, but too much of a good thing can also sometimes leave a bitter taste.nIn what was a radical departure for the band from the last tour”s stage production, which featured giant blown-up lemons and a stage resembling a spaceship, the focus this time was entirely on the music. Or as Bono told the audience, “the last time we played with lemons, this time we”re playing with heart.” Indeed, the only concession to a production normally associated with major league rock stars was a heart-shaped catwalk that stretched out into the first few rows of fans. In line with the no-frills show, they performed a stripped-down, acoustic sing-along version of “Desire” on the catwalk.nThe two-hour-plus show ended with “Walk On,” not only a nice way of telling the audience to go home, but more importantly a track dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese opposition who is under house arrest in Myanmar.nThe gig proved that U2, as Larry Mullen recently put when asked whether he could envisage the band breaking up, is a band with a mission. “We still feel that there is something to be accomplished out there, unfinished work if you like. As long as that feeling persists, we will carry on.”nU2 plays the Olympiahalle in Munich on Sunday and Berlin Waldbühne on July 29. The album “All That You Can”t Leave Behind” is out on Island Records.nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery31]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/01-thumb-120×89-2902.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery31]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/02-thumb-120×90-2904.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery31]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/03-thumb-120×89-2906.jpg” width=”120″ height=”89″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery31]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/04-thumb-81×120-2908.jpg” width=”81″ height=”120″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery31]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/05-thumb-83×120-2910.jpg” width=”83″ height=”120″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery31]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_12_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/06-thumb-120×85-2912.jpg” width=”120″ height=”85″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Associated Press; © Jens Hartmannn’, ‘July 12, 2001 – Cologne, Germany – Koelnarena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘july-12-2001-cologne-germany-koelnarena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-07-12 00:36:37’, ‘2001-07-12 04:36:37’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=191’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(192, 1, ‘2001-07-13 00:44:04’, ‘2001-07-13 04:44:04’, ‘Opening Act(s): Die Soehne MannheimsnSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, Mysterious Ways, Kite, Gone, New York, Out Of Control, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, The Sweetest Thing, The Ground Beneath Her Feet, All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Pride (In The Name Of Love). Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, The Fly, One, Wake Up Dead Man, Walk On-Hallelujah.nn<!–more–>nFan Review:nBy Caroline Von BnMy first Elevation gig tonight, found myself in the heart, second row up, amazed with the proximity of the stage. This is how you”re supposed to see gigs – it definitely felt like a club up front.nBono was sucking up to us, ”you”re louder than the Americans,” reading his German off a piece of paper as usual. ”Ich bin Koelsch, wir sind alle Koelsch.” Perhaps all the Dutch people up the front would care to disagree…nIt took me a few minutes to get into the show, as did the band, it seemed. Edge was completely off (a full key?) for the first few bars of Until the End of the World but Bono just laughed it off.nThree songs in I went with the vibe and after Out of Control I just completely lost myself.nI can”t remember ever having seen the band up close like that, even all those times pressed up against the ministage on previous tours.nHaving a permanent view of them all, being able to see the interaction – the winks, the smiles, the way Edge follows Bono with his eyes. Pure joy.nI took no notice of the set. What they played was irrelevant. I just floated with it and even found myself jumping up and down to ”Pride”, a song I often tell myself and others I can no longer bare to listen to.nSometimes it”s about the song and the moment. Sometimes it”s about the band and audience merging and coming out something larger, something indefinable.n”Sell our songs, never our souls,” Bono improvised during Out of Control, and ”Daddy come home, daddy come home” during With or Without You.nDuring Sunday Bloody Sunday, two people behind me threw one of their many signs on stage. It said ”Please” and Bono hung it around his neck, walking it down the catwalk to the tip of the heart, weaving a few lines of the song Please into the end of SBS.nI got goosebumps, shivers, chills, when the entire venue sang along to Ground Beneath Her Feet. Tears when Bono dedicated ”Kite” to Lola, Herman Brood”s daughter.nI distinctly remember a drop, a big drop of sweat that Bono shook from his hand as he went to strum his guitar for ”One”. It seemed to fall down in slow motion.nFor the last couple of songs Bono visibly basked in the wave of adulation directed at him, tripping on the audience”s energy.n”You”re amazing,” he said to the audience, and ”we will never forget these two nights in Cologne.”nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/01-thumb-90×120-2914.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”01.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/02.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/02-thumb-120×90-2916.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”02.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/03.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/03-thumb-90×120-2918.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”03.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/04.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/04-thumb-120×90-2920.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”04.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/05.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/05-thumb-120×90-2922.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”05.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/06.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/06-thumb-90×120-2924.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”06.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/07.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/07-thumb-120×90-2926.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”07.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/08.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/08-thumb-120×90-2928.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”08.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/09.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/09-thumb-90×120-2930.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”09.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/10.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/10-thumb-120×90-2932.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”10.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/11.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/11-thumb-90×120-2934.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”11.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/12.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery66]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_2nd_leg_-_europe/july_13_2001_-_cologne_germany_-_koelnarena/12-thumb-90×120-2936.jpg” width=”90″ height=”120″ alt=”12.jpg”/></a>n</div>nN/All images are © Matthias Muehlbradt/Elevation-tour.comn’, ‘July 13, 2001 – Cologne, Germany – Koelnarena’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘july-13-2001-cologne-germany-koelnarena’, ”, ”, ‘2001-07-13 00:44:04’, ‘2001-07-13 04:44:04’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=192’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0),
(193, 1, ‘2001-07-15 00:50:17’, ‘2001-07-15 04:50:17’, ‘Opening Act(s): Die Soehne MannheimsrnSetlist:rnElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, In My Life-Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, In A Little While, Desire-Gloria, Stay (Faraway, So Close!), Bad-40, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, One, Walk On.’, ‘July 15, 2001 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle’, ”, ‘publish’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘july-15-2001-munich-germany-olympiahalle’, ”, ”, ‘2010-06-25 20:23:35’, ‘2010-06-26 00:23:35’, ”, 0, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=193’, 0, ‘post’, ”, 0);
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(1374, 1, ‘2001-05-07 05:16:04’, ‘2001-05-07 09:16:04’, ‘Opening Act(s): PJ HarveynSetlist:nElevation, Beautiful Day, Until The End Of The World, New Year”s Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of, Gone, Kite, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The Sweetest Thing, In A Little While, Angel Of Harlem, Stay (Faraway, So Close), Bad-All I Want Is You, Where The Streets Have No Name, Mysterious Ways, The Fly. Encore: Bullet The Blue Sky, With Or Without You, Pride (In The Name Of Love), One, Walk On.nRemarks:nBono sings snippets of The Beatles ”Drive My Car” and ”Twist And Shout” at the end of ”Elevation.” Later in the show, Bono comments on The Beatles having played at the Mellon Arena back in the 1960”s.nn<!–more–>nMedia Review:nPittsburgh Post-GazettenU2”s Stripped-Down Show Rocks Mellon Arenanby Ed Masley, Post-Gazette Pop Music CriticnScaling it back from the stadium-rocking spectacle of Zoo Tv and PopMart, U2”s Elevation Tour finds Bono and the boys refocusing their energies on what for them, at least, would more than likely constitute a stripped-down rock ”n” roll show:nMessianic, self-important, Only Band That Matters rock ”n” roll.nBut stripped-down nonetheless.nCompared to Zoo TV and PopMart anyway.nN/And even then, it”s not as though U2”s appearance last night at the Mellon Arena was something you”d see on a club tour. It still had the lighting and staging that come with arena-rock pricing. It still had the catwalk and strobe lights. It still had the video monitors with one screen devoted to each of the guys in the band.nBut even with a camera trained on bassist Adam Clayton for the show”s duration, Bono commanded the spotlight with a frontman”s swagger, working the catwalk like a young Mick Jagger raised on too much MTV while running the gamut of textbook rock messiah-complex gestures and bringing two girls on stage to dance.nN/As staged as things could seem at times, there was a certain essence of sincerity on Bono”s part to cut through all the show biz.n”I hope you don”t mind us shrinking it down a bit from the Three Rivers Stadium shows,” he told the crowd. “At one time, we were thinking of taking up a residency bar thing at Three Rivers. Every Monday night.”nN/A dedication of “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of” to his old friend Michael Hutchence was both heartfelt and hilarious when Bono joked, “Australians are like Irish who can”t drink.”nHe later told the crowd “You look much smaller in real life” and joked “We”d like to do something now which is very difficult for singers to do. I”d like to introduce you to the members of the band.”nThe sound was surprisingly hollow and distant at first — on “Elevation” and “Beautiful Day” in particular — but thickened as the set wore on through “New Year”s Day,” a breathtaking “Stuck in a Moment You Can”t Get Out Of,” with the Edge on all those chilling high notes, and “Kite.”nIt really kicked in, though, on “I Will Follow.” Pounded out with all the urgency of early punk, it made good on the promise of a stripped-down show at last, as did a slightly more bombastic “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” For whatever reason, U2 seemed to find the earlier material more energizing. Other early and/or semi-early hits included “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “All I Want Is You” and “Mysterious Ways.”nN/At one point, U2 truly stripped it down with Bono and the Edge on acoustic guitar for “In a Little While,” “Angel of Harlem” and “Stay.”nN/As Bono told the crowd by way of introducing “In a Little While”: “One of the reasons we started the band is because we heard another group out of New York City called the Ramones. Joey Ramone died a couple weeks ago and this was the last song he wrote … He turned this song about a hangover into a gospel song.”nThe part about the authorship was just a fib, but Bono wasn”t kidding when he called it gospel. It was gorgeous, as was “Stay.”nN/As Bono could tell you, there are many ways to command an arena crowd”s attention.nPolly Jean Harvey standing on stage in a rhinestone-studded miniskirt and go-go boots while singing “Lick my legs/I”m on fire/Lick my legs/I”m desire” is certainly one of them.nBut she offered more than kinky sex appeal as an opening act. She set the stage with that electrifying solo-electric performance, then the band came out and proceeded to rage through a set that at times — “Good Fortune,” in particular — suggested an alternate universe where Chrissie Hynde spent less time hanging out in biker bars and more time in an art-school dormitory getting stoned to Patti Smith. Highlights included a trance-inducing yet exhilarating “The Whores Hustle and the Hustlers Whore” and the utterly gorgeous “Horses in My Dreams.” By the time her band had finished trashing through the art-garage of the obvious choice for final song, “Big Exit,” anyone who didn”t get it wasn”t gonna get it anyway.nEXCLUSIVE: Webmaster”s Review:nElevation Pittsburgh: Stuck In Moments That I Dont Want To Get Out Of.nby Jonathan Waynen2 nights later. Badly sunburned. Hand reaches over the bed and grabs the alarm clock. 5:20 AM. Can”t move the nape of my neck. Don”t want to. Mind is racing with memories of something surreal. Can barely shift my head to the side with enough fortitude. Some things are just sticking in my mind. Don”t even care about insomnia. T.C., the brouhaha beer vendor, roars rowdily in the heart. I was in the heart too. I was in the center of attention, surrounded by more attention. Bono and the Edge, mere inches away. Adam and Larry, a few inches more. 6 minutes later, I”m still wide awake. Not sleeping. I”m stuck in moments I dont want to get out of.nWho wouldn”t want to be stuck in a 2 hour reality where your favorite band encircles you completely? Not I. The concert was nearly 4 years in the making. U2 came to Pittsburgh on May 6, 2001. These are my cogitations and memories of a show that will be forever stuck in my brain until the day I die.nSo, where does it all begin? Where did it all go right? When did it never go wrong? Well, it was almost perfect.n7 hours waiting in line. 1 nice large bottle of Aquafina. 1 gorgeous digital camera. 1 bathroom break. No sunscreen. Waiting to get into the heart for the show was a marathon of sorts. Ironically, that same day the Pittsburgh Marathon was being held right there in downtown. We had a different kind of marathon. It was a waiting game for the greatest show on Earth. The goal was elevation. The place: Mellon Arena. The time: 12:07 PM. That”s when my friend, Auggie, and I arrived there.nWe park the car in the $10 lot. He takes his box sandwich and Aquafina water he just bought at the Unimart. I take my Aquafina. My pockets are loaded. Wallet. Loose change. Tickets. Sunglasses. Digital camera with a 220 page manual. Well, actually, i carried that loot in the plastic bag that I got at the store. It wasn”t time to smuggle that in. Not just yet. I quickly realize that the line is healthy and long by the time we hit the Mellon Arena property. The GA (General Admission) line, is already 40-50 feet in length. Maybe already 120 people. At least thats what one of the security guys told me a few minutes later. So we take our place in line, along a corrugated concrete wall, with a perfect height to either sit or lean against. We are about 20 feet above the employee lot below. The crew”s massive trailer buses are parked side by side. I see 5 or 6 empty cases of beer sitting in between one of the trailers. Becks, Corona, Budweiser, etc. Maybe the band is in one of those dozen buses? We think that Bono will poke his head out of a window or something. Not to be. On the long dirty concrete walkway that stretches around the Arena is where we sit. Always to the right of us is the space-saucer-like silver dome, looming above us like a UFO waiting to abduct us all. To the left, the parking lots and streets. We have a picturesque view of downtown Pittsburgh, with the USX building, like the black monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, seemingly staring right down at us. Meanwhile, the sun is bright, amidst the blue skies. 72 degrees. It is going to be a long day.nN/About 20 minutes later, I reach down to grab my camera in the plastic bag. I feel perfect. I got everything with me. So I turn it on, and suddenly it dies. The thing just froze in its place, with the lenses all out still. I tried switching it off, and nothing happens. I mean, this is my brother”s week-old, brand new digital camera, which he is letting me use. I gradually panic, realizing that the batteries were still fresh when I tested it last night (at least thats what the indicator light said). What could it be? The two bulky 3 volt lithium batteries? Maybe the sunshine did something to it. But thats crazy! I know this is the first time I turned the camera on outside. It should work, but it does not. I put the mechanism down for another hour and search for options. Either of us cannot really leave the GA line for too long, so I call up my family via my friend”s very essential cellphone. Around 3pm: success! The camera takes 4 standard AA batteries! Here I am, with the camera”s 220 page camera manual in my pocket, not realizing the power potential of this thing. I couldn”t imagine not having a camera for this show, especially being that I had a special photo pass waiting for me at the Will-call window. I have to learn not to panic so easily. I wish Bono could teach me that.nThe hours tick by. 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM. Meanwhile, both myself and Auggie start leaving the line more often. I meet up with some friends I know on WIRE (the U2 mailing list). David is one guy I”ve known since 1997, when he came here for the Popmart concert. 2 days before the show, he emails me and says he”ll be here. I hadn”t heard from him in over a year. I call him up on the cellphone. I walk over there (about 30 people away). His friends are sitting near the shade of a tree, on a blanket. I guess thats one of the rewards of arriving at the arena around 10:30 AM. I say hi to Nico, with her camcorder, as she documents the fans one by one. Supriya, the U2 fan I”ve been emailing for a few months is there too. I probably see 3 or 4 pizza delivery people (from Pizza Outlet) walk by me, as I sit on the ground, with my shorts stuck to the tar-saturated concrete. Boredom really sets in now. Now that the camera is fully functional again, I take it out, snap some pictures, put it back in the bag, take it out again, inspect it, set some preferences in the menu on the LCD screen, shut it off. I see 4 radio station vans set up nearby. The WDVE van blares some music from their speakers. It takes about 4 hours until we all finally hear a U2 song. They played Sunday Bloody Sunday, very fitting for that day (though I would label it Sunday Burnt Sunday now due to my sunburn). Around 5:30 PM, I hear one more: I Still Haven”t Found What I”m Looking For. Can you believe it? Nearly 6 hours have just gone by. Time to buy some souvenirs!nT-shirts are $30, beanie (Edge styled) hats are $25, buttons are $2, pins and keychains are $8, posters: $10, sweatshirts are maybe $35, programs are $20. I was hoping for some replica oversized lemons from the Popmart tour too. In any case, I bought a T-shirt and a program, while Auggie bought two T-shirts and a poster. Where did we put all the loot? It was only a good 1 minute run from the car.nFinally, the line starts picking up and moves down towards the lower gate just before 6:30 PM. For the first 200-300 lucky fans, the exodus into the heart will be a reality. The real journey has begun. After watching the venue employees and PJ Harvey-filled limousines arriving at the gate for the last few hours, it was our turn to enter the arena now. The yellow security men loomed ahead, warning us that anyone found with a camera will be removed from the arena. The cam was already in my bulging pocket. My mind was only focused on getting this possession into the arena. I let them walk by me. We walk through the doors. One says: “have your right hand ready”. The red paper wristband goes around my arm. I”m in!nThe fans all seem to be in a bit of a hurry. They want to have a great view of the stage. Being pretty excited myself, I walk briskly towards the inner entrance. We walk through and into the open. The floor is still empty. Guards are standing along the sides of the railing. Then the heart. Left wrist gets a white bracelet this time. Some fans gather in front of the stage area, some fans line along the heart railing. It”s all happening so quickly. It is probably close to 7 PM. PJ Harvey, the opening act is due in less than 30 minutes. The night is on the verge of starting.nSo what else do the fans do in the heart prior to the show? People walk up to me and ask what that tag (that reads “U2 WIRE”) around my neck is for. I tell them its the more or less official fan-made mailing list for the band. Over 4,000 subscribers and counting. Thats enough of a population to persuade anyone to join. I may have just recruited a new member. How about those crazy offbeat vendors that are at every venue, regardless if its ballgames or rock shows? T.C. (Tom Congdon), for one, really got the blood pumping in the heart that evening. Auggie and I walk up to him, buy a beer and a bottle of water, and he starts going off on his trademark hootin” and hollering. That”s one hillarious man, T.C. For those several minutes, he”s catering only to the lucky few in the heart, and that”s us. Because that”s ground zero. That”s “where its at”.nTime to find the photo passes. It”s not like I “needed” them. However, after this lady named Mary emailed me about offering one to me, I knew I couldn”t pass up such an opportunity. So I exit the heart, walk back towards the gate, passed the concession stands with the food and souvenirs, and upstairs unto the ground floor. I am persistent. I concentrate on only finding this photo pass. I knew I cannot go outside once I”m in there. So I try to find a ticket window inside. They tell me to go back downstairs to the security window. I feel helpless, like a novice asking for too much in return. Then, right near the GA entrance by the outer doors, I see her. I don”t remember her name, but there she was, handing out these little photo stickers to some professional photographers. Who do I think I am? I”m not a professional working for a newspaper or media group. And yet I”ve been given a photo pass. In her thick british accent, she says to me: “Be back here around 8:15 PM if you want to photograph U2″. You bet your ass I”ll be back.nThe lights go dark at around 7:30 PM. PJ Harvey, in her glamourous and glittering miniskirt, steps on the stage by herself with a guitar around her shoulders. Evocative. Rapturous. Sexy. Mysterious. Glossy. Vehement. Intense. Are there any more adjectives that I need here? The band immediately joins her in some later songs. I”ll never forget staring at her slender legs. I”ll never forget her profound voice. How about that tambourine she was shaking around? Polly Jean Harvey has rhythm.nN/After her conclusion of “Down By The Water”, I rendezvous back with the group of photographers. We walk through an “Employees Only” door, into the catacombs of Mellon Arena. I cannot believe it! I”m walking into the backstage area where the band is. We emerge from the long tunnel and into the crew area. I look for the band, but all I see are piles of boxes and wires strewn about on the black rubber floors, behind the stage. Finally, we are led into the photo pit along the sides of the catwalk, that is behind the railing surrounding the heart. There are metal footholds for the the photographers to stand on. I climb up, i quickly look behind me and all I see are a multitude of fans pressed up against the heart-shaped catwalk, probably staring right back at me. Being above all the fans, I may be the tallest person on the floor at that very moment! With Harvey having concluded her set several minutes ago and the house lights still on, I can hardly breathe normally. There are only 9 or 10 other photographers with me in the pit. Then I see Nico, with her video recorder, standing next to me. I tell her: “I”ve never done something like this before”. Not only have I accessed the heart, but the off-limits photo pit, that is also filled with several security men. I turn on the Olympus 3030-Z camera, and I wait in my hiding place, for the boys we”ve all been waiting for.nN/Around 8:45 PM or thereafter: The silence is ruptured immediately! With the house lights still on, Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry materialize from behind the stage, one by one. They kick into “Elevation”. Bono grabs the microphone, swings himself around in front of the band. “Whoooo…Ooooh”, “Whoooo…Ooooh..Ooooh”, he cries out. At the “mole” part, the lights shut down, with the band still on the main stage. Bono adds some snippets from Beatles” songs near its conclusion (“Twist and Shout” and “Baby You Can Drive My Car”). Mellon Arena is rocking! Immediately, when the song ends, the “Beautiful Day” begins. Beams of white light radiate from the stage, and the band is in high gear. All this time, I”m standing stunned in the pit, high above the crowd. Then, the moments come. Bono walks down the catwalk towards me. I see his glistening leather jacket approach. With glasses off, he stands less than 12 inches from me. I can see each bead of sweat on his forehead. At times, the spotlight is on both of us. Immediately, some photographers rush over towards my area, desperately securing a perfect shot. I would say, maybe half the time, I was dazed enough not to hold the camera in front of my face, and the other half, I was sagacious about doing my work. Then Edge joins Bono on the catwalk for “Until The End Of The World”. At one point, Bono straddles himself on the floor, almost posing for photographers. I freeze in my spot, entranced by the moment. I carelessly snap as many images as I can. Then the Edge playfully assumes the role of the matador and Bono the bull, as his fingers point up against his head. They advance towards the tip of the catwalk, where the crowd outside the heart reach out to try to touch them. Adam and Larry remain on the main stage, as witnesses to their mates” wrangles. The song ends. Myself and the other photographers are escorted out of the pit after the first three songs (as expected). I re-enter the heart and join the fans, ready to keep on rocking!nWith a camera in one hand and around my neck, and my hand high up in the air, I dance to “New Year”s Day”. Having no idea where my Argentinan friend, Auggie, is, I stand near the right corner of the heart. At this early point in the show, I am personally not very frenetic as of yet. I know that once I find my friend (or he finds me), I”m probably going to beat him up (in a joyful manner of course). I look about. Nevermind, U2 is much more important anyway. As soon as the song ends, Bono walks up to the microphone on stage, and speaks. “This is a great city to play, I hope you don”t mind us shrinking it down a bit from the Three Rivers Stadium shows,” he tells the crowd. “At one time, we were thinking of taking up a residency bar thing at Three Rivers. Every Monday night.” Moments later, after pausing just slightly on the alcohol remark, he jokes: “Australians are like Irish who can”t drink.” On that note, Bono introduces “Stuck In A Moment You Can”t Get Out Of” as a dedication to his old friend, Michael Hutchence. What am I hearing next? For some awkward moments, I think the band is playing “Last Night On Earth”. No, no. It”s “Gone”! I cannot believe the band is introducing this song in the setlist again. I am dumbfounded! Then “Kite”! At this point, I feel so high, I”m a hot air balloon, being fueled incessantly by gasoline. I don”t want to come down. I am floating up towards the top of the dome, as bright colors light my way. The silver hemispherical roof blocks my exit, and I rapidly descend back down to “New York”. Translucent curtains dip down from above the perimeter of the heart. Shadows crisscross across these streamlined canvases. Lights are blocked by these half a dozen or so screens that encircle the heart. I see Bono circa Rattle & Hum era, draped beneath a ten-gallon hat. He stealthily walks through the black and white ambience that permeates here. His monochromatic figure is silhouetted against the white lights. He snakes through the shadows. He is a ghost, painting his streaks onto us all. Then, as soon as the shadows disappear, time warps backwards even further. Punker Bono emerges from the cowboy”s shedding skin, and the band rips into “I Will Follow”. Then, reality hits me on my back, as my friend Auggie finds me once again. Yet another punk!nN/As soon as the quaking “Sunday Bloody Sunday” subsides, Bono time-travels back to the beginning of everything. He introduces the band, one by one. “You look much smaller in real life” and jests “We”d like to do something now which is very difficult for singers to do. I”d like to introduce you to the members of the band. Before we were called U2, we were called The Hype – long before we lived up to it. Before that we were called for a whole lunch break, the Larry Mullen Band. I”d like Larry Mullen to stand up, come up and ”fess up, our first employer, our only employer, Larry Mullen Jr. Our first manager, the jazz man, the musical conscience of the group, a sandal wearing hippie under that punk rock stance, the poshest member of U2, Lord Adam Clayton on the bass. The first time I saw him he had a curly blond afro and a ”76 afghan coat and he was using words like ”gay” and ”action” on the bass so I knew he was a true musician. Bringing what looks like peace to Mexico City, Zapatista himself. He could have come to Pittsburgh on the space shuttle but no he chose a Gibson Les Paul. A card carrying genius, The Edge.” After a rare rendition of “The Sweetest Thing”, Bono once again dedicates a song to one of his mates. “One of the reasons we started the band is because we heard another group out of New York City called the Ramones. Joey Ramone died a couple weeks ago and this was the last song he wrote… He turned this song about a hangover into a gospel song.” As I stand there looking at Bono near the tip of the heart catwalk, with my back away from the main stage, “In A Little While” commences. As the spotlight concentrates on Bono and the Edge, I can”t help but looking back at Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., alone on the stage. U2 is all around me. Love is all around me, it”s everywhere I go. In my heart, in the fans” hearts, in THIS heart, we want these moments to last forever.nWhat is it with the signs?! Fans have signs everywhere throughout the arena! During one point right before “The Sweetest Thing”, Bono stops the entire show just to ask someone half-way up the side of the arena what their sign means: “Does your mother have the sugar?” And with his mini flood light, Bono aims directly on the sign, laughs and says: “Does that have something to do with liqour and other bad stuff, I think it does.” In another point during the band introductions before, a girl was holding a sign that read “Adam, can I touch your instrument?” I don”t need to educate you on double entendres, however to the sign”s response, Mr. Clayton, grinning, dips down his bass guitar for the girl to touch. One sign sums it up best: “Take me to The Edge”.nHow about an “Angel Of Harlem”? We”ve got one out there somewhere tonight! How about staying with us closely? We have “Stay (Faraway, So Close)”! Anything “Bad” going on? On a personal note, “Bad” was one of the highlights of the night. After the “stripped-down” versions of the two former songs, with Bono and the Edge on the acoustic guitar (though “Stay” wasn”t intended to be played to begin with), this gem from the “Unforgettable Fire” really solidified the set that night. I remember at times, I shouted out “Dave”! Or “Paul”! I would think that most of the endearing fans in the heart realized that those were the true names of the Edge and Bono. With the camera still around my neck, I keep tinkering around with the flash. Earlier on in the show, I was intimidated by the security guards from using this option on the camera. I tried to go into Bono”s head. I manifested some fantastic thoughts like “Who is this annoying guy with the bright as hell flash”? I kept envisioning this line going through Bono”s mind, as he walked near me on the catwalk. I even thought he”d stay away from me at times. I”m just a fan! What am I to do. “Mr. Hewson: I”m sorry for the undue aggravation, but this is the first time I”ve actually used this camera.” I”m a fan. I”m a fan. I”m a fan. And If I was female, “All I (would) Want Is You”! That was an excellent rejoinder to “Bad” by the way.nHere it comes! Here it comes! Here comes the 16th unrestrained masterpiece. The panels shoot up slowly. Blazing red and white light gush out of the screens from behind Larry. The stage, the heart, the arena is awash with bright reds! The chiming begins. The jangling guitar introduces “Where The Streets Have No Name”. The heart is OUT OF CONTROL! People are lifting themselves up, defying gravity. Fans are jumping off the floor, trying to eject themselves from some invisible emergency hatch, that is rooted to the ground! My camera is bouncing off my chest, even with my hand completely grasping it. First a young man is raised on someone”s shoulders. He bodysurfs through the crowd. Moments later, two girls pop out of the congregation. The lights dance through the air, streaming on the roof of the arena, on the seats and rafters up on top. A wall of sound, a fence of light, a wave of emotion spills out into the masses. Scattered security guards around the perimeter of the heart point their flashlights on the bodysurfers. Right before “I want to run”, Bono starts running at breakneck speed around us on the catwalk. He accomplishes one full lap at a time. He”s flying high. The place is alive and explosive. The energy is everywhere. Pittsburgh is being elevated at last! Then, as soon as the song ends, Bono takes a rest on a light pillar that ascends from the stage. A belly dancer”s figure appears on 5 or 6 other pillars at the same time. Bono picks up another girl from the audience to dance with. A heady dose of “Mysterious Ways” has now hit us. These are Edge”s moments of glory now. He intoxicates us with guitar solos that segue into an outstanding version of “The Fly”. Following suit, Bono jumps into the crowd outside of the heart. He is elevated into the air. Meanwhile, the roof has got these light shows going on, and I”m so caught up in the excitement, I”m not sure who or what to look at anymore. So I turn my gaze to the Edge, who remains on the main stage, while Bono is out seducing the crowd. Then as a fly that got smothered onto an unlucky car”s windshield, Bono runs to the stage and “attaches” himself to one of the screens of light for several moments, as his hands and limbs are all sprawled out motionless.nI guess I can say that the “official” encore begins with “Bullet The Blue Sky”, though I personally believe that it really does with “One”. In any case, after the charged up performances of the latter three songs, it was time for a little diminutive d?j? vu. What kind? ZooTV kind. This time, the long row of miniature Popmart-styled screens on the stage became ZooTV-styled television monitors that integrated a slice of the ZooTV tour attitude. Two identical monitors revealing Charlton Heston along with one “brainwasher” in the middle (depicting phrases and words), seized the show. In the background, an unusually high-pitched voice was singing delta blues. As anti-gun phrases such as “only bad people have guns” flashed across the middle monitor, Bono, saturated in red light, more or less effectively got his latest political message through, though this could have been done without the fanciful ZooTV-esque props. But then again, who wouldn”t want a taste of ZooTV once more!?nThe lights turn deep blue, some strange “latin”-constellation text starts streaming onto the roof and elevated screens surrounding the heart. As cigarette lighters gradually turn on throughout the arena, the band plays an emotional version of “With Or Without You”. Then, as Edge with his blue Pumas and red numberless “Viva Zapata” t-shirt, walks by us on the catwalk again, I move towards the tip of the heart, from my position on the left side, and take some more images. Towards the end of the song, the band regroups on the main stage. “Pride (In The Name Of Love)”, has everyone off the floor again! We”re rocking, we”re rolling, we”re singing: “In the name of love…what more in the name of love”! Absolute energy. About 7 guys in front of us grab each other”s shoulders in an act of pure male bonding, and jump as a whole, well up into the air. Then, for several moments, I see most of the band look our way. We have caught their attention! I could swear I made eye contact with Bono (or Adam and Edge) for more than several seconds throughout the concert. But with all of us jumping around like lunatics, its no surprise that we made a scene. And thats purely appropriate. Because this was an amazing fucking night. And I couldn”t give 2 American bollocks if we all looked like fucking idiots, with our hands and fingers swinging in the air, and our legs 35 degrees in front and behind us! Because this was OUR night.nNearing the end of the show, I completely turn off the flash on the camera and focus solely on the near-stationary band, standing idle on the main stage. These are my best shots of the night. I have amassed over 100 images tonight. When “One” begins, Bono sings with his green guitar in the middle of the stage. Finally, “Walk On” caps off the set with incredible enthusiasm and joy. A devoted fan named Vanessa, dressed in her Irish football/soccer jersey, hands Bono a small bottle of bubbles, in the front of the stage. Bono struggles to blow the bubbles, adding lines near the end of the song such as “All the bubbles that you can blow.” I am at my peak in terms of enthusiasm. After taking the the camera off around my neck, I just elevate myself to the music. The band ends on a high note with Larry hitting the large cymbal with a loud crash. As the band departs from the stage, Bono goes back one more time to the microphone and says “Thank you Pittsburgh. This was an amazing, amazing night!” Seconds later the lights turn on, and in a daze, we slowly crawl out of the heart. I stumble off the floor and up an aisle, sit on a red chair for a few minutes, observing the crew immediately tearing apart the stage. I look back one more time. 11:14 PM. We exit.nDid U2 outdo themselves tonight? Most certainly, as they said themselves. U2 did the unthinkable, pulling off an “intimate” arena show, and foregoing most of the extravagance of past tours such as Popmart and ZooTV. There was something in the air at tonight”s concert. Maybe it was the fact that U2 may have been inspired to play in the same building that the Beatles played in during the 1960”s. Maybe it was just another one of “those” nights, one of those rare nights, where the band left behind their conformity and tight production at the door. There are always moments of improvisation when you”re a musician or an artist of some sort. Time isn”t written in a book. It can be changed. U2 can change. But how about me? Do I want to keep the memories of this show the same? Oh yes (except for the sunburns). These are some moments I never want to get out of. Push these memories aside and add them to my mental inventory. I want more.n(written May 8-9, 2001 in a total of 9 hours).nImages:n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_6_2001_-_pittsburgh_pennsylvania_usa_-_mellon_arena/01.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

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“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_6_2001_-_pittsburgh_pennsylvania_usa_-_mellon_arena/70-thumb-120×90-2398.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”70.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_6_2001_-_pittsburgh_pennsylvania_usa_-_mellon_arena/71.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_6_2001_-_pittsburgh_pennsylvania_usa_-_mellon_arena/71-thumb-120×90-2400.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”71.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_6_2001_-_pittsburgh_pennsylvania_usa_-_mellon_arena/72.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_6_2001_-_pittsburgh_pennsylvania_usa_-_mellon_arena/72-thumb-120×90-2402.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”72.jpg”/></a>n<a href=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_6_2001_-_pittsburgh_pennsylvania_usa_-_mellon_arena/73.jpg” rel=”lightbox[gallery43]

“><img src=”/tours/elevation_-_1st_leg_-_north_america/may_6_2001_-_pittsburgh_pennsylvania_usa_-_mellon_arena/73-thumb-120×90-2404.jpg” width=”120″ height=”90″ alt=”73.jpg”/></a>n</div>nNote on images: This was the first time I ever attempted taking concert photography and the first time I ever really used a digital camera. Out of 109 images taken, I salvaged 73 that I believed were average to above average in quality. As you view these images, you may notice that some pictures are somewhat blurry. Though I wasn”t planning on this, this style actually gives the image a rather interesting perspective. As for the graininess and red eye, these were mainly due to the use of the built-in flash. Without the flash, close-up shots would have been considerably blurred and underexposed. Out of my experience, I learned that action shots (running, kicking, jumping) would not always turn out successful, and that the best images result when the band is not moving around, when the lighting is low key, and the flash is disabled. Personally, image #65 is my favorite shot of the night, and I can see that image as the culmination of my night”s work, where all the elements of the show came together in perfection. The digital camera used was an Olympus 3030-Z and all images were originally shot in 1280×960 resolution in the SQ1 mode.nN/All images are © 2001 Jonathan Wayne/. You may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale, create derivative works, or in any way exploit, any of the content, in whole or in part. You may download copyrighted material for personal use only. Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law, no copying, redistribution, retransmission, publication or commercial exploitation of downloaded material will be permitted without the express permission of and the copyright owner. All rights reserved.n’, ‘May 6, 2001 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA – Mellon Arena’, ”, ‘inherit’, ‘open’, ‘open’, ”, ‘6-revision’, ”, ”, ‘2001-05-07 05:16:04’, ‘2001-05-07 09:16:04’, ”, 6, ‘http://u2torrents.com/shows/?p=1374’, 0, ‘revision’, ”, 0);