Any U2 fan will tell you that ‘Boston4’ was one of the best shows they have ever seen. And what they mean by ‘Boston4’ is the fourth show U2 played in Boston on the Elevation Tour in 2001. U2 played four shows in Boston on the Elevation Tour (June 5, 6, 8, 9), and I went to the last two, coincidentally the best two. I literally only slept about seven hours in two days, living the GA life. I spent 11 hours each day in the GA line at the Fleet Center making great friends sharing our love for U2. For both shows, I stood at the front rail in front of Adam. PJ Harvey again opened.

Boston3 on June 8th was a great show. U2 played “Ground Beneath Her Feet,” All I Want Is You,” Angel of Harlem” and “New Year’s Day.” Unfortunately, “Bad,” “In A Little While” and “Pride” were not played. The crowd went nuts when U2 went into “11 O’clock Tick Tock.” The full set list was as follows: Elevation, Beautiful Day, Until the End of the World, New Year’s Day, Stuck In a Moment, Kite, Gone, New York, 11 O’Clock Tick Tock, Sunday Bloody Sunday/Get Up Stand Up, 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, Bullet the Blue Sky, With or Without You, One, Walk On.

Boston4 on June 9th was absolutely amazing! The set list was completely different, different songs and in a different order. “Party Girl” was played for the first time in eight years. The rarity “She’s a Mystery to Me” was played at the end of “One.” U2 covered Van Morrison’s “Gloria” at the end of “Desire.” In honor of Elvis Costello attending the show, Bono sang “Pump It Up” at the end of “Elevation” and “Alison” at the end of “Bad.” I found out later on that U2 was supposed to play my favorite song “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” but played “Stay” instead. A fan got on stage during “Walk On,” and U2 security tackled him right in front of us. Bono tackled the security guard to let the guy on stage. Then that fan lifts Bono up and cradles him. Boston Red Sox third baseman Nomar Garciaparra stood right behind us. The complete set list for the great Boston4 Elevation show on June 9, 2001 was as follows: Elevation / Pump it Up, Pride, Until the End of the World, The Fly, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, In My Life/Stuck In A Moment, Kite, Gone, New York, Out of Control, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Desire / Van Morrison’s Gloria, Party Girl, Stay, Bad / Alison, Where the Streets Have No Name, Beautiful Day, Bullet the Blue Sky, With or Without You, One / She’s a Mystery To Me, Walk On. 

2001-06-09 (Boston4)