Almost a month after the U2 Elevation show in Columbus, Ohio, I flew up to Albany, New York on June 2nd for the U2 Elevation show at the Pepsi Arena. Although this is one of the few shows I had actual seats for, I hung out outside with folks in the GA line. I saw Bono drive in for the sound check. PJ Harvey opened, as she would for the remainder of the first leg. Bono’s voice was rough – apparently he was sick – so there were a lot of changes in the set list. “Mysterious Ways” was played after “Until the End of the World.” “The Fly” was performed in the first encore. “Unchained Melody” was played after “One.” The Beatles’ “In My Life” was played before “Stuck in a Moment.” Van Morrison’s “Gloria” was played after “Desire.” And my favorite “Gone” was once again in the set list! But U2 did not play “New Year’s Day,” “In a Little While” or “Sweetest Thing.”

The complete set list for the U2 Elevation show in Albany on June 2, 2001 was as follows: Elevation, Beautiful Day, Until the End of the World, Mysterious Ways, In My Life / Stuck In a Moment, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday / Get Up Stand Up, Desire, Stay, Bad / 40, Where the Streets Have No Name, Pride, Bullet the Blue Sky, With or Without You, The Fly, One / Unchained Melody, Walk On.

The next morning I drove from Albany to Hartford, Connecticut for the next U2 show on the Elevation tour. I was in the GA line at the Civic Center by 9:00 am. The GA line was inside, which was so comfortable and mellow! I made some more U2 friends in Hartford whom I’m still friends with today – thirteen years later. At the time, the Hartford show was one of my favorite Elevation shows. A lot had to do with the camaraderie of the GA line, which I had only experienced at the Pittsburgh show. I was also really into the music. I mean, I’m always into the music at a U2 show, but some nights it is just more personal than others. The set list was the same as it was in Albany, except U2 played “In a Little While,” “She’s a Mystery to Me” after “One,” the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” after “Bad” as well as the ‘how long’ chorus from “40.” I think the combination of my favorite Rolling Stones song with “Bad” and the “40” chorus really touched me. I stood right on the rail in front of Adam. I wore my Elvis tee shirt and had my sign that read, “I love Elvis almost as much as I love Larry. Can I have your sticks?” Larry, Adam and Bono saw it, but still no drum sticks. That would come a few weeks later.  

The set list for the Elevation show in Hartford on June 3, 2001 was as follows: Elevation, Beautiful Day, Until the End of the World, Mysterious Ways, In My Life/Stuck In a Moment, Kite, Gone, New York, I Will Follow, Sunday Bloody Sunday/Get Up Stand Up, In A Little While, Desire, Stay, Bad/40, Where the Streets Have No Name, Pride, Bullet the Blue Sky, With or Without You, The Fly, One/She’s a Mystery To Me, Walk On.