OneTwo weeks later What can I say about the show except, "WOW!" From the four handheld spotlights skittering aimlessly around the otherwise darkened arena as the band entered to Larry's final drumbeats before he, like the rest of the band before him, raised his arm in salute to the crowd still singing the refrain of 40 and exited the stage, there was a sense of awe in the air. And it was joined by hundreds of thousands of pieces of foil confetti sprakling in the now fully illuminated arena as a young woman Bono had pulled from the audience tilted her head back and raised her arms to the ceiling during the intro to City of Blinding Lights. One would think that the drummer is somewhat tied to his drum kit, but the band took full advantage of the eliptical walkway extending out into the audience opening with Larry standing at the apex, laying down the beats to Love and Peace on a single floor tom. Midway throught the song he left the drum to Bono and made his way back to the center of the main stage, from where he would anchor most of the rest of the show. Vertigo and Elevation followed, before the group rewound some twenty-five years without missing a beat to offer up The Electric Co. and An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart from the Boy album. And then it was right back into fresh material with the spectacular shower mentioned above, Beautiful Day, Miracle Drug, and Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own. A string of U2 standards followed, beginning with the Edge jumping back and forth between the keyboard and his guitar on New Year's Day. Sunday Bloody Sunday led into Bullet the Blue Sky and Running to Stand Still, a pair of songs with such perfect contrast that it is hard to imagine one without the other. Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, and One were interspersed with a moment of global awareness as Bono called on those present to lend their voice to the cause of humanity in Africa. The band left the stage for a bit as the names of those who had joined in the campaign via text message were scrolled across the screen. The first encore set was all Achtung Baby, with Zoo Station, The Fly, and the return of Mysterious Ways. Another break led into the final set, starting with two cuts off the new album; All Because of You was the last number on which everyone was where you expected them to be. Larry returned to the tip of the elipse to lend his fingers to the piano line of Yahweh. The band had a quick huddle to decide whether or not they should leave the stage again, but decided to simply stay out for the final song. Adam and Edge, who had been standing on the right and left sides of the stage respectively throughout the show, walked symbolically to the opposite sides of the stage as Adam was brought a guitar and Edge a bass. Bono opened 40, but soon left the chorus vocals to crowd, gave a final wave, and left the stage. The crowd continued to sing without losing intensity as the music slowly faded. The guitar dropped out, and Adam made his exit. Another few bars that seemed to last for hours and the bass too faded away. Now alone, Larry kept the beat for the now a cappella chior, continuing to bring it down until there was nothing left but the voices. The house lights came up and the people, some of them still singing, "How long, how long," began to shuffle towards the exits. I was completely amazed by the whole experience. I cannot imagine trying to put together a set list from such a vast catalog; I cannot believe that it could be done in a way the felt complete. And yet there it was. I walked out with the feeling that nothing was missing. Nothing. Twenty-five years, fourteen albums, more singles than you can count, and in the space of a couple of hours, they made it seem that I had heard all there was to hear. Like I said, "WOW!"
posted by Tom 12:21 PM
It starts with the shoe. Maybe the next day it's a t-shirt or a sock. You don't know if the washing machine ate it, or your roommate borrowed it a month ago and forgot that it was yours. All you know is that by the end of the week, you're walking to class naked because you don't have any clothes left.
