dsmith2904
ONE love, blood, life
By Jake Olsen
2005.04
For its second night in Denver, U2 transformed a cold, gray hockey arena into the "City of Blinding Lights," opening the show with a vibrant rendition of this spiritual successor to "Where the Streets Have no Name." The capacity crowd welcomed U2 with open arms, euphorically chanting along "Oh, you look so beautiful tonight!" U2 was indeed beautiful that night, fantastically illuminated by a ringed stage with dynamic running lights and a retractable backdrop that was as much a beaded curtain as it was a video display.
This night, however, nothing was really as it seemed. The band knew what we expected, surprising us with something different and, in the end, delivered something greater. The Edge played an extended intro to "Elevation," droning the rhythmic tunes as Bono sang the opening lines to the song. "Sometimes you gotta wait for it," teased Bono, as the audience squirmed for the explosion of sound that was the trademark of the Elevation Tour. It finally came, made sweeter by the anticipation.
The band refused to be tied down to the tried and true. Larry Mullen Jr., surprisingly outfitted with a microphone, sang back up on Bono's ballad to hope for an AIDS cure, "Miracle Drug;" Bono pounded on a single drum during the end of "Love and Peace or Else;" and nightly closer "40" witnessed The Edge and Adam Clayton switching instruments. Clayton took a Bono-esque turn around the stage more than once, working the crowd with confidence.
As expected, the band poured out cuts from the latest album, including hit single "Vertigo," "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," "Original of the Species," and "All Because of You." But the band also reached deep into the canon of U2 greats, treating the next-generation Blood Red Sky audience with "Gloria," "The Ocean/New Year's Day" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday." And, even though its progeny opened the show, "Where the Streets Have no Name" stole it back, delighting the audience in a dazzling fusion of lights and ethereal melodies.
In the end, the Pepsi Center was a crucible where U2 forged an alloy of new and old. It was a "21st Century Woodstock" as the audience waved lit cell phones instead of lighters during the band's stunning performance of "One." It was audience members from the original Red Rocks show cheering for the band along with their children and new fans U2 has gained over the years. It was a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group celebrating a new album in deference to the classics.
After two encores, U2 finished the show with "40," a deliberate nod to the song performed years ago at the now-famous 1983 Red Rocks show. "A lot of you were at Red Rocks when we sang this song a while back," said Bono. "Things 'went off' for us then. That night changed our lives." As the band dropped off stage one by one, the audience in unison sang "How long to sing this song?" over and over, showing the band it still has the power to change us, too.
2005.04
For its second night in Denver, U2 transformed a cold, gray hockey arena into the "City of Blinding Lights," opening the show with a vibrant rendition of this spiritual successor to "Where the Streets Have no Name." The capacity crowd welcomed U2 with open arms, euphorically chanting along "Oh, you look so beautiful tonight!" U2 was indeed beautiful that night, fantastically illuminated by a ringed stage with dynamic running lights and a retractable backdrop that was as much a beaded curtain as it was a video display.
This night, however, nothing was really as it seemed. The band knew what we expected, surprising us with something different and, in the end, delivered something greater. The Edge played an extended intro to "Elevation," droning the rhythmic tunes as Bono sang the opening lines to the song. "Sometimes you gotta wait for it," teased Bono, as the audience squirmed for the explosion of sound that was the trademark of the Elevation Tour. It finally came, made sweeter by the anticipation.
The band refused to be tied down to the tried and true. Larry Mullen Jr., surprisingly outfitted with a microphone, sang back up on Bono's ballad to hope for an AIDS cure, "Miracle Drug;" Bono pounded on a single drum during the end of "Love and Peace or Else;" and nightly closer "40" witnessed The Edge and Adam Clayton switching instruments. Clayton took a Bono-esque turn around the stage more than once, working the crowd with confidence.
As expected, the band poured out cuts from the latest album, including hit single "Vertigo," "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," "Original of the Species," and "All Because of You." But the band also reached deep into the canon of U2 greats, treating the next-generation Blood Red Sky audience with "Gloria," "The Ocean/New Year's Day" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday." And, even though its progeny opened the show, "Where the Streets Have no Name" stole it back, delighting the audience in a dazzling fusion of lights and ethereal melodies.
In the end, the Pepsi Center was a crucible where U2 forged an alloy of new and old. It was a "21st Century Woodstock" as the audience waved lit cell phones instead of lighters during the band's stunning performance of "One." It was audience members from the original Red Rocks show cheering for the band along with their children and new fans U2 has gained over the years. It was a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group celebrating a new album in deference to the classics.
After two encores, U2 finished the show with "40," a deliberate nod to the song performed years ago at the now-famous 1983 Red Rocks show. "A lot of you were at Red Rocks when we sang this song a while back," said Bono. "Things 'went off' for us then. That night changed our lives." As the band dropped off stage one by one, the audience in unison sang "How long to sing this song?" over and over, showing the band it still has the power to change us, too.
