I hate the title of this thread, but, what the hell...it seems to be the unofficial review collection for last night. I was there, right in the ellipse, and enjoyed every ear-jarring second of it...in fact, my ears are still ringing a day later after my return home on Edge's spaceship.
I can honestly say these setlist parties we have here don't mean crap against the real, in-the-flesh experience of being there with the band. The songs tonight had punch and drive, and were backed up with a heavy theme of finding hope through chaos...with no guarantee of that happening. It was everything I expected U2 to be, warts and all.
I won't go song-for-song here, but just give a few observations: Dashboard Confessional absolutely sucked...I couldn't write cornier lyrics if I tried...and I'm a corny guy. For example, I never knew that "hair could scream infidelities"...ugg.
"Miracle Drug" was incredible last night, especially after Bono's intro describing how Egde is from the future...it was similar to the Monday intro (the one I listened to through an open side door on Bloor street...shhh) but it was expanded on a bit. Bono said how the future can be better, and then, when launching into the song, the band's energy was so infectious I got the sense that this 'future' could be a better one for U2 as well.
"One" was amazing, again with a special intro on terrorism, and how it shouldn't become something we accept as normal.
"City of Blinding Lights" was a revelation for me...I didn't think it would have the kick that it does, but it was a force...the confetti/tape stuff fell right over us in the Ellipse during the intro, and, of course I had to reach up and grab a few pieces from the air as souvenirs like a crazy man.
There were a few screw-ups by Bono, but they added to the show, and gave it an unpolished charm. His voice gave out during "All Because of You", which sent Egde into extended riff mode while Bono downed some water. I think "Yahweh" was muffed up a bit too, lyrically, but Bono got it together and threw in some great improv lyrics while walking just past the tip of the ellipse with Edge.
I can't talk enough about how amazing it was to see the band so close in the ellipse. I felt honoured to be there, and literally couldn't contain my appreciation. So, at this point, I'd like to apologize to anyone who had their view obscured by a man jumping up and down in a blue soccer shirt, while waving peace signs with both hands in the air. It was interesting to see how the show is a living organism in many ways, with Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam feeding off of the energy in the crowd. I've never had such a strong sense of band/crowd interaction with other bands I've seen.
I also want to thank Edgegirl for giving my sister the chance to see U2 for the first time. We were visiting Toronto from Newfoundland, and were desperate to get her into the show without paying a scalper. Thanks to her post here on the site, we got together and joined forces in the mighty GA line yesterday. She's a great person, with a magical sense of timing that got us into the ellipse.
I'd also like to thank all the fans I met throughout the day: the ones I lined up with to get a glimpse of Bono and the boys, including a few from Newfoundland who, like me, swear Bono could be a Newfoundlander at heart.
As for the show sucking, it certainly didn't for me. There's an ebb and flow to every tour, and, after reading some of the great reviews for Monday, I had a sense that we could be in for something less than that last night. Whatever it was, it ended up being something I'll never forget.
I would have bawled without Zoo Station. 
ing clue. That song to many fans (at least the fans from the early '80's like me) would have to be the reason they became U2 fans in the first place. In my opinion it's the song I identify with them. It might not be their best song but I believe it to be the epitome of U2. 
I thought the crowd in the stands last night was not too good (but the floor was great) and that could have affected the show.
