MY REVIEW.....
Years ago I said to myself "One day I will see the biggest band in the world at Madison Square Gardens." At the time, I didn't know who the biggest band were until years later.
It took 12 hours (including connections) to get from Vancouver to NY, another 12 hours waiting in the GA line and 13 hours coming home after the show (including connections). 3 days without sleep....all for the biggest band in the world.
The opening band were a piano driven Brit pop band by the name of Keane. A great opener for U2. I enjoyed hearing songs from "Hopes and Fears". They warmed me up for U2 mentally, physically and emotionally. Their sound is a cross between Manic Street Preachers and Ron Sexsmith.
Even though I was the 49th person in line at 7:30 am I still didn't get inside the bomb shelter. However, I was on the outside railing as usual but this time I had a better view of Larry Mullen Jr.
U2 opened with "City Of Blinding Lights" a song tribute to NY. It didn't hit me until the confetti fell from the ceiling and I heard Bono sing, "Oh you look so beautiful tonight" as fan club members smiled at each other.
The band looked tired and burnt out and justifiably so, however, Bono still tried to give it his 100%. His voice crapped out a lot and was off key. The band had to compensate by playing songs such as "Pride" and "Streets" in a different key to compensate for Bono's singing.
No one goes to a U2 concert to hear Bono sing. Even Bono will admit that his voice is crapping out. He apologized during one of the songs and requested to start it over again. People go to a U2 concert for the feeling more than the song.
The Catwalk and the beaded screens were under used compared to the other days, however, the band compensated for that by throwing in some set list surprises such as "Fast Cars" (a rare U2 song that only the die hard fans would know), "Crumbs" and "Miss Sarajevo."
The best performance of the night was during "Miss Sarajevo" and Bono's attempt to sing opera. Bono's no opera man but the sentiment was appreciated. He also made the opera attempt in the middle of "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" in tribute to his father who was an opera man.
Underneath the Macphisto costume...I was crying during "Sometimes".
Being a U2 fan has been one of the best things in my life lately and I was happy to share it with my friends in NY...the city of blinding lights.