What a difference a day, 200 metres, five changed songs, and a group of hyperactive mates makes. For Montreal 1 I was sitting in a seat in the arse end of the stadium without any chums, for a show with a setlist similar to previous gigs. For Montreal 2, I was standing in the third row from the rail on Adam’s side with a bunch of fabbo partying chums, and with some succulent changes to the setlist. Two concerts in two nights in the same venue, but as different as shandy and brandy for me, like going from Siberia to Ibiza (especially during Crazy Tonight).
My favourite part of last night’s concert was looking along the front rail and watching all the railhog eejits going nuts. Barbara, Kelly, Mel and Neel ignited a very toasty party for our little group (which drew the approving attention of Bono and Adam). And I loved looking along to the centre of the rail to see the wonderful travelling band of GA line-up junkies leaping, singing, reaching for the sky and having the best time of their lives so joyously and expressively. I cannot fathom how or where they find the energy for it after little sleep and long days on their feet in the sun, but they’re getting collectively recharged from some powerful musical renewables.
Kelly had told me before the show that one of her favourite U2 songs is Out Of Control. She jokingly warned us that if U2 played it, then she might lose a little bit of control herself. After Until The End Of The World, I immediately recognised the start of Out Of Control. Kelly evidently hadn’t, so I tapped her on the shoulder, she turned around, and I pointed up to the speakers to ask “Do you hear that?” When she finally clicked what song it was, her eyes widened, her hand went to her mouth, and everyone around her took a step back for their own personal safety. It was absolutely fabulous to see someone plunge so expressively into a song, like a one person mosh pit.
Before All I Want Is You, Bono made some band intros based on a Cirque du Soleil theme. When he asked the crowd what they thought Adam would do, Kelly’s brother Michael roared “Bearded lady!” just before Bono said “Bearded lady”. In one, Michael. When Bono asked the crowd what Edge would do, someone shouted “Acrobat!” Unfortunately it wasn’t so accurate, nor a lead-in to the elusive, mythical live song that many fans crave. Edge was a knive-thrower. Larry was strongman, Bono himself was a clown.
After whinging about there not being any magical or spontaneous moments at Montreal 1 to lift it above the average, Montreal 2 had loads. Bono brought Amp onstage during the “Let me in the sound” part of Boots, and gave him a very pally shove at the end of it to tell him “Hey! You! Get off a my stage!”, which was quite hilarious. Bono also brought a boy onstage during Elevation. The kid’s timing was perfect as he delayed answering when Bono asked him his name, until saying his name just when it suited the music.
Bono sang a tender verse of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah as a touching new intro to Streets. Also, taking his cue from Amp’s sign, Bono treated the U2 fans listening live online to the strangely drooled over “Shines likes stars” verse of With Or Without You, which apparently trended on Twitter. A very nice verse, yeah, but I don't quite get the fuss over it myself.
My favourite songs last night were Out Of Control, Streets (we wuz there!), and Ultraviolet. The image of Bono dancing with the steering wheel microphone at head height during it is still the most memorable image of him in the tour for me.
I had a very weird moment during One. I was listening with my eyes closed, when I heard a strange, unfamiliar sound. “What the hell is that noise ...?” I asked myself. I opened my eyes and tried to place it. I even turned around to see if someone behind me had something which might have been making it. Then I finally clicked what it was. I believe I was actually hearing Bono’s guitar during One for the first time.
I also noticed just how good the ambient music to the spacemen cartoon encore vid is. Seen it dozens of times but never gave it any attention.
Random observations:
- $4.50 for a 500 ml bottle of water in a hot dusty GA line where water can’t be brought to is ridiculous. As GA Joe told me, there should be a One campaign for the GA queuers.
- As an occasional foreign language dabbler, I’m trying to work out what title Bono has started using for Aung San Suu Kyi during Walk On. I assume it’s a formal Burmese title, possibly for a president. (Languages in Asia can have complicated formal modes of addressing people.) It sounded like “Don Suu Kyi” last night but I could have that completely wrong.
- Also, what does Bono say to introduce The Fly, is it “Kraut rock, circa 1991” or something?
- My attempts to speak French often come out with mangled Spanish. I think Bono suffered from this last night when he slipped in a little “por favor”.
- Bono left the stage with a “Vive Quebec”, which I’m sure mon ami Montreal Jack would have appreciated.
- Someone proposed to their girlfriend (presumably) by hiring a plane to fly over the stadium with the proposal message. The crowd roared and then chanted “Oui! Oui! Oui!”
Got there around 6ish and it was hysterical watching Romi and Jorge still try to do the GA run 
We found a spot at the back of the pit and literally ran into a whole bunch of Blue Crackers 
It was so great to be able to watch this show with so many of you and my brother, my sister and two friends from home! Loved how they changed the setlist...I was a little sad that they played All I Want Is You on the night my hubby wasn't there, but it was great hearing it. Hearing Hallelujah was very special. I really don't know what else to say other than I'm so glad I went to both of these shows. I had a fantastic time and it's going to take me a few days/weeks to recover!
What an amazing night to end out my 360 tour on. I had planned to soundboard it, but since we got there so late, due to the crowded Metro and long long lines to get in, that was understandably well filled. So we snagged a spot on the grass well behind the soundboard. It ended up being PERFECT! I've seen the show from seats before, so it was nice to see the differences in the light show since 2009. We ended up moving dead centre on the grass, so we couldn't see much of the stage, but that didn't matter. We could still see the Claw and the screen, and that's all that matters. We had a ton of room to dance and flail around, as everyone else seemed to be squished to the sides.
We showed up at 4 and walked right into the pit. By the time Interpol started, we ended up being in a big group of people from Interference, which made the show even better! The setlist was amazing, and the boys were in top form. This show is my favourite show to date, but I am a relative newbie. It was the friends around me that made this one so special! 
