YouTube - Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in.
My favourite part of the show(s) was finding my way back to rock n roll heaven. That sacred place where you exist only in the moment, transcending space and time in the euphoria of a connection with the band, the audience and the sound.
I honestly thought I'd already experienced all the magic U2 had to offer me - and believe me, I've had more than my fair share of pure U2 magic!
While I love the new album, I loathe stadiums. The European setlists were boring and I kept hoping they'd actually slip in Drowning Man, which would have made the show for me but it didn't happen. So I figured that's that then, my U2 bucket is full. Other than a few photos of the Claw, which was visually cool but also a bit creepy, I avoided clips and reviews. It just didn't seem like it could possibly measure up to my admittedly high expectations.
Fast forward to Space Oddity, I was in shock. Didn't know that was the intro and I'm a looooong time Bowie freak. Knowing that Rocket Man was the outro (also a 70s Elton John fan), watching the Claw smokin' from its foundations ready for takeoff, the penny dropped...the Claw is a spaceship and taking us on a two hour journey out of this world. Brilliant really. Visually stunning.
A few songs into Tor1 Bono introduced his bandmates in a way I don't recall ever seeing...took his time, playfully described each of them with humour and affection. Overcome by the feeling that it was a kind of goodbye, tears streamed down my face. The only other time I'd ever cried at a concert was when Bono belted out the opera section of Miss Sarajevo 10 feet from me last rour. So raw and passionate and clearly done for his dad. Following night on the outside rail watching the little boy (who looked like one of Bono's little guys) during the entirety of COBL, the tears streamed again lol.
U2 live for me has always been an incredibly powerful often spiritual experience but sentimental? That was new. Unexpected. Maybe it was me and my pms, who knows lol.
The spectacle of the Claw and the initmacy of the spontaneous moments made the stadium work for me. Beautifully. Totally unexpected and truly didn't think it was possible.
Your Blue Room. Surprise! Bah, forget Drowning Man...
Crazy remix was fabulously POPesque...
Unknown Caller, gorgeous on the album but has that extra sonic je ne sais quoi live that can fill even the largest of spaces...
Stuck acoustic. Do NOT like this song but surprisingly 60k others did enough to sing along in unison and move it to another level...
Ultraviolet. One of my all-time faves that I've been spoiled by hearing live as often as I wish thanks to Elevation so I didn't truly appreciate its presence on the tour until I actually saw it. Bono singing the UV part, giant GOOSEBUMPS...
Posse of U2GTAers lining the rail under the CN Tower light show. Perfection and synchronicity. Not to mention Bono's first sighting of us all on his way by, rockin the catwalk and bumping into his mic stand.
Sorry if this was more like a review, but really, my favourite part was being taken to a place I thought I may not experience again with this band and the little surprises and moments that brought me there.