dsmith2904
ONE love, blood, life
[SIMG]http://forum.interference.com/gallery/data//585/11265sandiego.jpg[/SIMG]
By Devlin Smith, contributing editor
2005.04
Walking into The Pond last night, I thought I knew exactly what to expect. Only four days earlier, I was at U2's opening show in San Diego, being completely knocked out by the sound and look of Vertigo. As the chant of "Everyone" came over the loudspeakers and the lights dimmed, I felt fully prepared for what was coming next.
U2 had something else in mind, though. In the days between the band's second show in San Diego and this first of two appearances in Anaheim, California, U2 decided major change was in order and turned the Vertigo show I'd seen on Monday completely on its head.
The new Vertigo show began with the four members of U2 processing around the ellipse shining lanterns into the audience. Bono and Larry stayed on the ellipse, a small drum kit set up for Larry, while Adam and Edge took their places on the main stage. Then the band went into "Love and Peace or Else."
Bono gave a very Fly-worthy performance, high-stepping and strutting around the ellipse. Like Monday, the band sounded fantastic, giving one of my favorite songs from "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" even more funk and energy. For the song's end, Larry walked from the small drum kit to take his proper place on the main stage and Bono, now wearing a headband emblazoned with religious images (one I believe he'll be sporting for the whole tour) took over the smaller drum set.
The band seamlessly flowed into "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and then "Bullet the Blue Sky." "Running to Stand Still" followed with Bono and Edge singing "Hallelujah" at the end, before the International Declaration of Human Rights video played.
New set addition "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was next, a much more appropriate follow-up to "Running" than "Zoo Station" was Monday. Five songs in, the crowd was still on its feet, willing to go with Bono wherever he'd lead them.
"New Year's Day" quickly followed, with Adam spotlighted both on stage and on the video screens. "Looking good," Bono said to him as he began the famous bass line that opens one of U2's most loved songs.
"Miracle Drug," a hold over from Monday's show, was next, but was performed with a new visual element. The stage and the ellipse were outlined in colored lights, resembling the orbital patterns of the solar system. Also different from Monday, Bono and Edge shared vocals on the final verse of the song, a section Edge had soloed before. Unfortunately, Edge seemed to be having some mic problems (problems that reappeared at the show's end) and his vocals kept cutting out.
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" and "Beautiful Day" were next on the list. Again like Monday, Bono was pretty much silent, bantering very little with the audience or his band mates for the entirety of the show. While I did miss some of his little Bonoisms, it felt like a lot more songs got to be played because there were so few interruptions.
(Photo courtesy of Devlin Smith)
Bono did take his steps toward the pulpit on The One Campaign-themed section of "Pride," Where the Streets Have no Name" and "One," a trio that had been part of Monday's encore. Bono reminded the audience during "Pride" that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of equality was big enough to encompass the whole world and asked us to sing for Africa.
During "One," he asked everyone to pull out their cell phones, explaining exactly how powerful a phone can be. "During the ZooTV tour I used to call the White House…the president didn't take my calls then, now they take my calls," he said. That changed reaction from the presidency, though, has, according to Bono, gotten them used to his pleas so he asked all of us to make the calls instead to lobby for Africa. To those in the audience who didn't want to take part, Bono apologized and thanked them for indulging his rant, saying that now, "You know how the band feels."
The song ended with Bono saying, "Thank you, give us a couple of minutes."
After a short break, the band returned to the stage to play a second set that was more like part two than encore. "Zoo Station" opened this new section, with Edge walking the ellipse alone and letting rip that fantastic, charging guitar line that opened the "Achtung Baby" album. Like Monday, Edge sported the Madonna headset to provide his backing vocals. For his part, Bono made up all new lyrics for the song, getting his inspiration from members of the GA crowd, including one person who handed him a lily.
"The Fly" followed with Edge playing a black guitar decorated with the same red target pattern the "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" CD sports. A crowd-pleasing rendition of "Elevation" came next and then the band launched into new addition "Mysterious Ways." Bono pulled a girl named Tiffany from the pit, no doubt attracted by her MacPhisto-inspired ensemble. The pair danced and strutted across the ellipse together but, after it took too long to return Tiffany to her rightful spot in the crowd, Bono asked Edge to start the next song, "You'd really be helping me out," he said," and installed Tiffany on the ellipse, next to Larry's drums. Also during the song, a figure of a topless dancing woman swayed across the light curtains.
"City of Blinding Lights" was next, accompanied by the same falling glitter and twinkling lights as it had when opening Monday's show. "Vertigo" followed with Bono again throwing in a verse from "Stories for Boys." "All Because of You" and "Yahweh" came next, with Larry again tapping out notes on a synthesizer for the latter.
"40" once again ended the show, with Edge and Adam trading instruments and sides of the stage. The mic problems Edge had had earlier in the show resurfaced, so for a few minutes he and Adam were crowded together on the same side of the stage. Bono was having problems with his ear monitors and wound up taking one out during the song.
As the crowd sang "How long to sing this song," Bono said the song was being sung for the Pope, who he described as a friend of the poor. Names scrolled across the video screens, but Bono made no mention of their significance. Before the song ended, he picked up the lantern used at the beginning of the show and flashed the audience before installing the lantern in the center of the stage.
Bono left the stage after hanging something on his mic stand, possibly the rosary beads he received from the Pope. Adam and Edge followed and then Larry did a quick drum solo before taking his final bow.
The lights were left off for a long time and the crowd got restless, expecting the band to return to the stage. No one moved and soon a round of boos filled the arena. Thankfully, the crowd didn’t get too nasty before the lights were turned on and everyone began filing out.
How amazing is it that more than 25 years in, U2 still has the power to surprise its fans? I spent a great part of last night in total wonder over the fact that U2 had completely changed its show, and done it so successfully. Like Monday, the band was so tight and on, proving over and over again why U2 is the biggest band in the world. Edge, handling more musical responsibilities than seems humanly possible, gave another stand out performance. And last night, looking fantastic in black leather pants, Edge left me with no doubt that he is finally enjoying being a rock star.
By Devlin Smith, contributing editor
2005.04
Walking into The Pond last night, I thought I knew exactly what to expect. Only four days earlier, I was at U2's opening show in San Diego, being completely knocked out by the sound and look of Vertigo. As the chant of "Everyone" came over the loudspeakers and the lights dimmed, I felt fully prepared for what was coming next.
U2 had something else in mind, though. In the days between the band's second show in San Diego and this first of two appearances in Anaheim, California, U2 decided major change was in order and turned the Vertigo show I'd seen on Monday completely on its head.
The new Vertigo show began with the four members of U2 processing around the ellipse shining lanterns into the audience. Bono and Larry stayed on the ellipse, a small drum kit set up for Larry, while Adam and Edge took their places on the main stage. Then the band went into "Love and Peace or Else."
Bono gave a very Fly-worthy performance, high-stepping and strutting around the ellipse. Like Monday, the band sounded fantastic, giving one of my favorite songs from "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" even more funk and energy. For the song's end, Larry walked from the small drum kit to take his proper place on the main stage and Bono, now wearing a headband emblazoned with religious images (one I believe he'll be sporting for the whole tour) took over the smaller drum set.
The band seamlessly flowed into "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and then "Bullet the Blue Sky." "Running to Stand Still" followed with Bono and Edge singing "Hallelujah" at the end, before the International Declaration of Human Rights video played.
New set addition "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" was next, a much more appropriate follow-up to "Running" than "Zoo Station" was Monday. Five songs in, the crowd was still on its feet, willing to go with Bono wherever he'd lead them.
"New Year's Day" quickly followed, with Adam spotlighted both on stage and on the video screens. "Looking good," Bono said to him as he began the famous bass line that opens one of U2's most loved songs.
"Miracle Drug," a hold over from Monday's show, was next, but was performed with a new visual element. The stage and the ellipse were outlined in colored lights, resembling the orbital patterns of the solar system. Also different from Monday, Bono and Edge shared vocals on the final verse of the song, a section Edge had soloed before. Unfortunately, Edge seemed to be having some mic problems (problems that reappeared at the show's end) and his vocals kept cutting out.
"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" and "Beautiful Day" were next on the list. Again like Monday, Bono was pretty much silent, bantering very little with the audience or his band mates for the entirety of the show. While I did miss some of his little Bonoisms, it felt like a lot more songs got to be played because there were so few interruptions.
(Photo courtesy of Devlin Smith)
Bono did take his steps toward the pulpit on The One Campaign-themed section of "Pride," Where the Streets Have no Name" and "One," a trio that had been part of Monday's encore. Bono reminded the audience during "Pride" that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of equality was big enough to encompass the whole world and asked us to sing for Africa.
During "One," he asked everyone to pull out their cell phones, explaining exactly how powerful a phone can be. "During the ZooTV tour I used to call the White House…the president didn't take my calls then, now they take my calls," he said. That changed reaction from the presidency, though, has, according to Bono, gotten them used to his pleas so he asked all of us to make the calls instead to lobby for Africa. To those in the audience who didn't want to take part, Bono apologized and thanked them for indulging his rant, saying that now, "You know how the band feels."
The song ended with Bono saying, "Thank you, give us a couple of minutes."
After a short break, the band returned to the stage to play a second set that was more like part two than encore. "Zoo Station" opened this new section, with Edge walking the ellipse alone and letting rip that fantastic, charging guitar line that opened the "Achtung Baby" album. Like Monday, Edge sported the Madonna headset to provide his backing vocals. For his part, Bono made up all new lyrics for the song, getting his inspiration from members of the GA crowd, including one person who handed him a lily.
"The Fly" followed with Edge playing a black guitar decorated with the same red target pattern the "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" CD sports. A crowd-pleasing rendition of "Elevation" came next and then the band launched into new addition "Mysterious Ways." Bono pulled a girl named Tiffany from the pit, no doubt attracted by her MacPhisto-inspired ensemble. The pair danced and strutted across the ellipse together but, after it took too long to return Tiffany to her rightful spot in the crowd, Bono asked Edge to start the next song, "You'd really be helping me out," he said," and installed Tiffany on the ellipse, next to Larry's drums. Also during the song, a figure of a topless dancing woman swayed across the light curtains.
"City of Blinding Lights" was next, accompanied by the same falling glitter and twinkling lights as it had when opening Monday's show. "Vertigo" followed with Bono again throwing in a verse from "Stories for Boys." "All Because of You" and "Yahweh" came next, with Larry again tapping out notes on a synthesizer for the latter.
"40" once again ended the show, with Edge and Adam trading instruments and sides of the stage. The mic problems Edge had had earlier in the show resurfaced, so for a few minutes he and Adam were crowded together on the same side of the stage. Bono was having problems with his ear monitors and wound up taking one out during the song.
As the crowd sang "How long to sing this song," Bono said the song was being sung for the Pope, who he described as a friend of the poor. Names scrolled across the video screens, but Bono made no mention of their significance. Before the song ended, he picked up the lantern used at the beginning of the show and flashed the audience before installing the lantern in the center of the stage.
Bono left the stage after hanging something on his mic stand, possibly the rosary beads he received from the Pope. Adam and Edge followed and then Larry did a quick drum solo before taking his final bow.
The lights were left off for a long time and the crowd got restless, expecting the band to return to the stage. No one moved and soon a round of boos filled the arena. Thankfully, the crowd didn’t get too nasty before the lights were turned on and everyone began filing out.
How amazing is it that more than 25 years in, U2 still has the power to surprise its fans? I spent a great part of last night in total wonder over the fact that U2 had completely changed its show, and done it so successfully. Like Monday, the band was so tight and on, proving over and over again why U2 is the biggest band in the world. Edge, handling more musical responsibilities than seems humanly possible, gave another stand out performance. And last night, looking fantastic in black leather pants, Edge left me with no doubt that he is finally enjoying being a rock star.
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