HelloAngel
ONE love, blood, life
By Greg Soria
2005.04
"Waiting for God to walk into the room" is a statement Bono has used to describe the process of recording and choosing songs for a new U2 album. When God does walk into the room a U2 concert it's the difference between a solid show to one that's transcendent, where U2 and its audience become one. At the HP Pavilion in San Jose Sunday night, God walked into the building and stayed for the whole set.
After a solid show the night before, U2 began the second night's set with "Love and Peace or Else," its latest clarion call for peace and justice off of the fantastic "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." Any great U2 show has a religious fervor to it, and Sunday's show was no exception as "Love and Peace" lifted the show off and received a rapturous welcoming.
From "Love and Peace Or Else," the band dove right into hit single "Vertigo," sending the crowd into a frenzy. The Edge's frenetic guitar work filled the empty space high above the arena, swooping down over and around the crowd, enveloping them in the dizzy, high-powered sound that lifted the crowd off their feet, with hands raised in the air.
"Elevation" is a song that many fans pan for inclusion due to its ubiquity on the Elevation Tour, but now on the Vertigo Tour, it's a true showstopper with the call and response of "woo hoos" between Bono and the audience. The high-powered guitar rock of "Electric Co.," the first "oldie" the band pulls out, followed. This song, off of the album "Boy," is my favorite from past tours and is nice to see the band attack it with the same ferocity the song emanates on record. The Edge's guitar solo during this performance was a powerful reminder of what a great, innovative and, arguably, underrated guitarist he is. The screams and wails that he produces from his instrument during this solo and the passion he put into his performance song made this old favorite sound as fresh as "Vertigo."
The next nugget pulled out of the band's hope chest was "An Cat Dubh/Into The Heart," still as elegant today as it was back in the 1980s when it was played through the Unforgettable Fire Tour. It was followed by the pomp and circumstance of "City of Blinding Lights," which opened the show the previous night. A joyous reading of "Beautiful Day" followed "City" where Bono's rich voice showered U2's audience with his passion and appreciation for us. The last time U2 played San Jose, Bono's performance was strong, however Sunday his voice sounded like it was on steroids as he hit notes that most fans had long forgotten he could.
The emotive ballad "Miracle Drug" followed and Bono's pope rap was very touching as he recalled his meeting with the Holy Father and how he offered the pontiff his "Fly" shades. Bono then mimicked the pope putting the shades on and tilting his head. This song is followed by "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own," which, for reasons unknown, was not prefaced by the story behind the song as it had been on other stops during the tour. However, the passion in Bono's singing was perceptible as he pushed his voice to the top of its range to translate the loss of his father to the fans eager to move closer to their "Pope of Rock."
The next four songs starting with the "War" album's "New Years Day" began a set of "golden oldies" that rounded out the opening set. I had seats at the top of the arena for Saturday night's show and was very surprised at how subdued the crowd around me was during some songs, but there was no one sitting Sunday as a powerful "New Year's Day" ended and Larry Mullen Jr. pounded out the martial opening of "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Like delegates at a political rally, the crowd enthusiastically yelled "No More!" when called to do so by Bono.
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" segued seamlessly into the politically charged "Bullet the Blue Sky." This warhorse was given a slight make over with a new guitar solo by Edge that was part ZooTV Tour, part Popmart Tour slowed down and given a bluesy and funky feel. "Running to Stand Still" closed out the set and is followed by the human rights video break.
After the brief human rights video concluded, U2 jumped into "Pride (In The Name Of Love)," sounding more vivacious than it has since the days when Bono wore his hair in a mullet. Up next was "Where the Streets Have no Name," which got the crowd bouncing up and down as if they were jumping on a giant trampoline. The new depth in Bono's voice was evident as Adam Clayton's pulsing bass playing pushed it to soar high above to the rafters. These two songs that have been mainstays in the band's set list for over 15 years retained a freshness on Sunday night that didn't seem possible after all these years.
After an emotional "One," the band left the stage, soon returning to begin the encore section of the show. After a raucous performance of "The Fly," the band swung into "Mysterious Ways" and midway through the song Bono brought a girl onto the stage. She followed Bono around the ramp, high stepping with him before he turned her loose to dance on her own. What is it about "Mysterious Ways" and the women in San Jose? During U2's two-night stand in San Jose for the Elevation Tour, Bono brought up a woman to dance with him during this song who ended up stealing the show. Tonight, Iris gives Bono a sweet and sexy Middle Eastern-flavored dance that set the crowd off. Bono finally steered her next to Larry where she sat and watched the rest of the song.
After Bono bid farewell to Iris, he stated that he and Edge want to play a song the band haven't played yet on the Vertigo Tour for the people of the Bay Area, so with Edge on piano, the band premiered "Original Of The Species." This song has only been played a few occasions during the "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" publicity tour, and each time the band seemed to struggle with the song. Sunday there were no problems as the band turned in a beautiful performance that retained the beauty and power of the album version.
The final encore set saw U2 blast through a muscular version of "All Because of You," with the big guitar sound and sing along chorus, and then slow the set down with a gentle version of "Yahweh."
The highlight for fans both old and new is the closing song, "40," which has closed almost every show U2 played from 1983 through early 1990, but had only been played sparingly since. The song, a version of Psalm 40 from the Bible, is a fan favorite and on Sunday it was the final offering from the band to the crowd. Fans called out the famous line, "How long to sing this song" again and again as, one-by-one, the members of U2 made their way off stage. As usual, The Edge and Adam swapped instruments and Bono sang the final words before leaving the stage. Next, Adam made his departure, and then Edge bid adieu, leaving Larry to bang out the rhythm all by himself to a crowd of 20,000-plus, before putting down the sticks and waving goodbye.
U2 continue to produce music and play concerts that inspire and unite, even 25 years after it began. The flame that ignited the band in the '80s and burned through the '90s hasn't faded in the new millennium, as U2 continues to make the live show, including Sunday night's, a near religious experience for one and all.
2005.04
"Waiting for God to walk into the room" is a statement Bono has used to describe the process of recording and choosing songs for a new U2 album. When God does walk into the room a U2 concert it's the difference between a solid show to one that's transcendent, where U2 and its audience become one. At the HP Pavilion in San Jose Sunday night, God walked into the building and stayed for the whole set.
After a solid show the night before, U2 began the second night's set with "Love and Peace or Else," its latest clarion call for peace and justice off of the fantastic "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." Any great U2 show has a religious fervor to it, and Sunday's show was no exception as "Love and Peace" lifted the show off and received a rapturous welcoming.
From "Love and Peace Or Else," the band dove right into hit single "Vertigo," sending the crowd into a frenzy. The Edge's frenetic guitar work filled the empty space high above the arena, swooping down over and around the crowd, enveloping them in the dizzy, high-powered sound that lifted the crowd off their feet, with hands raised in the air.
"Elevation" is a song that many fans pan for inclusion due to its ubiquity on the Elevation Tour, but now on the Vertigo Tour, it's a true showstopper with the call and response of "woo hoos" between Bono and the audience. The high-powered guitar rock of "Electric Co.," the first "oldie" the band pulls out, followed. This song, off of the album "Boy," is my favorite from past tours and is nice to see the band attack it with the same ferocity the song emanates on record. The Edge's guitar solo during this performance was a powerful reminder of what a great, innovative and, arguably, underrated guitarist he is. The screams and wails that he produces from his instrument during this solo and the passion he put into his performance song made this old favorite sound as fresh as "Vertigo."
The next nugget pulled out of the band's hope chest was "An Cat Dubh/Into The Heart," still as elegant today as it was back in the 1980s when it was played through the Unforgettable Fire Tour. It was followed by the pomp and circumstance of "City of Blinding Lights," which opened the show the previous night. A joyous reading of "Beautiful Day" followed "City" where Bono's rich voice showered U2's audience with his passion and appreciation for us. The last time U2 played San Jose, Bono's performance was strong, however Sunday his voice sounded like it was on steroids as he hit notes that most fans had long forgotten he could.
The emotive ballad "Miracle Drug" followed and Bono's pope rap was very touching as he recalled his meeting with the Holy Father and how he offered the pontiff his "Fly" shades. Bono then mimicked the pope putting the shades on and tilting his head. This song is followed by "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own," which, for reasons unknown, was not prefaced by the story behind the song as it had been on other stops during the tour. However, the passion in Bono's singing was perceptible as he pushed his voice to the top of its range to translate the loss of his father to the fans eager to move closer to their "Pope of Rock."
The next four songs starting with the "War" album's "New Years Day" began a set of "golden oldies" that rounded out the opening set. I had seats at the top of the arena for Saturday night's show and was very surprised at how subdued the crowd around me was during some songs, but there was no one sitting Sunday as a powerful "New Year's Day" ended and Larry Mullen Jr. pounded out the martial opening of "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Like delegates at a political rally, the crowd enthusiastically yelled "No More!" when called to do so by Bono.
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" segued seamlessly into the politically charged "Bullet the Blue Sky." This warhorse was given a slight make over with a new guitar solo by Edge that was part ZooTV Tour, part Popmart Tour slowed down and given a bluesy and funky feel. "Running to Stand Still" closed out the set and is followed by the human rights video break.
After the brief human rights video concluded, U2 jumped into "Pride (In The Name Of Love)," sounding more vivacious than it has since the days when Bono wore his hair in a mullet. Up next was "Where the Streets Have no Name," which got the crowd bouncing up and down as if they were jumping on a giant trampoline. The new depth in Bono's voice was evident as Adam Clayton's pulsing bass playing pushed it to soar high above to the rafters. These two songs that have been mainstays in the band's set list for over 15 years retained a freshness on Sunday night that didn't seem possible after all these years.
After an emotional "One," the band left the stage, soon returning to begin the encore section of the show. After a raucous performance of "The Fly," the band swung into "Mysterious Ways" and midway through the song Bono brought a girl onto the stage. She followed Bono around the ramp, high stepping with him before he turned her loose to dance on her own. What is it about "Mysterious Ways" and the women in San Jose? During U2's two-night stand in San Jose for the Elevation Tour, Bono brought up a woman to dance with him during this song who ended up stealing the show. Tonight, Iris gives Bono a sweet and sexy Middle Eastern-flavored dance that set the crowd off. Bono finally steered her next to Larry where she sat and watched the rest of the song.
After Bono bid farewell to Iris, he stated that he and Edge want to play a song the band haven't played yet on the Vertigo Tour for the people of the Bay Area, so with Edge on piano, the band premiered "Original Of The Species." This song has only been played a few occasions during the "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" publicity tour, and each time the band seemed to struggle with the song. Sunday there were no problems as the band turned in a beautiful performance that retained the beauty and power of the album version.
The final encore set saw U2 blast through a muscular version of "All Because of You," with the big guitar sound and sing along chorus, and then slow the set down with a gentle version of "Yahweh."
The highlight for fans both old and new is the closing song, "40," which has closed almost every show U2 played from 1983 through early 1990, but had only been played sparingly since. The song, a version of Psalm 40 from the Bible, is a fan favorite and on Sunday it was the final offering from the band to the crowd. Fans called out the famous line, "How long to sing this song" again and again as, one-by-one, the members of U2 made their way off stage. As usual, The Edge and Adam swapped instruments and Bono sang the final words before leaving the stage. Next, Adam made his departure, and then Edge bid adieu, leaving Larry to bang out the rhythm all by himself to a crowd of 20,000-plus, before putting down the sticks and waving goodbye.
U2 continue to produce music and play concerts that inspire and unite, even 25 years after it began. The flame that ignited the band in the '80s and burned through the '90s hasn't faded in the new millennium, as U2 continues to make the live show, including Sunday night's, a near religious experience for one and all.
