djerdap
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
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- Jun 8, 2004
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There have been quite a bit memorable shows this year. So far these are my favorites(in chronological order). I haven't heard all the shows (about 95% of the 1st leg and 30% of the 2nd):
San Jose, April 10th 2005
For me, the first great show of the tour. The band finally managed to play both the new and the old with as much energy as possible. It was the first time I learn to like Elevation as a song. Truly a killer version. They fucked up An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart, but it was redeemed with tour debut of Original of the Species, fabulous version of The Fly ("The universe explodin' 'cosa one man's FUCKIN' lie!") and much more.
Seattle, April 25th 2005
You can almost feel the enormous energy of the concert on the bootleg. The second performance of Vertigo at this concert is one of the most hard-rocking and energetic performances EVER by the band. Second highlight: Running To Stand Still. One of the best versions ever of the song, Bono improvises on his guitar, making a bluesy sound that reminds me a lot of the album version. One of the best performances by Bono on guitar(not that it is saying much...). Third highlight: Bono curses... a lot. The best one is the intro to Love and Peace or Else: "Now you've got someone to deal with: mother... fucker". Brilliant. Other interesting bits: Bad should always be behind Running To Stand Still. These two songs belong together. They are one.
Chicago, May 12th 2005
This is probably in my top 5 of the best concerts I have ever heard by the band. First I have to commend the taper for making a tremendous job with an audience recording that truly sounds like a soundboard. If not better. One of the best setlists of the tour (Vertigo for the first time as the opener, All Because of You finally as the second song - as it should be all the time) featuring the tour debut of Until the End of the World and Bad as the closer. Of many highlights, I have to mention fantastic versions of both Miracle Drug and Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own and the best encore I have heard in awhile. Until the End of the World going straightly into The Fly(interesting version where Edge fucks up the solo, so he has to improvise it), Mysterious Ways with ZooTV lyrics, the best version of With or Without You since 1992(great drums by Larry, finally some improv by The Edge and a lovely Strangers in the Night snippet) and finally - 10-minute version of Bad to close the thing. Majestic.
Amsterdam, July 13th 2005
Fantastic audience helped lifting the gig to another level, when Bono suddenly declared that "U2 are home". Energy is evident on every song. Highlights: Bono singing opera at the Sometimes ending, a fantastic, unique version of Bullet the Blue Sky(starting with The Joshua Tree solo, ending it in ZooTV style), Bono beautifully singing Amazing Grace in Running To Stand Still and one of my favorite versions of Vertigo to end it all.
Amsterdam, July 16th 2005
Even better than the first night. Where to begin? Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses has never sounded better, great version of "40" at the end, New Year's Day fuck-up, Bono singing Love and Peace or Else in Elvis-style... But the two performances that will go into history are the main reason this show is one of my favorites. First is Miss Sarajevo, where Bono sang Pavarotti's notes flawlessly - I get shivers listening to the audience's reaction. Second is Original of the Species, where U2 finally decided to bring the secret fifth member Terry Lawless onto the stage, to play the song as it should be played. It hasn't been realized fully yet, but the song has so much potential it sounded amazing even if it was underrehearsed.
San Jose, April 10th 2005
For me, the first great show of the tour. The band finally managed to play both the new and the old with as much energy as possible. It was the first time I learn to like Elevation as a song. Truly a killer version. They fucked up An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart, but it was redeemed with tour debut of Original of the Species, fabulous version of The Fly ("The universe explodin' 'cosa one man's FUCKIN' lie!") and much more.
Seattle, April 25th 2005
You can almost feel the enormous energy of the concert on the bootleg. The second performance of Vertigo at this concert is one of the most hard-rocking and energetic performances EVER by the band. Second highlight: Running To Stand Still. One of the best versions ever of the song, Bono improvises on his guitar, making a bluesy sound that reminds me a lot of the album version. One of the best performances by Bono on guitar(not that it is saying much...). Third highlight: Bono curses... a lot. The best one is the intro to Love and Peace or Else: "Now you've got someone to deal with: mother... fucker". Brilliant. Other interesting bits: Bad should always be behind Running To Stand Still. These two songs belong together. They are one.
Chicago, May 12th 2005
This is probably in my top 5 of the best concerts I have ever heard by the band. First I have to commend the taper for making a tremendous job with an audience recording that truly sounds like a soundboard. If not better. One of the best setlists of the tour (Vertigo for the first time as the opener, All Because of You finally as the second song - as it should be all the time) featuring the tour debut of Until the End of the World and Bad as the closer. Of many highlights, I have to mention fantastic versions of both Miracle Drug and Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own and the best encore I have heard in awhile. Until the End of the World going straightly into The Fly(interesting version where Edge fucks up the solo, so he has to improvise it), Mysterious Ways with ZooTV lyrics, the best version of With or Without You since 1992(great drums by Larry, finally some improv by The Edge and a lovely Strangers in the Night snippet) and finally - 10-minute version of Bad to close the thing. Majestic.
Amsterdam, July 13th 2005
Fantastic audience helped lifting the gig to another level, when Bono suddenly declared that "U2 are home". Energy is evident on every song. Highlights: Bono singing opera at the Sometimes ending, a fantastic, unique version of Bullet the Blue Sky(starting with The Joshua Tree solo, ending it in ZooTV style), Bono beautifully singing Amazing Grace in Running To Stand Still and one of my favorite versions of Vertigo to end it all.
Amsterdam, July 16th 2005
Even better than the first night. Where to begin? Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses has never sounded better, great version of "40" at the end, New Year's Day fuck-up, Bono singing Love and Peace or Else in Elvis-style... But the two performances that will go into history are the main reason this show is one of my favorites. First is Miss Sarajevo, where Bono sang Pavarotti's notes flawlessly - I get shivers listening to the audience's reaction. Second is Original of the Species, where U2 finally decided to bring the secret fifth member Terry Lawless onto the stage, to play the song as it should be played. It hasn't been realized fully yet, but the song has so much potential it sounded amazing even if it was underrehearsed.