by Ken Mawson

"I need you to elevate me here...." Okay, it's Thursday at five o' clock in the afternoon at work, and I'm still smarting a BIG U2-sized bootprint on my butt. The show was incredible. I think I'm creating a non-removable crack on my ATYCLB CD where 'Elevation' is supposed to be.
Realize that I have liked this band longer than not in my life and I'm talking 1984 as a starting point here. My third ever show (JT in '87, ZooTV in '92), this show I got to take my wife to and introduced her to the band. She, of course, can't get over Larry.
Let's start at the beginning. The energy in the air was electric because a great band was in a great city, combined with a Sixers NBA Finals Game 4 the next night. Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam didn't run onstage, they strolled...with confidence. With the house lights up, quite the opposite of many a concert I've ever been to, "Elevation" started it off. The lights remained on for three-quarters of the song. Dousing the lights after the Radiohead 'Creep' reference, the heart lit up with a light display like a runway. Way cool!! Not taking time to fool around, they moved seamlessly in to 'Beautiful Day' and 'Until the End of the World', keeping the strobe lights going the whole time, keeping the FU Center alight in time with the music. Edge and Bono sparred on the ramp of the heart during 'UTEOTW' Edge won, after all he's armed with a guitar.
'New Year's Day' was inserted for the Tuesday show, as were other songs like 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' (requested) which was slow and sultry. Other crowd-pleasing standards like 'I Will Follow' and Sunday Bloody Sunday' came across as flawless. 'Pride' was missing, but not missed. 'Desire/Gloria (Van Morrison)' was a highlight as was 'All I Want is You'. 'Mysterious Ways' featured a 8' video wall with silhouettes of the 'dancing girl'. Bono danced with the screens. 'The Fly' was funky rythym with a "Gotta Go" loop at the end to bring the major set to a roaring close.
The new songs came with explanantions. 'Kite', written at a a bad time in Bono's life; 'In a Little While' seemed to be for a special someone, perhaps Bono's wife, Ali. 'New York' was played, but may have been taken as tongue-in-cheek given the sports rivalries of recent years. Such things can be left in your car for two hours.
'Bullet the Blue Sky' came after a strong, blistering anti-gun video statement featuring Charlton Heston, and it was somehow still cheered. Not the response I think they were looking for. Bono railed about how some 696,000 Americans will die due to gun-related violence in the next twenty years and how it must end now.
'With or Without You' was as good as it gets complete with the yellow lights in the heart lighting the arena in an amber glow and 'Walk On' came as the newer '40' benediction. A song of hope to end a beautiful concert.
Bono's antics during the show were unpredictable as always. Singing "Sixernation" during 'Elevation' in honor of the Sixers/Lakers NBA series. Asking the crowd if they were saying "B-Side" while they were cheering "Beat LA". Taking a young girl's cell phone to talk the other person - it turned out to be her mother - and telling them "She's okay". Asking for an Irish tri-color during 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' and saluting it as he walked past. Acknowledging a Jubilee 2000 banner and explaining how J2000 could work, and placing the banner across the drum riser in front of Larry. Running full tilt around the heart during 'The Fly' and stopping to see who was chasing him. Always the improvisor, he can amaze and amuse himself and his mates.
I failed to mention the fact that this whole show was completed with Bono and his sore throat. He admitted this to the crowd early on, pleading for our help. Now my voice is hoarse. He sang his heart out, though. Playing hurt is one thing that is seen as gutsy in Philadelphia and Bono endeared himself to the crowd because of it.
The raw, stripped down stage with powerful music as a backdrop is something that is quite amazing in itself and I hope I explained it accurately. If this band's direction stays in this course, I think we'll be seeing better and better shows in the future. If this band's direction stays in this course, I think we'll be seeing better and better shows in the future. Like wine, U2 gets better with age.

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