by Jonathan

A joyous celebration runs into a beach party! What a night what a show! The Vertigo tour’s final show. U2 following a 10 gig sprint to culminate the marathon tour that was ironically held in a city holding its annual marathon. The show that took over Aloha stadium home of the NFL Pro Bowl “All Star Game” brought out all of U2’s all star fans from all over the world. From America’s East and West Coasts to points as far away as Germany and Australia.

U2 not to be out done arrived in Honolulu with their own all star team “Pearl Jam and Billie Joe from Green Day” to join the party. Add all that together and it becomes obvious that all the ingredients were in place for a VERY special night under the star lit Honolulu sky!!!

We showed up to Aloha stadium with our GA tickets in hand at 7:30 AM to find a very organized and professionally set up GA queue. Our goal, to get in the front section of the floor. Even with a 7:30 arrival there was already a couple of thousand fans who had beaten us to the punch. Some arriving as much as 2 days before the concert to join the queue. The vibe in the “corrals” was very Hawaiian, laid back and with a true fellowship feel to it. With Red shirts everywhere it became apparent we all had one thing in common and that is our great love for the best band in the world! With such a diverse group of fans, young and old, American, South American, European, Asian and even a few local Hawaiians, the word Coexist came to mind. A big part of the experience yesterday was the friendships built while sitting almost 10 hours on the asphalt talking about what else? Anything U2 of course.

This was my 25th U2 show and 10th of the Vertigo tour. From kicking off the tour in San Diego, my trip into the Ellipse and the front row in Phoenix, to meeting Bono in person pre show in Denver. The Vertigo tour has been a big part of my life the last two years. The tour from its continuously changing set arrangements of the earlier shows as U2 tried to build a set list that flowed, to last night’s perfection. This tour has grown and matured much like a baby girl that grows and blossoms into a beautiful woman.

As the GA line started to finally move my anxiety grew on whether we would actually make the cut to the inner part of the floor. As luck and karma would have it we made it by a hair!!! Not only that, we ended up one row from the rail on the outer part of the right B-Stage, a spot we would later experience to be one of the best.

As the anticipation grew I became thankful the inner floor section was overall sparsely populated. Unless you were right in between the catwalks, heading up for a drink or bathroom run was easy, just have a buddy save your spot and it was not a problem. Again props to the Aloha stadium security. On to the show. First up, Rocko! All I can say was the set was fun, fun, fun and a great act to kick-start the party vibe! A set long on party covers with the U2 fans giving him lots of love!

Pearl Jam, what a treat! One of the few bands I admire that I have never had a chance to see live. Boy have I missed out over the years. They blasted into a hit filled barrage of rock and roll at its finest! Setting the bar high for the main event that was to come. In the 25 U2 shows I have attended I have never seen an opening band get such a reception from the U2 faithful! A packed and loud house, showing their appreciation for a band that gave its all and rocked the house!! Eddie and the boys you deserved it! Thanks!

Special thanks to the members of U2 who I have to think gave the two opening acts cart blanch on the stage. As both openers utilized the B-Stage, which I can never remember happening in the past.

With the house lights back on the anticipation grew 10 fold. 10 minutes to show time and a bank of steps are laid out on the right B Stage, directly in front of us. An American flag is wrapped and laid next to the B Stage. Can it be, Bono will appear 3 feet in front of us to kick off the show? A small drum kit is sound checked across the B-Stage from us. Awesome, Love & Piece is back in the set and to be performed right in front of us! Here comes Rocko down the cat walk. Cleaning up last minute debris and receiving a huge standing ovation from the GA throngs. This is it……..the one year wait, the trip to Honolulu back in April for a showless weekend, the 14 hours of standing in the Hawaiian sun, are about to pay off in huge dividends…….

House lights off, Arcade Fire’s, Wake Up on! The crowd goes nuts. The Vertigo tour’s last stand, the scrolling cities of the Vertigo Tour on the huge screen commences, San Diego 1-2, all the way to Honolulu 131. As the scrolling comes to the end the crowd that I did not think could get any louder kicks it up another notch. Directly in front of me I see activity, I pull out of my digital camera and shoot blindly into the dark. Flash flash, I look at the LCD screen, and it is him! Bono is crouched on the stairs in the dark not 3 feet from me, flag in hand about to explode on to the B-Stage! The opening notes of City of Blinding Lights are played and then without warning we are bathed in a flood of blinding lights, as Bono blasts on to the B Stage in a cloud of smoke, the American flag held high above his head, he waves it respectfully and triumphantly to the exhilarated crowd. A moment that with out reflection, would be impossible to describe, because as you live it, you are immersed in a slow motion blur of emotions.

As the show hits the front stretch running, it’s obvious this is going to be a very special night among the Hawaiian trade winds. U2, a band on its last leg of their tour, thanks to the break and 9 show sprint leading up to the finale, are not only well rested, but firing on ALL cylinders. This night, the boys with the knowledge that this is it, are about to leave every last ounce of themselves on the Vertigo stage. There is no tomorrow to save up for. Time to cash in all remaining tokens right here and now!

To the extent the post 9/11 shows of the Elevation tour were emotionally charged. The tour finale came off as powerful, but in a joyous and celebratory fashion. The mutual appreciation between band and fan was evident everywhere. From the many thanks from the band to the patient fans and the return thanks from the fans back to U2. After all how many bands would have just cancelled the last 10 shows of a massive tour rather than reschedule at great cost, as U2 did? My guess is none.

On with the show….highlights for me. #1 Bono pulling the fan up on the B-Stage and as they are walking right past us we see the crazy fan frantically trying to get Bono’s attention as Bono escorts him to the main stage. Bono at first looking a little peeved at the fan pulls off his ear monitor so he can hear what this crazy guy is frantically trying to tell him. My guess of the exchange was this, fan, “Bono, Bono, Bono I only know WGRYWH!”. Bono “You have got to be Freakin kidding me”?! Bono obviously sensing trouble starts to pace the fan back to the B Stage, the fan’s jaw drops and in a hilarious moment Bono stops and then looks across the inner circle of fans to Edge at the main stage. Bono, “Edge he wants to play WGRYWH, ughghg do you still remember the chords?”. I am not sure if Edge responded affirmative or not, but up Bono and fan went to hack through the old standard. It was not overly beautiful with some missed chord progressions, improvised lyrics and Bono not once, but twice pre jumping into the last verse. But it was LIVE and it was RISKY and it is what we LOVE U2 for.

Highlight 2: It has to be the encore with Billie Joe on Saints! I love the song and to hear it performed as it was in New Orleans for only the second time was awesome. At that point I though the show was going to end with Windows. So this was already a bonus and what a bonus it was.

Highlight 3: Surly the show is over after Saints? We are in uncharted Vertigo territory at this point! Wait a minute. Here comes most of Pearl Jam on to the stage. Oh my god they are blasting into Rockin in the Free World and a two verse extended version at that. With Bono and Eddie improvising back and forth for the last two verses. This is a mega band jam session that you would imagine being performed in someone’s garage, but going off in front of 45,000 screaming people!

Highlight 4: The whole overall experience and vibe. The sense of adventure as we boarded the plane in LA with other U2 fans we have never met. Dozens of beach balls and balloons batted around the floor throughout the show. Everybody in the best of moods, wearing their (Red) with pride! The perfect weather. I thought I would never say this, but the immense power of a stadium sized crowd under the stars. Only U2 can pull it off and make such an atmosphere seem cozy and intimate.

Last nights show was a 10 out of 10. Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam, you guys rock!!! Thanks for the memories!!!! See you in 2008! Maybe back in Honolulu in 09? Hint hint. I can’t think of a better place for the next tour ending All Star party!!!! Peace.

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