by Ray G.

This was my second ELEVATION tour experience. I saw the band play on 4/20/01 in San Jose. This show topped that one, as far as the set list went. The songs are what matter, right? But U2 are more than just the songs. They transcend music, and are a special part of countless lives all over the world. Their personas are well documented, but the music is the key.
The highlights for me were the surprise rendiditon of A Sort Of Homecoming. It was obvious that the song wasn't an original inclusion to the setlist. The fan named Scott who came up on stage to play with them led the way, and Edge and Bono just followed his lead. Bono wasn't up to speed with its lyics, but that comes with the territory sometimes. It felt like 1983 all over again, when songs 4-6 were New Year's Day, I Will Follow, and Sunday Bloody Sunday. Since I became a fan of their music in with the release of WAR, I was especially pleased. Until The End Of The World belongs in the lineup at every U2 show.
I was really happy with All I Want Is You. I educated my friends who were with me that when they see red lights, the red screen, it is the automatic signal that Where The Streets Have No Name is forming. It's been that way since day one in 1987. It still gives me goosebumps. I love red light, so....
My friend Shawn and I rocked to New York, which is probably my current favorite song form ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND. The version of What's Going On with Gwen Stefani was cool. One last treat was the inclusion of Slow Dancing. That was unexpected. Bullet The Blue Sky rocked as usual.
Once more, I get to see them in Sacramento on 11/20. That's seven months to the day after the San Jose show. It will be here, if the setlist stays consistent, where I will finally get to witness Out Of Control, Bad (hopefully), and if I am truly lucky, a few more exciting surprises.
Three U2 shows in three different California cities. I culdn't ask for anything more, outside of going for broke, and attended shows in Anaheim, and Los Angeles. I am very satisfied, excited about Sacramento, and ready to rock once more!
Long live U2!!

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