by Nick Kostenborder

Well I can't believe all the positive reviews I'm seeing are from the same show I was at. This was my fourth U2 show (Popmart Seattle, Elevation Portland, and the last Elevation LA) and I hate to say it was the worst. The band sounded fine, but for myself and my 3 companions, the show had no flow or magic. I think it was the worst order and song selection of any concert I've seen. I purposely didn't read any news before hand because I wanted to be suprised, but afterwards I did read them and frankly feel a little ripped off that I didn't get to see Electric Co as that is one I really wanted them to bring back. Bono's voice was very drowned out and I thought he has lost it completely and I had no idea how he would finish the tour. Of course, upon listening to the bootleg, which is the best audience recording I've ever heard by far, I see that Bono actually sounded better than he has in years. Turn up the damn mics, he sounds fine....

I would compare this setlist to a mullet - business in the front and party in the back. All the war protest and africa crap really dragged down the first 3/4 of the show. I say come out swingin, get the crowd going, then break into the public service announcements later on.

The Biggest dissapointment for me was not enough coverage of the new album. I really wanted to hear crumbs and man / woman. And you can't call them leaving the stage and coming back an encore, because they had played barely over an hour at the point, and Bono said they'd be back.

The show really started kicking ass when they did come back out, Zoo Station was an awesome suprise. Finally we were all pumped and the show started flowing, and just like that it was over.

Also, I hate the new intro to streets, give us back the red and strobes and burst of light, it's makes not only the song but really the whole show. I'm of course remembering the emotional high during the post 9/11 LA show where Bono asks "What can we give BACK to God?" to remind us in the wake of this horrible tragedy how many blessings we really have. And just as this lights come up someone close to me at the tip of the heart tossed Bono an American flag and he held it high and ran a few laps.

Also I'm dissapointed in the stage. It was billed as very different from elevation in that there would be lots going on and special effetcs. Well to me it was elevation without the heart. Same B&W screens, and instead of a sheet we got a beaded curtain- big deal. And none of the cool lights that draped over the entire audience durring elevation.

Anyhow I'm sure many of you will get pissed at me, but I'm just as big a fan as anyone else, and I know a good show when I see one. This is the first show I've ever been to where the bootleg was better than the actual show. I saw Duran Duran 3 weeks ago, and let me tell you, they REALLY upstaged U2- never thought I'd say that.

Would like to see them in Seattle and Portland if I can get tix, hopefully by then they have a concert that is greater than the sum of it's parts.

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