by Beano

I have been to 4 previous U2 Concerts-- ZooTV indoor, ZooTV Outdoor, and 2 Popmarts. The ZooTV indoor was by far the best concert I have ever experienced partly because it was both my first U2 and first concert ever.

Last time I saw U2 was from exactly 2nd to the last row, middle back of the LA Coliseum, so any seats at this concert would have been far superior. I ended up with top tier, back of the stage seats, just my luck. Let me preface this by saying that LA crowds in general SUCK.

You would think that for bands like U2, Smashing Pumpkins, and Beastie Boys everyone would be up excited the entire time, not so in LA when I saw these bands last. Apparently everyone here is too cool to "participate".

I was expecting to see all 30 something but was very happily surprised to see many teenagers and 20somethings, cool newer fans!!!!

Arrived a little B4 PJ Harvey who wasn't too bad if not for the bad acoustics all the in the upper back. Got drunk quickly and met a cool longtime fan from Dublin who had a Birthday that day! If you read this, Happy Bday, and thanks for passing along the goods. I would have really digged PJ if I was on the floor and didn't have to go to the Bathroom every 2 minutes. Only other prob. was that all her songs sounded too similar. LICK my LEGS I'm on FIRE!!!!!!! haha great.

So I hear the music getting more modern and I start shaking with anticipation and I'm one of the first to stand along with Dublin guy who is also in the know of what song they stroll out to. We both leap off of our seats and I pogo for 3 songs straight. Elevation really gets the crowd going and delivers on the anticipation while still letting it build and BD follows it perfectly.

The Heart really comes alive during Until the End of the World. I was ecstatic throughout and then they played KITE!!! Bono introduced it, as only playing once B4 live, and I knew what was coming! To top it off they played STAY. I have been waiting forever to hear a Zooropa song live. Both were great but unfortunately these 2 songs in particular had the muddiest sound where we were, and I couldn't quite hear the guitar esp. for KITE.

I was amazed to see that everyone was still standing all night. I want to pick a highlight but it really is hard. Probably In a Little While, Walk on and the Bad Streets Combo. The only low was New York. I love the end, with Edges amazing guitar work, but the beginning just lingers too long and they have soooo many good songs that I would rather hear. Another highlight was seeing Bono's look of pity and disappointment in the crowd as he shook his head when the crowd couldn't hold up a sing-along (I think this was during Stay). Walk On was a much better closer than I anticipated; it was perfect in fact and stood out maybe even higher than the older songs. I was pleasantly surprised at the power of the song and how much the Whole arena sang along with it, one of the biggest sing-a-longs of the whole night. It felt as if Walk On was a "Streets" by the reaction of the crowd and how well it was played and extended. It really could be the new 40 and maybe even better because it is more positive and uplifting, although it’s harder for the crowd to sing on their own.

I really loved ALL the new songs except New York. "Stuck", "Elevation", "Beautiful Day", "In a Little While", and "Walk On" already sound and FEEL like concert classics, some of which more than hold thier own agians the older material. I'm not sure about Kite yet since the guitar was muddy, It did sound like it would defitely become one though.

I left in awe with a great feeling inside of me, it didn't top my first concert (ZooTV indoor) ever but it topped everything else. U2 was even able to get the "too cool", "look at me pose", snide, aloof attitude of the LA crowd to leave it behind.

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