by James B

This was my first time seeing U2 in person, and I was psyched about finally being able to catch them in Charlotte. My friend and I showed up at around 3:30, hoping to catch U2 on their way in for sound check. Security people told us there wasn't going to be a sound check this time, and although I was skeptical of that claim, it turned out to be true. Because of a delay that reportedly resulted from a delayed meeting between Bono and Billy Graham, U2 didn't show up until around 6:30, making Bono unfashionably late for a meeting with Jesse Helms, who had arrived earlier and waited inside the stadium.

Still, Bono and Edge got out and did a quick round of handshakes for the few fans that had stuck it out this long. When Bono got to me, I shook his hand firmly, looked him square in the eye, and told him, "I want my 500 pounds back, you son of a bitch." He didn't quite know what to say, so I told him I was just messing with him. He sort of gave one of those courtesy laughs and walked off. Later at the show, during Bullet The Blue Sky, Bono's monologue went something like, "This guy comes up to me, his face red like the rose of a thorn bush, like all the colors of a royal flush, and he says 'I want my five hundred pounds back, you son of a bitch. ONE HUNDRED. TWO HUNDRED. THREE HUNDRED... FOUR HUNDRED!! FIIIIIIIIVE HUNDREEEEED!!!"

Just so you know, that last paragraph is a complete and utter farce. The truth is U2 didnt' have time to stop and chat, and the SUVs rolled straight into the arena. I was standing on the wrong side of the SUVs, but I was told that Bono rolled down his window and gave a peace sign to fans. As the motorcade passed, I threw my fist in the air and screamed, and I was able to see Edge through a tinted window raising his fist at me in acknowledgement. So that was exciting.

The show itself was simply amazing. My seat was way back in the upper deck, toward the center. It gave a great view of the overall show, and while the sound could have been better, it was more than enough for me to be in the same room as Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam. The band sounded like they've been doing this for 30 years, and Bono's voice was possibly the best I've heard it sound since the Acthung Baby era. The people in my section seemed to be into it the whole time, and I made sure to show my support for the lesser-known songs like "Gloria" and "Miss Sarajevo." "With Or Without You" was the best performance I've seen from them in years (it easily beat the versions on the Boston and Slane DVDs).

I was disappointed (and I say that having received more than my money's worth as of the first two songs, and not the least bit disappointed in the performance or the show as a whole) that not a single song from "Boy" made it into the setlist. How does that happen? No "Out Of Control," no "I Will Follow," no "Electric Co"... it was the closest thing to a travesty in this otherwise perfect concert. There were other songs I would have liked to hear, but not enough to complain that they weren't played (except maybe "All Because Of You," which I was really looking forward to).

Still, I was grateful to be there, and despite not hearing certain favorites, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Except maybe a Boston show.

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