by Trevor Harpe

Manchester - the City of Blinding Lights.
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Excellent - as expected. U2 certainly remember how to put on a show.

The Bravery and Snow Patrol didn't hit it off as well as expected but still got the audience going with a couple of crowd pleasers.
U2 came on around 8.15pm and they played the opening strains of Vertigo.
(No Everyone ... Everyone ... over the speakers this time).
Vertigo was definately one of the best songs of the night, and, as you may have read from the set-list anyway - was played again as the last song which worked really well (surprisingly).
I Will Follow made its first appearance in this year's set-lists and Electric Co, Elevation etc ... carried on the mini-moshing we were enjoying.

Sound was pretty phenomenal and lighting was great but, as has been mentioned before, no
'white out' during 'Streets' - a major trademark of any U2 gig. Also, the big screen didnt work well in broad daylight - I think it has been most effective at the stadium gigs which have had their roofs closed. Anyway - I think it benefitted those further back who didnt have such a decent view of the band which is fair enough.

COBL and Miracle drug were great - SYCMIOYO was superb and loved the Zoo TV section
(ie Zoo Station, The Fly and Mysterious Ways).

Nice touch on 'Love will tear us apart' for the Manchester crowd - very apt.

Overall, excellent gig - maybe not quite the extravagance of Zoo TV or the wackyness
of PopMart or the intamacy of Elevation but still a great concert.

High points - I Will Follow played for the first time this tour and the best U2 song by far, which a lot of their other rockier songs, especially on the latest 2 albums, seem to be influenced by ...
Low points - Jumping up and down so much I lost the remainder of the beer kitty :-)

Enjoy the tour - Love and Peace or Else!

TD.

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