by DWalt

U2 PLAYS FOR WORLD LEADERS

U2 completed the first leg of their U.S. tour on Friday, June 22nd. This was my 3rd Elevation. I was fortunate enough to see the Pittsburgh and Buffalo shows, as well. Being able to see three shows allows for some interesting comparisons and provides three different perspectives. I saw one show inside the heart, one show from the side (even with the tip of the heart) and in NJ I was on the corner of the lower level (105), 13 rows off the floor.

I was aware of where the VIP section was located and my wife enjoyed stargazing with our binoculars. We saw a few people that looked familiar then this guy with a huge (and I mean huge)curly locks wig enters the VIP section. I said it looks like something Jim Carrey would wear but my wife said it looked like Michael Stipe. I wasn't sure because of all of the hair. Then Mike Mills of REM enters and the two hug and chat awhile. The wig was still on when the house lights went down in the middle of Elevation but later it was off and my wife was correct. This was confirmed when Bono mentioned that REM was "in the house." I had mentioned to my wife that I bet Bill Clinton attended one of the 4 NY area shows since he lives near here and Bono and Bill go back to the 1992 election and Clinton was just in Dublin celebrating the birth of John Abraham Hewson (has that name been confirmed?). Wouldn't you know that a little later my wife goes "there goes Bill Clinton!" He was leaving the floor with his posse of Secret Service agents. I just missed him but a few minutes later, Clinton comes back with a drink and gets back into the middle of the floor. Chelsea was at his side. Now someone in an earlier post asked why Clinton was there. Well, Bono lobbied Clinton early in his Presidency about the problems in Ireland and credits his help in helping to solve some of Ireland's problems. In addition, Clinton was an advocate of Jubilee 2000. Bono himself said during the concert that "William Jefferson Clinton introduced me to lots of people who helped open the doors for the Jubilee campaign." Their politics are similar and Clinton is a known fan of the band. Remember that Bono and Daniel Lanois played One on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on New Years Eve 1999. Of course, you probably read that Kofi Annan, the Beastie Boys, and others were there but we didn't see anyone else. In my opinion, it was obvious that Bono wanted the show to be a special one considering the fact that many of his friends were in attendance. It almost felt he was trying too hard at times. I couldn't imagine the pressure of playing in front of 20,000 fans let alone playing in front of world leaders and world leaders pretend.

I love Bono's political rantings, even though I've read that it is a turn off to some people. His tirades about Africa, AIDs, were inspiring and I couldn't make out all he was saying at the end of Bullet the Blue Sky but Bono was definately going off! Something about the war within the borders of America refering to the enourmous amount of gun violence. All these 2nd amendment advocates here make me sick. I'm not saying that the 2nd amendment should be eliminated by any means but when someone believes so strongly that they oppose sensible gun control laws I am baffled. Some common ground can be achieved if the goal is truly to keep guns out of the hands of bad people. Yes the Charlton Heston quote can be confusing but there is no mistaking U2's position on this issue. Our country's gun violence is an embarressment.

OK,now I will write about some events and perceptions specific to the NJ show. From my perspective, this crowd was far the greatest of the three shows I attended. The floor was so packed that you could not tell where the VIP box in front of the mixers ended and the GA crowd started. As for the set list I anticipated either "the set list in a blender" approach (as Willie's Diary refers to it) or some rarities. The two songs I heard in NJ that I did not hear in Pittsburgh or Buffalo where Wild Honey and The Ground Beneath Her Feet. I was surprised to hear Wild Honey but it was fun to see Bono and The Edge hack it out for the first time live. There were a couple stops and starts and Bono said something like "this is when it gets interesting," refering to when the the set detours from original plans. Sunday, Bloody Sunday had more intensity and emotion than I've heard since Joshua Tree. This was a welcomed rendition. I've never heard the "shine like stars" coda on With or Without You live before so that was a wonderful experience. There is only one song I would drop from this tour and that is New York. There are very few U2 songs that I can't get into one way or another but this song hasn't worked for me on the CD or during the 3 live shows I saw. Desire was much better in Buffalo, for some reason I thought the song ended abruptly in NJ. Also, Bono mentioned the bodyguard that broke his leg tackling some "nutcase" in MSG. He dedicated Walk On to him, laughing at the appropriateness of singing Walk On for someone who broke his leg. The Edge was awesome and is probably the most consistent performer in the band. However, he had to change guitars mid-song twice during the show. The first time, Bono even sand "the Edge is changing his guitar." Don't know if it was broken strings or the guitar went out of tune. I enjoyed hearing The Ground Beneath Her Feet, since I just viewed The Million Dollar Hotel this past week. I thought the movie was interesting and had great potential but the writing and dialogue just didn't measure up. Mel Gibson has had better roles as well. The story was interesting and it was cool to see The First Time and The Ground Beneath Her Feet within a different context.

Well, this is long enough...probably too long. If U2 does indeed come back in the fall I'm not sure if I will go again (already spending close to $1000 to see these 3 shows...I know, its a sickness). I would probably go solo with GA tickets if I did go. If the Edge was serious when he said they are anxious to get back in the studio and record some more then I would welcome that more than a 3rd leg. Then again, I don't live in Nashville or St. Louis or New Orleans or Kansas City!! Record a new CD then do another leg!! Is that too much to ask???

Long live U2!

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