by Tom

I don't even know where to start. This was my fourth and - most likely :( - final Elevation show and it was nothing short of transcendantly wonderful. I, like many New Yorkers, needed this show. U2 delivered the closest thing to emotional healing through music that I have ever encountered. I was lucky enough to be down on the floor and close up for last night and tonight.

Hard to pick a highlight out of a set of highlights so I'll just have to rely on what sticks in my mind. The version of Please that Edge and Bono do with the keyboard accompaniment is utterly moving. It was great to hear All I Want is You. Where the Streets Have No Name was absolutely rapturous. I'm flipping through my thesaurus right now looking for more words to give this show props.

New York (the song) is such an intense whirlwind of a piece just on record. Bono's lyrical enhancements on the song along with the live dynamic of the music improves on something that I thought to be perfect. The visual effect of the distorted silhouettes on the skyscraper drapings adds to this perfection. Tonight (as with last night) that truly exemplified the unique nature of this city (and this bands connection to it).

One was done perfectly with the names of the victims tastefully mentioned in the background on the screens. I had a minor personal highlight during this song. I was standing at the edge of the floor area as the song was playing. Just to my left in the walkway that leads to the entrance to the heart I saw Paul McGuinness standing. He was watching this band that he has managed since very near to day one. It looked like a proud father watching his son graduate from med school. A touching moment that I was happy to witness.

My heart sank when Bono told us that we won't be seeing them for a while. But my spirits lifted when he assured us that this is the beginning of a "very creative period for the band." I looking forward to seeing how they dream it all up again this time. God, I love how they dream out loud...

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