by Asaad

What an amazing week!

Each MSG show and the CAA show had something different to offer. Yes, the set lists were most the most part static and I think many of us were hoping for Chicago first leg type set list changes that never came (like the AB beginning). The lack of WOWY is troublesome but understandable from the point of view that it seems trite right now given the current circumstances and Bono's lack of range.

The amazing part was to see how the crowd reacted to each song every night. Chants of USA... Lets go Yankees... were absolutely deafening! The Lyrics were substantially changed for New York- the song and for the city, itself. The only major criticism that I have are limited to SBS and the flag ritual. The flag was obviously "planted" there by some roadies every night. And although Bono hugging the flag seemed poignant- seeing the same thing again and again did not ring as true as it should have been. With that said, Bono still refers to Muslims in the last verses of SBS, too. It's either "we eat and drink while the Muslims, they die..." or at the CAA show... "the Muslims cry."

We also got a chance to see Bono ticked at Adam and Larry for leaving the stage early on Saturday before they came back on for Out of Control. It seemed like he was pointing at Larry to get his arse back on stage to play the drums.

Above all, the most satisfying moment for me was hearing the glowing remarks from non-U2 fans that went to the shows with me. It just goes to show that U2's best moments are never in the studio. It's on the stage... as another reviewer said... another powerful U2 experience!

One last thing... the GA experience at CAA (inside or outside the heart) is incomparable to anything else!! Watching Bono prance around during New York and posing as the Statue of Liberty before the last verse (mid-life crisis verse) while he is just a few steps away was priceless!!

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