May 14, 2026

by Brinson M. Harris

This was the one that started it all for me--I only knew the songs that were on MTV, so I really had no idea what else to expect.

I'd never seen a band with this much energy, a front man as over the top as Bono (and yes, I'm including Jagger!) or a guitar player that sounded anything like Edge. I started the show sitting in the stands, but about 3 songs in I migrated to the floor and then got as close as I could. I knew I was seeing something special and that these guys were going places. Songs I'd never heard before grabbed me as much as Sunday, Bloody Sunday, I Will Follow, Two Hearts and New Year's Day did, and with no visuals either. When people were singing 40 as they filled the streets when the show was over, that was the definitive proof of U2's live power. I write this just after the 10/9/09 360 tour show at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, and 26 years out they've still got it. I've managed to see at least one show of every tour since then, and they're still my favorite band to see live.

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