by John "frkyu2" Kahler

Night 2 in Inglewood at the Fabulous Forum. I wasn't going to this show but my friend Craig called last minute and offered a free GA for a ride to the show. We showed up about 5:30pm and walked the parking lot over to the GA line it was long. I only saw one person I recognized in line, Dennis from work he was in the first couple hundred in line. We decided to kick back at the car untile 7:30 then entered the GA floor. It was a difficult day for U2 having lost their long time friend and Tour Manager Dennis Sheehan to a tragic heart attack.

 

U2 took the stage at about 8:25pm with Edge, Adam and Larry on the main stage and Bono appearing on the smaller "e" stage at the other end of the floor. I was at the e stage as Bono came up the stairs. The crowd was electric as the Greatest show on earth began without a hitch. U2 started with The Miracle they're tribute to Joey Ramone of the Ramones. Next was a great rendition of an old hit off their first album Out of Control which was great to hear again. Next was Vertigo and then U2 went back in time again for the classic I Will Follow which brought the house down. After Bono paid tribute to Dennis Sheehan and then U2 played " Iris " the song dedicated to Bono's mom. I was standing near the middle of the floor where I could get a good view of the almost floor long video screen down the center of the floor over the walkway the conects the main stage to the e stage.

 

Next was a great song video combo off the new CD called Cedarwood Road a song about Bono's childhood home and a staircase came down from the video screen then Bono walked up and was inside the video monitor as Edge walked below strumming his guitar. I was able to get a good picture of Bono while this song was played. After a very short gap all of U2 were slong the long walkway doing an acoustic rendition of Sunday Bloody Sunday which was great. Next was another good song of the new CD Raised by Wolves. The first half of the show ended with one of my favorites Until the End of the World. After the song ended the band took a short unannounced break and Johnny Cash appeared on the video monitor while one of songs played over the speaker system which is mounted on the ceiling of the Forum and sounded great I might add.

 

The second half of the show started with a song I wasn't too familiar with Invisible but kept the flow of the show going. Then the band broke into one of their classics Even Better Than The Real Thing. Desire was next and then another off the Rattle and Hum album Angel of Harlem. The next tune U2 played was off the new album Every Breaking Wave which they used the Video of waves excellent to the music while some of the band walked through the video monitor to the breaking waves on the screen it was amazing. Next they broke into the hard rocking Bullet the Blue Sky which U2 had put on the shelf last tour. Good to have it back on the set. Then to everyone's joy Pride in the name of Love was played and song in unison by all. The modern day classic Beautiful Day was next.

 

Then Bono paused for a moment and stated they were going to change the planned set list and after speaking with the other members of the band U2 broke into one of my all time favorites " BAD " which was a pleasure for these ears and the rest of the audience. Then to top it off U2 played my personal favorite With or Without You to thunderous applause. U2 left the stage waving to adoring fans only to come back shortly for a 3 song encore starting with the great City of Blinding Lights followed by the crowd pleaser Wherer the Streets Have No Name and the show came to a touching end with the classic U2 closing song from tours past " 40 " complete with a tribute to Dennis Sheehan on the video monitor. It was a classic night and I will post some pictures I took last night. I will be back this weekend for my next show...more to come...John Kahler

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