by Rob Knubben

Just back from the first Dutch Elevation concert and just like the first concert from the Popmart tour it was a high energy concert.

After waiting all day in the burning sun (quite the opposite of Popmart where it rained all day) the gates were opened at
17:30. I was just too late for the heart, but I think I had an even better spot than the heart.

The roof of the Geldredome Stadium was
closed (it can be opened) and it was very very hot inside.

The opening act Kelis was Ok, but like most opening acts it just took to long for many fans. After Kelis and the soundcheck the PA system played 5 songs (I believe they are the same on each concert; I will try to verify that for the next two Dutch concerts) after which the band kicked into Elevation with the lights still on at about 21:00.

The setlist can be found on this website (I only have to add that some parts of 40 were played at the end of Bad). One of the highlights was Sunday Bloody Sunday which Bono used for quite a long speech on the Genua G8 events. I have never seen the man that angry before. A very powerful version of this song! Another highlight was Bad as mentioned in the setlist. Bono took a young girl (less than 10 years old) and sang half the song with this girls on his shoulders. Next he ran accross the entire heart, hand in hand with this girl. She really enjoyed it and so did the crowd.

Bono sang a large part of Until the End of the World on top of the shoulders of fans (or was it security?) and I was very close to that. I was also quite close to the entire band when they played the acoustic version of one the songs. I believe it was
Desire, but I am to overwhelmed to remember right now. Not being able to get into the heart was definitely not that bad after all!

Bono dedicated Kite to his father who is ill and In a Little While to the Dutch artist Herman Brood who committed suicide several days ago by jumping of a hotel in Amsterdam.

The guys and the audience were really into
it this night. Unfortunately the Dutch railways did not plan any extra trains. Because I had to catch the last regular train, I had to leave at 23:20. Still I believe I heard all songs (last one I heard was Walk On). This might be important to know for other Dutch fans which will attend the second and third concert in the Netherlands.

If in doubt, try to get tickets. They are worth every cent (or Euro)!

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