by Collin Souter

The Elevation tour has come to the right place at the right time. A month has passed since September 11th, and having U2 (a group of guys who have been through this sort of thing on their homeland many times) come to our country to help heal some wounds is a form of relief that almost seems TOO generous. Their timing couldn’t be better. Playing “All You Need Is Love” on the speaker before the band came out could have been just a one-time tribute to John Lennon (his birthday was October 9th), but it would work for any show this time around, a perfect lead-in.

“Pride (In The Name Of Love)” may have had the most airplay of any U2 song in history (arguably), and we’ve heard it consistently on every tour since 1985. It has become a standard. But tonight, when Bono sang, “They took your life/ They could not take your pride,” I felt it. Little things such as that will hit you differently if you let them.

“New York” came in without Bono changing too much of the lyric for the sake of cheap applause. It hasn’t changed much. Audience response remained the same as usual, but I’m sure some of us braced ourselves for uncomfortable moments. I didn’t have any, but maybe you will. Difficult to say.

“Walk On” will undoubtedly be the moment everyone will talk about. Throughout most
of the show, Bono let the songs speak for themselves without making constant references to September 11th. But during the encore, he let it be known that he had it on his mind and wanted to discuss it. He did, in a speech I’m hoping someone will post somewhere on these message boards, or on atu2. I’d relate some of it, but I have a scattered memory at the moment and I’d hate to mis-quote. Actions spoke a little louder than words, however, when the band brought about 12 members of the New York Fire and Police Department on stage with them. During the end of the song, Bono led the way down the heart, and the NYPD/FD walked on with him. A month ago, these guys chanted enthusiastically, “U.S.A…U.S.A….U.S.A….” to President Bush as he gave his speech. Now, these guys had 11,000 concertgoers screaming it to them.

U2 ran into the open arms of America tonight with a new goal: The goal is soulful healing. “This is a church,” exclaimed Bono during the 11,000-member gospel cover of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The goal has been effortlessly achieved.
Like so many other great works of art that we have come to know and love, the Elevation tour hasn’t changed much in the way of content, but in its overall emotional impact, it hits a much deeper spot in our hearts.

They took our lives, but they could not take our pride.

What we got, they can’t steal it. No, they can’t even feel it.
Walk on.

Unto the almighty. Hallelujah!

Collin Souter

(About Garbage: They did a great set, taking material from all three albums, including the beautiful “Drive You Home,” off the “Beautiful Garbage” album. Shirley Manson has traded in her skimpy skirt-wearing rock vamp look for an androgynous boy-cut with black pants, a white t-shirt and black suspenders. The band played with gusto, proving themselves worthy of sitting alongside the Best Band In The World. Glad to have them on board!)

Also, special thanks to Edge's guitar tech, Dallas, for giving U2 guitar picks to us fans waiting outside. You rule!

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