by Dan

If you want to call U2 "The Greatest Rock Band in the World!", I won't argue with you. Hell, if you want to call U2 "The Greatest Rock Band Ever!" I wouldn't argue too strongly with that either. Monday night's show at Seattle's Key Arena demonstrated why U2 deserves every bit of all the incredible hype they generate. About five songs in, the show ceases to be a concert.. and becomes a TRANSCEDENT SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE!
Starting with the extremely moving "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own", the band segued into an absolutely killer version of "Love and Peace or Else" (with Bono banging the drum kit on the runway like a possessed madman), then the impassioned "political" or "message" portion of the set with perfect versions of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Bullet the Blue Sky" followed by the powerful, yet subtle beauty of "Running to Stand Still"..then, the earth-shaking power of THE ANTHEMS! "Bad", then "Pride" (just two great, great songs performed spectacularly by the band), the thrilling, spine-tingling, goosebump-creating "Where the Streets Have No Name" followed by Bono's plea for ONE, giant politcal and economic movement that would wipe out poverty in Africa..and a stirring, beautiful version of "One".
My friends, that nine-song stretch lasting nearly an hour that closes out the first set--- well, it just doesn't get any better by anybody, anywhere, anytime.
That being said, the show was not perfect. The sound at the Key Arena was definitely muddy, even distorted at times. Edge's guitar was overly shrill..and Bono's vocals got lost in the sonic assault/ wall of sound. The Key isn't a concert hall I realize, but I think the band could have used a better sound mix.
Also, particularly on Sunday night, the show reached it's emotional peak too early. The high water mark came just before the end of the first set with "Where the Streets.." and "One". The encore never came close to taking the crowd back to that emotional level. In fact, to me, "Zoo Station" and "Fly" were flat. I wouldn't call them show-stoppers necessarily, but they just don't have the emotional and spiritual resonance to keep company with the songs that comprise the rest of the set. I think the band realized the encore needed an injection of adrenaline or emotion, and that's why they resorted to playing "Vertigo" for a second time in the show (it's the first time I can recall U2 playing the same song twice in a set).
All in all though, a great show by a band at the top of their game and as I said, U2 definitely lives up to all the hype. Bravo fellas! I'm looking forward to the shows in Vancouver. G.M. Place is a better venue, acoustically speaking, than the Key Arena, and maybe some of the sound mix issues/ problems won't be present.

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