by Dave Smith

With the strains of "Pop Muzik" blaring over the loudspeaker, U2 came through the crowd like the heavyweight champions of rock and roll. "Mother, am I still your son?" asked Bono, with the answer undoubtedly "YES!".

Rocking through a set that featured a mixture of old and new, U2 thrilled the crowd with old favorites like "New Year's Day" and "Pride", while mixing in excellent versions of "Gone", "Please", and a rendering of "Until the End of the World" which almost brought down the house. Critics may dis the over-the-top effects, but its the music that counts, and the music is the cornerstone of the show. Other highlights included the Edge's solo acoustic interpretation of "Sunday Bloody Sunday", a swirling, atomospheric "With or Without You" that pulled you in and carried you to another place, and the already classic "Please", a tour-de-force that combines the best elements of U2's sound over the years.

Truly a magnificent performance from the world's premier rock and roll band.

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