by Scott S.

As a fan of U2 for nearly twenty five years who has experienced thirty eight shows, I make no small statement when I say that the 24 October 2005 in Auburn Hills, Michigan was one of the best (if not the outright best) shows that I have ever attended.

U2 shows regularly instill epiphanies, social consciousness and spirituality, but this show tapped into everything exhilarating and beautiful about the human experience. In short, the transcendent love that is evoked in the lyrics of "Miracle Drug" was achieved, and this engaged crowd of @ 20,000 relished heavy doses of that metaphorical drug.

As a U2 show is about community and oneness, the community of Detroit fans came ready to sing and ready to be "Elevated." I honestly cannot recall being a part of a louder audience. I can still hear the repetitious refrain of "I Still Haven't Found What I am Looking For" ringing out throughout the arena and the "Oh Oh Ohs" from "Pride" uniting us all. Perhaps the best compliment that I can give to the crowd is two-fold - 1) that detroit audiences have disappointed in the past and on this night far surpassed my expectations, 2) that, at times, I couldn't even hear Bono because the crowd so participatory, singing every word of every song. In addition, around me stood U2 fans spanning four different decades in age and all of them knew all of the songs and felt a connection.

Am I gushing with too lofty of platitudes? Not if you were there last night and felt the swell of emotion that raised goose pimples on the skin from the first lovely notes of "City of Blinding Lights" through the spiritual retreat atmosphere of the crowd singing "40."

Edge's guitar bolstered by Larry and Adam's underrated rhythms created textured soundscapes that formed the sonic geography that carried this crowd out of Detroit, out of the building and out of the culture of reality where we often live hipocritical lives of contradiction, and for a little over two hours, we were immersed in the love and hope that the future has the possibility to hold (especially as foretold by that time travelling Edge!!!). And Bono, the pied piper of love, guided all of us to the better natures of ourselves. Let's hope a little of that will linger in the days, months, and years to come.

Highlights (aside from all of it!): City of Blinding Lights as a fitting opener, hearing Electric Co. again, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, the opera theme-parental loss theme that Bono wove through Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own and linked to Miss Saigon (I was so touched to hear Bono pull off the operatic vocals on the latter that it fittingly reiterated the "opera in me" part of SYCMIOYO), Old Man River, acoustic Walk On and Stuck In a Moment, and so on...

Thanks for reading this long, rambling and gushing review. When a rock and roll experience stimulates an empirical sensation of the human soul, it calls for some heartfelt expression. I hope everyone in attendance on Monday night cherishes that show; likewise, I hope everyone out there has the opportunity to catch a Vertigo Tour show while it's stillin full swing. You might be transformed. Take care.

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