by Jason G

I missed the boys the first time they were here in April due to work and the fact I remained unwilling to pay $300 for a scalped ticket. So this time I made sure to get tickets ($90 nose-bleeders) to see U2 for the first time. Even with a birds-eye view it was a fantastic show. The accoustics in the Pepsi Center aren't the best (at least from where we sat) It was hard to understand Bono even when no music was playing.

NO DOUBT were a good opening act. Gwen Stefani was very energetic, prancing and leaping about the stage. The highlight of their 45-minute set was "Don't Speak" - which was about the only song the whole crowd seemed know and react to.

It was a sweet moment when that Influx Intro started playing on the PA. The boys took the stage with all the lights on. Bono kneels before his mic stand for a prayerful moment - then BOOM...

ELEVATION - the crowd was so loud, I swear I didn't hear half the first verse. Still, very cool.

BEAUTIFUL DAY - on all the bootlegs I've heard, Bono's voice has sounded coarse on this song. Tonight his delivery was strong and smoothe. Great song, great performance.

UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD - "Jesus, this is Judas!" What a baseline by Adam Clayton! Even better than I expected live. Bono and Edge did their bullfight on the Heart as I've read is standard.

NEW YEAR'S DAY - I'm glad to have been able to hear it live. I know others have written that they are sick of this song, but as a U2 concert rookie I was glad for it.

OUT OF CONTROL - I didn't recognize it until Edge's guier chimed in over Larry's drums. Bono kicked cups of water into the crowd (as I've read he's been doing last few shows) and also did his pitch to the record company exec.

SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY - "... turning a song into prayer for peace" Bono hugged an American flag given to him by an audience member as I've read he's done previously. The cynic in me says it's a set-up (though there were more than a few flags waving around in the Heart) but the gesture is still nice.

STUCK IN A MOMENT - a new favorite well played. Though at this point was beginning to wonder if the setlist would hold any surprises.

KITE - This is my favorite song on the new album. It's even better live. (Love the blue waves on the video screen)

WILD HONEY (ACCOUSTIC - BONO and EDGE) - A fun song, Bono and Edge at the tip of the Heart for most of it. I couldn't see for sure, but I think Bono was reading a lyrics sheet to start the third verse.

ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER - "See America, it pays to advertise" said Bono as he pulled a male fan with a sign out of the Heart and onto the catwalk. Edge gave him his acoustic guitar and the fan demonstrated by playing the opening riff. Then Edge was given one of his electrics and they played face to face to start the song. This was all very cool - but then Larry and Adam came in with bass and drums and the arena went nuts! Bono made up most of the lyrics, singing about Denver and Colorado and other things I couldn't make out. At the end the fan got a hug from Bono and guitar picks from the Edge. Everybody else got a classic U2 moment.

PLEASE (ACCOUSTIC - BONO AND EDGE) This was the song I looked most forward to hearing. It was the highlight of the show for me. I loved what I'd heard on Pop Mart recordings but this stripped down version was just as moving. Bono commented at the beginning how he had written it a few years ago about the situation in Northern Ireland, but how it could have been written a few weeks ago about the attacks on America. Passionate and perfect. A real gift.

ALL I WANT IS YOU - I was hoping for "Bad" but was surprised how good this was live.

WHERE THE STEETS HAVE NO NAME - "what can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out?" - Bono. This song is a start. It's everything it's cracked up to be, everything I've ever heard it was.

I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR - Gotta love it. I was glad to see it back in play on this leg of the tour.

PRIDE - If the band really is sick of playing this one it doesn't show. I loved hearing it and the MLK video on the end is a nice touch.

ENCORES:

BULLET THE BLUE SKY - Awesome. Edge's guitar solo was great while Bono had fun with his spot light.

WHAT'S GOING ON - This was an abreviated version from what I'd heard on the Notre Dame bootleg (tonight it ended with the "together we can be strong" line before the second chorus). I believe it was only Edge's electric guitar that accompanied Bono's vocals.

NEW YORK - new lyrics and loaded with new meaning. Bono spent most of the song dancing around the heart. The drapes with projected images of skyscrapers and the shadow play of the band was very cool. Bono flashed flag on the flag lining of his jacket before draping it over the mic stand and leaving it in the spotlight as they left before for the second encore.

ONE - The names of all those who perished on 9/11 rolled up on the video screen. It's unbelievable (and saddening) to see how long it takes that list to scroll. It's imposible to think of a better song to play as it does.

With the song done and the list of casualties still scrolling, Bono tacked on this verse from All Along The Watchtower set to his accoustic guitar:

"There must be someway out of here, said the Joker to the theif. There is so much confusion here. I can't get no relief
Business men drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth. But None of them along the line know what any of this is worth"

WALK ON - Bono shouted USA before laying inot the lyric. And so the song struck me with new meaning, a simple encouragement for America - you've got to leave it behind.

Overall a great show. Those I atteneded with missed "Mysterious Ways" and "With or Without You". I myself would loved to have heard "The Fly", "Gone", "Peace On Earth" or "When You Look At The World", but I can't complain. We heard twenty songs in a show that lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes.

I walked away with a shirt, a ball cap, a poster, a key chain, a program and a smile.

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