by Ben O''Neal

Well, as promised . . . U2 rocked the rockies. My wife and I just moved to Denver and I had never even been inside the famed Pepsi Center before last night. Colorado really came through, because it rained on us as we ran from the car into the arena and like some sort of magic dream, it snowed on us as we walked back after the show. People were dancing around in it singing their favorite song from the concert they had just witnessed. Now, I had seen U2 8 times before this and was really more excited about my wife getting to see them for the first time, but the anticipation swept over me as we found our seats and watched the end of the No Doubt set. (They actually put on an impressive show) I thought the seats were going to be lame because they were so high up and off to the side, but they were actually very good. We were right above The Edge on the left side of the stage. My adrenaline started to flow as I noticed the two Stanley Cup Banners hanging from the ceiling of the arena. It really is a wonderful venue.

So, on to the music:

They opened with the usual Elevation, Beautiful Day and Until the End of The World, but then Adam started playing that so familiar bass line . . . (Nathan, I know you are going to hate to hear this,)and like a scene out a dream they went into an extremely energetic version of Out of Control, which I had never heard live. During the bridge Bono held the band up and started a long drawn out monologue about delivering their first demo tape to a studio in London and demanding that they play it NOW!
Then they tore through a few more standards and the crowd kept getting more and more into the whole event. Anyone who has been to a couple of their shows knows there are just some nights where the band seems extra playful and willing to give a little more. Well, last night was certainly one of those nights. Wild Honey was a treat as Bono and The Edge played facing each other and singing into the same mic. Then they were walking back to the main stage and Bono noticed a sign and he stopped to read it. Apparently some guy (we later found out his name was Shawn)had a sign detailing how he could play guitar. Bono motioned for him to come on up and they handed him The Edge's acoustic guitar. He whispered something to Edge as Dallas got him another guitar and Bono said to the crowd, "It pays to advertise." I expected them to play People get Ready like they have in the past, but this guy just starts playing All Along the Watchtower. Edge joins in and then Bono starts singing it too. They played a couple of verses of it out on the heart and then Bono says that they need some drums. Immediately a spotlight hit Larry and he came right in with Adam in tow. They all walked back to the main stage and Bono started making up alternate lyrics that actually sounded pretty good. The best part though, was when The Edge just spontaneously ripped into this amazing spur of the moment solo. After the song finally ended, Shawn handed Bono and Edge some of his personal guitar picks, which Bono joked about. It was a great moment that I am sure Shawn will never forget.
The intensity continued as they played Please acoustically and went on into a few of the Joshua Tree hits. I had been anticipating What's Going On after having heard earlier recordings and it certainly lived up to expectations. It was only Bono and Edge, however, in a decidedly stripped down version. One and Walk On elevated the already mile high feeling to a completely new level as the frenzied crowd almost seemed ready to explode.

At times this was one of the best shows I have ever seen and at other times it was simply the best band in the world rocking the house. All in all it was a truly magical night and I think my ears are actually still ringing.

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