by Amanda

I didn’t think anything could top the show in Charlotte but I was wrong. Atlanta was even better. For those of you worried about seats behind the stage, quit worrying. Our seats were almost in the middle, about 8 rows up and we had a clear view almost the entire time. Bono came over and paid us plenty of attention and we had the best view of him during Sweetest Thing and Mysterious Ways, so HA!
If you want a long, rambling description and review, read the one I posted for Charlotte—I will try to keep this one shorter. I must say that I think the crowd was more into it this time. There was a point early in the show when it was almost like you could feel everything falling into place. They had reached this level of perfection and Bono had this connection with the audience that was so strong you could literally feel it. Us folks behind the stage and the people in the seats and the people in GA were all the same, being lifted up, elevated if you will, by just the music and the voice and it was amazing.
I’m not going to go song-by-song, but instead just give you the highlights. There were no lowlights. Of course I’m biased, but it makes no difference. I defy anyone to find any moment during the show that wasn’t up to their standards, your standards, whoever. Any moment that didn’t flow with the rest or sounded wrong—there was none. It was like Bono said early in the show—something to the effect of “You guys are in trouble if this is only the fourth show!” How can it possibly get any better?
They played “Gone” about four songs into the setlist and it came as a surprise. It sounded tight, like one of the later Popmart versions. “Discotheque” was next and also a nice surprise—it is one of my favorite songs off Pop. I love the way it sounds live and Bono was getting into it, dancing pretty close behind Edge at one point. They went right into Staring at the Sun and it was a good transition.
Then the energy exploded during “I Will Follow”. Everybody in our section was jumping up and down and it was most definitely a punk show. Bono gave a little speech about friendship and how important it was, leading into “Stuck in a Moment”--an even better version than the previous night and Bono sang the last half leaning against Edge’s shoulder. It was dedicated to Michael Hutchence and I read a review on here where someone said it looked like Bono was crying before the song…I can believe that.
Sweetest Thing warmed my heart. The Ground Beneath Her Feet was an absolutely perfect rendition. They played killer versions of Bad and Streets. I am really getting into this new rendering of The Fly—it is AWESOME!. Then came the encore--One was the best version I have ever heard. The ending went on forever and Bono reached some glorious notes. A few lines of R.E.M. (my other favorite band) were sung: Losing My Religion and Everybody Hurts. It didn’t hit me until after the show that they may have been there (and of course, as it turns out, they were).
This was only my 4th U2 show (I saw them twice during Popmart), and the best by far. In fact, I think sitting behind the stage at this show was better than seeing R.E.M. from 8th row center in ’99, which was my previous “best concert experience”. I think it was during One that I realized that it really is just about the music. All the video screens and props don’t mean anything in the end. I knew that they had always known this, but sometimes we can forget. When it all comes together, and everything is clicking, it seems so obvious and clear that you wonder how you ever could have doubted it. They got the job, and I couldn’t have been any luckier to see it happen.

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