by Charles

I had a wonderful evening! It seems you secretly wonder if the show you are attending will match up with others on the tour, especially if it is in your home state. You don't want the concert you see to be the "dud" of the tour.

I arrived at around 5:00pm, and looked in dismay at the length of the general admission line. However, once inside, I couldn't believe it when I found myself the third person deep at the tip of the heart. Inside the heart looks fun, but so much happens at the tip!

PJ Harvey rocked! One drunk fellow tried to be a one-man jeering section during her set, but was silenced by security after those around him complained.

When the band walked on stage, and "Elevation" started, the dancing began! All around me people were jumping up and down. I had wondered if it would be a struggle on the floor, being jostled around by the crowd while trying to enjoy the show, but most people kept their own space. I had seen U2 at the Hippodrome in Paris in 1987, and the crush of the crowd was terrible. At this show, people crowded close when Bono came near, trying to touch him, but then relaxed back when he would move on, allowing everyone room to breathe and dance.

"Until the End of the World" is one of my very favorites, and it was incredible to watch Bono and Edge parry back and forth. Bono wound up on his back, kicking at the Edge's guitar, then striking the strings with his mike. I kept thinking I couldn't believe how close the band was!

"Stay" was a great song to hear, and like everyone else, I felt that "Bad" and "Streets" were the highlights of the setlist! I was surprised that Bono didn't run out after "The Fly" from the tip of the heart, but instead disappeared backstage.

It felt like the band was having fun. Bono was shouting, "I'm a wildcat! I'm a wildcat!" at the beginning of the show, referring to Lexington being the home of the University of Kentucky wildcats, and made several references to the Kentucky Derby, which was happening the next day. Adam smiled a lot as he looked around the arena.

After "Pride", many in the crowd were singing the "woah, woah oh oh, woah, woah oh oh" part of that song's ending while waiting for the band to return to the stage. The lights stayed down for several moments after "Walk On", and when the notes of "Grace" came over the PA, I think many thought the band was coming out for one more encore, and began to cheer loudly. Then the house lights came up.

At the end of the night, Bono said something like, "Thank you for a great, great, great evening!" From the smiles of the crowd after the show, you could tell it had been.

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