by Mister M

In 1983, I was six years old. I was in the car with my mother, I'm not sure exactly where. Anyhow, I heard this brillant song on the radio. It instantly caught my ear, with it's sounds of hard drumming, keyboard playing, vocals and guitar solo. Years later, I would discover this song was "New Years Day".

In the 1990's, Achtung Baby would arrive. This would be the album that grabbed my attention, causing me to convert into a U2 fan. At the time, I was in High School. It seemed like nobody else at school really listened to U2. Perhaps they were proclaimed 'the band of the 80's'. Students were listening to Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Metallica. But I didn't care. U2 had become the music which found it's way into my life.

In 1997, I was lucky enough to go to PopMart. However, I didn't feel very 'connected' at the show. The performance was questionable, and you couldn't see the lads in the stadium. If it wasn't for the four foot high LED screen, I wouldn't have seen their faces at all. I might as well have stayed home and watched television.

As the years passed, I found my musical interests drifting into several other genres. The fire and love for U2 had almost been completely forgotten. When I purchesed ATYCLB, the flame began to resurge. Last night, U2 literally poured a cannister of gasoline upon that flame.

Enough about me, let me tell you about the band. They played a show I will never forget. From the opening moments of "Elevation", onto the entire Compaq Center jumping and singing to "Sunday Bloody Sunday". The biggest suprise for me, was when both Bono and Edge were at the tip of the heart. Without warning, they began to play a song I thought I'd never hear live - Stay (Faraway, So Close!).

If you liked POPmart (or disliked it), you will love this tour. Watching Bono running around the stage during WTSHNN, picking a beautiful dancer (who had some great moves) out of the crowd during Mysterious Ways, you could tell they were having fun. The band were playful, and seemed to really connect to the fans. Watching him, I had to keep reminding myself that he was almost 41.

Bono's voice has aged, who doesn't realize this. I noticed it was beginning to give, but not until the first encore. At times, I felt as if I was watching "Rattle & Hum", or "Live At Red Rocks". The energy portrayed in their performance was amazing. Yes, they're a little older. Yes, they played some of the older material in lower chords. Have they lost their flame?

Not for a minute. It's still there, but it's different from when they were four Irish lads, playing "The Electric Co" or "Stories For Boys" in clubs. Everything I knew wasn't wrong, it was right. I don't want to watch more television. I never had the opportunity to see U2 perform live in the 80's, but last night sure came close to it.

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