by Rich

U2's energetic show was a masterful rendition of both their classic tunes and new material. As they near the end of their U.S. tour, the boys from Ireland show no sign of boredom. Edge bounced around the stage, playing the guitar with the exuberance one might see during an air guitar show. Adam Clayton roamed the stage, often grinning at the antics of both his band mates and fans. Bono evoked a spirituality using his unique vocal qualities for every song - shining brightest during Miss Sarajevo. Finally, Larry Mullen, Jr. sat back and directed all the action from his seat behind the drum set. The crowd fed off U2's unique combination of music and soul.

The choice of Kanye West to open the show was both perplexing and insightful. Having no affinity for either the musical style or lifestyle, I wasn't sure what to expect during Kanye's opening set. Unfortunately, his set reaffirmed my belief that rap isn't music, but more of a performance art (lyrical speaking?) I liked the inclusion of the string ensemble, but the acoustics were so poor I could not differentiate between when they were playing and when they were watching. I appreciate Kanye's attempt to perform in front of a crowd that he knew likely would not be very receptive to his sound. In fact, the crowd booed when Bono thanked Kanye for his efforts (although distasteful and rude, it did summarize the challenge for Kanye). Ultimately, the question for Kanye might be whether he was able to win over some new fans; based on the energetic response of the sparse crowd during his set, I believe he was successful (but don't count me among them).


This show was part rock concert, part political rally. I came to the show expecting nothing less. Bono's urge for us to come to the aid of the impoverished is long overdue. Extreme poverty is the breeding ground for contempt and hatred. Children don't go to war in Africa because they choose it, rather war chooses them. We all get one life to live; we can selfishly choose to empower only ourselves, or we can choose to share our wealth with the world. Now, more than ever, we can help those in need. U2 continues to amaze with their ability to use the politics of their music to change the world.

The highlights of the show were some of the unscripted moments...having a concert goer play piano on Yahweh...the little boy yelling no more...Bono chasing Edge around the ellipse. A fantastic, fresh concert.

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