by Jonathan

From reading the other reviews I was starting to think I was crazy and had attended a different U2 show than them. Well until I read TB's review that is. I think his feelings on the show were in line with mine.

I felt last night's gig was a solid yet some what predictable performance by the boys. Last night was my 9th show of the tour and 16th overall. Not sure if it had to do with the fact that the previous night's LA show was one of the best I have been to, but it just seemed a little flat to me.

The band to me did not seem to be as engaging, especially as compared to the night before. Not as much personal touch, which is one of the things I LOVE about U2. The playful banter between the boys, personalizing songs to the city, Bono personality engaging the crowd, "laughing at a sign here, pulling someone up on stage there, throwing himself into the arms of the fans at the end of the Eclipse, etc". None of that last night, well he did pull a girl up for WOWOY, but even then he had her up for maybe 30 seconds and cast her off.

Contrast that with the night before where he sang 90% of the song with a girl in his arms in a warm embrace, pulled up a little girl during Sunday Bloody Sunday, and had her start the "no more" chant, Larry's little joke at the end of the show and even Bono pulling a whole band of ladies to jam Out Of Control. Just a lot more personal touch and connection to the fans the night before IMO.

Last nights show was also a lot more politically and save the world slanted. Which to say 95% of the shows are and is to be expected. "but it was refreshing the night before when Bono went in to the, Edge is from the future razing, before Miracle Drug, instead of his canned save the world speech" Anyway it all led me to the feeling that last night's show was more of a canned performance and did not score very high on the risk taking scale.

**But I do see where a lot of the fans came away with a great experience from last night. In a way it's almost not fair to compare the two shows, really apples to oranges and don't get me wrong, there were some great highlights. U2 jamming in to one of my favorites, I Will Follow, A full version of MLK, In A Little While at the end of Streets, Walk On played acoustically, and a long drawn out version of Bad with the People Have The Power chant going on and on! Very powerful!

Well the Vertigo tour, It took me to the opening nights in San Diego with a run in with Bono in the parking lot after the 2nd show, my home town Anaheim for a set and a very special night introducing my 8 year old daughter to the U2 concert experience, on to Phoenix with a night to remember from the front row inside the Bomb Shelter on night 1, to Denver with another run in with Bono this time before the show, and then back to LA for the best performed show of the tour for me, night 1!! It's been awesome, watching the show evolve in those first few weeks of the tour, to now seeing the boys hitting it in full stride!!

Well boys, sans Edge being picked up by his alien time machine, the wait and anticipation begins. Boys play rock and roll....see ya next time around!!!

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