by Curt

Maybe it is overreaction to our excellent GA location, but last nights performance was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I won't go into the setlist as that has already been covered. I saw the 4/23 (1st Anaheim) from the upper decks (good section 402 seats)and would strongly advise everyone to try to attend 2 shows (one in the stands and one on the floor) if you can afford it (I would get a second or third job if necessary as the show is that good) and you can somehow manage to get tickets.

The view of the light show from the stands cannot be met on the floor but the emotion and near band experiences on the floor cannot really be found in the stands. That said, it was a great experience from both vantage points and I don't see how you could be disappointed in this show even from the behind-the-stage seating. If going on the floor, you definitely want to be in the heart or the first few rows around the outside of the heart. We (my wife and children, 14 and 15, and friend and brother-in-law) were about 10-15 people from the tip of the heart on the left side as facing the band in the 1st two rows. The Edge/Bono segment(In a Little While/Desire/Stay) was much more moving and emotional in Mpls than Anaheim but it was most likely our location directly in front of the IALW performance that impacted that. Extremely happy to hear Kite and Bad again (some local radion person, CherylK?, this morning mentioned this being a very moving moment which brought her to tears but proceeded to destroy the moment for me by saying she thought the song was Surrender and that it was an older one from Boy!!!)

Bono jumped up into the GC section at stage right at one point (I cannot yet remember which song this happened during) which I had not heard of happening previously and several times paid hommage to those sitting in that area. Does anyone know who was sitting there as I suspect it must be someone he knows?

Unlike Anaheim, Bono as the Fly finished the main set by running through the crowd after jumping off at the tip of the heart. The crowd seemed a little confused as normal. This led to the worst crowd moment for us just prior to the 1st encore as a security person led a couple (maybe just the girl but several other were trailing), who had obviously paid for this priveledge, through the GA crowd and deposited her in the front row right next to us on our right side creating a very bad crowding/shoving experience. Even worse was the security guy leading the way by saying Bono needs to get back to the stage. I knew this was a bunch of garbage but the crowd parted for them. The whole 1st encore was uncomfortable while dealing with this situation.

But in the end with One and Walk On blowing the remains of Target Center apart, U2 prevailed and we left drenched in sweat with ears buzzing feeling we had just had one of those great life experiences. Twenty+ years listening to U2 and it just keeps getting better. Thank you U2 for giving me a great life!

Curt

p.s. Thanks also to Anne for getting me an extra pair of floor tickts although we decided not to bring our 7 year old daughter due to concerns about the GA situation. She WILL be going to the next tour!!!!!!!!

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