by Collin Souter

I had a lot riding on this show. Could this band still thrill me the way they once did? Could I see past the annoying iPod ad, the silly clothing line and the some of the most embarrassing lyrics ever written and still get caught up in the drama, the spectacle and the joy of a U2 concert? Walking into the United Center, I had my share of doubts. Seeing U2 on this evening would be different from the way I’m used to seeing them. A certain person would not be with me. Since last February, I have been trying to avoid all things U2 without much luck. And I’ve come to terms with the fact that what I consider great music and what they consider great music have become two different things.

Hey, it happens. Friends drift apart and ideals change. I’m a sad sap with a broken heart. They’re a rock band out to tour the world and over-saturate themselves in a way they haven’t done since the Rattle and Hum years. So with all this personal baggage weighing down on me, I would finally learn tonight if this band still had anything to offer me that they hadn’t already shared time and time again. Most importantly, does the band have any new tricks up its sleeve? Can they still surprise?

For the most part, the answer is, sadly, no. Tonight’s concert—despite some wonderful stage and lighting designs and some great song choices—felt like U2 warmed over. That being said, it’s still a good show. To anyone who has never seen U2, it’s great, but anyone who has seen them many times over the past few tours (those of us who are spoiled and unbearably jaded) will see all the usual tricks coming miles away. Pride, Bullet, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Beautiful Day and Mysterious Ways have little in the way of freshness. It took the sight of Adam Clayton walking around the ellipse to make NYD come alive. Streets remains the only stand-by that continues to bring the house down.

I don’t mean to say that the show didn’t have its share of highlights. Love and Peace makes for a potent opener and having the drum set up at the front of the ellipse worked splendidly especially when bookended with 40 as the show’s closer (it’s still Larry’s band, after all). An Cat Dubh/Into The Heart made me happiest. For too long, I’ve been wanting to hear a U2 song where Bono shuts up for a few minutes and the other three jam. This has to be the most welcome surprise to this tour’s overall set list, along with the return of Running To Stand Still.

As for the new songs, Vertigo thankfully came and went early on. City of Blinding Lights had a lot of spectacle surrounding it and became the show-stopper we knew it would be. Miracle Drug will not have a life of its own beyond this tour (I, for one, can’t keep singing along after the “baby’s head” lyric). All Because of You sounded fine. Yahweh!?!? (eyes roll, groan…)

Sometimes You Can’t Make It may well be the highlight of the tour as far as the new songs go. For those who have yet to see this here Vertigo tour, I recommend closing your eyes during this song and thinking of someone you miss. Along those same lines, Bad and One still carry a power to them that I can’t describe. Again, it could be due to personal issues, but these songs in particular confirmed U2’s stature as one of the best bands on the planet. If you let them, they can still make you cry.

I guess I needed that feeling more than anything, so the show did carry the important element of catharsis for me. I just wish the band could have matched the excitement I felt when I heard the wonderful Arcade Fire song blasting on the speakers before they hit the stage. I won’t be turning in my U2 fan card anytime soon (not unless they continue to offer stuff like Ave Frickin’ Maria as a b-side). I just walked into the arena probably hoping to feel born-again after the show. That’s a tall order and I should know better, but I guess that’s a testament to how much this band once meant to me.

One thing’s for sure…best damn Adam Clayton concert I’ve ever seen.

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