by Collin Souter

I was at Target today buying a beaded curtain when I suddenly had the urge to make a $49.50 donation to the U2.com Human Fund. I made my way to the United Center hoping my donation would land me a ticket anywhere in the joint. Sure enough, it did. It pays to give.

And, oh, how the boys gave back! With the camera crews out of the way, the nervousness gone (or whatever they felt on Saturday), U2 just ripped into a set list that will silence the naysayers (myself included) and cease all expectations for those who have yet to see a show. You think you know what you’ll get when you walk into a Vertigo show? Think again.

Having seen all three opening numbers, I can honestly say that Vertigo works best as an opening song. Yeah, sure, we predicted that would be the opener months ago and, yeah, it’s too bleedin’ obvious. But of the three, nothing got the crowd going more. U2 comes in and tares up the place right away. Love and Peace belongs in the middle of the show with Sunday and Bullet. City of Blinding Lights looks pretty, but it’s too much too soon. Vertigo works best, in spite of itself.

Having heard The Ocean for the first time on this tour, many are right in saying that it’s a buzzkill for the crowd. It’s a die-hards only number. There was an awkward moment tonight during this song when Bono decided to talk about the first time U2 came to Chicago. He couldn’t remember the name of the club and kept asking people in the front the name of it (Park West).

My first Gloria. I maintain (as I have for years) that October is Larry’s best album. Glad to hear a cut played live.

City of Blinding Lights got the Streets treatment tonight coming in after Running. It works, but there were problems with the video playback tonight, both with the Human Rights declaration and the text message One Campaign scroll. The first came in too late, the latter too early and made things a little disjointed.

Oh, and Bono may want to be careful when he’s pointing to the “Jesus…Jew…Mohammad…” on his bandana and NOT do it with his middle finger. Just sayin’is all.

Until the End definitely gets a better crowd reaction than Zoo Station, although I’ll miss the Zoo if they drop it (especially if they drop the distorted image of Charlie Chaplin’s Hitler parody from the video screens…anybody know if that showed up tonight? I was in section 331 and couldn’t see it).

Original of the Species seems to be a keeper, as well it should be. Throwing it in the middle of the set somehow validates that (although using it to replace Yahweh is also a splendid, splendid idea that I like very, very much).

Finally, they closed the show with Bad. Bad, people. BAD!!! Can I just say what an intense, emotionally satisfying experience that was!?! That song has taken on a whole new meaning for me these past few months and hearing it close the show made the drive from the suburbs to the United Center…

the risk of getting turned away and shut out without a ticket…

the over-exposure of the band since this album’s release…

the ridiculous iPod ad…

the silly clothing line…

the lackluster Saturday performance…

Yahweh…

that embarrassing “baby’s head” lyric…

the rhyming of “voice,” “choice” and (ahem!) “tortoise”…

the horrible album cover…

and Bono’s supposed duet with J-Lo…WORTH IT!!!

Well, okay, maybe not the last one, but their performance of Bad tonight pretty much wiped the slate clean for me. U2’s music is no longer tainted for this fan. They’re back to being MY band. If you go back and read my review for Saturday’s show, you’ll know exactly what I mean. This band surprised the hell out of me tonight and I couldn’t be happier to have them back in my life.

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