by hosive t.

The goal WAS elevation on the last night in Chicago. This was also going to be the last concert before a week off and the band ripped into the show with a version of elevation that announced to the crowd that tonight would be great. The energy in elevation communicated that they were not tired or ready to pack it in early but ready to pour it out and rest later.
Here were some highlights:

Zootv timewarp/setlist scramble
All of those in the heart knew the set lists from previous shows and when we did not hear beautiful day or until the end of the world up front but rather the fly, even better than the real thing and especially one (usually played during the encore), the crowd was sent into a frenzy. The whole night we would be guessing what would come next. Everyone had an opinion as the crew brought up the change of instruments. The excitement of anything happening was incredible and started with the Zootv reboot. The climax of the unpredictability came as an announced obscure b-side that bono hoped we knew...I still haven’t found what I’m looking for in an acoustic format! Another surprise was having beautiful day in the encore. Throughout the night, fans were hoping to hear more surprises like night #3 when u2 brought the classics such as 11 o'clock tick tock.

No play for pop, zooropa
In stark contrast to the achtung revival, there were no songs from zooropa and only one song from pop. And they only played one verse of wake up dead man as a prayer and bono ended it abruptly with amen; anxiously returning back to until the end of the world from....achtung, baby.

Unique takes and versions
Improvised versions of songs give the show you go to its own identity. The night was filled with memorable adlibs including mysterious ways which had both Marvin Gaye's sexual healing AND Michael Jackson’s rock with you melded in; the extra verse in with or without you from rattle and hum; the extra verse in one that u2 concertgoers know well; an alleluia chorus as a praise to the almighty at the end of walk on; but the highlight was the extra Chicago verse during I will follow. Bono expressed his thanks and love for the city and then started chanted Chicago which set the crowd off. Then he went into a verse (paraphrased!) about not trusting rock stars who come into town and rave about the city because they probably say the same thing about each city just make things go smoothly. But he announced to the crowd that they could trust him.... because he was different! Then he busted out in a big grin. The edge was also smirking. I was in the second row and caught this very playful self-mockery.

Spoons for sparky
Some dedicated Adam fans had passed out plastic spoons in the heart because apparently he collects then as souvenirs in each city. We were waving them around and he seemed amused. My friend Weiling Chen had a sign that said spoons for sparky that Adam nodded in acknowledgement to. At the end of the encore, Adam reached into the crowd and grabbed the big metal serving spoon Weiling was waving. In exchange (seemingly), a crewmember gave Weiling one of Adam’s picks. Tip of the concert: bring spoons!!!!! The more unique the better!

Worship atmosphere
U2 concerts are already recognized as spiritual events (by design!). Tonight was even more so with an apparent psalm reading, the wake up dead man "prayer version", the ending of the concert with alleluia to the almighty. The spiritual center was I still haven't found what I’m looking for which bono may have done spontaneously. Before he started, he whispered something into the edge's ear. Instructions? Change of plans? Rumors of fan requests? Adam and Larry were taking a break so it was just bono and the edge. Bono may have changed what they intended to do after getting a feel of the crowd; they could have planned to do stay which they had been doing at the tip of the heart. Bono promised to only do songs that they were feeling during the tour. Who knows what was happening that night? But the worship was in full blast as people sang about Christ and his work on the cross and the future kingdom. Surreal to watch people of various religious, racial boundaries sing that in unison.

Fans in the heart
For the most part, fans were very good and gracious. One of the fans who had been there since 7am brought ice pops from some 2 entrepreneurial kids from the neighborhood and handed them out. He also took pictures from the front rail for those who were not able to get clear shots. The fans also booed and blocked two girls who tried to jump ahead of all those who waited patiently since the early morn. These girls had showed up shortly before they opened the doors. However there were those who snaked their way in to the front rail without conscience during the middle of the concert. There were also people who blew smoke at those around them as they selfishly lit up. One guy even burnt my sister with ashes! So these guys ruined it for a mostly loving crowd.

-Hosive
Rockville, MD.

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