by The Bono Freak

I went to the September 21 Chicago show with my good U2 friends, Angela Pancella and Lynn Venhaus, we are the three ladies that at this moment make up the St. Louis Area U2 Fan Club (please see the Sept. 18th "My Fan Year" column on atU2.com written by Angela Pancella). It's like The Ange says... what we lack in size we make up for in good times spent together... i.e.-- Bono's birthday get together and The Edge's birthday get together... etc...

For starters, this was Lynn's first U2 show ever, and she has been a fan since the early 80's. We decorated Lynn's van with "Honk, if you love U2" and "From MO. to Vertigo". We had quite a few honks even before we ever got to Chicago. We blasted U2 on the CD player, and sung along all the 5 hours it took to get to Chicago from St. Louis. The Ange and I (AKA- The Bono Freak) knew what to expect from a U2 show since we each have seen five shows prior to this one-- we knew Lynn was in for that one-of-a-kind religious experience that only a U2 show can provide. I was the only one in the group who knew what to expect from the Vertigo tour also being I was at the May 7th show in Chicago during the first leg of the tour. I could not wait to see my friends' reactions to this show. Ange would later in the night sum it up well, she simply stated, "That was the best show ever, it was seamless."

We got to our seats, Section 115, Row 18, and we were in shock at how close to the stage we were. Wow!!! The band came out, and all it took for me to scream was Bono turning around and waving up to us in the crowd. They started the set that night with Lynn's fave song, "City of Blinding Lights"-- could not of been a better way to start the night for her first U2 show ever. We all sang along to all the lyrics we could, and just loved the view we had of the fans in the ellipsis. We could see the energy of the crowd that night, and so much more. During "Vertigo" and "Elevation" we could see rows and rows of heads in this ellipsis jumping up and down-- it was amazing to watch the energy this crowd was feeling.

By far the song that blew us away was "Where the Streets Have No Name". The energy of the crowd during this song and the energy of the band just becomes one during that song- you can't explain in any words-- one can only have to be there in person and to feel that moment. During "Sunday Bloody Sunday", Larry's drumming ability is not to be denied... he personifies what a great drummer should be. Adam's bass lines during "Vertigo" and "Elevation" shook your very soul, and you just knew then and there that Adam has soul. Adam is the men who can shake it all down with a single bass line, and make you just stand there in complete awe. The Edge, it's like Bono said, "He's from the future..."-- The Edge can do NO WRONG on his guitars. Lastly, Bono amazed the crowd during "Miss Sarajevo" when he sung Pavarotti's part. I loved the fact that they did this song also; I have never heard it live before. Bono also hit that tenor note during "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" that sent the shivers down your spine, and The Edge with his beautiful falsetto chorus line "It's you when I look in the mirror..." just emphasized the beautiful tribute song to Bob Hewson even more.

The greatest surprises of the show were "Original of The Species" and "Fast Cars". Bono did a great little dance with a girl from the audience, and asked her to speak Spanish to him. It was a great moment of the show. Another great Bono moment was when a roadie took away his guitar, and Bono says, "They aren't going to let me play the guitar on this next one..." and there was a slight pause before he added "There's a reason for that. Too cute.

The show ended with "40" and the last one to leave the stage was Larry Mullen Jr. who righteously walked up to the microphone in which Bono placed his black Stetson hat, and Larry took this hat and placed it upon his head and walked of the stage. Now we all know who wears the "hat" in this band now... Thank you so much Larry for putting up that wanted band mates sign at Mount Temple over 25 years ago.

After the show, we could not come down. Lynn stated it best, they took us "to that higher place" just like the lyrics of "Beautiful Day" clearly states. We went to Fado's Irish Pub for a few pints of Guinness, and lo and behold at the exact moment of walking into this bar there on the sound system was blaring the U2 song "Love and Peace or Else". We sang along on the top of our lungs, and had a great time. After this we went to the Rock and Roll McDonald's for a late-night snack... and I swear not, on the sound system there was "All Because Of You"-- we again sang and made a few security guards in the restaurant laugh at our antics.

All in all this was a night we will cherish forever... it's always a better time when you can share it with the likes of people who are as nuts about U2 as you are. Here's to The Ange and Lynn Mullen, Jr. It was a "Beautiful Day" and we will never let it get away from our memories and our hearts and our souls. It was "a musical journey" now wasn't it? From MO. to a place called Vertigo... and let's keep that promise. The next U2 road trip will be in Dublin...

Love and Peace or Else,
The Bono Freak (-;


P.S.--- To Danno, we thought that was you we saw walking into the ellipsis...

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