dsmith2904

Please post all reviews of the December 14th show here.

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Don't you know it's gonna be alright?

Carek1230

Realizing this is not a review, but I am just networking and letting fans know if you are looking for GAs for the St Louis show and read this, there is an eBay listing selling TWO GA tix for $100.

http://cgi.ebay.com/U2-Vertigo-St-Lo...QQcmdZViewItem

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Anu

We got unhooked at the Savvis Center and in St. Louis, an amazing day and night under the Arch.

Having seen three shows this tour, and with the whole third leg winding down, I feel like I can reflect with all the satisfaction, confidence, and sentimental longing this moment brings. I almost wasn’t a U2 fan again, but this last year has brought the band back into my heart space, and that heart space includes this creative and intelligent and passionate and soulful and critical fandom.

Having been to St. Louis, Chicago, and Atlanta, and being a Detroit boy living in the hills of Tennessee whose allegiance could go in any direction on these dates, my vote for the best fans definitely goes to the Midwest. Chicago 5-9 and St. Louis 12-14 were both special for me in that way, which doesn’t take away from the total warm and invigorating time I had in Georgia.

And of course, my fan experience was madly enhanced by all the dedicated folks forming an ‘unforgettable ring of fire’ (to use Fred Mills’ phrase) around the Savvis Center all day.

Got to *love* that tent, the Vertigo tent, with all the stenciled band stuff all over it. Lovely. Couldn’t resist digging on all the bus stops with giant U2 posters.

But the best part of the afternoon was ambling toward a completion of the perimeter and stumbling across the flashing cameras and the beautiful tears and screams of mesmerized fans all surrounding a particularly handsome, short, and stout Irish man with a lovely hat.

So I didn’t get to *meet* him proper, didn’t get anything signed, just called out some admirable words and snapped a quick photo before he waved and disappeared into the back caverns of the Savvis Center. Shout out to the beautiful women from Tennessee and Kentucky I met there (don’t be shy, you can post something!!!). I hope your concert was as good as mine.

I used to find the idea of “Tribute Bands” uncreative and old school. But the Elevation set at the preparty was the perfect warm-up for me.

So what about the set? The songs? Even though many of the best bits are scripted and only slightly nuanced for each unveiling, there was an endearing freedom in the way Bono pulled it off, perhaps a little reckless even, but not slapdash or unprofessional.

Finally, I got to hear “Gloria” again live. While many songs tonight had the churchy thing on all cylinders, this was the most majestic cause for chills, moans, and goosepimples in my entire evening. One of my absolute favorite spots comes when Bono introduces the boys, and he totally botched it tonight. At Adam’s baddest bass line, Bono shouts “the Edge.” Then, he calls on Adam, right when Edge takes it to the top with that most magickal riff. Didn’t ruin the song—made it real, a St. Louis special.

Speaking of church, “I Still Haven’t Found . . .” really rang to the rafters tonight, with Bono begging us to be the choir. This almost made up for the people who actually booed Bono’s intro to the song. Glad folks had the basic decency not to boo Kanye West, but for some reason, they felt compelled to boo Bono giving Kanye the “propers” he deserves. With Edge already tingling us with the opening notes of the song, Bono said he was “humbled and honored” to have Kanye on the bill. Humbled and honored—words to live by, not just at a U2 concert.

Without leaving the topic of what an over the top religious experience this all was, and still thinking about Kanye, Bono definitely had to put Kanye in this show somehow. Instead of the dreamed (or dreaded by some of you) duet, we got Bono sampling “Jesus Walks” all over, snippeting it into Beautiful Day and then Sunday Bloody Sunday.

Last item on church proper: “Yahweh” was crazy—ridiculous in the best sense. Fan giving and getting piano lessons, a wild sweet ending, with Bono scolding (just a little), and then loving on the fan bandmember who struggled but still shone like a star. When he left the keyboard, he leapt and danced down the ramp back to his spot in the crowd.

The standard war/peace trilogy and the Africa trilogy were both strong tonight. The troops dedication thing still bugs me, but it’s much better at the end of Bullet the Blue Sky than at the beginning of “Running to Standstill.” LAPOE, SBS, BtBS: The intensity of those three together still rattles me to the core. It’s like Edge is extracting your guts with guitar surgery while Bono shouts in your ear from the barricades of hope. “Love and peace or else” is intensely sincere and ironic at the same time. Perhaps that’s what I like about Atomic Bomb—the songs perhaps combine the best elements of Pop-era with the JT-era in a both serious and playful way. Bono would never have tried LAPOE in the JT era; he can get away with it now.

While I have very mixed feelings about the “obligatory” Classic Rock Song towards the end of the set (what u2 has done from time to time), “Instant Karma” has to be one of the very best choices to fill that niche in a long time. I can recall “People Get Ready” being done, but then overdone. There’s no likelihood “Instant Karma” will stay in the set too long, and I’m thrilled I got to see it.

It’s getting late, and I need to sleep before the drive home, but let me put in my true respect for the mellow parts of the show. Sure, you can’t rock out to acoustic hymns the same way you can to Zoo-era on xanax and wine. But hey, “Original of the Species,” “Sometimes,” “Miss Sarajevo,” and “Stuck” were all so spectacular and moving. If a mellow song can take over your whole body and soul the way a wicked rock tune can, it’s a really meaningful and deep piece of sonic science. Those “light rock” moments would kill U2 if they took up an entire album, but in a show like this, they really add to and don’t detract from the pacing like some folks say they do.

Next year, I can imagine not obsessing about U2 the way I have the last 12 months and making time for other bands in my life, other projects and priorities. Not sure I can or would make the shows in other countries. But U2’s ability to bring together “left and right, heartland and Hollywood” (his words) only testifies to the band’s inclusive and even utopian vision. Where else can you go watch hip-hop and hippie kids party with straight-laced professionals? It’s this vaster and more forgiving sense of tolerance and community that U2 fandom participates in and even makes possible.

Thanks fellow Interferencers for helping me have a great year.

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The reds and the whites and abused/The crucified USA,
I said the prophecy unfolds/All hell is surely on its way

Chizip

Predictable setlist but U2 put on a great performance. They really seem to be in top form these days (probably from playing the same setlists over and over )

highlights of the show:

-well first getting into the ellipse. i ended up getting a spot right in front of where the egde likes to stand when he rocks out. it was amazing, i used to think the tip of the ellipse was the best spot, but after last night front row in front of the edge is definitely my favorite.

-Bono unexpectedly came out and gave a great tribute to Kanye when he introduced him. That was bad ass.

-kanyes entire set was awesome. backed by an orchestra string section that loved to rock out, it was simply a great performance.

-gloria was much improved over when i heard it earlier in the tour, was a great rocking song. still missed electic co though.

-during sunday bloody sunday bono pulled a kid up and the little guy did an amazing job chanting no more into the microphone.

-being outside the ellipse id always pay attention to bono on the drum during LAPOE, but man, Edge and Adam really rock out together during this song, was glad to see it up close.

-until the end of the world opening the encore feels a bit weird, but it was bad ass. the whole bono/edge chase is sweet and a nice change from the bullfight.

-a guy got pulled up to play keyboard on yahweh, sounded pretty good. the best part was the ned when bono asked him to make it "sound like a bell" and the guy had no idea what to do. but bono kept telling him to do it and after a few minutes they guy finally got it right.

disappointments:

-predictable setlist

-wowy girl was laughing the entire time. there wasnt the special eye contact i like to see whena girl gets on stage

but all in all it was a great show that exceeded my expectations. of course being front row in the ellipse might have had something to do with that

Miroslava

Whoa lordy, lordy...

*does the told you so, told you so* dance


So happy Chip

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m u s i c i d e

Catlady

Who are you and what have you done with Chizip?

j/k. so glad you got in, and had a great time!

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9.15.92; 9.18.92; 6.27.97; 5.12.01, 10.16.01; 5.7.05; 5.9.05; 5.10.05; 5.12.05; 9.20.05; 9.21.05; 9.25.05;12.10.05;12.9.06

nurse chrissi

Its the ellipse - I cannot even begin to talk about how much I loved our spot right in front of Edge _ I could write poems, songs short stories about my utter love of the ellipse (even though redkat and I were slightly molested by a strange girl behind us trying to get ANY band members attention - she was dealt with however)

during Love and Peace or Else Adam and Edge were right in front of us and the experience was completely otherworldly

beegee

congrats, chip. it's about damn time.

i was on the phone with mk for almost the entire show. it sounded great. she said she could see you from her seat.

Chizip

she called me and congratulated me

i hope she gets in tonight

Catman

Can someone tell me how the crowd's reaction to Kanye was? I hope people took kindly to him even after his comment months ago ("george bush doesn't like black people"). It was a warm reception, I hope?

Lila64

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Space Ghost

Mrs. Ghost and I had a great time, despite the physical endurance test that standing for 6-7 hours is. We got in the GA line around 4:30, and once inside a couple hours later, we set up shop about about 15'-20' outside the ellipse, in the middle...the arena's scoreboard was directly overhead.

Kanye West was pretty cool. I'm not familiar with the man's work at all, but as I've heard nothing but good things about his music, I went into it with an open mind. I still don't know what he's singing about, but I like the way he does it. The chicks rocking out on the strings were amazing!!!

In between sets, I went to the concession stand, but upon returning, it was much more packed in on the floor, and at first I couldn't find my wife. Once I did find her, I was told she had a fainting spell while I was gone, and it just so happened a medic was nearby, and after taking the test, said her blood sugar was a little low. They gave her some instant glucose (I wonder if it's related to instant karma), and she rebounded. She continued to struggle a bit during U2, but we kept it together and rocked out.

As far as U2 goes, the whole thing was a highlight to me. I just jumped in head-first and went with the flow. If there was a moment that stuck out, it was one I completely missed...

During "One", on the overhead video screen, they show the three same shots of Bono singing and playing guitar. At one point the middle image gets all pixellated, and morphs into night-vision images of people in the audience. I saw this and marvelled at it all, but later after the show, my wife said "Did you see yourself during One?" and I was like "???" She said "Oh my God, you were front and center for a good amount of time. You were just singing away." Like I told her last night, even though I was looking at that screen the whole time that effect was happening, I cannot recall seeing myself. If any of you have the recollection, I am a 40-ish white dude with a mustache and beard and glasses.

We took a fair amount of pics using a couple disposables, so I'll try and get them developed and uploaded sometime today or tonight.

SG

*Ally*

it should have been you, chip...



glad that you finally made it inside the ellipse!!!

WildHoneyAlways

Yeah, and you two wondered why I didn't want to switch places with you.

I just had a feeling last night that my ticket would get beeped.
Chip and I actually ran throught the venue to get our spots. My hands were shaking. Such a great moment for our group.

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kellyahern

Congratulations

I'm glad everyone (including Chizip ) had a great time .

We could hear the little dude during SBS on gorman's stream last night. That kid really got into it .