U2 Vertigo 2005
Right after work, my roommate and I headed down to Boston via the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Commuter Rail, arriving at the TD Banknorth Garden just past 6:30. The concert was supposed to start at 7:30, so I was a bit surprised that there weren't hoards of people milling about (I found out the reason later on). To kill time, I looked at the souvenir stands - of course, I couldn't resist the temptation and ended up purchasing a T-shirt for myself (to commemorate my first concert!).
Keane opened for U2, playing almost every song on their album - Hopes and Fears. Unfortunately, the crowd wasn't quite familiar with the band, so they had to do a little introduction of themselves. The intro was alright, but they came off as an unknown, inexperienced band - a shame, because they performed really well, ending their set at 8:15.
During Keane's performance, I noticed that more people were showing up in the stadium - and after 8:45, it was packed. It was, after all, a sold-out concert. The excitement electrified the air as seats filled up, and despite constant movement on stage due to set-up, you could feel the audience's desire to bring out U2 to thunderous applause every time the background music died down for a second.
9:00 rolled around, and with it - U2, answering the boom of cheers with "City of Blinding Lights".
Oh you look so beautiful tonight in the city of blinding lights
To say it was hard not to get caught up in the collective adrenaline rush would be a lie. It was impossible - there was no escape from the compelling urge to sing, holding nothing back, in response to the crooning of Bono and Edge.
I’m at a place called Vertigo
It’s everything I wish I didn’t know
Except you give me something I can feel
At times throughout the 2-hour-and-fifteen-minute craziness, I thought of how I was actually in the same building as U2. They were right in front of me. I was sitting in the 4th row, directly across from the stage - full frontal view. Oh, it was elevation all right.
You make me feel like I can fly so high, elevation
Before you ask - I didn't even think about how loud the music was. Why? The crowd was even louder. Sure, yes - afterward, every sound seemed like it was muffled under heavy blankets - but it was well worth it. Not only were my ears feasting, but there were impressive visual effects too. They had these curtain-like lights as backdrops, which reflected patterns and/or colours according to whatever was playing.
You won't shout
You still beg
If you don't know
The Electric Co.
They also had a unique set-up for the stage (well, I have no comparison, so I'm not sure about its uniqueness) - there was the main stage, then two narrow wings, protruding from the left and right sides of the stage, which met in the midst of the audience (those that were standing on the floor). So, kind of like a circular ring.
And I felt like a star
I felt the world could go far
This allowed each of the members to come out into the audience, meeting outstretched arms from the sea of fans. They even brought out Larry Mullen Jr. at one point with a couple of drums, after which Bono took the drumsticks and started beating out rhythm.
And you speak of signs and wonders but I need something other
Now for the highlights of the show - starting with "Still Haven't Found". As soon as the guitar intro was recognized, fans were practically itching to start singing and Bono was only too happy to oblige, so the first verse burst out from the hundreds of enraptured faces. I got chills for the rest of the song - the notes reverberating through my bones.
I have run, I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
Bono then began striking the Nobel Peace Prize notes with "Miss Sarajevo" - telling a story about visiting the great city and meeting people there, people who had to endure the suffering during the Yugoslav wars. It was one of the only times I noticed silence from the masses, all attention focused on the display of human rights scrolling on the screens above the stage.
Is there a time for keeping your distance
A time to turn your eyes away.
Is there a time for keeping your head down
For getting on with your day.
The humanitarian side of U2 shone through even further during "One" - when Bono encouraged everyone to take out their cellphones (instead of lighters) as evidence of 21st century technology and text message their names for the campaign against poverty. The lights from all the phones made the stadium seem like the night sky - albeit, lit with different-coloured stars.
One love, one blood, one life, you got to do what you should.
One life with each other: sisters, brothers.
One life, but we're not the same.
We get to carry each other, carry each other.
One, one.
A last moment - "With or Without You". This was done in the first encore, with one extra person on stage! Bono apparently pulled up a random girl from the audience and sang almost the whole song with her draped all over him - hilarious because it seemed as if he wanted to let her go, but whenever he tried to push her away, she just clung to him closer.
I can't live with or without you
The whole set list was as follows:
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Cry / Electric Co.
The Ocean
Crumbs From Your Table
Still Haven’t Found
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride in the Name of Love
Where the Streets have no Name
One
~~ First Encore ~~
First Time
Stuck in a Moment
With or Without You
~~ Second Encore ~~
All Because of You
'40'
After the flood all the colours came out
It was a beautiful day
The night ended with "40" in a very classy bow-out. During the repeating chorus, each member said goodbye one by one, beginning with Bono, then Adam Clayton, then Edge, and finally Larry.
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?