Twelve years and the building of a new football stadium in Foxboro have happened since I last saw U2. In 1997, Popmart blew me away, despite all of the criticism of it as a "failed" tour.
Last night blew me away again – the energy, the music, and WTF that stage! A near sellout – 60,000 people, most of whom stood the entire concert. Lots of dancing, lots of singing along. It wasn’t one of those concerts where people came just to hang out and be seen. People were there to see U2, which made the environment fantastic.
Boston, as it is for every opening act I’ve seen attached to a concert, is quite welcoming of opening/supporting acts as well. Reaction started slow, but by the end of their set, Snow Patrol had quite a few people singing along to them, too (basically – once songs people knew were played) and a lot of cheering from people in the stadium.
It’s honestly impossible for me to compare the two shows I’ve now seen. The shows are so completely different. Literally only perhaps a 3-4 song overlap. Songs I missed not hearing were "I Will Follow," "Pride" and "New Year’s Day" (the last of which was apparently played the night before), but instead, I finally heard "Sunday Bloody Sunday" live. I got to hear all of the 2000 and later stuff live. There’s really nothing quite like hearing an entire stadium yelling along to "Elevation" and "Vertigo," and the insanity that always happens when "Where the Streets Have No Name" starts thumping away.
I’m so glad to have seen them again – and glad Erich could, too. U2 is one of those bands that even a person who’s not a die-hard fan should experience once. They put on an incredible show.
Set Order:
Magnificent
No Line On The Horizon
Get On Your Boots
Mysterious Ways
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Elevation
Your Blue Room
Beautiful Day
Unknown Caller
Until the End of the World
Stay (Faraway, So Close)
The Unforgettable Fire
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo – Stories for Boys
I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (remix)
Sunday Bloody Sunday
MLK
Walk On
One – Amazing Grace
Where the Streets Have No Name
Ultraviolet
With or Without You
Moment of Surrender
