U2: Elevation

U2: Elevation Tour
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado
7 November 2001

I was number 143 in the GA line at 8:30 a.m. It was actually a beautiful day, nice T-shirt weather, even. More surprising, though, was that I was the 143rd person to get a floor wristband around 3:30 p.m. Contrary to reports from other locations on the third leg, Denver didn't have much in the way of cutting in line, which is a very good thing.

The line even offered a Bono look-alike. Some fans took advantage of the faux photo opp as the guy posed like Bono, flashing the peace sign and raising his left boot as if to stomp on you. Others of us were disturbed by how un-Bono-like he looked once he removed his camouflage baseball cap and blue-tinted shades!

As Bubba, the very large mountain of a security guard, told the first 350 of us waiting on line: "YOU are the chosen ones!" And I was chosen to be right smack in front of the stage, just one person away from the railing.

As an added bonus, No Doubt opened the show, a welcome relief from the first leg's PJ Harvey openers. Gwen Stefani was fantastic and in incredible shape. She even smiled at me! (Every guy probably thinks that - but really! She smiled at me!) They were the most entertaining opening act since... well, since Moby opened for U2 at Slane on September 1. No Doubt also played a couple great songs (Hey Baby and Hella Good ) off their new album; that'll be a must-have release.

The return of U2 to Denver was a spectacular event. Bono took the stage asking, "Did we really have to come back?" The crowd's response was an overwhelming "Yes!" So enthusiastic was the crowd that I caught Bono saying "Wow" to himself a few times.

Denver seems to be one of the band's favorite places (no doubt in part because of that Red Rocks thing a few years back). You can tell by the incredible performances they give here; things happen here that don't seem to happen elsewhere on the tours. (Like when Bono grabbed an oxygen mask to "refuel" during PopMart at the old Mile High Stadium. It was a weird thing to watch - especially on that massive PopMart screen.)

"We came back to see if the feeling was still there," Bono said Wednesday night. "It's more so," he concluded.

The night was a prime example of how the band feeds off the audience's energy. There is nothing like jumping up and down during Elevation and then have Bono flash you a smile! Great stuff!

One guy in the heart held up a sign saying he wanted to play Edge's guitar. Bono noticed and commented, "It pays to advertise in America." He let the guy up on the tip of the heart and Edge passed over his guitar. The three got together and (after Edge was given an electric guitar) played All Along the Watchtower - the kid was good!

Bono recalled talking to Dylan about the song and he said, in his best impression of Dylan, "Ya know, I never felt like I finished that song." Well, Bono stated, "we just finished it."

Adding to the fun of the "guest" artist, after Bono joked with him that they wanted their guitar back, the guy (by the name of Shawn Tibbetts?) handed Bono and The Edge one of his own guitar picks! A nice twist on the "who is the fan here?" typical scene. (That's something I would do!)

Bono was in good spirits, although he still seemed a bit choked up after introducing Kite as the song he first thought he wrote for his kids, but then understood his dad actually wrote for him. He acknowledged having made peace with his dad then belted out the tune.

He, as in other shows, also thanked us for giving the band a "great, great, great, great, great year... and a great life."

Other song highlights:

What's Going On? was nicely done at the tip of the heart.

Wild Honey - acoustic

Pride - including a video clip of Martin Luther King's "I may not get there with you" speech excerpt

There was no Charlton Heston/Gun Control or Arms Dealing introduction to Bullet the Blue Sky (it was surprising they played the song at all, in light of September 11)

As for the World Trade Center attacks, Bono did have his mind to speak. He described the attackers as the sort of religious nuts and political fanatics that try to shape God in their own image - "Tiny" he said, putting his thumb an inch from his index finger. Tiny minds.

Now American flags outnumbered the Irish flags and, instead of the usual Irish flag being flung down from the nosebleeds during Sunday, Bloody Sunday, Bono grabbed a fan's American flag out of the heart and held it close. He then draped it on the heart-shaped catwalk.

Also effective was the listing of all the victims of the attacks on the stage screens during One. A very nice, emotional touch.

All I Want Is You

Out of Control

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (the anthem of my life!) - Bono kept referring to going to church during the song. The first time I've heard this song during this tour!

Please

Naturally, New York gained power from the recent events. Bono altered the lyrics. "Religious nuts, political fanatics - they don't belong in New York." And, to the crowd's awesome cheers, "Even Denver loves New York." New graphics were added to the lowered curtains, simulating a drive along the New York skyline.

Bono also sported his jacket with the American Flag liner. It was more symbolic than ever before and Bono draped it on the mike stand following the first encore. Under the stage lights, it was quite the symbol and gesture, even kind of haunting. When they came back for the second encore, Bono moved the jacket over to cover Larry's drumkit.

At the show's end, Bono said, "Sorry for keeping you late." As if anybody was concerned about the next day's work!

Oh yeah, it was also the first night the "Official" Mattimus cap was taken to a rock 'n' roll show.

Is U2 the greatest band in rock 'n' roll? No doubt! One of Bono's jackets sported a big "2002" above the right breast pocket. Surely good things are in the works for the year to come!

The complete set list (courtesy of CC.com):

Elevation - Beautiful Day - Until the End of the World - New Years Day - Out Of Control - Sunday Bloody Sunday - Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of - Kite - Wild Honey (Edge and Bono solo) - All Along The Watchtower (Joined By a Fan) - Please (Edge and Bono Solo) - All I Want Is You - Where the Streets Have No Name - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Pride (In the Name of Love) - (Encore) Bullet the Blue Sky - What's Going On? - New York - (Encore #2) One - Walk On

One other nice touch: After being elevated, the crowd dispersed into a snowy November night.

And did I mention Gwen smiled at me?

#8-)3

TC