Shoot me now. I have nothing more to live for. My every desire has been fulfilled (except a few, but those are negligible).
I. Saw. U2. With Garbage opening. My two favorite bands in the world, in one place, on one night.
Sigh.
Garbage’s set was fantastic, opening with “Push It,” going through some of the songs off of Garbage, * version 2.0*, and some B-sides, and closing with some songs from their new album. Shirley Manson is an incredible live performer, Garbage is truly an excellent live performance. Unfortunately, the United Center was only about half full, as it seemed that many U2 fans decided to skip Garbage and arrive fashionably late, in time to catch the main show, and Shirley noticed, but thanked the “sprinkling” of us fans who were there. I applauded and screamed my head off for them. 
Then, the main show. U2 opened with “Elevation,” which makes for a great opener, and definitely set the energy level for the night. The crowd was amazing, as the United Center was packed to the rafters for the show. Something about those tens of thousands of people all in the same place, singing the same words, and clapping to the same beat really… I don’t know. This was the first really huge concert I’d been to, and it’s definitely a different experience. Perhaps “brotherhood” is the word I’m looking for? I don’t know.
At any rate, “Elevation” rocketed through to “Beautiful Day.” Incredible. The lights, Bono’s stagemanship, the crowd’s responsiveness… indescribably perfect. We then stood, clapped, and screamed through songs from Boy, October, The Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby, Pop, and, of course, * All That You Can’t Leave Behind*.
Especially of note was an acoustic rendition of “Staring at the Sun,” with only Bono and the Edge spotlighted on a dark stage. Wow. These guys have been around for over 20 years, and haven’t lost a thing.
Also of note: “New York” off of the new album elicited an incredible response from the crowd. It was incredibly touching, but not as touching as what the band did next.
“One.” The incredible ballad off of The Joshua Tree took on a new feeling, as U2 performed it in front of a blue screen scrolling the names of the crew and passengers of the four flights downed on September 11th. It was moving, the crowd’s response was sincere, and was all in all a very… appropriate, I think, gesture.
Through every song, the crowd sang along, danced, clapped, and it was truly a group experience. I went to and came home from the concert alone, but while I was there, it was like I had 20,000 friends, as clichéd as that sounds. Waiting for the doors to open before the show, and also in the time between Garbage’s and U2’s acts, people were chatting, sharing stories of past concerts they had attended, and informing newbies like me just what we were in for. Truly a classy group of fans, if I may say so.
I just noticed how many times I’ve used the word “incredible,” because it truly was. Bono struck the right note, I think, with his comments about 9/11, as he didn’t come across as arrogant and starry-eyed as he usually does (I’m sorry to say that, but, c’mon. He does.) I could tell he was affected by our reaction to their tribute, to the song “New York,” to the respect he paid the U.S. flag that someone handed to him as the band performed “Sunday Bloody Sunday.”
I’m blown away by these guys. I loved the way they sounded on their albums, but to see them live… I can’t even begin to describe how I feel. It’s funny, because I don’t think that a simple concert should affect me like this, but, I think in the light of recent events, the fact that 20,000 could be joined together and celebrate and mourn and sing and cry with four boys from Dublin is a testament of sorts.
And now I raise my glass of NyQuil (waiting for the bus/train to get to/from the concert was cold work) to resilience. Of a band, of a group of fans, and of all of us. I’m off to bed.
Anjali
