U2: April 9, 2005
San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
support: Kings of Leon

Main Set:
City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo / Stories For Boys (snippet) / Hello (snippet)
Elevation
The Cry, The Electric Co. / Send In The Clowns (snippet) / I Can See For Miles (snippet)
The Ocean
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day / Blackbird (snippet)
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own / No Regrets (snippet)
Love And Peace Or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet) / The Hands That Built America (snippet)
Running To Stand Still
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways / Young Americans (snippet)

Encore(s):
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40

Notes: I went to this show with my dad.  He hadn't seen U2 since 1992.  Our seats were behind the stage, but not terribly far from the stage and the view was really interesting!  It was neat being able to see the arena of fans from a similar perspective to how the band sees them.

Here's what I wrote in my online journal the day after the show:

I am tiiiiiiirrred. The show last night was good --our seats were EXCELLENT, but the sound left something to be desired. It just wasn't as clean as I've heard U2 sound before. We were just a few rows up from the rear of the stage, on Edge's side. There was no problem getting the camera in, and we took a lot of pictures and shot several video clips, too. The quality is crude, but you can still make out what's going on. Of course, they will all be posted when I get home tomorrow!

Highlights for me: Electric Co., Love And Peace Or Else, Mysterious Ways, Vertigo, Elevation, The Fly, Running To Stand Still, Where the Streets Have No Name, Pride, 40.

I will say this: I was not blown away or knocked on my ass, emotionally. It was not the same experience I had after 11/19/01, where, after returning to my motel room after the show, I just cried tears of joy and stayed up for an hour or more, writing about the show. I think the difference lies in simply not having the same connection to today's U2. The new songs don't affect me like the old ones do, and my world does not revolve around the band. There are things they have done that I just cannot get behind. I'm not going to stop being a fan, I'm just not going to break my back (and bank account) for them.

But by no means was I disappointed, and I am happy that I get to see them again in a few hours. I haven't decided if I'll try to go to any shows in the fall, but there is plenty of time between now and then to make a decision. I'd like to see the last show of the tour, and for now, that is Portland, but they've been known to tack on an extra date or two at the end, so I will wait awhile before making any travel arrangements --assuming I even go to any shows!

(April 10, 2005)

 

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