Great show in Tampa last night! My 5th overall ...

I have fuzzy memories of my first 2 times seeing U2 when I was in high school in Connecticut (Joshua Tree tour) - seeing the set lists on this awesome web site's archives only confirms I don't remember much, but wish I did.

Years later living in Indiana in 2001, I was priveleged to see (and actually still recall today) 2 of the most incredible shows ever: Bono's 41st B-Day in May at Conseco Fieldhouse on Leg 1 (also my wife's 1st-ever show), then the Fall leg for the 1st post-9/11 show in the US at Notre Dame's tiny Joyce Arena, home of the Fighting Irish and the most appropriate time and place to have ever seen them, I think. The mood at that time so soon after the attacks was crazy; the band was pure therapy and positive vibes in the face of it. Songs from ATYCLB at that time were even more relevant.

And then last night! The show in Tampa rekindled that mood, so kudos to the band for somehow maintaining an intensity, joy, enlightenment, excitement and overall great musical prowess. These Irish lads knew how to host a party in Tampa, even though they could have played maybe 1 or 2 extra songs since the city only got 1 show! But that's nit-picking, isn't it?

Highlights included some insanely good Edge-work on guitar, especially during Bullet the Blue Sky, Until the End of the World and even One. Bono was having fun, and even during his obligatory mini-sermons, he kept things upbeat and flowing. New songs sounded vibrant, old songs sounded fresh. How do they do that? Come to think of it, I don't wanna know. Instead, we'll just enjoy the moments: especially nice were the opera notes that Bono somehow hit, his most-sincere sunglass-free rendition of Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, the sea of illuminated cell phones, the little boy getting to hold the spotlight, a sweet slow dance during With or Without You, the acoustic encore openers including a Zooropa selection, thankyouverymuch, and the classic wrap-up of 40.

Which leads me to ask - with tickets costing $60-$150, why do casual fans who run to the bathroom during new songs and chat on their cell phones during the show even bother coming? You only get 2 hours with an amazing band, so enjoy every moment! Morons! Saddest of all was barely anyone seemed to have any idea that 40 is meant to be sung loudly as you exit the venue, all the way to the parking lot in solidarity with your fellow concert-goers. Hey! I did just remember something from the Joshua Tree shows after all - singing 40 in some parking lot in Hartford and/or New Haven, Connecticut!

Man, how can I thank them - U2 just made my memory come back! Thanks for the show, see you on the next tour! Scott & Ann

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