Thirteen years to the day since the band was last in Adelaide, U2 once again showed why they are the biggest band in the world. Leaving behind the excesses of the Zoo TV and Popmart tours, this show was simply about the music. (Not to mention the stunning lighting effects and design.)

Not being too familiar with the tracks from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, I was really impressed with those songs and wondered what I missed when a friend lent me her copy of the CD. The songs that I was more familiar with were just as impressive, sounding prett much as they do on the albums.

Bono's voice was strong and clear, The Edge's guitar playing was as spectacular as ever, Larry's drumming was tight and Adam was doing just what Adam does. He was actually quite funny - he took a couple of trips around to walkway and smiled and nodded to those close to the barrier. (I was about 3 metres away on the left-hand side about a quarter of the way around.)

My friend Anna and I each had songs we hoped the band would play. I was rewarded early on with New Year's Day. Anna had to wait a bit until Desire. Then the first encore brought material from the Zoo TV years, which was a favourite of mine.

One thing I particulary liked was the 'new' Australian flag shown on the giant screen behind the band at the end of 'One': the Southern Cross and the Commonwealth star on a red flag with NO union jack in the corner. There was one other memorable moment where someone in the front secion threw a Christmas cushion into the air. Bono reached out for it and it was thrown onto the stage. He rested it against a foldback speaker or some other thing and said something about how great it was to be in South Australia. There was a nice touch too when he thanked the crowd for its patience at having to wait an extra 8 months for the concert. (Though he did mistakenly say early on that it was nice to be back in Adelaide after 8 year, when it's actually 13.)

I reckon the young fella Emerson, whom Bono got up on stage, is a big hit with his freinds today!

All in all, a brilliant concert, too brilliant to descibe here with any satisfaction!

tourdb © 1997 - 2008 tourdb (at) popsmart (dot) org