This was my third time to see U2 over a 20-year period and they never fail to satisfy. Bono's voice is fuller, as is his waistline (thank God for black clothes). He did seem a bit more "preachier" than usual---with every other song punctuated by some appeal (AIDS / World Peace / AFrican Relief)---all worthy causes to be sure, but it was obviously not striking a chord with the Japanese audience. Overall, I liked the fact that he mixed the old and the new (most of the crowd was not born when "Boy" came out). However, the concert did not flow as smoothly as past shows. Some bits---like with the "twins" selected out of the audience for "Desire"----seemed a bit contrived. Hopefully, after this tour is completed, the guys will recharge their batteries, Bono will hit the treadmill and lay off the State banquets, and their music will continue to resonate with passion and intelligence.

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