Last night was my first U2 concert, and I was pretty blown away by the show, for a few reasons:

1) What sets U2 apart from other great live acts isn't just their energy, but their versatility. They cover such a wide scope of material and emotion in their songs, and their performance reflects that range. During Vertigo and The Fly, for example, I felt that the band played with an almost frightening intensity. Then, without missing a beat, they can shift gears and play Bad or Miracle Drug, and create an entirely different experience. Even more impressive is that Bono can work in his messages without seeming (overly) preachy or pretentious, and he somehow can still maintain the show's momentum while he speaks.

2) I have seen a lot of concerts in which the band does some interesting things with their stage, lighting, and the overhead screens, but U2's production was the best I've seen. I have never seen a show that was as enhanced by visuals as last night's show. Instead of just being a nice touch, I felt like some of the visuals helped some of the songs take on a whole new character, particularly Vertigo, Where The Streets Have No Name, and The Fly.

Overall, very impressive show.

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