Where the Streets Have No Name - Boston May 26, 2005
Originally uploaded by atu2.

I’m sure you’ve read the reviews on U2Tours.com about last night’s show at the Fleet Center, but I just have to say that after hearing close to 75% of the tour so far and watching a handful of shows, last night was just pure bliss.

The crowd was not as loud as Tuesday’s crowd, and to be honest - at the beginning, New England Patriots defenseman Tedi Bruschi received a louder cheer than the band did at the start of City of Blinding Lights. The crowd just didn’t seem into it at all…until the first encore.

To be honest, The Fly is my favorite song in the set this tour. It just rocks and is that visual overload that defined my years in college. You want a full-out, head-banging, hard-rockin’ song…it’s The Fly. That song was really the start of the concert for me. The crowd started getting more into the show, and then when they ever came out with Until the End of the World - oh my! Bono’s cues from the stage looked like they were just throwing out the setlist and trying something fresh. Out of Control took a little coordination, and it was the most raw sounding version that I’ve heard yet. It was genuine, and it was something that got the crowd into such a frenzy that we needed something a little soothing to bring our pulse rate back to normal. Then it was With or Without You! This was *THE* song that sealed the deal about my fandom many many years ago. The bass and drums in that song….enough said!

I didn’t think the 1st encore could be topped. All Because of You had Bono fighting with his microphone and mic stand as he turned into a tambourine machine, and it looked like the band were just having fun with it.

Originial of the Species was one of the best sounding songs of the night. At the end of it, Bono turned to Larry and gave a “wow - that was great - we did it” motion/vibe (hard to describe). He was so pleased with the way that song turned out.

All people are going to be talking about for the next little while is Bad. It was phenomenal. Hands-down, the BEST version of that song performed to date. For me, it was all about Larry. He made this song special last night. The way he commanded the intensity of that performance brought tears to many eyes in the audience, myself included.

I don’t know how they plan on surprising the fans for Saturday night. People in the GA line could hear a full rehearsal of Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses. Saturday’s show will surely be the fan’s show - I know a lot of hard core U2 fans who are coming into town for Saturday. It’ll be intense, and I can’t wait!

Pillar, a Christian rock band from Hays, Kansas, has covered U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday.” You can hear the song cover on their website, http://www.pillarmusic.com/, or find it on the limited edition version of their recent album “Where Do We Go From Here” out now on Flicker Records.

Thanks to EVERYONE (everyone…every…one) who came out to celebrate @U2’s birthday, U2’s coming to Boston, and the conclusion of the African Well Fund’s annual “Build a Well for Bono’s Birthday” Campaign. Thanks to the generosity of so many U2 fans, the African Well Fund folks were able to raise a record-breaking $26,000+ to help people in Africa with the gift of clean water.

The @U2 readership came out strong at both the San Diego and Boston events, and I am so proud of all of you for your support of this U2-fan created organization.

Special thanks go out to all of the folks who travelled from England, Ireland, Brazil, Canada and all over the United States for our event! It was a pleasure meeting you, and I am *definitely* looking forward to seeing you at some of our 3rd leg events!

I also hope to see you all at the Barnes & Noble at the Prudential Center (800 Boyleston Street) today at 1:30 for the book signing by Michka Assayas, author of “Bono: In Conversation.” He’ll be there until 2:30 today.

051705_145_U2
Originally uploaded by br1.

Check out the size of the ring on the wedding finger of Adam’s left hand — it’s a photo taken by br1 and uploaded to our @U2 Flickr Group.

It’s actually one of about two dozen terrific photos by br1 taken in New Jersey last week.

And while you’re browsing around our Flickr Group, don’t miss recent uploads from onelouder, ozmodiar, and tinkertart’s new “Vertigo belt.” Nice.

Hello, @U2 blog readers! I have a dilemma and I’d like to see what you’d do.

For the first show in Boston, I have seats in the nosebleeds: section 308, row 2.
U2 usually release GA tickets on the day of the performance, and many friends I know have “upgraded” to GA.

Would you “upgrade” to be closer to the action if given the opportunity, or would you watch the show from a dead-on straight view up high to see the full production?

(brief, mildly amusing Bono mention).