Informed Speculation

The only reason I’m not sure if this was the best U2 show I’ve ever seen is that the band is so consistently excellent, but trust me, no one left the Toyota Center disappointed. A phenomenal, wonderfully energetic show, and a crowd that was so rabid that even Bono seemed taken back, when, after a blistering run-through of “Where the Streets Have No Name”, the already ear-splitting applause went up to an entirely new level, prompting the Irish rock star to comment “That’s just crazy. Only in Texas.”

Indeed, throughout the night, you could catch unrehearsed smiles on the faces of the band, as they were clearly among very special friends. I have no doubt that U2 and Houston have a special bond, and I’m not sure what it is, but I know it’s there. I’ve seen 2 shows in Houston, three elsewhere, and by far the 2 Houston ones were the best.

The seats were a dream, comfortable, low, with our own food and beverage clubhouse area and bathrooms (what a treat that was! Never have I been to a concert where you could literally leave for the bathroom and be back in your seat in 2 minutes). But that’s all, of course, a sideshow to the event itself. Let me put it this way – we were surrounded by people in their 30′s and 40′s in the expensive seats. You would have thought you were in the midst of the floor with 18-year-olds, it really rocked that hard.

Here is the setlist:

City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
I Will Follow
The Electric Co.
The Ocean
I Still Haven’t Found
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo

Pride in the Name of Love
Where the Streets Have no Name
One

The First Time
Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
With or Without You

All Because of You
Fast Cars
Yahweh
“40”

Roger Clemons and Craig Biggio made appearances walking across the floor to enthusiastic applause, and several NBA players were in attendance, as well. The 3rd to last song, Fast Cars, had never before been played in America (apparently not true – see comments), and has only been played 7 times ever.

In other words, a bit of heaven right here on earth…is there a bigger band on the planet right now than U2? No…but the more important thing is there’s no one that deserves that success more.

The Houston Chronicle review (a bit lame – he calls “Beautiful Day” “Beautiful Moment”) is here. Ryan James says the only word he can offer is “Dude…” and serves up a link to a short video clip he took that will give you some idea of the pandemonium that reigned in the Toyota Center…Whooooo!…