U2 in Vertigo
By Pat Denson, 11.03.05

LOS ANGELES, CA- Legendary rock band U2 embarked on its Vertigo 2005 Concert Tour in Los Angeles’ Staples Center Tuesday complete with confetti pouring from the ceiling in a breathtaking light and sound extravaganza.

Lead singer Bono broke through the darkness via a neon lit walkway that extended in a huge circle into the audience surrounded on all sides by adoring fans. Packed shoulder to shoulder the crowd spread to the strobe-lit stage featuring the U2 band members.

“Good evening Los Angeles, thank you for coming out and giving us a great night,” Bono said. “We have some extraordinary music for some extraordinary people, and we’re just getting started.” The audience responded with cheers and the symbolic U2 wave throughout the coliseum.

U2 moved smoothly through the music from their 14 albums including music from their newest album entitled “Vertigo.” “Elevation” and “One” were introduced. Bono talked about his father asking him to remove his glasses, which he did while performing “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own.”

As Bono and the band performed older tunes like “It’s A Beautiful Day,” “Only To Be With You,” “In The Name of Love,” and “Where the Streets Have No Name,” fans would take turns singing the lyrics with Bono. The audience also enjoyed Bono playing drums to “Love and Peace or Else.”

Mid-point through the concert Bono told his fans. “Let’s turn the Staples Center into the Milky Way with your camera phones,” he said. He laughed and added, “That was a 21st century moment.”

Spectacular lighting effects were engineered by technicians who were in aerial boxes high above the stage. Visual effects and animated features were performed against moveable curtains of metal, while a huge screen across the front and on both sides showed varied angles of U2 band members in performance.

Bono unfurled the Irish flag called the “Tricolour” and carried onto the walkway as he sang the refrain “Touch me, feel me.” Next he announced the meaning of the lyrics to “Miss Sarajevo.” “This song is dedicated to the brave men and women of the United States military,” he said. “We wrote this song about Sarajevo.”

Immediately the words “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” flashed across the screen above the stage. The text for articles one through six rolled across the screen as a computer animated person read the words in the background.

“When we were here in March we asked one million people to sign up for the campaign to make poverty history,” Bono said. “We now have two million. We’re so much more powerful when we work together as one.” The screen gave the website address (One.org ). The audience were referred to the website for more information.

In closing Bono said, “It’s a powerful thing that when America gets hit, as in Hurricane Katrina, it seems to bring out the best in you.” The delighted audience stood and applauded in approval.

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