DAY 36 – JUNE 18 – U2 360 #6 – ANAHEIM2

Anaheim was the only city where U2 played two back to back shows on that final leg of the 360 tour. I almost didn’t go to the second show because it was on a Saturday night, and I had to drive across the country in 3 days to make it to the show in Baltimore on Wednesday night. People were trying to get me to skip the show to make the drive easier, but I decided to stay. And thank goodness I did because because Anaheim2 was my favorite show of the U2 360 tour.

I stayed in my hotel room until I left for the stadium at 2:30. I didn’t get lost that second day, so I arrived very quickly. I got my GA wristband and went around to wait for U2 to arrive. They again arrived in 2 helicopters and again did not stop.

I went inside after the GA line had already gone in. It was a more relaxed feel tonight. The inner circle wasn’t as crowded. I again got a soda and sat in the stands until Lenny Kravitz came on. As I walked around the general admission, I saw Cindy Crawford. She was stunning and very nice – posing for pictures.

I saw my friends Chuck, Matt, Melissa and Kim. I went behind the stage and stood at the tunnel where U2 walks into the stadium. I again watched the show from behind the stage, so I could watch Larry – as I did almost every show of the tour.

That second night in Anaheim, U2 finally changed the set list – and change it they did! With every new change, I grew more and more excited! For the first and only time in the US, U2 started the show with five straight songs from Achtung Baby, celebrating its 20^th anniversary. During Even Better Than the Real Thing, Bono said, “Southern California. Orange County. Where you gonna take us tonight? You take us higher!” And that they did. The second song of the night was The Fly, which hadn’t been played since 2006 in Hawaii. During The Fly, Bono yelled, “Achtung Ya’ll!” just as he had during ZooTv. Where the Streets Have No Name, which is usually in the encore, was the 6^th song of the night.

During Get on Your Boots right before my favorite LET ME IN THE SOUND!, Bono said, “Larry Mullen do you know how beautiful you are?”Please watch my video of LET ME IN THE SOUND. Bono introduced Larry as “a movie star” saying, “it had to happen.” He went on to say, “our Lawrence plays opposite the great Donald Sutherland in The Man on the Train.” Please watch my video of the band introductions. My favorite part of the night was when U2 finally brought my favorite song I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For back into the set list for the first time that leg – and it remained there for the rest of the tour. Bono dedicated it to Quincy Jones, who was in the audience, and said, “This song means a great deal to us.” I cried like a baby, literally tears streaming down my face. This was one of my favorite moments of the entire 360 tour – very special to me.

U2 played Stuck in a Moment instead of Stay, which made me extremely happy. Bono of course dedicated it to Michael Hutchence, but also talked about Edge and how he would be a great neighbor – referring to the petition against him building a house there. Bono also mentioned that it was Edge’s wedding anniversary. The black lighted jackets made a return during Zooropa and City of Blinding Lights. I love Larry in that black leather jacket! Larry smiled at me during I’ll Go Crazy. There was only one encore at that second show in Anaheim. A sixth song from Achtung Baby, Ultra Violet, made its way into the set list for the first time that leg replacing Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me. Before Moment of Surrender, Bono paid tribute to Clarence Clemons who died earlier that day. He sang a part of Jungleland after Moment of Surrender. Magnificent was left out of the set list for the first and only time that leg. I again went back near the tunnel to watch U2 leave the stadium. Larry saw me and smiled and waved and seemed like he wanted to come over, but didn’t – but he kept looking back at me.

The set list of my favorite show of the U2 360 tour (Anaheim2) was as follows: Even Better Than The Real Thing, The Fly, Mysterious Ways / Don’t Speak, Until the End of the World, One, Amazing Grace / Where the Streets Have No Name / All You Need Is Love, I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots / She Loves You, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Stuck In a Moment, Beautiful Day / Space Oddity, Elevation, Pride, Miss Sarajevo, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo / It’s Only Rock and Roll, I’ll Go Crazy / Discotheque / Please, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On / Never Walk Alone, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender / Jungleland

I had the best time at this show! I am SO glad I didn’t skip it just to get a head start on my cross country drive to Baltimore. Never listen to reason. Follow your passion. This ended part two of my U2 360 road trip. The main sightseeing part of my trip was over. That first month was my favorite part of my trip, even though it only contained one of my favorite shows – traveling out west was my favorite.

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