DAY 62 – JULY 14 – U2 360 #12 – PHILADELPHIA

The U2 360 show in Philadelphia was a great show, made even better because I shared it with my old Elevation tour friends as well as couple new friends from the 360 tour, especially since it was because of U2 Elevation show in Philadelphia 10 years ago that we became friends. U2 brought back the original version of Magnificent, not the remix version. They hadn’t played Magnificent since Anaheim1 on June 17th. It took the place of The Fly, but in the 6th spot in the set list not the usual 2nd. U2 ended the show by singing Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela.

I took a cab from my fabulous Hotel Palomar to Lincoln Financial Field around 3. I walked around the stadium and ran into Ayaz, Kim and Abbey – my friends from the Elevation tour. I finally arrived at the spot where U2 was going to drive in. Along the way, I met Christine and Natasha whom I’ve been talking with on Facebook. Christine also lives in Maryland, and Natasha is also a huge Larry fan who is considering moving to Maryland. My old Elevation friends Jenny and Tasha were also there. U2 drove in after 4pm. Bono came out to greet everyone, but the Philly fans got a little too excited and I couldn’t even get near Bono to see him, let alone talk with him. He didn’t stay very long, and I don’t blame him.

After sort of seeing Bono, Natasha and I walked back around the stadium and went to the front of the GA line to watch everyone enter. I got to talk with my friend Beth for a little bit and finally met Anthony! I also got to catch up a bit with Cathal, author of Me and U2. We heard the crew sound check Breathe and U2 sound check Magnificent, so it wasn’t a real surprise when they played it. Unfortunately, no Breathe though. Natasha and I went into the stadium after the enter GA line filed in. It was quite a complicated walk down to the inner circle, which was already pretty crowded at 5:30. In fact, Adam’s side was closed.

We went into Edge’s side of the inner circle and stood behind the stage to get our spot to watch U2 enter the stadium and go on stage. Rob, another friend from the Elevation days, joined us – as did Jenny and my new friend Andrew. I met Chris who I’ve been talking with on Twitter. Jenny and I were wearing our ‘Larry Mullen Band’ shirts and Natasha was wearing her ‘It’s All About Drums’ shirt. Dallas said Hello, shook my hand and complimented me on my hat and then said, ‘\”its not about the drums its about the guitar.” When opening band Interpol walked on stage which wasn’t until after 7:45, the drummer noticed our shirts and pointed at us. Then after their set when they were walking off stage, the drummer gave his drumsticks to Jenny and said, “This is for my love of Larry.”

There were again issues with venue security moving us away from where U2 walks onto the stage, but we found Rocco and he straightened it out again for us like he did in Anaheim. It’s great that U2 and their crew really care about their fans. I just wish they would communicate better with venue security.

The inner circle was especially crowded. People were even in my spot on the back rail behind the stage. It was great to watch the show with my new friend Natasha and my old Elevation friends Jenny, Paola, Gina and Rob. It was the standard set list, except for the replacement of The Fly with the original Magnificent, Hallelujah into Streets (first time I heard it) and Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela – even though it was 4 days away and may have made more sense to sing it at the St. Louis show. At the end of Mysterious Ways, Bono sings, “Young American. Philadelphia.” During Until the End of the World, Bono said, “Bass and Drums!” and then “Love and Peace!” I love it when he says ‘Love and Peace!’ It reminds me of the Vertigo tour. I have a Love and Peace drum pin from the Hard Rock and my Christmas card this year says ‘Peace, Love, Joy.’

After Magnificent, Bono said, “Wow! That is a great start! Thank you SO much! Philadelphia!” There weren’t really any extensive band introductions. Bono just named everyone and again thanked the fans for their patience while he was recovering from his back surgery. He commented on what a special unity there is between U2 and their fans. He did say they were in the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, to which I booed loudly. I don’t think Bono knows that the team is led by a dog killer. During City of Blinding Lights, Bono sang, “City of brotherly and sisterly blinding lights.” During Walk On, Bono said, “A message of love from the city of brotherly love all the way to Asia.”

At the end of the show, we went back to tunnel where U2 would exit. Larry again took off his shirt on the way to his car. On the way out of the stadium, I met Steve who I’ve been talking with on Twitter. It didn’t take too long to get a cab back to the hotel. U2 ended at 11:30, and I was back at my hotel by 12:30.

The set list for U2 360 in Philadelphia was as follows: Even Better Than The Real Thing, I Will Follow, Mysterious Ways, Until the End of the World, Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Stay, 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 / Life During Wartime / Psycho Killer, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On, One, Hallelujah / Where the Streets Have No Name, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender, Happy Birthday.

The day after the U2 show I relaxed in my lovely suite at the Hotel Palomar in Philadelphia before my long 16 hour drive to St. Louis for the U2 360 show on Sunday.

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