The first of five U2ieTour shows in Chicago Wednesday June 24, 2015 was my fifth of the tour and my 80th U2 show overall (since ZooTv in 1992). I think it was the loudest and most crowded I’ve seen so far this tour. It was the first time I’ve heard “Elevation” this tour and my friend Joy got pulled up on stage.

After about five hours of sleep (which is pretty good for my first night on the road), I woke up at 7am. I was tired, but not exhausted and wiped out. I went down to the lobby for the free hot breakfast buffet. It was ok, but not as good as the one at the SpringHill Suites in Denver. I caught up on my soaps and tried to nap, but never fell back to sleep. I ate some leftover pizza and met up with Sharon (whom I’ve been chatting online with since 360 but never met until now) and her friend outside my hotel at 12:30.

We took a cab (only $15 with tip split 3 ways) to the United Center and had him drop us off on the side where everyone was waiting for the band. I met so many people that I had been talking with online for months and even years. I love our U2 community! We waited for about two and a half hours before anyone showed up, during which venue security screwed us and put everyone on one side behind barricades. We were up front to meet the band, but then after he placed people in groups of 10 (and he wasn’t nice about it), we were in the back. Around 3:30 or so, Larry drove in but did not stop. Then Edge arrived and stopped but didn’t sign autographs – just shook hands. He went down the entire line and then went up the hill to shake hands with fans behind the fence. While he was doing that, Bono and Adam drove in but did not stop. We found out later that Bono was sick.

We walked about two blocks over to The World Famous Billy Goat Tavern and Grill. It’s the place the John Belushi Saturday Night Live skit came from – “Cheezeborger Cheezeborger Cheezeborger!” The guy there was hysterical and Belushi like, but the ‘cheezeborger cheezeborger’ wasn’t that great. The was cool though and it was nice to sit down and get out of the sun for an hour. We walked back to the arena, and I decided to get in the GA line – it was 5:15 (doors opened at 6pm). I finally got to meet Kim, who’ve I’ve been talking to online for years.

Upon entry into the UC, we were able to choose whether we wanted the South Side or the North Side, and I always want the South Side. I saw the e stage was about two to three people deep, so I walked over to the runway and stood behind a short girl near the end of the runway close to the e stage – the same exact spot I stood at Denver2. During the show the girl in front of me was not happy that I was standing close behind her, but her and her husband didn’t so much as smile all night let alone sing along with any song. They looked as if they were bored to death – not sure why they were even there.

It was a great show – solid and pretty standard. Even though Bono was sick and he was supposed not to have much a voice, he sang great. Only a couple of times his voice gave out – I’ve heard him much worse, much sicker. A part of the screen was messed up, maybe from the storms – I’m not sure. I got to hear “Elevation” for the first time this tour and “Ordinary Love” for the second time. The best part of the night was when Bono pulled my friend Joy up on stage during “Mysterious Ways.” Then she remained there to film “Elevation,” during which she shouted out “Where’s Deena?” when she was filming Larry! Thanks for thinking of me Joy! At the end of the e stage set, Bono made fun of Larry saying something like he was the second best in his school band – or something like that. As Larry left the e stage, he grabbed Bono’s shoulder and playfully shook him. Mick Jagger, Chris Rock and Paul McGuinness were all the show, but I did not see them.

After the show, I ran around to where we were waiting for the band but they had already left. So I met up with Sharon and her friend and we started to search for a cab. With no luck, we walked back to Billy Goat’s and got some waters and started walking with everyone in the direction of our hotel. We walked about a mile and when the crowded started thinning out, we stopped at a hotel and got a cab back to our hotel. I was in my room by 11:30 exhausted, dehydrated and my head was pounding. I drank an entire gatorade and ate leftover pizza. I couldn’t sleep, so I caught up on my shows online. I finally drifted off around 4:30am  and only slept for about four hours.

Click here to see my pictures from Chicago1. Here is the complete set list from u2gigs.com:

Setlist:

1. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
2. The Electric Co. / Send In The Clowns (snippet) / My Kind Of Town (snippet) / I Can See For Miles (snippet)
3. Out Of Control (snippet) / Vertigo / It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It) (snippet)
4. I Will Follow
5. Iris (Hold Me Close)
6. Cedarwood Road
7. Song For Someone
8. Sunday Bloody Sunday
9. Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet)
10. Until The End Of The World / Love And Peace Or Else (snippet)

(Intermission)

1. Invisible
2. Even Better Than The Real Thing
3. Mysterious Ways / Young Americans (snippet)
4. Elevation
5. Ordinary Love
6. Every Breaking Wave
7. Bullet The Blue Sky / Anthem (snippet)
8. The Hands That Built America (snippet) / Pride (In The Name Of Love)
9. Beautiful Day / My Kind Of Town (snippet) / I Remember You (snippet)
10. With Or Without You

encore(s):

1. City Of Blinding Lights

2. Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)

3. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For / People Have The Power (snippet)