U2 Elevation Tour

Elevation Tour 1st leg: North America

2001-04-23: Arrowhead Pond - Anaheim, California, USA

CONCERT REVIEW - Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California

Things not found at the U2 concert at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California: giant martini glasses and lemons; floating Travants; stories-tall video screens and overblown graphics; Bono coming onstage like a prizefighter entering the ring; Bono as the Fly; Bono as MacPhisto; Bono phoning the White House; Bono marching through the crowd with giant white flags while the band cranks out "Sunday Bloody Sunday"; any selections from Pop; the songs "Angel Of Harlem," "Gloria," "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "Two Hearts Beat As One," "Sweetest Thing," "Even Better Than The Real Thing," "When Love Comes To Town," and "Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World."

But this is not to say that U2's show, the first of a three-night stand in Anaheim on its current tour in support its latest, All That You Can't Leave Behind, wasn't an extravaganza. It was, played out on a stage surrounded by and enhanced with all kinds of eye candy, extended by a heart-shaped runway that stretched some 20 yards into the crowd. And it featured the ever-surprising Bono, who, even without overt character-playing, managed to come across as part Jesus Christ, part fat Elvis, part Tai Chi hobbyist, and part best rock frontman on the planet.

The show was like a neighborhood carnival compared to the Disneyland-esque excess of the group's last two major tours, Pop Mart and Zoo TV. Mostly, the focus remained on the songs--22 of them overall--including much of All That You Can't Leave Behind. That the group depended so heavily on tracks from its current album could have proved a failure in light of the extended list of songs they could have played instead. But this is not like the Rolling Stones, spewing out another round of mediocrity as an excuse to embark upon another bloated road show. All That You Can't Leave Behind is an outstanding effort, and songs like "Beautiful Day," "In A Little While," "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of," "Kite," and "Walk On"--the latter of which U2 dared to close with on this night--were played with a passion and effectiveness than made them not only not obligatory, but perhaps even the most inspired moments of the evening.


That U2 depended so heavily on tracks from its new album could have proved a failure--but this is not like the Stones, spewing out another round of mediocrity as an excuse to embark upon another bloated road show.


This was especially so when compared to the group's workmanlike efforts on such staples as "I Will Follow" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday." (The night's biggest flaw, however, was the puzzling performance of the mediocre new song "New York," during which Bono went Garth Brooks-like in a cowboy hat and headset and offered some exaggerated, hip-slapping sh-tkicker moves. Why? No clue.)

U2 did manage to briefly get political--a video clip that spotlighted the twisted, pro-gun words of former ape conqueror and current NRA hero Charlton Heston preceded "Bullet The Blue Sky," while Bono spoke of the AIDS-ravaged state of Africa before the typically stirring "One." But the best moments were of a more intimate nature...or at least as intimate as one can get in a room with 20,000 people. A good portion of the show was acted out with Bono, and to a lesser extent, the Edge, out at the point of the runway near the middle of the arena floor, offering fans beyond the front row some legitimate rock-star closeness. Bono twice mentioned the recently passed Joey Ramone--once before the group lurched into a sloppy version of the Ramones' "I Remember You"--and he spoke of INXS's late lead singer Michael Hutchence before singing the song that was written for him, "Stuck In A Moment."

Mostly, the performance had a feel of celebration, echoing the thrill and humility that U2 expressed upon winning its Grammys in February. It also recalled last year's local visit from Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, whose own show celebrated family and longevity. However, if Springsteen's lack of much new material rendered that show somewhat an exercise in nostalgia, U2's latest visit was anything but that. Instead, on this night, U2 simply came across as not only one of the most storied bands of the last 20 years, but perhaps the undisputed champions of all things massive in rock 'n' roll.

Perhaps Bono should have actually saved the prizefighter schtick for this time around, after all.