Poor PJ Harvey. She had to open up the most highly anticipated concert event of the year: U2’s Elevation Tour 2001. She proved herself to be a powerful performer, but fans were eagerly awaiting U2’s arrival. Who could blame them? U2 hasn’t been in Buffalo for over a decade.
Amidst the deafening screams of the crowd, the band took the HSBC Arena stage at 9:00 and went right into their latest single, “Elevation.” Bono took full advantage of the heart-shaped stage for “Beautiful Day” as he stood at the tip and reached out to the crowd below. Like the songs that would follow, “Beautiful Day” proved that U2 has a harder rock edge than their albums might suggest.
After the obligatory selections from their latest, All That You Can’t Leave Behind, U2 went back to their modern classic, Achtung Baby. Expressing his enthusiasm, Bono dramatically (and purposefully) fell over after Edge finished his explosive guitar solo at the end of “Until The End Of The World.”
“Even Better Than The Real Thing” was followed by Bono telling the crowd about rock’s original purpose (to make people dance), thereby leading into “Mysterious Ways.” U2’s performance of the song was backed by screens of dancing female silhouettes, an image the theatrical Bono had a little fun with towards the end.
Almost halfway into the show, Bono recalled the first time U2 came to Buffalo: December 8, 1980, the date that former Beatle John Lennon was assassinated. Bono then went into a touching, a cappella version of The Beatles' “In My Life.”
Of course, no U2 show would be complete without plenty of political statements. “Pride (In The Name Of Love),” a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, was introduced with a commentary about equality in the United States. For a rocking, rage-filled “Bullet the Blue Sky,” the video screens showed a speech by NRA President Charlton Heston, followed by images of a young girl picking up a gun. The crowd gasped as she nearly accidentally shot herself, thus proving U2’s point.
“I Will Follow” showcased the band’s often-ignored Adam Clayton. Before “Desire” was performed at the tip of the heart by the entire band, Bono humorously introduced Clayton as U2’s “musical conscience” and the “posh” one.
U2 saved the best for last. The arena was alit in blue for the serene “With Or Without You,” the second song of the encore. “The Fly” brought back a little of MacPhisto, as Bono invited a young woman to lie with him while the words “love me” illuminated the background screens. “She’s A Mystery Girl To Me” added an unexpected twist to the concert after the band performed the overplayed, yet still soulful, “One.”
“Walk On” closed out the show with an extended fade-out that put the spotlight on Larry Mullen Jr. The band thanked Buffalo for all their support over the years and for having spent their “hard-earned cash” to see the show, to which one fan responded, “and thank you, for all the music.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Elevation Tour
HSBC Arena
(Buffalo, NY)
reviewed by Gabrielle Grubka
