U2 eXPERIENCE & iNNOCENCE, Boston Review

Had a couple Two-Hearted beers at the house, walked to the train station, pulled into TD Garden around 7:30 and met my wife at the platform. We took the escalators up, stood in line, passed the metal detectors, and scanned the digital tickets on my iPhone. We entered the Garden, took another escalator to Loge 5, and found our seats. While my wife sat, I returned to the lobby and bought a $12.50 pint of Budweiser, and a $12 platter of chicken nachos. The nachos weighed at least five pounds, and we couldn’t finish them.

U2 did not hire an opening act, and when the lights came down we heard the familiar drumbeat of Larry Mullen Jr. Then Adam Clayton’s bass guitar slipped in, followed by The Edge’s pulsing electric guitar. Bono appeared, dressed in black, with a mullet hairdo, standing under a giant monitor, which was slowly raised toward the ceiling, exposing a catwalk, and a stage shape like a keyhole. The crowd stood up, and applauded, but was left wanting more. The first three songs, were off their latest dud of an album, and unrecognizable to most seasoned fans. By seasoned fans, I mean old-- I’m nearly 40 and felt like a kid.

I finally recognized a song, I Will Follow, and the anxious crowd really started dancing. Then U2 played another new tune and everyone instantly sat down. Bono talked about his mother and growing up in Ireland, which slowed the tempo of the show even more. Next, there was a short intermission, and the giant monitor played a comic-book version of U2 travelling the world in a limo. The band returned to the stage in new outfits, with a slightly formal look, like Bono wearing a top hat. The band played at the round end of the keyhole stage, and the catwalk was cut off. This smaller stage made the act feel intimate, inside such a large venue.

The small stage stuff was by far the best part of the show. U2 stripped down their sound, almost like an unplugged gig. For a moment Bono used a Snapchat visual filter to transform himself into the demonic clown, Mac Phisto, as he recited lines from Sympathy For the Devil. I had to laugh, as the band chuckled at his antics. U2 played Elevation, Vertigo, Desire, Acrobat, and Staring at the Sun. Acrobat was my surprise favorite, bringing back some unexpected memories of college. Then the catwalk opened again and the stage grew larger. KKK rallies played on the monitor. Then MLK’s stoic face appeared, and the band played Pride (In the Name of Love) to a roaring crowd. This was easily the climax of the show. U2 closed with the fun speakerphoned American Soul, and then the uplifting City of Blinding Lights. Then came the encore.

I should have left after the good vibes of Blinding Lights. Once the encore began, Bono upped the political pandering, which was actually quite subtle until now. He also name dropped Tom Brady, and said how much QB1 and Gisele had donated to (Red). U2 played One, and it felt like a commercial. We left, in order to catch the 11 o’clock train. Later I looked up the songs we missed, two more lame songs. Duds in the encore? That’s just wrong. Happy we left.

My wife has always been the bigger U2 fan. I tagged along because I love live music, and it’s an awesome date night. Over time I guess I’ve become a fan too. They do have a great catalog of songs. This was our 5th U2 show.

Pearl Jam at Fenway is next, this September. I can’t wait. I’ve tired of the 3 or so PJ songs played on the radio, but I’ve never seen the band live. I grew up, in my formative years, listening to this stuff, and it’s bound to stir up some great memories.