Main Set: Vertigo, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., Elevation, Beautiful Day, In a Little While, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, City of Blinding Lights, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One - Ol' Man River

Encore(s): Zoo Station, The Fly, With or Without You, All Because of You, Fast Cars, Yahweh, 40

Wow. Just, wow. If ever I needed a boost, now is it. I've had a terrible year. After being seriously ill for 2 months this summer and needing emergency surgery, I'm surprised I even made it to this show. But I got there. I originally had GAs, but had to give them up in favour of seats. But who cares? I was in the building. I'm not quite my old self yet, but I'm getting there... and getting there a lot faster with this much needed infusion of U2.

I don't even know where to start. I've seen U2 9 times to this point; in Canada, Ireland and the US, and this ranks up there as one of the best. This show was carried by an indescribable engery; Bono was in great spirits and chatted up a storm. The show ran an astonishing 2.5 hours, thanks much to Bono's stories! Honestly, I think he talked more last night than he did for all the other shows I've seen combined. I was shocked when I glanced down at my cellphone and realized it was 11:15 and U2 was STILL on stage! It seemed the band sensed the show's longevity, too. During the second encore, Bono asked, "is it time for us to go home?" to which the crowd screamed, "NO!" Bono then asked us, "is it time for you to go home?" and of course we shouted again, "NO!" It was just great.

Highlights of this show for me included, among other things, In A Little While, played for the first time on the tour, and Bono quipping playfully that they "haven't played that song in a little while;" I Will Follow and The Electric Co--these songs have so much energy; Miss Sarajevo with Bono hitting virtually every note; Bono remarking that "Edge is from the future and he's come back to be with us;" the band leaving the stage one by one during 40; and the beautiful tribute to the Hurricane Katrina victims during One, with the band bleeding the song into Ol' Man River and the crowd joining in. But definitely, the absolute thrill of the night for me was Fast Cars. This is a song I love, but something I thought I'd never hear live. And live, it sounds brilliant. It didn't even matter that most of the crowd seemed totally unfamiliar with the song; it was just that good. And no, Bono and the boys didn't fuck it up, as he feared they might.

Oh, one personal moment for me that stood out: when Bono dedicated Miracle Drug to the "doctors and nurses who help keep us alive so we can see the future," it really hit home for me. I'm glad I made it here to see this show.

Well folks, this officially kicks of U2 Insanity Week 2.0. I totally needed this. I'm hitting up all 4 shows, and I'd like to do a wee retrospective at the end of the week. But damn, if the opener is any indication of what is to come, then I think Toronto will never be the same. Thank you, U2, and dream out loud.

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