The acclaimed rock band kicked off their set with their newer song “Love Is All We Have Left,” and it was followed by the rock-dance tune “The Blackout,” and yet another new song “Lights of Home,” which had a neat arrangement to it. All of these aforementioned songs are found on their latest studio offering, Songs of Experience, which came out in December. U2 interacted well with their fans throughout the evening, thus making them feel at home. Their popular hit “Beautiful Day” and the haunting deep cut “The Ocean,” which had a stirring vibe to it, were some of the highlights from the first part of their show.
After an intermission, U2 returned with the high-octane and rocking “Elevation,” and they immediately broke into “Vertigo” and “Desire.” Another highlight was when U2 performed “You’re The Best Thing About Me” in an acoustic fashion, where they were able to touch their listeners on an emotional level. These lyrics were pure poetry, and Bono and The Edge soared on a stripped down version “Staring at the Sun,” which was yet another musical masterpiece.
“Pride (In the Name of Love)” became an anthem yesterday night at Madison Square Garden, and they concluded with “American Soul” and their Grammy-winning “City of Blinding Lights.”
For their encore, U2 returned for an empowering version of “One,” as well as “Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way,” and they closed on a fitting note by covering the Talking Heads classic “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody),” where they left their dedicated rock fans wanting to hear more.
The Verdict
Overall, U2’s “Experience + Innocence” Tour stop at Madison Square Garden was a true work of musical art. The energy in the iconic venue was palpable, and U2 as a whole put on a truly highly energized set. Front-man Bono was in a league of his own, and The Edge on lead guitar, Adam Clayton on bass, and Larry Mullen Jr. on drums were equally superb. Their live show at Madison Square Garden garnered an A rating.
To learn more about U2 and their “Experience + Innocence” Tour, check out their official website.
