U2 in Philadelphia Take Two

Wachovia Center 5/22/05

Setlist
City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo - Stories for Boys, Elevation, Gloria, The Ocean, Beautiful Day - Ultraviolet, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky - When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Running to Stand Still, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One

Encore
Zoo Station, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, With or Without You, All Because Of You, Yahweh, 40

Last night I went to see U2 for the second time in eight days. This time I went with Scott, Stephanie and Wooly. A few slight changes to the setlist aside, the show was pretty much the same as last Saturday’s, meaning it was damn good. “Gloria” was great to hear, as was “With or Without You.” My only complaint is that I still didn’t get the “Bad” I was hoping for. Perhaps I’ll get one in October.

Three interesting things about last night not directly related to the music:

First, due to Wooly getting stuck in Baltimore after the Phils v O’s game, we didn’t get on the road until 7:45 PM. We ended up getting in to Philly around 8:20PM, and there was hardly any traffic. It was a bit eerie. Then, when I pulled into the lot at Lincoln Financial Field, there was no one there to take our money. We got to park for free!

The second noteworthy occurance took place just before the show began. Scott and Stephanie headed up to the seats, while I hung out on the first level waiting for Wooly to get back from the bathroom. I wasn’t sure which bathroom he’d chosen, so I decided the best bet was to meet him at the foot of the escalator. I was standing there for a few moments when a pretty girl walked up to me. She held cheese fries in her left hand and a beer in her right. “Are you going up?” she asked. I replied, “Eventually, I’m waiting on my buddy.” She continued, “Would you mind riding up the escalator with me? I’ve had a bit to drink, and I’m too dizzy to ride up and hold my beer and fries.” Always one to help a damsel in distress, I took her beer, and hopped on the escalator with her. Her name was Tammy, and she ended up hugging me the entire way up to the 200 level. When we reached the top she said, “Thank you for being such a gentleman.” She kissed my cheek, said “Have a great show!” and then disappeared into the crowd. Ahh, drunk girls.

Lastly, on the way out, some English girls saw my Arsenal jersey and one was wrinkling her nose. Her friend said, “But they beat United.” Not missing a beat, Wooly and I broke into song, “Paddy Vieira! Paddy Vieira! Who put the ball in the Man U net? Paddy Vieira!”

Good times indeed. I brought my digital camera last night, and despite being behind the stage, was able to get some pretty cool looking shots. Check them out here.