"Dashboard Confessional Really Rocked!"*

No. Not really. They didn't rock at all at the U2 concert. I got so bored during their opening act that I played Tetris until they were done. The lovely Em had the great observation that she couldn't tell when songs began and ended because they all sounded the same.

"Milwaukee! You're the best audience we've had!" said the lead singer after the first two songs.

Either he was insincere, or Toronto and Chicago ran that band out on a rail.

As for U2 -- it was the most hot, sweaty fun that I've ever had with my clothes on. I've seen a few concerts (not as many as Keidra) and the Milwaukee show blew EVERYTHING away -- even the May Chicago show I saw.

Maybe it was the location. Em and I didn't make it into the "bomb shelter" the golden area inside the ellipse, but we got to the tip of the catwalk. We had a great view of the stage, the lighting (which is fabulous. Willie Williams deserves all the love he gets for stage design.)and the band. Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam, when they were on the catwalk were literally 10 feet away from us.

Personal favorite moments:

Having Adam stop dead in front of us to play his bass in his distinctive crouch with a little smirk that said, "yes, I know I'm cool." And the crowd pretty much going, "Yep. You're that cool."

Bono and Edge flubbing Who's Going to Ride Your Wild Horses -- it was a wonderful human moment where both people looked vaguely embarrassed that the audience would know the song better. They stopped for a second, removed the ear monitors, talked briefly and started again. If they weren't such a good live group, they couldn't have gotten away with it. You'd also never see that from Jessica Simpson, who relies on backing tracks to save her ass.

The crowd was also wonderful. I enjoyed hearing stories about people making it into the bomb shelter and seeing River Cumo (according to one guy, he's REALLY tiny) or where they planned to see the next U2 concert. It was good energy. No one stomped on anyone else and everyone was gentle with each other. There was no pushing and shoving, but a lot of shouting, singing and jumping around.

I also got compliments for my U2/South Park shirt, which was cool. I love fellow fans because they understand why you adore your object of obsession.

The only shoving was with some people who weaseled their way up to the front. No one else moved to let them through. It was like we recognized that everyone else waited through the lines, shitty Dashboard Confessional and told those people (through body language), "You didn't pay your dues, get the hell out bitches."

Fortunately, the band also mixed up the setlist and really did a nice job. In the weeks after the May 7 show, I kind of agreed with Greg Kot of the Chicago Trib, who criticized them for seemingly becoming like a younger Rolling Stones -- rehash the hits to keep the audience happy.

In this case they brought out obscure songs like Miss Sarajevo and The First Time, which were just lovely to hear. Miss Sarajevo is a particular standout with Bono standing in for Paravotti and letting a rich, gorgeous tenor rip. Say what you will about his ego, but the man can SING.

They also mixed the old hits and the new album together better during this leg and everything seemed a bit looser, freer and (to quote Kot) friskier. Even 40 seemed magical again with everyone around us singing "How long to sing this song?"

I got home at 2 a.m. and was at work by 8:15 a.m. Without a doubt, if I could do it again, I would (and will).

*That's the quote of the night that Mike overheard one girl say.