U2360° TOUR Leg 3: 2011

Show Report

'Emerald City, shining in the sun, where are you gonna take us?'

It was the question Bono asked as the show opened in Seattle tonight and the answer came during Beautiful Day, with a special message from the shuttle Endeavour.

'Hello Seattle from the International Space Station...' came the greeting from NASA Commander Mark Kelly on the screens circling the stage.

'What's on your mind Commander Kelly ?' asked Bono.

Love was on the Commander's mind as U230° took Seattle into orbit tonight... and safely back to earth again. From the opening chords of Even Better Than The Real Thing to the closing benediction of Moment of Surrender this was a night to remember - with an audience who'll never forget it: 'You're incredible people!'

Thanking everyone for their patience in waiting for these postponed dates, and to Lenny Kravitz for 'giving us lift-off', we had a nod to REM ('It's the end of the world as we know it...') in 'Until The End of the World' before Bono described meeting two year old Sophia earlier in the day - playing the guitar. Sophia got him thinking about the band.

'I was watching her play and I know, for a fact, that I can behave and feel like that.
'You know, if there is any single idea that underpins our band, it's that you can start again.
'Pretend you don't know us! We've been on the road for a while, but this is the day we start again...
'You think of him as a tough guy. But I tell you, he is very thoughtful. On the drums - Larry Mullen Jr.
'On my left, you think of him as a ladies man. Well he is. But he is a perfect gentleman. On bass - Adam Clayton.
'Edge, you think he is a techie zen master guitar genius but I see him as one of Lady Gaga's dancers. A funky dude on the dancefloor, just get out of his way.
'And as for me, despite what you've heard, I'm a man of simple needs. Just get me 70,000 people, 200 articulated lorries and a spaceship, and I feel good about myself...'

And just get the rest of us All I Want is You, Stay, Beautiful Day, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights.... and we feel good about ourselves too.

'Neon heart dayglo eyes
A city lit by fireflies
They're advertising in the skies
For people like us
And I miss you when you're not around
I'm getting ready to leave the ground...'

Special mention tonight for Alexander, the son of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was with us and to Bill and Melinda Gates, in their home city.

Moment of Surrender is a chance to 'think of our little planet spinning round the sun - this is for all the people who are trying not to fall off...'

So were you at the show ? Was it worth the wait ? When did your feet leave the ground and you realise you were in orbit ? Add your own review and post your photos below.