U2 have long been known for their adventurous live shows. The adventures haven't always went over as well as the band would have liked, but they could never be faulted for not giving their all and taking some risks. After a rather poor fan response to the Popmart tour, big questions popped up prior to the release of the new record. Would U2 continue to tweak their sound in a new direction? Where would the live show go this time out? Even in a season filled with highly anticipated releases from major acts like Tool and Depeche Mode, the questions surrounding the direction U2 would follow created perhaps the biggest buzz in years.

Fans and critics alike were not to be disappointed. "Beautiful Day," "Walk On" and "Elevation" have become instant hits from a record filled with some of U2's best work ever. With the immediate, global and well-deserved success of the album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (Interscope), U2's Elevation Tour was easily the most eagerly-awaited show of the new century. VOX had the wonderful opportunity to check them out at two of their three sold-out LA area performances.

For those in attendance, it was as close to a religious experience as you can get.

Going against convention by entering with the house lights still up, U2 seemed better able to connect with the audience from the start of the show and enjoy a few moments of just being able to take it all in. Bono seemed genuinely affected by the crowd's roaring response and adoration. It seemed an evening of reflection for Bono and the rest of his U2 mates - guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. - as he often paused to note certain ideas, thoughts and dedications. He remarked how, twenty years later, things have changed so much and yet so little, from their days playing the Country Club in Reseda and struggling to get by. Both the beauty and gravity of the remark were not lost on the crowd.

Such reflection and hope is a common thread that runs through the music of All That You Can't Leave Behind. Paying homage to his departed friend Michael Hutchence and punk icon Joey Ramone, Bono seemed genuinely touched by the mention in news stories that Ramone had been listening to "In A Little While" while on his deathbed as he succumbed to cancer earlier this year at age 49. In addition, U2 covered the Ramones' classic love song "I Remember You" in their encore.

What made the evening even more successful was that the moments of sadness were juxtaposed against the highs of U2 classics such as "Bullet The Blue Sky" and "Pride (In The Name of Love)." After the Popmart tour, one of the biggest complaints was that U2 seemed to avoid playing any of their great classics. That was all rectified on this night. With the capacity crowd singing along with every word, U2 delivered awesome renditions of "I Will Follow," "Bad," "Where The Streets Have No Name" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday," which ended with the Anaheim Pond rocking as the crowd chanted the refrain in unison: "How long/To sing this song." They could have gone on forever.

Not lost in all of this is the realization that while U2 long ago earned the title of one the greatest rock bands of all time, there is that acknowledgement that they provided the emotional and at times political voice for an entire generation of rock fans. They especially gave American kids of Irish heritage a sense of pride and a set of cultural icons that simply didn't exist prior to their hitting US shores. U2's impact on Generation X can not be overstated.

For the fans who have grown up with U2, from the days of playing Croake Park in Dublin to their monumental concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, and from the Joshua Tree tour that established them globally to these glorious nights in the new century, the songs of All That You Can't Leave Behind speak to the soul. Fans can feel the growth that has taken place within the band; just as War and Boy gave voice to Generation X's political ideals, the new songs reflect the maturity and growth and the ability to reflect and rejoice that come with age and experience. That sense allows those fans that were there for the beginning of U2's career to still feel that connection and understanding.

Bono has that uncanny ability to connect with fans in a live setting and make you somehow feel that in a stadium packed with people, he's giving you something special and extremely personal. Maybe it's that he so firmly believes in what he's singing or something else intangible, but whatever it is, it's a rare commodity.

Enhancing the night's experience was the stage setup that U2 employed: there were two ramps that extended out from each end of the stage to meet in the center of the floor of the arena, creating sort of a heart shape. This allowed Bono and The Edge to venture out into the crowd and enhance the feeling of closeness. In effect, it created two floor areas - a section inside the heart, which was a harder ticket to come by, and the outer floor area, which likewise was without seating. The crowd at the Monday show roared with delight as Bush's Gavin Rossdale came into the inner pit with No Doubt's Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal just prior to U2 hitting the stage.

In addition, the stage didn't have a backdrop or giant speaker towers, which allowed a theatre-in-the-round effect. The fans that were seated behind the band still had a fairly unobstructed view and Bono took the time to ensure they got their money's worth. On a night filled with great arena rock, the emotion, sensitivity and professionalism shown by U2 made their LA stop on the Elevation Tour one of the brightest and most glorious moments in a career filled with gems. For the fans in attendance, this was a concert they will never forget.