What I am struck by is the amazing solidarity U2 has had over the years.  Make no mistake, they are an exquisite team.  Many people know of my relationship with Bono.  He is a man of faith who has used his celebrity to save countless lives in Africa.  He’s the front man with haunting vocals.  The Edge has that unique sound which keeps the band moving forward.  Larry Mullen’s drums keeps them in the now.  Finally, Adam Clayton’s bass allows the band to maintain that seemingly raw quality.  It’s no wonder they have been one of the world’s greatest rock bands all these years.

Karen and I had the chance to visit with Bono prior to show.  We talked a bit about politics, reminiscing about the days when he first came to Capitol Hill and how we could use the same bipartisan approach to fixing Ohio.  We caught up on family affairs and Karen had the opportunity to thank Bono for including us on a life changing trip to Rwanda last year, where we witnessed first hand the positive impact of debt relief and President Bush’s malaria initiative.

But back to the show.  The concert was a mix of new songs and old favorites.  As stated before, there was a tremendous energy even before the band stepped foot on stage.  U2 reciprocated by delivering an electric performance. “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was the crowd favorite on this night.  My wife and I always appreciate the thoughtful lyrics of “One”  and hope they add “Kite” to their set list.  The band used the entire stage well and the “stadium experience” was noticeable.

The only thing that kept it from being a perfect night was missing the opening act Snow Patrol.  Even the fact that we could not get a cab and were forced to walk back to our hotel could not dampen our spirits.

All that I can say is that I was wrong. It was a humble performance — the band refused to rest on their laurels. They played with full emotion, letting it all out and the crowd responded accordingly. The band had three encores and I still wish they had come out just one more time. This wasn’t another nostalgic performance — it was a perfect rock show.

Most impressive was Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar performance. Throughout the concert, he showed with each note why he is such a great musician. By the end of the show, he was sweating so much that I have no idea how he has the energy to preform several times a week. In my eyes, Buckingham was the star of an incredible show.

I have spent all day wondering how I could have been so wrong going in. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and am grateful I didn’t follow my instincts on this one.

John Kasich can be contacted at Recharge Ohio, Twitter, or Facebook

Last year,  I went to see The Police when they came to Columbus.  I could not have been more disappointed with the show.  They looked uninterested — like three solo acts who weren’t willing to play together. On top of it, they didn’t let Sting play any of his hit songs.  When someone pays a lot of money to see a show, you expect them to put some effort into entertaining you.  I drove home, hoping that the band just had an off night.

I decided to give them another chance.  Recently I caught The Police in Argentina while watching Palladia (I know I’ve blogged about Palladia before, and I’ll do it again.  It’s an absolutely fantastic way to enjoy music.)  They still didn’t play any of Sting’s greatest hits, but the band was tight and energetic.  I suppose it’s easy to get jazzed when you’re playing in front of Argentinians, but the point is they showed they still had it. If they swing through Columbus again, I may have to line up for tickets again.

John can be reached at Recharge Ohio, Twitter, or Facebook.

Palladia, however has changed that.  I was recently watching O.A.R.: Live at Madison Square Garden (Go Bucks!) on the HD Channel.  Broadcast in vivid 1080i with tremendous sound, Palladia has made music television fun again.  I felt like I was singing along to “Shattered” with the rest of the audience.  Palladia broadcasts plenty of videos, but the concerts are what make the channel a true experience.

They use programming from MTV, VH1 and CMT, but from my experience, it has been completely music centered.   I have yet to see a reality show or an hour devoted to 1973 fads. Obviously, this could change at anytime — it is owned by MTV, after all.  Until then, I’m enjoying the ride.

I may check out Foo Fighters: Live at Wembley this week.

John Kasich can be reached at Recharge Ohio, Facebook, and Twitter

I know some have grown weary of the the over-the-top story lines, but I was late to the game in watching the show.  I missed the first couple of seasons so I still sit at the edge of my seat during every commercial break.  I am still able to suspend my disbelief.

The political undertones and controversies surrounding the show never enter my mind — it’s just great TV.  ‘24′ is one of the few television shows my wife and I look forward to watching together.  The clock can’t tick fast enough for Jack Bauer’s return.