BEAUTIFUL DAZE U2 BRINGS FOCUS BACK TO MUSIC.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Critic 

So, rock music has become meaningless noise designed to soak up as much cash as fast as possible from the demented hordes?

Tell that to the rapturous crowd filling the Arrowhead Pond on Monday for the first of three dates of U2's euphoric ``Elevation Tour 2001.'' When fans weren't swaying in delirious delight, singing along with Bono or cheering at the tops of their lungs, they waved messages along the lines of ``St. Bono'' and ``U2 make life worth living.''

The Irish superstars were enthralling and sincere, bypassing the pyrotechnics of previous arena productions in favor of a simple, dramatic set and sheer bravado. The sparse stage included a thin circular ramp jutting out into the audience, placing the focus firmly on the music.

Which was just where it belonged. The crowd was treated to a thrilling display of classy musicianship, superb songs and one of rock's most charismatic and warm frontmen.

The group seemed comfortable and confident at the midpoint between the familiar sweeping anthems of the '80s and the gorgeously crafted ballads of the band's 10th studio album, ``All That You Can't Leave Behind.''

A natural, candid figure on stage, Bono, wearing black trousers, black leather jacket and sometimes shades, remained the center of attention. In a departure from the usual sneering asides of many of today's arena rockers, the singer genuinely thanked the crowd for driving long distances to come to the show, adding at one point, ``Thank you for giving us such great lives.''

Musically, U2 has never sounded better. The Edge's searing delay-laden riffs on such show-stoppers as ``Pride (In the Name of Love),'' ``Desire'' and ``Sunday Bloody Sunday'' make obvious what a clever approach to the instrument he devised by side-stepping the leaden blues cliches that are the stock in trade of so many guitarists.

On equally firm ground stood the almost nonchalant rhythm section of drummer Larry Mullen Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton, who emerge as the band's humble unsung heroes.

After a riveting opening sequence of ``Elevation,'' ``Beautiful Day'' and ``Until the End of the World,'' Bono said the band really hasn't changed all that much since one of the group's earliest local dates at the Country Club in Reseda in 1981.

``It still seems like we're singing not for our supper but for our lives,'' he said.

In another local reference, Bono introduced the Edge, who recently moved his family to Malibu: ``If you live in Los Angeles, this man just might be your next-door neighbor.''

A surprise came with a delicate version of the mostly acoustic new tune, ``Kite,'' which the band has only played on stage once before.

And in one of several touching intros, Bono dedicated the pretty ``Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of'' to close friend Michael Hutchence, the INXS singer who killed himself in 1997. ``In a Little While,'' another gentle ballad from the current album, was dedicated to the late Joey Ramone.

Contrary to some reports, U2's socio-political views have not been abandoned during the ``Elevation'' outing, which wraps up Thursday at the Pond. Beginning with footage of NRA president Charlton Heston defending his stance on gun ownership, video screens behind the stage played a rapid-fire series of clips showing the results of gun violence, ending with a child stumbling upon a weapon in a bag at home.

Bono also referred to Africa's economic and medical plight, adding ``Even rich rock stars can talk about this (stuff).''

U2 can make you laugh, think, feel and dance. If that's meaningless, we'll take a lot more of it.

U2

Where: Arrowhead Pond, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim.

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Tickets: $45 to $130.

Information: [phone].

Our rating: Four stars

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Photo:

(1 -- 3 -- color) U2's the Edge, above, and Bono, top left, kept the crowd in a rapturous mood at the Arrowhead Pond on Monday, the first night of a three-concert gig on the band's ``Elevation 2001'' tour. PJ Harvey, left, opened for the Irish quartet.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer