U2 IS now the only superpower left in the pop world. And they came together with the world’s last superpower on Monday for the opening night of the 110-date Vertigo/2005 world tour at an unremarkable 14,000-capacity arena on the outskirts of San Diego.

Although a much smaller venue than the stadiums that the group will play in Britain this summer, by the time that they had finished the event felt more like a date with destiny than anything so mundane as a concert.

Visually, there were distinct echoes of U2’s last Elevation tour. The stage area was extended in an ellipsis, which completely encircled those members of the audience lucky enough to have been (randomly) selected to stand closest to the performers.

Thus Bono was able to wander out on the walkway into the middle of the crowd, a dramatic device that he used to its full potential.

Above was a screen divided into four sections, which, instead of the usual feverish mélange of images, simply kept an unwavering eye on each of the four musicians.

Even before they began with City of Blinding Lights, a blizzard of confetti enveloped the cheering crowd as a shimmering “wall” of silver links descended behind the stage. As they stepped up a gear with Vertigo, the edges of the ellipsis were illuminated with red stripes, which chased around in big loops, turning the stage into a luminous Scalectrix track. The effect was exciting, original and pretty.

Although now entering their 27th year together and having recently been inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, U2 have avoided turning into a nostalgia turn. Their current album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, is one of their most successful yet.

Several new numbers, such as All Because Of You and Love and Peace Or Else, already sounded like old favourites, even though this was the first time that they had been played live. Others, such as An Cat Dubh and Cry from the band’s debut album, Boy — sounded fresh and different.

Having grown accustomed to seeing Bono in his role as saviour of the world, it was reassuring to discover that he remains the consummate showman. He sang Sunday Bloody Sunday and Bullet the Blue Sky with a tremendous sense of mission while wearing a headband that he mysteriously adjusted to become a blindfold.

The Edge played sublime guitar and occasional keyboards while triggering all sorts of samples and effects with his busy feet, and the rhythm section of bass player Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr forged ahead with a bold swagger.

A flurry of hits, including The Fly, Elevation, Where the Streets Have No Name and a yearning One gave way to a final psalm-like encore of 40.

Conjuring the illusion of intimacy with a natural grandiloquence, U2 have maintained their implacable sense of purpose while all those around them have faltered or to some extent fallen by the wayside. This show marked yet another sure-footed step along the road.

U2 play City of Manchester Stadium, June 14; Twickenham Stadium, June 18, 19; Hampden Park, Glasgow, June 21; Croke Park, Dublin, June 24, 25; Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, June 29

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