They may have over-reached themselves on this stadium tour, but REM didn't let a few empty seats affect their assured two-hour set.

They opened with Living Well Is The Best Revenge, from their surprisingly strong comeback album Accelerate, which set the tone for the evening. Singer Michael Stipe led the performance, a livewire in a suit and tie hanging off his microphone stand, while the band were focused and tight.

There were some giant screens with artfully blurry images, but this wasn't an extravagant show. Instead, REM simply set out to prove they're still a force to be reckoned with after 28 years.

The perfect summer weather helped, although Stipe was less sunny after tearing through the anti-Bush song Man-Sized Wreath, an off-kilter rocker that suggested he's genuinely angry rather than just following fashionable opinion. "We really hate our government," the Obama supporter told us. "But hopefully with your support this decade will end in a very positive way for my country and the world."

Stipe had already been on Sky News saying he might move to England if John McCain is elected, and he can be a po-faced sort of rock star. But most of the time he just seemed deliriously happy about singing to such a huge crowd, even if it wasn't quite the 50,000-capacity.

They stumbled on new song I'm Gonna DJ, during which the 48-year-old came across like an embarrassing uncle. However, the second half was magisterial and although REM's intelligent rock didn't need obvious, air-punching stadium moments, they did occasionally succumb. Stipe got the crowd to hold up their phones during Electrolite, illuminating the venue, and during The One I Love the giant screens showed his beaming face as he embraced the fans.

The encore of Losing My Religion proved it's still one of the best songs of the Nineties. But there were tunes for the diehards, too, including a rare outing for Perfect Circle, while Peter Buck's angular guitar solo on Country Feedback showed it wasn't all about Stipe.

"Beautiful," said the singer. "Thank you, Peter, that was stunning." It was a touching moment from a band who clearly still love performing together after nearly three decades.

It's The End Of The World As We Know It got fans of all ages dancing, although Stipe still had more energy than anyone after a couple of hours. On this form, REM can endure for years - although you suspect they'd actually write better songs under President McCain.

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