Boston, March 11 Part 3

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No. I was standing at the rail by the truck, right by the last group of people they shoke hands with before getting into the cars. WEre you there?

Sadly I wasn't. There was a woman on the news with a pink scarf who got a kiss from bono and she was very excited :flirt:
 
So, was last night's show live on MTV or has it yet to be broadcast? If it was live, does anyone have video? I haven't checked U2Torrents yet.
 
Sadly I wasn't. There was a woman on the news with a pink scarf who got a kiss from bono and she was very excited :flirt:

Lisa Mullen...she was on like every channel and she's on page 6 of the Herald.
I wonder if she posts here.
And why did she have to go to such lengths for a Bono kiss if she's Larry's sister?
 
:drool::drool::drool::drool: So the people who won entry to the show get to go to a private party with them???? :drool::drool::drool::drool:

VIP's ONLY.

hi everyone! so I have a similar story!!! HOW I ALMOST GOT IN! well technically I actually did!

SO my friend had taken tickets to go see The Wrestler at the Somerville Theater. She had bought tickets for us a few days ago after all our unsuccessful attempts to win tickets on the radio. We were pretty sad about it, so she decided we would watch a movie and go out for drinks at a bar in Davis Square and possibly listen to the show. Anyway, the irony was of course when we found out that the Theater was the actual place of the concert!!! so all day, I wondered if we should still try to head there or not. Finally, we decided to go and see if we could use our movie tickets. There were many people there at the door and the security guys were asking everyone to leave. We naively asked what was to happen to our tickets and they told us, "oh you guys can get in then!". SO, calmly we go in and HEAR Bono sing! it was so crazy! we ended up in the movie theater with 6 other people watching the movie while trying to figure out what to do afterwards. IN the end of the movie, 6 of us stayed and did everything we could not to leave. We used the restrooms, hid in the corridors....Anyway, we were not able to see them, but we were able to listen to the first 4 songs. The security people saw us, but let us stay there for a while. It was really exciting to listen to them even though we could not see anything...there was just a wall between us and them. Quite electrifying!

I saw numerous people getting kicked out of the theater by cops. There was a leak somewhere and people were getting in.

So, where was the after party? One source says the Burrren and another says in Harvard Square?

Harvard Square. Upstairs on the Square. Private, VIP only.
 
VIP's ONLY.



I saw numerous people getting kicked out of the theater by cops. There was a leak somewhere and people were getting in.



Harvard Square. Upstairs on the Square. Private, VIP only.

I was secretly hoping they went all night and I bump into them getting coffee this morning. Sadly, they did not and I did not. :sad:
 
hi everyone! so I have a similar story!!! HOW I ALMOST GOT IN! well technically I actually did!

SO my friend had taken tickets to go see The Wrestler at the Somerville Theater. She had bought tickets for us a few days ago after all our unsuccessful attempts to win tickets on the radio. We were pretty sad about it, so she decided we would watch a movie and go out for drinks at a bar in Davis Square and possibly listen to the show. Anyway, the irony was of course when we found out that the Theater was the actual place of the concert!!! so all day, I wondered if we should still try to head there or not. Finally, we decided to go and see if we could use our movie tickets. There were many people there at the door and the security guys were asking everyone to leave. We naively asked what was to happen to our tickets and they told us, "oh you guys can get in then!". SO, calmly we go in and HEAR Bono sing! it was so crazy! we ended up in the movie theater with 6 other people watching the movie while trying to figure out what to do afterwards. IN the end of the movie, 6 of us stayed and did everything we could not to leave. We used the restrooms, hid in the corridors....Anyway, we were not able to see them, but we were able to listen to the first 4 songs. The security people saw us, but let us stay there for a while. It was really exciting to listen to them even though we could not see anything...there was just a wall between us and them. Quite electrifying!



Great story....I love hearing everyone's stories and wish you all were able to get in!
 
Derek, cant believe you didnt get in. I thought you were there when you made it up to Davis as quickly as we did.

pretty cool night for sure. there were 2 color wristbands, blue and pink. I didnt see any people actually receive a blue band so Id say they were VVIPs that got to go to Harvard Sq afte party on the 1 bus that was spotted

the run down, was meet at MoS, get a wristband and ticket. ticket loations were generated randomly so there was no reason to rush for a band/ticket. my wife was flying in and I wasnt sure if she was going to make it on time (which is why Derek was there for back up). we ended waiting on line for almost 2 hours from 6:30 to 8:15 to get the goods. completely orderly, but of course very stressful when you're thinking its never going to end and 9 is coming up quickly. We were last on line with 2 other people joining the line later on (who were somewhat connected with the staff).

all of the people that were at the back of line near us, ended up getting a the deal of the century, front row (or 2) of the balcony. couldnt of had a better seat (except for the front row people that Bono made move up to the stage at the beginning of Boots). it was amazing. the seats were done randomly because I saw people who were on the buses with tickets before my wife was even there and before we got online end up with seats way up behind us.

the show was awesome, of course. dont need to review that. Q and As, some were great, some have been asked a million times. to answer the Maine question that people have asked about, Bono said.......ummmmmm with a few laughs. as in, you shitting me?? he then made a joke saying the band would stay in the 1 bedroom in the whol state of Maine. not nice Bono! the boys were great, funny and relaxed. its awesome to see them bust on each other like they are just 4 mates having a pint. it was fun to watch Larry bite his lip so many times. I think he might drop a whole lot of 1 liners on them when they are not in public. I have a friend like that, never talks, but every time he opens his mouth something funny is coming out, usually at my expense.

crowd was very cool, much older than I expected, but it was mostly invitees there and not contest winners. from what I saw, the invitees were as into the show, if not more so, than the people I suspected were contest winners. including 1 couple sitting the whole show with 1st row balcony seats, and leaving as soon as the songs were done!! she was probably the chick that didnt know Bono's real name when she won tix...

amazing how much work went into the whole set up for 5 songs and a 1 hour broadcast. between setting up at MoS, police escorts for the band and buses, the stage set up, all the Davis Sq arrangements. just amazing.

great night. and to make things for those that didnt get in a little better, there wasnt any chance for the people who saw the show to meet the band. so those that didnt get in, but went to Davis Sq experienced something we had no chance to do. OK, Id still rather be IN....
 
Wow, just...........wow. What an amazing night.

I got there around 5:30, and met up with Josh aka Spaceboy. A person from interscope came out and told us how things would work: they'd be checking ID's and giving us wristbands and tickets. He pretty much threatened us with death if we brought cell phones or cameras. :lol: But when I was at the show, so many people around me had them and didn't get kicked out. I needed my cell on me to stay in touch with my mom, who was in the city and I would be meeting up with after the show. That kind of pissed me off that they threatened us for nothing.

The line to get checked in was one huge clusterfuck. We were supposed to leave around 6:45, didn't leave until 7:55. It was kind of frustrating, but so worth it. Reminded me of getting back in line to do GA at the Garden. Seating was random. Josh and I wound up in the balcony. I was dissapointed for maybe a second, but got over it very quickly. Still had an awesome view. :up: We got on the bus, and we had police escorts down to the theater. We were all cheering everytime we got to run a red light. :lol: When I got on the bus, I started freaking out for the first time and hugging Josh. Talked to some cool fans in front of us from @u2. We arrived after 8 to huge crowds outside the theater.

U2 went on at 9. The energy was amazing. Get On Your Boots live..........wow!!! I started off dislking the song after I heard it 2 months ago, after last night it's now a favorite. Then they performed Magnificent, Crazy Tonight :heart:, and Breathe. Bono was a little off during Breathe, but other than that amazing. They closed with Vertigo, which brought down the house. After the show I heard a few fans bitching that they played Vertigo and not another new song. I wanted to yell, "Um, there are so many people who would kill to be you right now. Quit your bitching!" :mad:

After the set came the Q+A. Larry swore a few times and Bono had to remind him we were on live radio. :lol: During the commercial breaks they weren't just sitting there and talking to the host. They were interacting with us and answering questions. Bono had us all sing Happy Birthday to Adam. :D He asked us who was at the show that had been at the Paradise and which U2 fans were at a U2 show for the first time.

It was just an amazing experience. Wow, just wowowowowow. Thank you U2!
 
ohh and for video that has been seen on the news. there was 1 boom crane camera zooming all over. it was anchored under the balcony in on the right side in front of Adam. the crane reached out from under the balcony to in front of it and went 2/3rds the way across the stage to Edge's spot. tiny stage.

there were also camera guys walking around the front of the stage with the steady cam set up harness thing. and I think there was one camera at the end of the middle aisle of the balcony.

the camera men down front had an easy job, at 1st. Until Bono called the front row up to the edge of the stage (there is probably 10 to 15 feet between stage and 1st row of seats. that made it a little tougher for the camera man. Then bono kept waving people up. people started jumping the seats to fill the area before the 1st row. pretty cool. much better for the video if the people are all over the stage obviously, but made the cameraman's job way harder...
 
Love the reports! It eases the disappointment... I'm confused by this:

"to answer the Maine question that people have asked about, Bono said.......ummmmmm with a few laughs. as in, you shitting me?? he then made a joke saying the band would stay in the 1 bedroom in the whol state of Maine. not nice Bono!"

What was the ?

Thanks!
 
Love the reports! It eases the disappointment... I'm confused by this:

"to answer the Maine question that people have asked about, Bono said.......ummmmmm with a few laughs. as in, you shitting me?? he then made a joke saying the band would stay in the 1 bedroom in the whol state of Maine. not nice Bono!"

What was the ?

Thanks!

She asked if/when they would come play in Maine! LOL
 
I have 2 crap camera phone pics from my seats. trying to upload. can anybody help??

as other people said, security pat down was a waste. I had cargo pants on and they didnt even pat down below the waste. I had kept my phone so I could get in touch with the wife since she was late. I was prepared to chuck it or hide it at MoS if I had to. wish I knew, would have brought my real camera and gotten some amazing shots.
 
All right, here goes nothin'! Hope it's not too long.....

I incredibly won tickets last Monday, and brought my dear friend who is another huge U2 fan. She heard my name on the radio and called me while I was in the green card appointment with my husband (LOL). Thankfully the appointment got over before the time limit and I was able to call WAAF and claim the tickets!

Part I.

What a feeling coming into work today with these memories so immediate in my mind! There was a definite bounce in my step this morning and I feel like my whole body is smiling. My ears still have a faint ring in them, reminding me something special happened last night.

It all started out meeting at the Museum of Science, pretty uneventful but nerve-wracking nonetheless, as most pre-GA events are. The crowd slowwwly grows, and then tour buses start pulling up. Coordinators appear, and we're given some info about the night, that they'll play 4 (or did he say 5?) songs, they'll be a Q&A and we will write out our question beforehand so the band can read them and pick the ones they want, and that it's gonna be a special night for us. They promise us that there are pre assigned seats, randomly preassigned, so there is no need to worry about where you are in line or rush to the first bus. They insist it doesn't matter. There's not many directions at all, so there are just hundreds of people now milling around in the lobby and outside, waiting. Eventually they have us form a line, it's very very long and about 5 people deep!

It took them a long time to get to us - we estimate about 35-45 minutes until we got to the front of the line. When we did, the woman in charge checked my ID, crossed my name off the list, and told the ticket people "two!" My friend and I stepped up, got a pink "This is not a ticket!" wristband on our right wrist, and then were handed 2 ticketmaster tickets. The tickets say Somerville Theater, the date, "U2 3 Nights" and told us we were in the orchestra!

Soon enough the first 4 buses (there were 8 total) were filled, and the next thing we hear are police sirens, see the flashing lights, and rock and roll stops the traffic as we are given a police escort through the streets of Cambridge and Somerville to the theater. It was the most amazing thing ever, seriously! The McGrath Highway, all the major intersections along the way, everything is blocked off by the cops on motorcycles with flashing lights. We sped through red lights, rumbled down potholed streets as people stood outside their houses or buildings, waving at us and watching the spectacle. My friend reminded me of the ZooTV moment where Bono notes the "four jerks and a police escort" and we laugh. I felt very loved by the band, to be given this sort of treatment; it was a real gift for them to do to this for their fans. And it was so fun! Our bus was cheering, clapping, chanting, maybe even singing a note or two!

When we pull up to Davis Square we see the paparazzi scene it has become. Times like these remind us again that our little beloved Irish band is actually a massive beloved Irish band, known across the globe and best friends to millions upon millions of people. Yet they always manage to write music that seems to have been written only for you, and when they play, it seems to be a celebration done just for you.

We exit the bus, awed at the throngs of people waiting behind the barricades, 5 rows deep. I sincerely thought with all my being that I would be part of that crowd, waiting, watching, hoping. I never imagined I would be on the inside, that I would have won tickets for the show. I send up some prayers of gratitude as we got in line again outside the theater.

News media were swarming around us, interviewing everyone and taking photos of the chaos. The police where everywhere. Some of the ticket winners were talking about how they won and where they came from; around us were people from New York, Rhode Island, and Maine! Quite a contingent was assembled for this show! To our right was the long line of the other lucky people: VIPs. They all had their cell phones out and cameras ready. Not that we were bitter about that! <G> Not that they all weren't wearing suits either. Ha!

Finally they started letting us in. They did a brief bag search/glance, and then patted us down. As soon as we walk through the door we walk past one of the familiar security faces and suddenly, This is Real.

The theater is much much much smaller than I imagined, even though I've been in theaters like this before. We are led to the left side, and can't believe how close our seats are. It's amazing. We sit in awe for several minutes, watching everyone. The theater is pretty empty at this point with people slowly drizzling in from the beer stand. The back row of the theater, standing behind the divide, are all people in black, maybe industry or radio people, or those controlling the video/audio recording. There's a huge, gorgeous camera on one of those extendable arm thingys up in the air, waiting to zoom down and around and film the show. The stage is flanked by four huge speaker systems. Larry's drumkit is all set up, and the back red brick wall is exposed behind the action. In front of it hangs huge black tubes that spell out "U 2."

The host of the night was the ex-deejay from MTV, Slay. He came out on stage and started talking to the crowd to get us riled up and ready for the show. I was freaking out. This was Real! Then, it was happening - those beautiful moments immediately before the show starts, when you know that they are waiting in the wings, only just out of your line of sight, listening to the same words, jumping up and down to the same music, psyching themselves up as we were ourselves - those beautiful, excited, anticipatory moments before they step out on stage, before a line is crossed, before you go from not having seen them in 5 years to being in the same room with them, communing with them, in the language that unites us. The moment that will begin the next hour or so you will spend with the band, the precious moments you get to be in their presence, listening to them make music, experiencing it with them. Those few, rare, precious moments when the stage is still empty and the screaming is building to a crescendo, are my favorite moments on earth.

Then Larry appears and it's over, the waiting and anticipating and surrealness is all over, only to be replaced by ecstasy, another type of surrealness, this one where the image doesn't disappear no matter how hard you rub your eyes. He's smiling and walking slowly to the drum kit, a bit of a change from a regular show, where he definitely seemed more relaxed, like he knew he was playing for a bunch of his friends. Or maybe he was more nervous because of that. You can't be sure because in the next moment a beanie on a body magically appears from the smoke on stage, smiling, his smooth skin shining, guitar in hand like he was born like that. My eyes are still searching the entrance to the stage - there are more, there are more to come. I didn't see Adam come on, since he was on the other side of the stage; one minute it was empty, the next minute he was there and Bono was there, raising his hands, his body bending and accepting the force of the enormous wave of sound that hit him, as if it had been building in the ocean for days, rolling inevitably toward his shore, just waiting for him to crash onto.

And they hadn't even played one note of music yet.
 
I have 2 crap camera phone pics from my seats. trying to upload.

as other people said, security pat down was a waste. I had cargo pants on and they didnt even pat down below the waste. I had kept my phone so I could get in touch with the wife since she was late. I was prepared to chuck it or hide it at MoS if I had to. wish I knew, would have brought my real camera and gotten some amazing shots.

They only checked my purse. Didn't ask me to open my jacket or anything.
 
Part II

The band slams right into Get On Your Boots. GoYB was great live, really electric with high energy. Right away Bono starts motioning for people to move closer to him. It seemed mostly everyone in the front row hesitated to do so. Bono motioned again, leaning towards the crowd, singing, and this time a couple people joined in, leaning forward to rock out with him. When he sings the line "women of the future hold a big revelation" he gave such a look to a woman down front that independently my friend and I groaned, simultaneously! Huzzah!! He kept motioning for people to move closer, and he was totally right because it looked a little "bare" with the empty space between him and the front row suits. At this point a few fans flew past us to get down there and we joined in!!! The amazing luck continued!

From our new amazing spot we pogeyed through GoYB and hugged over Magnificent, which was beauuuuutiful live. I kept telling myself, breathe, take this all in, take it all in...! I wanted to soak up every moment: Edge practically touchable, just an arm's length away with his satined skin glory; Larry, flashing moob and even standing up to sing during GoYB; Adam, steady and calm and sexy as always; and Bono, throwing his guts into each lyric. At one point during Magnificent Bono freaking lifts and then takes off his glasses!!! We got naked blue eyes staring out at us, squinting a bit, smiling like he knows the treat it is. The audience gave a loud reaction to that.

I'll Go Crazy was next... I think at the beginning of Crazy he goofed some of the words, kinda made a "oops" face lol. This song started out slow, I thought, with not much audience involvement, but towards the end it nearly stole the show. It was really exciting and Edge totally rocked the song.

Onto Breathe, yippeeee, yippeee!! Something was wrong with Edge's guitar during the song, as right after the intro he started pulling faces and then motioning to Dallas. Bono motioned off/back stage at one point too (I think it was for the same song). But Edge's problem didn't' get fixed, and he looked agitated throughout the whole song. I thought I heard a few off notes, but since I'm not musically gifted wrong notes could hit me in the face without me knowing. After the song he went and spoke with Dallas and I assume Dallas got it fixed.

I was really just taking it all in but so I don't remember too much about the individual songs, except total glee and amazement at being one of the first people on earth to hear these songs live. That's really amazing!!

I think at one point during Breathe (or was it Vertigo?) Bono started like, ripping at his jacket, opening it and yanking it off a shoulder, then putting it back on, then yanking it open again. Not sure what he was doing, but there was the sense of "exposure" in there to match the lyrics and intensity.

"Our last tune," Bono announces before Vertigo. Vertigo was a surprise; I didn't know what the 5th song would be, and musically it sounded different than Vertigo's ever sounded. It had more NLOTH-esque sounds than ever. I thought it was fantastic! The audience REALLY got into that song, screaming "Uno, dos, tres, catorce!" with Bono and pogeying and really going crazy with them.

"See you at the end of the summer," Bono says at the end, then grins, "or maybe in 5-"

Lights go up, band goes off, Slay comes on, and the steam rises to the ceiling as aftershocks roll off the audience in waves.
 
From our new amazing spot we pogeyed through GoYB and hugged over Magnificent, which was beauuuuutiful live. I kept telling myself, breathe, take this all in, take it all in...! I wanted to soak up every moment: Edge practically touchable, just an arm's length away with his satined skin glory; Larry, flashing moob and even standing up to sing during GoYB; Adam, steady and calm and sexy as always; and Bono, throwing his guts into each lyric. At one point during Magnificent Bono freaking lifts and then takes off his glasses!!! We got naked blue eyes staring out at us, squinting a bit, smiling like he knows the treat it is. The audience gave a loud reaction to that.

.

Mods feel free to move this paragraph to Pleba so those of us of the male persuasion need not read it. :lol:
 
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