smileymbcastard
War Child
so its good to get a wrsitband then
A guy had a seizure at the start of Bad. At first he couldn't fall down b/c there were so many people around so he was just collapsing on them. People were screaming on the venue security since we were like, 2 people off the rail and they just stood there. People in the crowd had to drag this poor guy to the rail and help get him over. It wasn't until someone, who we thing was from U2's team, came over that he got any help. this guy's poor sister was freaking out and Miroslava was comforting her and had to try to get her over the rail so she could go with him. Again, security didn't do much of anything.
I think the majority of GA tickets have multiple entrances/gates listed on them (possibly for numbers/tracking purposes?)...I don't think the venues would have or give any line-up policy info until a few days before each show...I abhor how this stuff goes down in the U.S......
Paris GA was fucked up, too, but for different reasons. Also, I had the most expensive tickets for Paris 1, and, when I got to the venue, my fucking section had no seats. That's right, the whole section was being renovated, so the seats did not exist. They were relocation people to upper levels. I stayed in my area and just stood.
Point is, these problems are not exclusive to the States.
I'm sorry I don't mean to laugh but that really did make me laugh at loud!
Wow. I'm too old for all that. I think I will be hanging in the back for my show.
the guy collapsed on me..
i had to help the fucking security carry him out of the pit. my brother and i had to help his girlfriend get out too.
it was so sad.
the security in the pit didn't do jackshit. i do have to say that the security outside keeping us lined up took a lot of insults. i felt pretty bad for them and actually talked to one of the guys. my brother and i ended up getting a tip from him "the quickest way into the pit", and he directed us beforehand... leading to a rail-spot.
it was a good show, but bits of it were mildly disappointing.
Yes, I'm sure that would be disappointing but I visualized the French security seeing a bunch of 'rowdy Americans' entering the stadium, looking at their tickets and deciding to escort them to a 'section that had no seats'.
Wow. I'm too old for all that. I think I will be hanging in the back for my show.
The guy that tried to attack the security was a rowdy Parisian!
Paris was a tad messed up GA policy-wise, but, they were sure as hell ready as far as the Metro was concerned, I'll give them that.
Get there at like 5pm or so and you will find yourself a great spot towards the back....even later on, you'll find something decent....and the show will be just fine from there.
This was my first concert in the US, I was very curious to see how it would compare to gigs in Europe. I'd had an amazing day loitering around Soldier Field but the actual concert was let down by appalling sound where I was in the nosebleeds (see, I'm learning the local lingo) and a strangely subdued atmosphere.
It was great to meet Anu and co for a lovely big brunch in the morning. I got down to Soldier Field about 1pm-ish I think. It was a scorching day and the guys in the loooong but very spaced out GA queue were baking in it for hours. The potential GA conflict seemed to have been resolved amicably enough, I think they just merged the stadium queue with the day-before queue by creating a double width line at the front.
I didn't actually have a ticket for last night's show. The ticket booths still had GAs available at about 5pm, and for $57 too i.e. with no fees at all. I thought I'd use this info as a bargaining tool to haggle with ticket touts. I saw a "U2 fan" with four GAs in his hand. I asked him how much and he said £200. I told him I only wanted one, and he said that WAS the price for one. And he'd got them for cost. Others wanted $100 for a GA. "But they're still available for $57 at the ticket booth", "Really? Ok, have a nice day". Dearie me, profiteering qunts.
I got a $30 ticket for $20 from a girl who had won four at her work and wanted to sell em to make some dosh back. But there were quite a few tickets available, many below face value.
I must say, my general impression so far is that Americans are extremely friendly and approachable. (They were giving away a free pint of Guinness to anyone in a little festival-like field, so I blagged some by cheekily asking people who didn't want one to get one for me. I'm contractually obliged as an Irish man to say it's better in Dublin, but I'm not really a connoisseur. But what is this hilarious system about having to show photo ID to the police before being allowed to buy a drink? I'm 36!)
I also gatecrashed my first ever tailgate party. That was a brilliant eye-opener for me: everyone in the car-park drinking and having barbeques. And there were a LOT of people doing it, the atmosphere was great, and the location was stunning, with the dazzling Chicago skyline and sun setting behind it.
Most of the people in the tailgate parties didn't go into the stadium till about 8:30pm, some preferred to stay outside partying and listening to Snow Patrol on their stereos instead of going in to see them play, which was a little bit daft.
And then to the concert.
Many people I'd met during the day commented that Bono had said Soldier Field had the best sound they'd had so far on the tour. Well, where I was it was by far the worst sound. There was an appalling echo which ruined any possible appreciation of the music. I don't know what people who were seeing the show for the first time thought of it but I'd be very disappointed if that was my only experience of this tour.
Also, the atmosphere all around me and elsewhere I could see was non-existent for the first hour or so. People were just standing with their arms folded or hands in pockets. No-one was clapping, singing along, or barely even moving. Mostly very stationery observing of the gig. It was very odd, especially for an opening night where I thought there'd be a lot of hardcore U2 heads in. Maybe the poor sound played a part but I'd put the atmosphere last night right down with the (comparatively) poorer atmospheres at Paris and Gothenburg. Even the GA didn't seem to be too lively.
To be fair, I thought U2 were clearly trying to play a great gig, although I was a bit disappointed there was nothing new in the setlist. The only difference was the stunning new spacey video intro for the encore which ended with a solid blue colour on the screen which bathed the whole stadium in blue and convinced me was gonna be Your Blue Room. But it was Ultraviolet again. I guess they played a "safe" set to impress all the media present for opening night.
Bono called Chicago the head and heart of America, dedicated CoBL to Obama, and played a little bit on the Irish card - not unlike myself I must say
Back again tonight, let's hope the sound is much better.
The Metro is one of my favourite subways in the world - so modern and efficient!
YouTube - U2 360 - Chicago - Lift Off in Chicago
video of U2 leaving their hotel → arrival @ Soldier Field
I just thought this was kinda cool & I got this from http://www.u2spain.es // U2 360 Tour - Soldier Field, Chicago. // "When the lights went down, the green clocks popped up on the screen and we were counting down to U2's first appearance in Chicago since the recording of the live DVD on the Vertigo Tour. In fact the last time they played here outdoors was on PopMart and Soldier Field has been completely redeveloped since then.
Opening up with Breathe, it felt like the final European show in Cardiff was last night, not last month, like the band had never put down their instruments for a break. And when Bono talked about being 'an Irish boy in Chicago' during the opening of Beautiful Day, the reception matched any on the tour to date.
'We Irish like to think we played a part in building this majestic skyline,' mused Bono before 'Still Haven't Found'. 'We were the clouds.. the rain... in fact we are the wind in this windy city...'
'Let me introduce my colleagues, on sky scraping guitar, the man who makes Dr Spock look like Dr Ruth, The Edge. On bass guitar, the man who from an early age knew four strings are better than six, the elegant Adam Clayton. On drums, the thunder and lighting of the band, Larry Mullen Jnr - and when he smiles the sun comes out..'
Take a little trip with Edge and Adam from hotel to stadium in this great clip taking you right up to showtime. Maybe you're on camera."
Again- I didn't write this or tape this. Just thought it was kinda cool.
jump onto the bridge, you got to be american to try that
YouTube - U2 360 - Chicago - Lift Off in Chicago
video of U2 leaving their hotel → arrival @ Soldier Field