Another Day
The Fly
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2005
- Messages
- 97
This past weekend, we had GA Floor tickets for both San Jose shows, and I was crapping my pants, PRAYING that we'd get into the Ellipse at least ONCE.... well, I'll be a monkey's uncle, we got in TWICE!! Holy mackerel, what were the chances.
So, needless to say, my friend and I were so friggin' jacked that we were jumping around like complete buffoons when that red and black U2 logo flashed on the laptop computer screen after they scanned our tickets.
I think I jumped about 10 feet in the air and screamed "YEAH!!!", pumping my fist and rubbing it in to all the other poor fans around us that didn't win (no offense, don't be sore at me, blame Bill Gates).
Well, we got to the SJ Arena early, so we were some of the first people inside the Ellipse... maybe 30 people were already there when we jumped in.... so, of course, we ended up right near the front rail, 2nd row back, between Bono and Edge. A better spot was hardly possible. We were on a natural high, totally pumped.
Anyone who was inside the Heart last time, or inside the Ellipse this time can tell you what an amazing atmosphere exists in there... everyone is ecstatic, everyone is friendly, everyone is open, pure and joyous. You could walk up to complete strangers, say 'Congratulations!' and hug them, and they wouldn't think you're a complete nutter or rapist.
I spent about 30 minutes each night just walking around inside the Ellipse meeting people, taking their pictures and exchanging email addresses. If you're a single guy inside the Ellipse, you can get laid by a cute U2 chick easily, no prob. It's how I imagine Woodstock was back in '68, except without the bad acid and Sha-Na-Na as an opening act.
Anyway, I love to jump around a lot and sing until my voice gives out. Most real U2 fans are that way, aren't they? I can't sing worth shit, but who cares, how hard is it to yell "whoo hooo!" during 'Elevation', right?
I jokingly warn everyone around me that I get very sweaty during U2 concerts from all the pogoing I do, so either they should pogo with me, move away or enjoy getting a sponge bath from my soaking War Tour t-shirt.
I'm not worried about this crowd, though, because everyone inside the Ellipse seems to be a hardcore U2 fan. Now, I've only been to one U2 show (out of the 19 I have seen), where nearly the whole audience was singing and dancing throughout the entire set, and that was in Edinburgh, Scotland in '87... 50,000 drunken Scots, everyone yelling and singing every word to every song.. incredible. But, this Ellipse crowd seems like it's ready to blast off, such was the pre-show excitement.
Well, U2 comes on, and me and my friends go crazy. Jumping and singing, like we are shot out of a cannon. Most of the others around us are the same way... totally into it and losing their minds.
However, unfortunately, there were more than a few dolts in the Ellipse near our spots who were the lamest friggin' fans I'd ever seen.
These people spent most of the show(s) just standing there, not singing, more worried about being pushed out of their spot by us madmen than enjoying the greatest rock band in world history playing 5 feet in front of them.
This one old fart next to me spent half the show trying to protect his wife from us, using his elbows to jam us as we jumped around, and planting his feet firmly on the floor, as if to say, "You ain't gonna make me move, boys!"
I'd talked to these people before the show began, and they seemed really cool. But, what the hell were they doing in the front row of the Ellipse if they were just going to stand there like trees flapping in the wind?
Hey, I totally relate to the mellow dudes who just want to watch the show calmly and quietly, that's cool. Stand in the back of Ellipse and chill there with all the space you want and enjoy the spectacle, no prob, I've done it myself.
But, if you're in the most sought-after spot in the entire country on that particular night, you'd better expect a little motion in there. You're at a U2 concert, fer chrissakes, not the James Taylor Unplugged special, show some damn life.
What are you doing near the front of the Ellipse anyway if you're just going to stand there and try to play linebacker against everyone else pogoing around you? Go get some sit-down tickets next time, you boring bastard.
Maybe I should be more respectful of all these old people. Hell, I'm 38 already, nearly time to kick the bucket myself.
I'd understand it if U2 was playing 'Running To Stand Still' twenty times in a row, but they're out there banging us over the head with some of the greatest rock anthems every created by Man, with the legendary Edge on one side of you crunching and smashing his guitar in front of your face, and a future Nobel Peace Prize winner standing on the other side of you belting his lungs out to one classic song after another.
Don't just stand there, do something!
Or, better yet, do us all a favor and get the hell out of the way.
PS. If they actually played 'Running To Stand Still" twenty times in row, I'd still yell and scream and pogo from beginning to end, I'm not a set-list nazi.
Thanks for listening, I feel better already.
So, needless to say, my friend and I were so friggin' jacked that we were jumping around like complete buffoons when that red and black U2 logo flashed on the laptop computer screen after they scanned our tickets.
I think I jumped about 10 feet in the air and screamed "YEAH!!!", pumping my fist and rubbing it in to all the other poor fans around us that didn't win (no offense, don't be sore at me, blame Bill Gates).
Well, we got to the SJ Arena early, so we were some of the first people inside the Ellipse... maybe 30 people were already there when we jumped in.... so, of course, we ended up right near the front rail, 2nd row back, between Bono and Edge. A better spot was hardly possible. We were on a natural high, totally pumped.
Anyone who was inside the Heart last time, or inside the Ellipse this time can tell you what an amazing atmosphere exists in there... everyone is ecstatic, everyone is friendly, everyone is open, pure and joyous. You could walk up to complete strangers, say 'Congratulations!' and hug them, and they wouldn't think you're a complete nutter or rapist.
I spent about 30 minutes each night just walking around inside the Ellipse meeting people, taking their pictures and exchanging email addresses. If you're a single guy inside the Ellipse, you can get laid by a cute U2 chick easily, no prob. It's how I imagine Woodstock was back in '68, except without the bad acid and Sha-Na-Na as an opening act.
Anyway, I love to jump around a lot and sing until my voice gives out. Most real U2 fans are that way, aren't they? I can't sing worth shit, but who cares, how hard is it to yell "whoo hooo!" during 'Elevation', right?
I jokingly warn everyone around me that I get very sweaty during U2 concerts from all the pogoing I do, so either they should pogo with me, move away or enjoy getting a sponge bath from my soaking War Tour t-shirt.
I'm not worried about this crowd, though, because everyone inside the Ellipse seems to be a hardcore U2 fan. Now, I've only been to one U2 show (out of the 19 I have seen), where nearly the whole audience was singing and dancing throughout the entire set, and that was in Edinburgh, Scotland in '87... 50,000 drunken Scots, everyone yelling and singing every word to every song.. incredible. But, this Ellipse crowd seems like it's ready to blast off, such was the pre-show excitement.
Well, U2 comes on, and me and my friends go crazy. Jumping and singing, like we are shot out of a cannon. Most of the others around us are the same way... totally into it and losing their minds.
However, unfortunately, there were more than a few dolts in the Ellipse near our spots who were the lamest friggin' fans I'd ever seen.
These people spent most of the show(s) just standing there, not singing, more worried about being pushed out of their spot by us madmen than enjoying the greatest rock band in world history playing 5 feet in front of them.
This one old fart next to me spent half the show trying to protect his wife from us, using his elbows to jam us as we jumped around, and planting his feet firmly on the floor, as if to say, "You ain't gonna make me move, boys!"
I'd talked to these people before the show began, and they seemed really cool. But, what the hell were they doing in the front row of the Ellipse if they were just going to stand there like trees flapping in the wind?
Hey, I totally relate to the mellow dudes who just want to watch the show calmly and quietly, that's cool. Stand in the back of Ellipse and chill there with all the space you want and enjoy the spectacle, no prob, I've done it myself.
But, if you're in the most sought-after spot in the entire country on that particular night, you'd better expect a little motion in there. You're at a U2 concert, fer chrissakes, not the James Taylor Unplugged special, show some damn life.
What are you doing near the front of the Ellipse anyway if you're just going to stand there and try to play linebacker against everyone else pogoing around you? Go get some sit-down tickets next time, you boring bastard.
Maybe I should be more respectful of all these old people. Hell, I'm 38 already, nearly time to kick the bucket myself.
I'd understand it if U2 was playing 'Running To Stand Still' twenty times in a row, but they're out there banging us over the head with some of the greatest rock anthems every created by Man, with the legendary Edge on one side of you crunching and smashing his guitar in front of your face, and a future Nobel Peace Prize winner standing on the other side of you belting his lungs out to one classic song after another.
Don't just stand there, do something!
Or, better yet, do us all a favor and get the hell out of the way.
PS. If they actually played 'Running To Stand Still" twenty times in row, I'd still yell and scream and pogo from beginning to end, I'm not a set-list nazi.
Thanks for listening, I feel better already.
