jphelmet
Refugee
(Disclaimer- I was simply trying to put down into words what seeing this band 23 times over the last 13 years has meant and why this tour was so special. This is rambling and not as cohesive as I would like- but I am not a writer. Words cannot really describe fully my thought on this anyway )
Just a few thoughts on my U2 vertigo tour. I got to see 6 shows, 3 in may, 2 in November, and one in December. I think this is a wonderful tour, and really this band is still at the top of their game. There has been no let down in the last 13 years since I first was them on March 13, 1992 when I was a freshman in high school. Without comparing each tour, and trying to declare a winner between any certain tours- I would say this tour is as good as anything they have done. Maybe it’s the time in my life, and the unknown of ever getting to see U2 again- or if they will tour again but something about this tour stirred a lot emotions- different from past shows. Different in that, these shows were very personal and reflective for me. I spent almost all six shows just quietly watching, taking it all in. I was, while at each show (and still am), continually amazed at what this band does every night. I was struck by the chances Bono takes every night. Chance to look like an absolute fool in order to connect with a large audience (crawling on stage during bullet, his drum playing on lapoe, and doing magic tricks to a child on stage). Chances by pouring out his heart about Africa and the things he cares so much about. Chances by so getting inside those songs when he sings each night and then doing it over and over. Chances to show his faith and what he believes in (Yahweh, Gloria, 40, the First time). This band is so great because this is not just a show, they are not just entertaining, this is what they believe and they give it their all every night to make it the greatest show they can possibly give.
I was blown away so many times throughout Vertigo ‘05. I was blown away that I finally got to see An Cat Dubh/ Into The Heart, Gloria, The Ocean, and The Electric Co. Blown away that a band can play songs that are 25 years old, and they are still has relevant and fresh today as they were when the were first written.
I was blown away by, no matter how many times I have seen it (23), I still get chills when Streets starts. I was blown away by the ZOO TV set- reliving the greatest concert experience of my life. I was blown away that the songs written for this album are every bit as good as any they have ever written. I was blown away by the First Time, and new ending about Grace. I was blown away by seeing Bad end a wonderful show.
I was blown away to see 20k people singing Yahweh with me at MSG. I was blown away with getting to see 40- the band leaving one at a time, and Larry’s last drum solo/ goodbye.
I was blown away, and thankful for the gift of music. As I watched, and listened to songs that have been with me my whole life (I bought UF in the 5th grade in 1985), I was thankful for the gift of music. The wonderful gift of those songs, and the talents God has given those four men and how He has used them in my life. To paraphrase Bono’s speech from Miracle Drug- the way God can inspire musicians to make the greatest music in the world.
Blown away as I listened to Original of The Species, and Sometimes You Can’t… with the thought of becoming a new father in a couple of months, they took on a whole new deeper meaning. Blown away by the range of emotions through just listening to the songs I have sat and listened to literally thousands of times, and then seeing them performed in a way that was beyond my expectations every time out.
This will never fully express what I felt at these shows- but all I can say is thank you to U2. Thanks for making the greatest music in the world. Thanks for spending years of your lives traveling the globe and playing for millions of people. Thank you for giving it all every time out, and always putting on the greatest rock show in the world.
Just a few thoughts on my U2 vertigo tour. I got to see 6 shows, 3 in may, 2 in November, and one in December. I think this is a wonderful tour, and really this band is still at the top of their game. There has been no let down in the last 13 years since I first was them on March 13, 1992 when I was a freshman in high school. Without comparing each tour, and trying to declare a winner between any certain tours- I would say this tour is as good as anything they have done. Maybe it’s the time in my life, and the unknown of ever getting to see U2 again- or if they will tour again but something about this tour stirred a lot emotions- different from past shows. Different in that, these shows were very personal and reflective for me. I spent almost all six shows just quietly watching, taking it all in. I was, while at each show (and still am), continually amazed at what this band does every night. I was struck by the chances Bono takes every night. Chance to look like an absolute fool in order to connect with a large audience (crawling on stage during bullet, his drum playing on lapoe, and doing magic tricks to a child on stage). Chances by pouring out his heart about Africa and the things he cares so much about. Chances by so getting inside those songs when he sings each night and then doing it over and over. Chances to show his faith and what he believes in (Yahweh, Gloria, 40, the First time). This band is so great because this is not just a show, they are not just entertaining, this is what they believe and they give it their all every night to make it the greatest show they can possibly give.
I was blown away so many times throughout Vertigo ‘05. I was blown away that I finally got to see An Cat Dubh/ Into The Heart, Gloria, The Ocean, and The Electric Co. Blown away that a band can play songs that are 25 years old, and they are still has relevant and fresh today as they were when the were first written.
I was blown away by, no matter how many times I have seen it (23), I still get chills when Streets starts. I was blown away by the ZOO TV set- reliving the greatest concert experience of my life. I was blown away that the songs written for this album are every bit as good as any they have ever written. I was blown away by the First Time, and new ending about Grace. I was blown away by seeing Bad end a wonderful show.
I was blown away to see 20k people singing Yahweh with me at MSG. I was blown away with getting to see 40- the band leaving one at a time, and Larry’s last drum solo/ goodbye.
I was blown away, and thankful for the gift of music. As I watched, and listened to songs that have been with me my whole life (I bought UF in the 5th grade in 1985), I was thankful for the gift of music. The wonderful gift of those songs, and the talents God has given those four men and how He has used them in my life. To paraphrase Bono’s speech from Miracle Drug- the way God can inspire musicians to make the greatest music in the world.
Blown away as I listened to Original of The Species, and Sometimes You Can’t… with the thought of becoming a new father in a couple of months, they took on a whole new deeper meaning. Blown away by the range of emotions through just listening to the songs I have sat and listened to literally thousands of times, and then seeing them performed in a way that was beyond my expectations every time out.
This will never fully express what I felt at these shows- but all I can say is thank you to U2. Thanks for making the greatest music in the world. Thanks for spending years of your lives traveling the globe and playing for millions of people. Thank you for giving it all every time out, and always putting on the greatest rock show in the world.
U2 
