Mrs. Garrison
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
Got back from Nashville late last night, the show was incredible, and boy was it ever HOT HOT HOT! We came from Oklahoma, where it's been averaging 103 degrees everyday but i haven't sweated like i did in Nashville for a long time. I bet we drank 8-10 bottles of water each throughout the day, if not more.
It was great to see old friends from Alabama and some other friends we'd met in Dallas & Norman of this tour. Also met some really cool people from Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, California, and of course Tennessee. Everybody played along well and were really good sports despite the absurd heat.
And can i just say that Nashville may just be the friendliest, most laid back city I've ever visited? Everywhere we went people were very approachable, friendly, and made us feel very welcome. And the area around town and the University is absolutely beautiful.
The show itself was the best 360 show i have seen yet. It's the kind of show you want your friends to see if they have never seen U2 play live. Despite the heat, Bono strolls out in his trademark black leather pants & jacket like its not a big deal, and they blast through the capacity stadium with a Barrage of Achtung Baby with scorching guitar to match and better the evening heat.
U2 might just be the musical and emotional equivalent of driving flat out on a scenic super speedway in the worlds greatest supercar, and then pulling over later for choice cuts of meat and a bottle of something twice your age while on a balcony overlooking the Riviera. They've covered all of the bases. If i ever get a speeding ticket from a hot air balloon then I'm sure they'd have that analogy covered as well.
I don't think i have one particular favorite moment; Even Better & the Fly made the stadium shake, Zooropa was truly "punk rock on Venus" as far as I'm concerned, The Wanderer was a surprise and a very emotional tribute to Johnny Cash, Hold Me Thrill Me was ape-shit with Bono swinging from the hanging mike through the fog like an alien Tarzan boy. And then the surprise ending with All I want is You....i just have to say the ENTIRE SHOW would have to qualify as my favorite moment....U2 at the FKNG ABSOLUTE BEST setting the bar impossibly HIGH.
All around us and way up in the stands and bleachers the crowd ROCKED. They might not have been as loud during ISHFWILF as i witnessed in Norman, but they certainly made up for it the other 95% of the time.
Around the stadium there was the giant Marriott hotel and an adjacent parking garage, it was interesting looking up at the hotel and seeing people packed in the rooms watching a free show from the upper floors. Same thing with the upper levels of the parking garage, just a cool thing to see.
Florence and the Machine were great openers. Her voice filled the stadium in a haunting and melodic way that sent chills way up. They are a great band and the best opener for this tour i have seen (previously MUSE and BEP's).
Sitting in Graceland yesterday eating a club sandwich, fries, and coke in the Rockabilly cafe looking out at Elvis' airplanes, it sort of hit home while listening to the kings gospel tracks play. It was an emotional moment, knowing he was buried just up the hill, and after the Beatles, Elvis, and U2 there just isn't anyone else out there who are going to be icons. Our kids won't have anyone like this...i wouldn't go through all of this travel and expense and 12 hours in extreme heat for any other band. And it was all so very much worth it i cant wait to do it over again in St Louis....
It was great to see old friends from Alabama and some other friends we'd met in Dallas & Norman of this tour. Also met some really cool people from Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, California, and of course Tennessee. Everybody played along well and were really good sports despite the absurd heat.
And can i just say that Nashville may just be the friendliest, most laid back city I've ever visited? Everywhere we went people were very approachable, friendly, and made us feel very welcome. And the area around town and the University is absolutely beautiful.
The show itself was the best 360 show i have seen yet. It's the kind of show you want your friends to see if they have never seen U2 play live. Despite the heat, Bono strolls out in his trademark black leather pants & jacket like its not a big deal, and they blast through the capacity stadium with a Barrage of Achtung Baby with scorching guitar to match and better the evening heat.
U2 might just be the musical and emotional equivalent of driving flat out on a scenic super speedway in the worlds greatest supercar, and then pulling over later for choice cuts of meat and a bottle of something twice your age while on a balcony overlooking the Riviera. They've covered all of the bases. If i ever get a speeding ticket from a hot air balloon then I'm sure they'd have that analogy covered as well.
I don't think i have one particular favorite moment; Even Better & the Fly made the stadium shake, Zooropa was truly "punk rock on Venus" as far as I'm concerned, The Wanderer was a surprise and a very emotional tribute to Johnny Cash, Hold Me Thrill Me was ape-shit with Bono swinging from the hanging mike through the fog like an alien Tarzan boy. And then the surprise ending with All I want is You....i just have to say the ENTIRE SHOW would have to qualify as my favorite moment....U2 at the FKNG ABSOLUTE BEST setting the bar impossibly HIGH.
All around us and way up in the stands and bleachers the crowd ROCKED. They might not have been as loud during ISHFWILF as i witnessed in Norman, but they certainly made up for it the other 95% of the time.
Around the stadium there was the giant Marriott hotel and an adjacent parking garage, it was interesting looking up at the hotel and seeing people packed in the rooms watching a free show from the upper floors. Same thing with the upper levels of the parking garage, just a cool thing to see.
Florence and the Machine were great openers. Her voice filled the stadium in a haunting and melodic way that sent chills way up. They are a great band and the best opener for this tour i have seen (previously MUSE and BEP's).
Sitting in Graceland yesterday eating a club sandwich, fries, and coke in the Rockabilly cafe looking out at Elvis' airplanes, it sort of hit home while listening to the kings gospel tracks play. It was an emotional moment, knowing he was buried just up the hill, and after the Beatles, Elvis, and U2 there just isn't anyone else out there who are going to be icons. Our kids won't have anyone like this...i wouldn't go through all of this travel and expense and 12 hours in extreme heat for any other band. And it was all so very much worth it i cant wait to do it over again in St Louis....
)
, but im tempted to just show up in the evening and take a spot back near the soundboard. That way the restrooms and refreshments are easily accessable compared to the inner circle or pit. Also, having been up close inside of the pit, i almost want to just see & hear the claw from the other end zone. 
The fact that I'm still beating myself up for not holding out another five minutes - 'cause I might have started feeling better!' - may be irrational to folks not familiar with our level of dedication to this band. For those of us who love them as we do, I'm sure you understand my torment. 
); in top physical & vocal shape, & in absolute command of the audience. I'd still take the 1/3 of their set that I did see over 10 full length shows of any other band you could offer to me. I hope Mr. Blu is prepared for the total emotional breakdown that I'm likely to have as out last show this tour - Pittsburgh - comes to an end.
