September 29, 2009, Fedex Field

[skjuls]

Amp not only got on stage, he managed to get slightly more than his fair share of 'Bono time' at arrival. Gotta hand it to him, he knows how to do it.

Sigh! I missed out on this! However, they had to run back to the GA line right afterwards!

 

[ntalwar]

Wife and I drove down from PA for the show. We always travel to see them in a city we have never been before (prior tours- Miami and Boston) We had no intentions of getting their too early and were going to be happy with being in the back of the GA which is where we ended up. Hoping to arrive in time to see most of Muse. We had early dinner at nice place in the middle of DC near Pennsylvania avenue and left at about 6:15 to go to concert. Its 8 miles from the restaurant to the stadium. It took an incredible 3 hours to got those 8 miles so unfortunately did not get there till 3 songs in which was a disappointment. The access roads to the stadium and the parking is the worse I have ever seen. They had us park, mind you in stadium sponsored parking, that was a mile and a half walk to the stadium. Unreal...luckily they did not have the nerve to charge us for that parking.

I came through DC too, and saw the backups in certain areas. Fortunately, I studied the back roads (and have gps), so I was able to avoid the gridlock. It took only 30 minutes or less for me from DC. I parked in the copper lot, about a 15 minute walk away. It's well worth it - no wait to leave. I'm not aware of stadium parking lots 1.5 miles away.

 

[redhotswami]

I thought Amp is a Sikh?

It's funny because earlier in the day, he said if he ran, he would get tackled due to high police presence.

From wiki: Due to the turbans Sikhs wear and the relative scarcity of Sikhs, there have been incidents of mistaking Sikhs in Western countries for Middle Eastern men and/or Muslims. This has negatively affected Sikhs living in the west especially with respect to the 9/11 terrorist attack and recent Iraq War conflict.

Yeah, Amp is a Sikh, def not Iranian.

 

[redhotswami]

Wife and I drove down from PA for the show. We always travel to see them in a city we have never been before (prior tours- Miami and Boston) We had no intentions of getting their too early and were going to be happy with being in the back of the GA which is where we ended up. Hoping to arrive in time to see most of Muse. We had early dinner at nice place in the middle of DC near Pennsylvania avenue and left at about 6:15 to go to concert. Its 8 miles from the restaurant to the stadium. It took an incredible 3 hours to got those 8 miles so unfortunately did not get there till 3 songs in which was a disappointment. The access roads to the stadium and the parking is the worse I have ever seen. They had us park, mind you in stadium sponsored parking, that was a mile and a half walk to the stadium. Unreal...luckily they did not have the nerve to charge us for that parking.

Anyway on to the show. Highlights:
1. Beer and liquor on sale right at the back of GA area. Guinness on tap too! Took 30 seconds to get a beer from where I was standing.
2. Sound at the back of the GA was phenominal. Came accross crystal clear.
3. Watching the cops at the back, who didn't appear to be fans, stare in awe at the whole production.
4. One was a real highlight. Was not expecting much from it given how much it has been played but they played that song extremely passionate which was great.
5. Ultraviolet will never get old
6. Was surprised at how good NYD and SBS sounded given the staleness of them.
7. The Iranian guy coming up with the US flag, regardless of your political views, was actually quite cool and touching.
8. Been a critic of Edge on this tour in hearing the boots and missing the solos but must say when you are in the stadium listening he is still pretty much on fire.

Lowlights:
1. obviously getting there 3 songs in and the travel was horrible. Planned this well and never in wildest dreams could have predicted taking 3 hours to go 8 miles including the walk to the stadium.
2. Cutting of the set list, including UC, NLOTH, and one less song, is unexplainable and unnacceptable. Don't understand this U2 particularly as this was the only night in DC and no show in Philly.

Good show overall for what we got to actually see but will never again see a show in DC.

Sorry to hear about your commute experience. That must've sucked. I'm glad it didn't ruin your show for you, though.


That's why I get frustrated when people say FedEx Field is in DC. It is clearly not, and in a different state entirely. Despite Landover seeming close to DC on a map, it is quite a distance to actually travel, either rail or car. DC is just like any other major city of its size, where a mile is much longer than it seems due to traffic.

 

[Dakotalola]

Here's my version of this CT one, which I've seen a lot of:

Another Edge one:

It depends on camera and lighting, etc. For these, I think I used shutter priority, iso 400, 1/125s. I wouldn't buy a camera that doesn't have manual controls.

Thanks for the setting specs. I'm going to take another look at my "concert" setting-My camera lets me save a couple of custom settings so I don;t have to reset everything each time I turn it on. No flash,but I let the iso go automatic. Depends on how far away from the light source I'll be. Maybe I'll just go for 400 . i need to ck if I'm using shutter priority or not. I have a Canon powershot G10-it's a point and shoot but with a lot of manual settings and they allow it into concerts. Main reason for buying it.
thanks for the tips!

 

[BSBONO]

I came through DC too, and saw the backups in certain areas. Fortunately, I studied the back roads (and have gps), so I was able to avoid the gridlock. It took only 30 minutes or less for me from DC. I parked in the copper lot, about a 15 minute walk away. It's well worth it - no wait to leave. I'm not aware of stadium parking lots 1.5 miles away.

I wasn't aware either. The lot was a left turn right before the main entrance to the stadium lots where the traffic light was. It was a huge area with grass and portapotties. It was stadium controlled as their was stadium personell directing to the area. You had to walk through a wooded area to get to the street and to the stadium. I really think it was about a mile and half walk.

 

[2morrow]

Just curious... for the last few shows, how late have people been getting there and still been able to get into the pit?

Although I got there around 1:30, the people in the pit standing behind me said they got there at 5:30 and just moved to the front. Gotta be sneeeky.

 

[bgmckinney]

I wasn't aware either. The lot was a left turn right before the main entrance to the stadium lots where the traffic light was. It was a huge area with grass and portapotties. It was stadium controlled as their was stadium personell directing to the area. You had to walk through a wooded area to get to the street and to the stadium. I really think it was about a mile and half walk.

Yes, the infamous gray lot. It was the only one open before 3pm.

 

[2morrow]

Yes, the infamous gray lot. It was the only one open before 3pm.

Were you in GA when they told us we needed to "go back and buy a parking pass" if we were in Grey? Then it turned out to be false.....way to make us panic.

 

[ntalwar]

I wasn't aware either. The lot was a left turn right before the main entrance to the stadium lots where the traffic light was. It was a huge area with grass and portapotties. It was stadium controlled as their was stadium personell directing to the area. You had to walk through a wooded area to get to the street and to the stadium. I really think it was about a mile and half walk.

Ok - I haven't parked in the gray lot before. The copper lot is a bit farther, and was only a 15 minute walk. I go to a few games a year - on google maps all lots are within a mile. Minnesota Ave to Sheriff Rd. are the quick back roads I took.

 

[lauramullen]

Were you in GA when they told us we needed to "go back and buy a parking pass" if we were in Grey? Then it turned out to be false.....way to make us panic.

That was ridiculous. Everyone started freaking out for no reason

 

[ntalwar]

Thanks for the setting specs. I'm going to take another look at my "concert" setting-My camera lets me save a couple of custom settings so I don;t have to reset everything each time I turn it on. No flash,but I let the iso go automatic. Depends on how far away from the light source I'll be. Maybe I'll just go for 400 . i need to ck if I'm using shutter priority or not. I have a Canon powershot G10-it's a point and shoot but with a lot of manual settings and they allow it into concerts. Main reason for buying it.
thanks for the tips!

No problem. The G-10 is probably triple the price of what I used, so you should get some good pics. Set the dial to "S". I just happened to use 400 - with my dslr I'd use 800 and a faster speed.

 

[cathalmc]

Can't remember which song that was. Been trying to recall it all day and can't bring it to mind! Save me from my senility.

I think it was during New Year's Day, Bono dragged Phil (his stage assistant) across to the mic behind him to start his fast hand clappy bit after Edge's solo. It was quite comical really!

 

[cathalmc]

I left early as I know Moment of Surrender was the last tune,

It's far, far, far and away the best song of the concert imo.

lets not get feisty with who a true fan is and isn't. That isn't the U2 way either.

Sorta contradicted yourself a wee bit there ain't ya?

 

[BonoFly]

That was ridiculous. Everyone started freaking out for no reason

Exactly. That guy spoke before he should have and he didn't have the answers when people were asking him questions.

As for the walk from the Grey lot to the stadium, it wasn't bad at all. Not even close to a mile, in my opinion.

 

[cathalmc]

Just curious... for the last few shows, how late have people been getting there and still been able to get into the pit?

I've managed to get into the pit at 7:50pm at Boston 2, 8:15pm at NY1 and 7:35pm at DC.

The security were trying to wave people into the pit at DC yesterday on Edge's side, although Adam's side was full.

 

[bgmckinney]

Were you in GA when they told us we needed to "go back and buy a parking pass" if we were in Grey? Then it turned out to be false.....way to make us panic.

I was in GA from pretty early, so I must have been there, but thank God I didn't hear that announcement. At that point I would have stayed and risked a tow though.

 

[cathalmc]

No problem. The G-10 is probably triple the price of what I used, so you should get some good pics. Set the dial to "S". I just happened to use 400 - with my dslr I'd use 800 and a faster speed.

Hi ntalwar, awesome photies! Any chance you could do a post about "Using Digital Camera Settings At Concerts For Useless Photography Idiots" please?

My photos are really crap and I'd love to learn more about the settings on my camera but I really don't know anything about em. ISO, aperture, shutter speeds, spot focus etc ... I recognise them as words belonging to the English language but their meaning is clouded in a deep impenetrable mystery.

 

[bgmckinney]

Although I got there around 1:30, the people in the pit standing behind me said they got there at 5:30 and just moved to the front. Gotta be sneeeky.

Please be careful, though. I got there at 1:00 and ended up being squeezed against the rail so tightly that I could barely move. It was the most unpleasant experience I've had at the front of any concert. Much of it, I think, was due to the fact that security waved far too many people in, but if anyone who arrived hours later than I did pushed their way to the front, I'd consider that inappropriate. It's not like a club show, where the time difference between latecomers and early arrivals is minimal, and the room is small, and people are always drifting back to use the nearby restrooms and bars. People wait five or six or even twelve hours at stadium shows and then stake out a space they can't risk leaving. If you arrive late and find a good spot without disturbing people, that's one thing. If you shove your way to the front and suffocate people who waited for their space, that's just evil.

 

[cathalmc]

People wait five or six or even twelve hours at stadium shows and then stake out a space they can't risk leaving. If you arrive late and find a good spot without disturbing people, that's one thing. If you shove your way to the front and suffocate people who waited for their space, that's just evil.

Totally agree. I'm quite tall and even though I've got into the pit quite late I always find a space where there are guys taller than me behind me, and then I'll quickly check that they have no huge objection to me standing in front of em. A considerate late arrival hopefully

 

[bgmckinney]

Totally agree. I'm quite tall and even though I've got into the pit quite late I always find a space where there are guys taller than me behind me, and then I'll quickly check that they have no huge objection to me standing in front of em. A considerate late arrival hopefully

Absolutely. I think most people are like you... there are just enough who aren't to make it a problem. That's where security needs to step up and know what the limit should be.

 

[ntalwar]

Hi ntalwar, awesome photies! Any chance you could do a post about "Using Digital Camera Settings At Concerts For Useless Photography Idiots" please?

My photos are really crap and I'd love to learn more about the settings on my camera but I really don't know anything about em. ISO, aperture, shutter speeds, spot focus etc ... I recognise them as words belonging to the English language but their meaning is clouded in a deep impenetrable mystery.

Ha - thanks. I'd start with maybe this article: Secrets of Killer Concert Photos Revealed - Digital Photo Tips and More on PopPhoto.com
It depends on what camera features (manual modes) you have. Then try some settings I mentioned earlier.
Here's a primer: http://www.photographyjam.com/articles/29/camera-basics-shutter-speed-aperture-and-iso

I think I spotted you at Fedex (saw the shirt logo) talking to 2 people behind the pit after Muse on Edge's side. If I see you at C'ville ga, I can give you a couple of quick pointers.

 

[bgmckinney]

Hi ntalwar, awesome photies! Any chance you could do a post about "Using Digital Camera Settings At Concerts For Useless Photography Idiots" please?

My photos are really crap and I'd love to learn more about the settings on my camera but I really don't know anything about em. ISO, aperture, shutter speeds, spot focus etc ... I recognise them as words belonging to the English language but their meaning is clouded in a deep impenetrable mystery.

Are you going to Charlottesville? I'll be there, but not until late. If you PM me though I can try to email some advice and explanations about what those terms mean and what you should do at a concert.

 

[lauramullen]

I think it was during New Year's Day, Bono dragged Phil (his stage assistant) across to the mic behind him to start his fast hand clappy bit after Edge's solo. It was quite comical really!

It was during NYD. Bono was petting Phil's head. It was funny

 

[daygloeyes2]

Although I got there around 1:30, the people in the pit standing behind me said they got there at 5:30 and just moved to the front. Gotta be sneeeky.

Ugh, they'd get along well with the lady behind me during Foxboro 1. I was on the outer rail on the pitch. After Snow Patrol left the stage, I noticed a couple behind me who hadn't been there originally. The woman started bumping into me. There was plenty of room behind me, and up until then, no one had pushed into me at all. She pushed forward a few times and it was obvious she was going for my spot. I had lined up since the am specifically for a spot on the rail. No way in hell she was getting my spot. So I gave her the evil eye a few times. I may or may not have pushed back against her during another song when she tried the same thing.

 

[last unicorn]

i'm sure that what last unicorn is trying to say is that it's because the audience is american.

Thanks for trying to twist my words.

No, that's not what I meant.

 

[donkeytimes]

I don't think it is a contradiction.

It's far, far, far and away the best song of the concert imo.




Sorta contradicted yourself a wee bit there ain't ya?

I like MOS a lot, but I wanted to beat the Fed Ex traffic (that many have been bitching about.) It doesn't make me less of a U2 fan for making a move when I had the chance - mind you I pointed out I got to hear MOS at soundcheck.

I will hear the song in full when I choose to attend another show - when I don't have to deal with absurd traffic of Fed Ex, I tend to enjoy attending a show in a more Urban area. It so happens DC is where I live and I didn't want to miss U2, I just chose to miss one freaking song... Remember, I still went to the show and had a good time.

 

[skjuls]

I think it was during New Year's Day, Bono dragged Phil (his stage assistant) across to the mic behind him to start his fast hand clappy bit after Edge's solo. It was quite comical really!

It was hilarious! I started laughing especially when he had to get back up to the mike.

 

[diamond]

Excellent:

This is why you should go for just outside the circle, not inner circle. When they come out on the circle they face forward. Outside the circle, slightly to the left or right, it was sweeet.

 

[diamond]

it's now been confirmed it was sinead o'connor.

So, I will take it that I was correct.

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