I Move in Mysterious Ways
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 4,255
Probably cause it was already mine.
July 23, 2011 - TCF Stadium - Minneapolis, MN
- Thread starter kramwest1
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Probably cause it was already mine.
arw
Blue Crack Addict
the one of Edge is beautiful
roachcraft
Babyface
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2011
- Messages
- 7
First time ever seeing U2 in the rain. It kinda made the show better. Hadn't anticipated that. My wife declared it the best show she's ever seen and I...well, I guess it's tied with two or three other U2 shows for me.
It's sinking in: my U2 tour is over. Now begins the withdrawal, then the long wait, during which I completely forget how much U2 is going to slay me again in four years or so. It's probably best that they don't tour every year or I'd be a basketcase most of the time.
I went to two 360 shows on each U.S. leg. Is it just me, or they worlds better this second time around?
And oh yeah, awesome pics; you captured a few of THE most memorable instants of the whole show, and that's saying a lot. BEST BAND INTROS EVER. Hallelujah/Purple Rain/Streets...unforgettable.
It's sinking in: my U2 tour is over. Now begins the withdrawal, then the long wait, during which I completely forget how much U2 is going to slay me again in four years or so. It's probably best that they don't tour every year or I'd be a basketcase most of the time.
I went to two 360 shows on each U.S. leg. Is it just me, or they worlds better this second time around?
And oh yeah, awesome pics; you captured a few of THE most memorable instants of the whole show, and that's saying a lot. BEST BAND INTROS EVER. Hallelujah/Purple Rain/Streets...unforgettable.
OP
OP
kramwest1
has a
Had a great time Friday meeting everyone, although I can't remember many names. Always wanted to see a rain show, now I've been there, done that, don't really want another torrential downpour show.
Now for the good, the bad, the blurry and, of course, the butt shots.
I made separate albums for the pics, I only took 435 that night.
Bono album-U2 Minny Bono pictures by cash30 - Photobucket
Adam album- U2 Minny Adam pictures by cash30 - Photobucket
Larry/ The Edge album- U2 Minny Larry The Edge pictures by cash30 - Photobucket
Some of my favorites:
Enjoy!!
Now for the good, the bad, the blurry and, of course, the butt shots.
I made separate albums for the pics, I only took 435 that night.
Bono album-U2 Minny Bono pictures by cash30 - Photobucket
Adam album- U2 Minny Adam pictures by cash30 - Photobucket
Larry/ The Edge album- U2 Minny Larry The Edge pictures by cash30 - Photobucket
Some of my favorites:
Enjoy!!
kellyahern
Blue Crack Supplier
Does anyone know the story of why all of those balloons were released on one side of the stadium? I liked that 
I Move in Mysterious Ways
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 4,255
My wife was up there and had fun slapping them around.
Then after she was done with security, she hit some of the balloons, too.
Then after she was done with security, she hit some of the balloons, too.
kellyahern
Blue Crack Supplier
GopherMacPhisto
Acrobat
kitkat234
The Fly
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2005
- Messages
- 195
Does anyone know the story of why all of those balloons were released on one side of the stadium? I liked that
No idea but it was nice to watch along with the lighting when it was not too close
Thanks for the great pictures, love the ones with the rain
OP
OP
kramwest1
has a
corianderstem
Blue Crack Distributor
Oh my gosh, what is that? Is there a little gap in the wall somewhere at the stadium?
I saw a bunch of people on the lawn of the building outside (at least until the storm came), and I think I could see people set up in chairs just outside the fence behind the claw.
OP
OP
kramwest1
has a
I'll have a few more later:
(BTW that was how good my zoom lens was from the front of the soundbooth, but how shitty it was with the GA so crowded and the rain so I couldn't use it much.
)
(BTW that was how good my zoom lens was from the front of the soundbooth, but how shitty it was with the GA so crowded and the rain so I couldn't use it much.
)
Bill Bryson says in ‘A Walk in the Woods’ that “rain ruins everything”. He’s wrong. Rain improves a U2 concert. It adds extra intensity and extra camaraderie, as band and fans unite in happy defiance of the elements. Performance and appreciation become more self-conscious, more vital, more alive - “We’re gigging in the rain ...” and “We’re jumping around in the rain ...”
I didn’t have a ticket to the show in Minneapolis so I’d planned a quiet Saturday night in, perhaps watching a movie on my netbook or reading. I’d checked Ticketmaster a few times in the days before the show and no cheapies were available. However I met Rosa in the Red Zone queue during the afternoon, and she suggested checking the box office anyway, as she’d seen a sign saying “Tickets Available” earlier. I assumed they would be the most expensive seats, so I was pleased to find I could get a $30 ticket for a seat behind but very close to the stage.
There had been a thunder storm with heavy rain on Saturday morning. I thought about the hardy fans in the GA line as I had breakfast at the hostel, hoping there was shelter nearby for them (there was). I texted some friends who were in town, joking it was gonna be a poncho show. The joke was on me later when I neglected to bring my own. Friday had been a hot, humid evening, so I assumed that Saturday would be similar. Rosa told me during the scorching afternoon that there was a storm a brewin in the north and heading towards Minneapolis. At that moment it didn’t seem possible. I was sure all storms had passed.
There was a cheer when the first shower started during Mysterious Ways (I think). Edge’s guitar threw a mini-strop about the dampening conditions during UTEOTW. The stage crew scrambled into action and prepared the protective rain gear. Dallas had Edge chiming again in no time.
This preliminary shower stopped a minute or two later. But it was only a dim sum starter to the torrential buffet for 58,000 later.
Bono was guilty. He caused the storm. He made a band intro speech before Still Haven’t Found which began with a description of how he had heard thunder and lightning caused by Larry in New York. The sky over the TCF Stadium obediently began flashing with lightning as Bono spoke. The funniest part of the intros was when Bono talked about himself. “And then I heard the voice of God ...”, which caused widespread tittering in the stadium. The voice told him that the end of tour party was going to start in Minneapolis.
A lovely tangled jam of Stand By Me with a rapper (?) called K’Naan followed. He inadvertently cut across where Edge was in the song, forcing Edge to follow his lead. I wasn’t convinced K’Naan knew the words of the song initially, but he came good during the last verse. (Apparently he is involved with a new aid agency working to bring relief for the famine in the Horn of Africa. I’d been asked before the show to sign a petition for a group called Nations for Somalia or something, who had also set up a new stall outside the stadium next to One’s and Amnesty’s.)
The rain started again before Elevation. Bono called for the crowd to pogo with him in a Minnesotan rain dance. It was far too successful. Suddenly the sky opened and a biblical downpour began. There are no roofs in the TCF Stadium so everyone was drenched within a minute. The rain created widespread party defiance. There was a sarcastic loud cheer when the shower started. It caused more people to dance. Very few fans around me left the seats for the cover of a concourse under one of the stands. The torrent intensified during Pride and Miss Sarajevo, when some of the footage on the video screen of the band performing in the deluge was stunning.
The Claw has tickled the clouds into raining in many cities, including usually rain-free places (Perth!). And whilst it has rained during several shows, it has rained just before many more shows. I’ve been lucky in only getting completely soaked once, when standing on the field during the Moscow show last year. I’ve been caught in lighter showers either before, during or after many other shows, but nothing as intense as the rain in Minneapolis. (I missed the two other major rainy shows last year in Brussels and Zurich. Glastonbury doesn’t count, partly cos I don’t think the rain was so heavy, but mainly cos I just didn’t notice it at all.)
I wussed out. I decided that I didn’t really wanna spend the whole show in the rain. The rain itself didn’t bother me, but it was a cool evening, and I started to feel a chill. I had to walk back to my hostel as I was too tight to splurge some of my few remaining dollars on a taxi, and it was gonna take me one and a half hours. I stayed in my spot, already saturated, until the end of Zooropa. Then I splatted quickly for shelter in the concourse that ran beneath the top tier of seats on Edge’s side of the stadium.
I found a spot at the back of a group of people taking shelter on the concourse, from where I could stll see the stage. Everyone around me was also saturated, except for one very tall guy standing at the front of our soggy little group who was completely dry.
The rain was relentless, and got heavier as the show surged through City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo and Sunday Bloody Sunday. Bono grabbed a large US flag umbrella to spin during Crazy Tonight. He put on a cowboy hat, then later a baseball cap. He removed his shades. But he seemed to relish showing his defiance of the shower. Adam stripped off his shirt. There was a huge cheer from the ladies when he was shown topless in extra-large buff detail on the video screen, followed by laughter from the gents.
There were two minor concessions to the rain. Bono chopped his intro speech for Scarlet to a brief “Aung San Suu Kyi is free, Google her” type spiel, and there was no You’ll Never Walk Alone snippet after Walk On. I haven’t seen a setlist so I don’t know if there were any songs planned for after Moment Of Surrender or not. Magnificent was dropped though, so it was back to the standard 24 songs, after New York’s 26.
One gripe about the show was when Bono managed to pop the party before Moment Of Surrender by asking fans to think about people dying in famines, floods and earthquakes. I love Moment of Surrender, on CD and live. But both Bono’s heavy intro, and the song itself deflated the soggy festive atmosphere. I think Moment Of Surrender is a great show closer for shows on dry or hot nights, but having seen the alternative, I think it’s not so suitable for stormy nights, when people are soaked and need lifting, not deflating. Playing Out Of Control at Glastonbury (possibly as a last minute replacement of 40) was a smart move. New York got Out Of Control as the show closer when it didn’t really need it. Minneapolis needed it. MoS was a low-key end to a collectively exuberant concert.
Random observations:
- Stuck In A Moment was dedicated to Amy Winehouse.
- Bono dropped in a snippet of Purple Rain before and after Streets. Prince is from Minneapolis. Bono called Phil out to ask him something before Streets, I wondered if he put out a request to “Try to get the lyrics to Purple Rain on my teleprompter please”.
- A chap who was clearly a ticket tout went to the ticket window next to mine and bought a few tickets, paying for them in cash from a large wad of notes. I wondered if on-the-day ticket drops actually aided scalping occasionally, instead of fighting it. There was a general perception amongst the few locals I met during the day and evening that the show was sold out. They were surprised to find out that tickets had been made available.
I didn’t have a ticket to the show in Minneapolis so I’d planned a quiet Saturday night in, perhaps watching a movie on my netbook or reading. I’d checked Ticketmaster a few times in the days before the show and no cheapies were available. However I met Rosa in the Red Zone queue during the afternoon, and she suggested checking the box office anyway, as she’d seen a sign saying “Tickets Available” earlier. I assumed they would be the most expensive seats, so I was pleased to find I could get a $30 ticket for a seat behind but very close to the stage.
There had been a thunder storm with heavy rain on Saturday morning. I thought about the hardy fans in the GA line as I had breakfast at the hostel, hoping there was shelter nearby for them (there was). I texted some friends who were in town, joking it was gonna be a poncho show. The joke was on me later when I neglected to bring my own. Friday had been a hot, humid evening, so I assumed that Saturday would be similar. Rosa told me during the scorching afternoon that there was a storm a brewin in the north and heading towards Minneapolis. At that moment it didn’t seem possible. I was sure all storms had passed.
There was a cheer when the first shower started during Mysterious Ways (I think). Edge’s guitar threw a mini-strop about the dampening conditions during UTEOTW. The stage crew scrambled into action and prepared the protective rain gear. Dallas had Edge chiming again in no time.
This preliminary shower stopped a minute or two later. But it was only a dim sum starter to the torrential buffet for 58,000 later.
Bono was guilty. He caused the storm. He made a band intro speech before Still Haven’t Found which began with a description of how he had heard thunder and lightning caused by Larry in New York. The sky over the TCF Stadium obediently began flashing with lightning as Bono spoke. The funniest part of the intros was when Bono talked about himself. “And then I heard the voice of God ...”, which caused widespread tittering in the stadium. The voice told him that the end of tour party was going to start in Minneapolis.
A lovely tangled jam of Stand By Me with a rapper (?) called K’Naan followed. He inadvertently cut across where Edge was in the song, forcing Edge to follow his lead. I wasn’t convinced K’Naan knew the words of the song initially, but he came good during the last verse. (Apparently he is involved with a new aid agency working to bring relief for the famine in the Horn of Africa. I’d been asked before the show to sign a petition for a group called Nations for Somalia or something, who had also set up a new stall outside the stadium next to One’s and Amnesty’s.)
The rain started again before Elevation. Bono called for the crowd to pogo with him in a Minnesotan rain dance. It was far too successful. Suddenly the sky opened and a biblical downpour began. There are no roofs in the TCF Stadium so everyone was drenched within a minute. The rain created widespread party defiance. There was a sarcastic loud cheer when the shower started. It caused more people to dance. Very few fans around me left the seats for the cover of a concourse under one of the stands. The torrent intensified during Pride and Miss Sarajevo, when some of the footage on the video screen of the band performing in the deluge was stunning.
The Claw has tickled the clouds into raining in many cities, including usually rain-free places (Perth!). And whilst it has rained during several shows, it has rained just before many more shows. I’ve been lucky in only getting completely soaked once, when standing on the field during the Moscow show last year. I’ve been caught in lighter showers either before, during or after many other shows, but nothing as intense as the rain in Minneapolis. (I missed the two other major rainy shows last year in Brussels and Zurich. Glastonbury doesn’t count, partly cos I don’t think the rain was so heavy, but mainly cos I just didn’t notice it at all.)
I wussed out. I decided that I didn’t really wanna spend the whole show in the rain. The rain itself didn’t bother me, but it was a cool evening, and I started to feel a chill. I had to walk back to my hostel as I was too tight to splurge some of my few remaining dollars on a taxi, and it was gonna take me one and a half hours. I stayed in my spot, already saturated, until the end of Zooropa. Then I splatted quickly for shelter in the concourse that ran beneath the top tier of seats on Edge’s side of the stadium.
I found a spot at the back of a group of people taking shelter on the concourse, from where I could stll see the stage. Everyone around me was also saturated, except for one very tall guy standing at the front of our soggy little group who was completely dry.
The rain was relentless, and got heavier as the show surged through City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo and Sunday Bloody Sunday. Bono grabbed a large US flag umbrella to spin during Crazy Tonight. He put on a cowboy hat, then later a baseball cap. He removed his shades. But he seemed to relish showing his defiance of the shower. Adam stripped off his shirt. There was a huge cheer from the ladies when he was shown topless in extra-large buff detail on the video screen, followed by laughter from the gents.
There were two minor concessions to the rain. Bono chopped his intro speech for Scarlet to a brief “Aung San Suu Kyi is free, Google her” type spiel, and there was no You’ll Never Walk Alone snippet after Walk On. I haven’t seen a setlist so I don’t know if there were any songs planned for after Moment Of Surrender or not. Magnificent was dropped though, so it was back to the standard 24 songs, after New York’s 26.
One gripe about the show was when Bono managed to pop the party before Moment Of Surrender by asking fans to think about people dying in famines, floods and earthquakes. I love Moment of Surrender, on CD and live. But both Bono’s heavy intro, and the song itself deflated the soggy festive atmosphere. I think Moment Of Surrender is a great show closer for shows on dry or hot nights, but having seen the alternative, I think it’s not so suitable for stormy nights, when people are soaked and need lifting, not deflating. Playing Out Of Control at Glastonbury (possibly as a last minute replacement of 40) was a smart move. New York got Out Of Control as the show closer when it didn’t really need it. Minneapolis needed it. MoS was a low-key end to a collectively exuberant concert.
Random observations:
- Stuck In A Moment was dedicated to Amy Winehouse.
- Bono dropped in a snippet of Purple Rain before and after Streets. Prince is from Minneapolis. Bono called Phil out to ask him something before Streets, I wondered if he put out a request to “Try to get the lyrics to Purple Rain on my teleprompter please”.
- A chap who was clearly a ticket tout went to the ticket window next to mine and bought a few tickets, paying for them in cash from a large wad of notes. I wondered if on-the-day ticket drops actually aided scalping occasionally, instead of fighting it. There was a general perception amongst the few locals I met during the day and evening that the show was sold out. They were surprised to find out that tickets had been made available.
hand0lotion
War Child
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2010
- Messages
- 777
Lol! Wasn't it so amusing how there were like 8 people on stage once the rain hit? (band + techs/crews) It was a bit of a madhouse. At one point mid-song, a crew guy was using a squeegee mop to get the water off Larry's umbrella.
The balloons were a nice touch, especially since we're used to U2 coming on at 8.50, but they came on at 9pm in MN, so people were getting really impatient. And someone behind me said, "Isn't it cool how the balloons are only on Adam's side?"
Yeah, I think Adam would appreciate the colors!Oh man, there are some people you just want to take a bath after meeting (to quote Bono) like the *(#!#*s beside me in the pit, but once U2 came on, it's all I can do to be in the moment with them. (also, I'm glad those ()##)@s left after the first few songs and were replaced by happy & enthusiastic lady)
Hey Cathal, I'm glad you made it into the stadium. I kept wondering why in the world you would make your way west to Minneapolis but not go to the show.
DRay9911
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2009
- Messages
- 8,308
the whole stand by me thing with that guy was so out of place for this show. when bono went over to edge at the end of ISHFWILF and whispered in his ear i started to get excited we might get something cool. then they went into stand by me. major bummer. if 2 people in the crowd knew who that guy was, i'd be surprised. if they want to bring out someone famous, fine. if they want to bring out someone local, fine. but not that guy in that spot
i wasn't all that happy with bono linking MOS to somalia either.
i don't know if some of you know this, but hearing OOC was kind of a 'thing' for me. after my camera died, i just took the show in and had a good time like a normal person. bono said the end of the tour party started here. during streets i looked at the crowd and there were still so many people there, i really started to think there would be a chance they'd play it. we were there in an hour while we got drenched!
after MOS had ended, i just kept saying "don't stand up larry. don't stand up larry. don't stand up larry" and for dallas to have the OOC-guitar at the ready. but i guess not. yeah, they were all wet too and i'm sure they just wanted to go dry off. unfortunately it was probably never in the plans rain or no rain. i just really hope they don't play it in pittsburgh cause i'll never hear the end of it.
hand0lotion
War Child
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2010
- Messages
- 777
^my local friend at the concert with me said Minny has a large Somali population, so it was a local reference kinda thing. Also, it seems like this Somali food scarcity is gonna be Bono's pet project for the next few months/ till it gets fixed, so of course he would plug it every chance he could.
I think not adding an extra song (eg: OOC) wasn't entirely U2's choice either. The crew was getting pretty jittery and overworked because of the rain, and my friend on the rail saw a crew guy (who was standing on the security side of the rail) make a neck slashing 'stop' motion angrily to another crew member. Also, I wonder what Phil came up to tell Bono towards the end, where B introduces him to the crowd?
I think not adding an extra song (eg: OOC) wasn't entirely U2's choice either. The crew was getting pretty jittery and overworked because of the rain, and my friend on the rail saw a crew guy (who was standing on the security side of the rail) make a neck slashing 'stop' motion angrily to another crew member. Also, I wonder what Phil came up to tell Bono towards the end, where B introduces him to the crowd?
ryancoke71
ONE love, blood, life
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2009
- Messages
- 14,641
It was amazing to see how many people were actually pulling for it to be played for you!
corianderstem
Blue Crack Distributor
Yeah, between the rain and talk of a curfew (not sure if there was one or not; someone had mentioned it to me earlier in the day), I wasn't surprised they ended with MOS. Disappointed, yes. But oh well.
Also, I was pleasantly surprised that MOS got such a warm reaction at the end. Usually the crowd is apeshit at the end of WOWY, and then it's pretty half-assed after MOS, a downer of a way to end the show.
Minneapolis had the loudest/warmest applause at the end than the other shows I've been to. I'm sure part of it was due to the rain-soaked party atmosphere, but I did appreciate that a lot.
And as far as I could tell, far fewer people started heading for the exits during it. Which is always a plus.
Also, I was pleasantly surprised that MOS got such a warm reaction at the end. Usually the crowd is apeshit at the end of WOWY, and then it's pretty half-assed after MOS, a downer of a way to end the show.
Minneapolis had the loudest/warmest applause at the end than the other shows I've been to. I'm sure part of it was due to the rain-soaked party atmosphere, but I did appreciate that a lot.
And as far as I could tell, far fewer people started heading for the exits during it. Which is always a plus.
blackhawksjon
The Fly
Fun time and thought the boys played hard. I was hoping for one more too....but I can't blame them for not playing any longer. The rain was kind of fun too. Just made everyone bond it seemed like. Broke 4 U2 cherries with first shows for some friends. So my mission was accomplished And now we play the waiting game
And now we play the waiting game roachcraft
Babyface
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2011
- Messages
- 7
I think this show cured me of my setlist snobbery. Just didn't give a shit. It was my fave of the four 360 shows I saw. Sure, I WANTED them to keep playing for another hour! But indeed, the crew worked harder during this show than anything I've ever seen; it's a miracle that a band would even keep playing in such a downpour.
I can't keep thinking about it, getting way too sad that I won't be seeing U2 for several years now.
I can't keep thinking about it, getting way too sad that I won't be seeing U2 for several years now.
Such a variation from Denver, even if it was only 3 songs...
Denver/Salt Lake didn't have the Fly, Still Haven't Found..., Stuck...
Minneapolis didn't have All I Want Is You/Love Rescue Me, Stay, Magnificent
A pretty decent trade off if you ask me...
DRay9911
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2009
- Messages
- 8,308
denver didn't have love rescue me
and i agree with you roach. other bands might have said 'fuck this' and packed it in.
right now i'm going through something similar to the 7 stages of grief. first i was bummed about ooc. now i'm bummed because i didn't get the full show. not that i can do anything about it now, but part of me wishes we didn't get rain or ooc just so i could get the whole show. i'm sure tomorrow it will be something else.
and i agree with you roach. other bands might have said 'fuck this' and packed it in.
right now i'm going through something similar to the 7 stages of grief. first i was bummed about ooc. now i'm bummed because i didn't get the full show. not that i can do anything about it now, but part of me wishes we didn't get rain or ooc just so i could get the whole show. i'm sure tomorrow it will be something else.
zoney!
ONE love, blood, life
The Twin Cities have a very limited number of Wal Marts. You are in TARGET COUNTRY! I am sure Mark and I could have both given you directions to the location of the first Target.
"Gorilla is taking attention away from my sign. Gorilla must die."
This is the GREATEST fancam pic ever.
Security were kind of dicks, too, shoving us off the floor into the crowd stuck at the tunnel exit.
They pushed us out of the pit and up the stairs into the open ended end of the stadium. I was pissed because we could not join everyone for the group shot. But it also helped us get out of the stadium fast.
MARK: by chance, did you and your wife have dinner in Saint Paul on Sunday night?
I Move in Mysterious Ways
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 4,255
GopherMacPhisto
Acrobat
The apartment towers in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood (near the West Bank of the U) contain the largest population of Somalis outside of Somalia. That would explain K'anaan (or whatever his name was) coming on stage for Stand By Me. However, I don't think plugging aid for Somalia went over very well. The population of this area, by and large, does not have a very high opinion of the Somalis. I'm sure that has more to do with a lack of knowledge about Somalia, Islam, their customs, and a whole bunch of other things that are out of line to discuss in this forum, but I thought it was an extremely awkward moment.
Now on to the rest of my thoughts on the weekend:
-On behalf of all the Minnesotans here on the forum (and we'll count Kristen, as Thunder Bay is a lot more Minnesotan than the rest of Ontario is
), thank you for coming to Minnesota for U2! Met a ton of you Friday night at the Leaning Tower.-Speaking of Friday, the concert crew should have gotten a merch wagon out on the Plaza during the day. There was a TON of foot traffic out there watching The Claw arise from the open end of the stadium. They could have done a brisk business.
-As some of you know by now, I had originally not planned on going to the show, which is why I went to the show in Chicago. However, I was able to pick up a seat in section 246 for fairly cheap, so that's where I started the show. Fortunately, the leg of The Claw was just to the outside of the bowl.
-After watching the weather roll in, I have this to say: The band has a damn good insurance policy, as well as the brass balls to use it. I have dealt with various factions of the University of Minnesota during my undergrad time. Knowing how risk-averse the U is, there is no way that they had any say in stopping the show. Because if they did, the lights would have been turned on after the Achtung Baby sequence. My umpire rules say, in no uncertain terms, that the field is to be cleared at the first sign of visible lightning, and proceedings not resumed until 30 minutes after the last visible lightning bolt. The U must have signed over complete control to the band, with an ironclad lease.
-That said, to say that the rain added to the performance is the understatement.
-I'm going to catch seven shades of grief for this, but I'll admit it: I made my move to the concourse just at the right time. I got a spot in the standing area above section 140 just as the first deluge came, right before Beautiful Day. Also, to the folks behind me, I won't apologize for being 6'5". I stayed there until just before Streets.
-I thought that Bono enjoyed the rainstorm, but I thought him dancing with the umbrella a la Gene Kelley between City of Blinding Lights and Vertigo was what REALLY set the show off, in my mind anyway. The umbrella dancing just sent a shock down my spine, and it got my mind back into the show after spending the previous 45 minutes worried about lightning.
-Huge props to the band. They could have packed it in, knocked their songs out, and been off the stage by 10:30. Instead, they made sure we got the full show. And to that fan on U2gigs.com who was griping and complaining the whole time, all together now: BOO THIS MAN!!!
-By all reputable accounts, GA was a complete cluster(foul). Some of it has to do with the design of the stadium. All the field entrances that have any room for support stations are on the east end of the field. The tunnel the lads came out of leads to a hallway with several locker rooms, so that's out.
-That being said, there is no reason for some of the conduct reported in this forum. Considering CSE also ran the GA at Vanderbilt, and Vandy is a MUCH smaller stadium than the New Brickhouse, you'd think they'd have remembered SOMETHING.
-If anyone is going to make a bootleg of this show, for the album cover they have to use either A) the solo picture of Bono in the spotlight looking like he's taking a shower, or B) a picture a friend of mine took of The Claw with the Aquatennial fireworks in the background. I'll try and get one of those pictures up here tomorrow morning.
-Considering it was "heartisabloom" and her sister's first time ever visiting the University of Minnesota, they certainly did a marvelous job of sniffing out the free parking.
-The next day I called my dad and told him that I'd gotten in, and the first thing that came out of his mouth was, "Yeah, but the U could have made even more money if they would have been able to sell beer." So it's the first concert at the New Brickhouse, a magical evening by all accounts, and all you want to bitch about was how they didn't sell beer? Get off it.
-Kind of on that note, I was in a campus eating establishment on Sunday evening before church. They had the busiest single day in their long history on Saturday. Their previous record was gone by 5:30 PM. No fewer than three bars reported the same phenomenon.
-The bartender said that the Dave Matthews Band was looking into booking a show at the New Brickhouse, but refused because the U couldn't/wouldn't sell beer. IMHO, you know it's a sad state of affairs when the band admitted that you have to be drunk, stoned, or both to suffer through three hours of legalized torture that is a DMB concert.
Overall, a fantastic weekend. Thank you to everyone.
corianderstem
Blue Crack Distributor
WOW.
You know, we were chilling in the hotel before going over, and on the local news story on the show (filled with truly awful U2 song-related puns), the announcer said the band went on at 8.
Maybe Mr. Clue Less Butthurt saw the same report.
Meanwhile, my mom looked over at me with a bit of worry "Do they really go on at 8? Do we need to go earlier?"
Me, cool as a cucumber: "They do not go on at 8."
