U2FloridaFan
New Yorker
OK. Let’s try this again. I wrote a whole thing earlier only to get logged out when I submitted it so the whole thing was lost, so here’s my second try.
It’s hard to describe all the emotions I’m feeling right now, but let’s start by saying that I’ve just had the most awesome 2 days I’ve had in a long time. The whole U2 experience is more than just loving their music, it’s all the little things too.
When Bono, Larry, Edge and Adam took the stage Monday night, I can only describe it as an awesome finale to a just as awesome 2 day U2 experience. It was the only way to end 2 days of pure bliss (mixed with some nail-biting moments (like not knowing exactly how the GA lines would work (the security guy the second night was just awesome and there was no way of cutting, they checked everyone’s wrist number as we were going in, if you weren’t where you were supposed to be…back you went). So there was no stampede like Sunday night, when two lines (U2.com and reg GA) became one line, when we realized how much longer the U2.com line was than the reg GA line – go figure). Thanks Valerie for being so persistent with security and getting on the bullhorn for us and doing a bi-lingual explanation of the GA line just to make sure everyone understood the way it was going to work. You rule girl!!! …Then there were the exhilarating moments (seeing the guys drive by the GA line on Sunday night and Bono rolling down his window and smiling and giving the peace sign to everyone who had been waiting all day…quite unexpected…and the Monday meet and greet “Edge documentary” session that was just beyond words - having Bono 3 feet away videotaping us about Edge and getting to speak to Edge and tell him how awesome Sunday night’s concert was and having him shake my hand and say thanks,– see my post under the Did you get interviewed by Bono? thread.) On top of that, on Monday night to be scanned into the ellipse (after being on the rail, almost at the tip on the outside of the ellipse on Sunday night…which we thought was great) and end up right on the front rail between Bono and Adam with people you had just spent the day getting to know (Sarah - I’m so happy you got be in front of yer man, Adam -, and Carol, two really sweet Australian girls), and my GA buddy for both Miami nights, Ramblinrose, whom I didn’t know before Miami (thank you for getting my butt out of bed so early Monday morning to get a great spot on the GA line…it was tough getting up that early after the concert the night before) made this show all the more memorable. All the Interference people… Kellyahern, it was great to meet you (the photo posting legend here…sorry the GA ticket with Mark didn’t work out for Monday) and Hippy, another super U2 fan, and Toni, Carol, Dani, Lisa, Leslie, Babette, Sami, Fiona and Sheila, you all made time fly in the GA lines Sunday and Monday with your U2 tales and sense of humor. It was such a fun time.
Now, some thoughts about Monday’s show. First when Bono took the stage for COBL, he had the same video camera on his shoulder that he had at the afternoon meet and greet and he used it to film Edge during the beginning of COBL. The crowd was really loud right off the bat and it built through the remainder of the show. Vertigo was off the scale and then when I heard the first chords of I Will Follow, I about died (one of my favorites, just from an energy standpoint). Then Electric Co. brought back some nice high school memories and most of the crowd seemed to know the words, which was nice (the crowd drowned Bono out so many times during the show, it was incredible). Next surprise was OOTS, which was really beautiful with keyboards too. SYCMIOYO wasn’t as stirring for me last night as it was on Sunday night (Sunday happened to be Bono’s dad’s birthday, which made the song extra poignant that night). The crowd just went completely nuts when they played LAPOE (Larry had to hustle to get to the back of the ellipse for this. He couldn’t seem to get loose from his earpiece thing but finally managed to and kind of walk-ran back to the drum kit on the catwalk.) Bono hit all the notes in Miss Sarajevo (another beautiful moment appreciated by the crowd). After WTSHNN the crowd was so loud, Bono just couldn’t believe it, he came back from the tip of the ellipse and just stood and said “WOW, WOW” before stepping back onto the main stage. When he put the mic back at the mic stand, the crowd was even more deafening and he started to speak and just couldn’t even be heard. He tried to get the crowd to quiet a bit which just made them roar even louder and the band finally just accepted all the love and Bono stepped back and was like “thank you, thank you.” He was truly overwhelmed with the response and was just smiling and so appreciative. It was so great to be a part of that cause it was sooo what I was feeling right at that moment and the crowd just echoed it. Truly amazing. We thought we might get Zoo Station, but then it turned out to be UTEOTW (I would’ve preferred Zoo Station but…you can’t have everything). During WOWY Bono brought up a girl who was only about 3 girls away from me on the rail (sorry Babette, you only missed it by one…again). She seemed to be more interested in looking at her boyfriend and blowing him a kiss than making eye contact with Bono. She would look at Bono then look away. Maybe she was just super shy. From where we were, we could see her legs just totally shaking the whole time. Ramblinrose seems to think Bono was pissed that she wouldn’t play his game so that’s why he put her back over the rail early. He did come back a little later and reached over and touched her hand, blew a kiss and waved goodbye. I just started to really get emotional at this point thinking “we’re almost at the end here and I won’t see them until the next tour….whenever that is.” It was really powerful and totally unexpected. I’m still really bummed. Bad, of course, was one everyone was hoping for and the boys didn’t disappoint and neither did the audience. Sunday’s show was so great and loud we never thought U2 or the Miami crowd could outdo that night. We were wrong. Monday night was just an unforgettable show.
I just can’t believe how many great opportunites Ramblinrose and I had to get close to these guys (inside the arena and out), we just couldn’t have asked for more…well, maybe an autograph from Bono would’ve been nice but maybe next time. Thank you, U2!!
Here's a couple of photos too
During Miss Sarajevo
Interferencers KellyAhern and RamblinRose
Monday night GA line
interferencers ramblinrose, U2FloridaFan, Sarahcostanza (l to r) and Carol from Australia
It’s hard to describe all the emotions I’m feeling right now, but let’s start by saying that I’ve just had the most awesome 2 days I’ve had in a long time. The whole U2 experience is more than just loving their music, it’s all the little things too.
When Bono, Larry, Edge and Adam took the stage Monday night, I can only describe it as an awesome finale to a just as awesome 2 day U2 experience. It was the only way to end 2 days of pure bliss (mixed with some nail-biting moments (like not knowing exactly how the GA lines would work (the security guy the second night was just awesome and there was no way of cutting, they checked everyone’s wrist number as we were going in, if you weren’t where you were supposed to be…back you went). So there was no stampede like Sunday night, when two lines (U2.com and reg GA) became one line, when we realized how much longer the U2.com line was than the reg GA line – go figure). Thanks Valerie for being so persistent with security and getting on the bullhorn for us and doing a bi-lingual explanation of the GA line just to make sure everyone understood the way it was going to work. You rule girl!!! …Then there were the exhilarating moments (seeing the guys drive by the GA line on Sunday night and Bono rolling down his window and smiling and giving the peace sign to everyone who had been waiting all day…quite unexpected…and the Monday meet and greet “Edge documentary” session that was just beyond words - having Bono 3 feet away videotaping us about Edge and getting to speak to Edge and tell him how awesome Sunday night’s concert was and having him shake my hand and say thanks,– see my post under the Did you get interviewed by Bono? thread.) On top of that, on Monday night to be scanned into the ellipse (after being on the rail, almost at the tip on the outside of the ellipse on Sunday night…which we thought was great) and end up right on the front rail between Bono and Adam with people you had just spent the day getting to know (Sarah - I’m so happy you got be in front of yer man, Adam -, and Carol, two really sweet Australian girls), and my GA buddy for both Miami nights, Ramblinrose, whom I didn’t know before Miami (thank you for getting my butt out of bed so early Monday morning to get a great spot on the GA line…it was tough getting up that early after the concert the night before) made this show all the more memorable. All the Interference people… Kellyahern, it was great to meet you (the photo posting legend here…sorry the GA ticket with Mark didn’t work out for Monday) and Hippy, another super U2 fan, and Toni, Carol, Dani, Lisa, Leslie, Babette, Sami, Fiona and Sheila, you all made time fly in the GA lines Sunday and Monday with your U2 tales and sense of humor. It was such a fun time.
Now, some thoughts about Monday’s show. First when Bono took the stage for COBL, he had the same video camera on his shoulder that he had at the afternoon meet and greet and he used it to film Edge during the beginning of COBL. The crowd was really loud right off the bat and it built through the remainder of the show. Vertigo was off the scale and then when I heard the first chords of I Will Follow, I about died (one of my favorites, just from an energy standpoint). Then Electric Co. brought back some nice high school memories and most of the crowd seemed to know the words, which was nice (the crowd drowned Bono out so many times during the show, it was incredible). Next surprise was OOTS, which was really beautiful with keyboards too. SYCMIOYO wasn’t as stirring for me last night as it was on Sunday night (Sunday happened to be Bono’s dad’s birthday, which made the song extra poignant that night). The crowd just went completely nuts when they played LAPOE (Larry had to hustle to get to the back of the ellipse for this. He couldn’t seem to get loose from his earpiece thing but finally managed to and kind of walk-ran back to the drum kit on the catwalk.) Bono hit all the notes in Miss Sarajevo (another beautiful moment appreciated by the crowd). After WTSHNN the crowd was so loud, Bono just couldn’t believe it, he came back from the tip of the ellipse and just stood and said “WOW, WOW” before stepping back onto the main stage. When he put the mic back at the mic stand, the crowd was even more deafening and he started to speak and just couldn’t even be heard. He tried to get the crowd to quiet a bit which just made them roar even louder and the band finally just accepted all the love and Bono stepped back and was like “thank you, thank you.” He was truly overwhelmed with the response and was just smiling and so appreciative. It was so great to be a part of that cause it was sooo what I was feeling right at that moment and the crowd just echoed it. Truly amazing. We thought we might get Zoo Station, but then it turned out to be UTEOTW (I would’ve preferred Zoo Station but…you can’t have everything). During WOWY Bono brought up a girl who was only about 3 girls away from me on the rail (sorry Babette, you only missed it by one…again). She seemed to be more interested in looking at her boyfriend and blowing him a kiss than making eye contact with Bono. She would look at Bono then look away. Maybe she was just super shy. From where we were, we could see her legs just totally shaking the whole time. Ramblinrose seems to think Bono was pissed that she wouldn’t play his game so that’s why he put her back over the rail early. He did come back a little later and reached over and touched her hand, blew a kiss and waved goodbye. I just started to really get emotional at this point thinking “we’re almost at the end here and I won’t see them until the next tour….whenever that is.” It was really powerful and totally unexpected. I’m still really bummed. Bad, of course, was one everyone was hoping for and the boys didn’t disappoint and neither did the audience. Sunday’s show was so great and loud we never thought U2 or the Miami crowd could outdo that night. We were wrong. Monday night was just an unforgettable show.
I just can’t believe how many great opportunites Ramblinrose and I had to get close to these guys (inside the arena and out), we just couldn’t have asked for more…well, maybe an autograph from Bono would’ve been nice but maybe next time. Thank you, U2!!
Here's a couple of photos too
During Miss Sarajevo
Interferencers KellyAhern and RamblinRose
Monday night GA line
interferencers ramblinrose, U2FloridaFan, Sarahcostanza (l to r) and Carol from Australia