Larry and Edge made me feel like 1 in a million. Ok like one of 96,000. Here's my story.
Without intentionally sounding cliché, I had the night of my life at the U2 show at the Rose Bowl.
I arrived with 4 friends, all who were about to experience their first U2 show with me. This was the show on my trinity of shows that I was most looking forward to especially since I was going to experience this in my beloved city of L.A. I love to travel but there is something special to me when I watch a favorite band in my hometown.
We arrived at 10am in hoping to be in the first 1000. Not everyone could go any earlier so I appreciated they even wanted to go that early. We had fun setting up camp and moving our camp as the sun moved. Haha.
As the hour came closer to opening the gates, all order was lost. People that had arrived HOURS after us jumped line and I was thinking I got screwed over big time. Thankfully the night wasn't lost.
We ended up third row in the inner pit of Edge’s side. I have had terrible luck trying to meet the edge. Even seeing him onstage has been really challenging this tour. I didn’t see him at all in Phoenix and my view of him in Vegas was blocked a good part of the show. Any pictures I managed to take were over my head.
I had been trying to convince my friends to try to get the outer rail of the runway. We were there for about 4 seconds until I saw how empty the inner rail was. Before I knew we were all going into the inner rail. In spite of the past experiences, I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t want to jinx it but I had a good feeling about this. I really did.
During our queue, I decided to make a sign for the show. My friends made fun of me just a little but they were rooting for me.
One side of my sign simply said “We luv the Edge” (a reference to the show in Hawaii) and the other side said “ Love Larry the Hitman” ( a reference to a shirt he wore on the PopMart tour.)
I had always wanted to make a sign but always felt a bit silly. I figured this was the L.A. show, I’m with my friends and since I never saw them as a teenager and felt I ought to get it out of my system.
I was prepared to have it tossed upon entrance. Since this was the taping for the dvd I had no idea if they were even allowing signs. I really didn’t expect either of the to be in view of it. I hoped but I truly didn’t have any expectations. I had talked to some of the people immediately behind me and promised I wouldn’t have it up for the entire show or even for an entire song. Its been done to me at other shows and didn’t want to be “that” person.
The show began and The Edge was sooo close. Curse broken. My battery began to drain immediately and I took that as a sign that I ought to simply soak it all in. I truly was in disbelief at the production, the energy of the pit, and the overwhelming view of the audience in the stands.
I had heard that the stage is so massive and high that anyone in the very front couldn’t see the entire stage. This was true. I couldn’t see Adam and could BARELY see Larry’s head. But I could see Bono and Edge clear as day. I was more than cool with that. The probability of Edge seeing what I wrote for him was quite high but I was realistic about Larry. It probably wasn’t going to happen.
The show was brilliant from my perspective. I was shaky from the lack of food and excitement. I’m still blown away by the passion of the Unknown Caller, the energy of the popular singles, and The unforgettable fire.
Then the Crazy tonight remix… Larry started from the furthest bridge near the back of the stage and went around Adams side and did his thing on the runway. I held the sign up. He circled around and came up on Edge’s bridge back on stage. I held up the Larry side of the sign as he walked across the catwalk and crossed over and he saw it when he nearly on the stage again. He smiled and pointed. I went back in time and felt like a teenager. In disbelief I turned to my friends and they were smiling and confirmed I wasn’t seeing things. They saw him smiling and pointing. I couldn’t believe it. Seriously.
Sunday bloody Sunday was next and Edge sang the ENTIRE song literally in front of us. I managed to take a quick picture but I was singing and staring in a mixture of disbelief and joy.
When Streets started the section went nuts and I was jumping along with the rest of the crowd. I looked up at the screens and at that moment saw that Edge’s camera angle was facing our direction. In a cheesy attempt to see if my sign could be on camera I lifted it and kept looking up at the screen but I didn't see anything. I then felt a nudge and saw the Edge looking directly at me and smiling. I was jumping up and down with the sign and he lifted his guitar at me and played a few chords for me!!
Again I looked at my friends for confirmation and the were all smiling at me. Then a lady behind me leaned over and said “he totally saw you and did that for you!”
I probably began to shake even more. I was beyond ecstatic! Larry and Edge saw my signs! I never expected one to see it nevermind BOTH of them!!
My camera died and I could care less. I watched and sang the songs of the encore in nothing but smiles.
When they took their bow I showed Edge my sign once more waved and he waved back and smiled. When Larry faced our side of the stage I turned my sign over and showed him what I wrote for him once more as well and waved. He smiled and waved back!!
They exited the stage and I was close to tears of joy. That’s a really difficult thing for me to do.
I stayed on the stage for a few minutes to soak it all in. We went up to the rail and asked for the setlist and it was given to my friend and he reluctantly gave it to me. I gave him the biggest hug and was truly grateful. I never dreamed I could get my hands on a U2 setlist, especially of the hometown show. Sorry to sound redundant but I cant express how magical it feels to have the perfect show in my city.
I don’t know what they sounded like to the sitting audience but this was the best U2 experience of my life. The energy was amazing in my area, the songs were great and being noticed by my two favorite members left me speechless. I really don’t care if the cameras didn’t see my signs. Larry and Edge did. That’s priceless to me.
I had an amazing journey following them on a road trip for three shows and ending my journey in a way I could’ve never predicted.
I will never try to duplicate this experience and I'm glad I got the "teenager" out of my system. I will forever treasure my night and my journey with my favorite band.