10-26-2009, 10:47 AM
U2 at the Rose Bowl
Should I buy my tickets now for the Anaheim show in June?
The Queen got me tickets to the concert for my birthday. She has now been to two rock concerts in her life and they have both been for the same band. For weeks, we had been getting dire reports on the evil that would be the drive to the Rose Bowl for the concert. 93000 people would be in attendance and the approach to the Rose Bowl is congested on the best of times. So, we took their advice and left for the concert on what is about a ten mile drive, three hours early. We arrived on the Brookside golf course and parking lot in a little over thirty minutes. As we looked at the scores of cars parked on the golf course fairways, we figured it would be a miserable time getting out.
You know I have a problem with cameras and my need to record, right? Well, it's a good thing we got there early. I made a pass with my camera bag and was immediately shot down by security. I then had to make the fifteen minute walk back to the car. I handed my Video camera to the Queen thinking it would be no problem getting that through. She caught up to me about halfway back to the car and handed me the video camera as well. On the way to the car, I decided to try and sneak the video camera through. I know. I have a problem. I should have been sneakier, I guess, because I had to make another walk back to the car to deposit the vid camera as well. I did get to set off my car alarm though as a man was trying to take a leak next the car.
The two walks back and forth to the care were a great time killer. I had just sat down next to a very relieved Queen when the house lights dimmed and the Black Eyed Peas took the stage. I was very dissapointed when I found out the Peas were going to be the opening act. Throughout the country, Muse or the Killers, bands I really enjoy, were opening. But for some reason, when they hit the west coast, it was time for the Peas. I was pleasantly surprised I didn't hate them as much as I should. They played loud and short and they had the best surprise guest. If you guessed, they opened the show with "Let's Get it Started", you win. They played Boom Boo Pow. Fergie did her solo single "Big Girls Don't Cry". Wil.i.am gave shout outs to Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles all night. But the best moment came at the end when Slash of Guns and Roses came out. Fergie and Slash did a great cover of "Sweet Child of Mine". The Queen was very concerned that I knew the lyrics to all the Black Eyed Peas songs. Osmosis is my only answer.
Oh, boy did the band Rock. The show actually opened with "Space Oddity" playing on the PA as we staired in awe at the Claw. It really is an impressive sit. The video screen did a great job of making the band come up close and personal. But when the video screen expanded, it didn't work as well. The one thing I did notice is that most of the songs from the new album which I thought were okay on the Album, simply rocked in concert. The remix of Boots was incredible and it gave Larry a chance to get out from behind the drum kit and wander the circular stage. Magnificent was magnificent. I always love to sing along with "Where the Streets have no name".
They did a tribute to Iran with Sunday Bloody Sunday which was great. They did a tribute to Aung as well, but I didn't think it came off as well as it should. It was kind of odd at the end. They seem to lose momentum. They left the stage for a message from Desmond Tutu and I think was wondering where the band went. They didn't really capture the fire when the returned.
For the encore, Bono came out in a jacket covered with lasers. And every so often when the fog would hit him just right, you'd get all these cool beautiful ruby lines extending from his body. It didn't happen as often as it should. He also had this circular microphone hanging from the claw to play with it. He hung on it and swung out towards the crowd. I think the new microphone screwed up the sound because the encore songs didn't sound near as good as the rest of the set. They also didn't have the drama of the opening songs. I also got the feeling Bono didn't want to sing With or Without you.
All in all, a great concert. I'd love to see them again without a million other friends. The staging is something to see and yes, I am ticked off I have no photos to show of the event. If I don't have snaps, did the event really happen?
One of the other cool audience participation things that both bands did was the hold your cell phones in the air while we dim the house lights. It looked really cool. I am simple yes.
So, we are back at the car in the middle of the golf course. We saw one car that had tried to take a short cut out and was trapped in a sand trap. Ha!. Serves them right for trying to sneak out early. It was an suv and it was balanced on the edge of the trap with it's front wheels suspended in space. Some of the cars around my car had already left, so I was able to at least move my car. Then, it was pretty clear to the exit. We left in no time. I think we got back home faster than it actually took to get to the venue. We were in bed by 12:30. Yeeha.
I'm serious about that Anaheim thing, if anybody wants to come down . . . .
Set List:
Breathe
Get on Your Boots
Magnificent
Mysterious Ways
Beautiful Day
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Stuck In A Moment
No Line on the Horizon
Elevation
In A Little While
Unknown Caller
Until The End of the World
Unforgettable Fire
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
I'll Go Crazy - Remix
Sunday Bloody Sunday
MLK
Walk On
One
Where The Streets Have No Name
Ultraviolet
With or Without You
Moment of Surrender
Should I buy my tickets now for the Anaheim show in June?
The Queen got me tickets to the concert for my birthday. She has now been to two rock concerts in her life and they have both been for the same band. For weeks, we had been getting dire reports on the evil that would be the drive to the Rose Bowl for the concert. 93000 people would be in attendance and the approach to the Rose Bowl is congested on the best of times. So, we took their advice and left for the concert on what is about a ten mile drive, three hours early. We arrived on the Brookside golf course and parking lot in a little over thirty minutes. As we looked at the scores of cars parked on the golf course fairways, we figured it would be a miserable time getting out.
You know I have a problem with cameras and my need to record, right? Well, it's a good thing we got there early. I made a pass with my camera bag and was immediately shot down by security. I then had to make the fifteen minute walk back to the car. I handed my Video camera to the Queen thinking it would be no problem getting that through. She caught up to me about halfway back to the car and handed me the video camera as well. On the way to the car, I decided to try and sneak the video camera through. I know. I have a problem. I should have been sneakier, I guess, because I had to make another walk back to the car to deposit the vid camera as well. I did get to set off my car alarm though as a man was trying to take a leak next the car.
The two walks back and forth to the care were a great time killer. I had just sat down next to a very relieved Queen when the house lights dimmed and the Black Eyed Peas took the stage. I was very dissapointed when I found out the Peas were going to be the opening act. Throughout the country, Muse or the Killers, bands I really enjoy, were opening. But for some reason, when they hit the west coast, it was time for the Peas. I was pleasantly surprised I didn't hate them as much as I should. They played loud and short and they had the best surprise guest. If you guessed, they opened the show with "Let's Get it Started", you win. They played Boom Boo Pow. Fergie did her solo single "Big Girls Don't Cry". Wil.i.am gave shout outs to Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles all night. But the best moment came at the end when Slash of Guns and Roses came out. Fergie and Slash did a great cover of "Sweet Child of Mine". The Queen was very concerned that I knew the lyrics to all the Black Eyed Peas songs. Osmosis is my only answer.
Oh, boy did the band Rock. The show actually opened with "Space Oddity" playing on the PA as we staired in awe at the Claw. It really is an impressive sit. The video screen did a great job of making the band come up close and personal. But when the video screen expanded, it didn't work as well. The one thing I did notice is that most of the songs from the new album which I thought were okay on the Album, simply rocked in concert. The remix of Boots was incredible and it gave Larry a chance to get out from behind the drum kit and wander the circular stage. Magnificent was magnificent. I always love to sing along with "Where the Streets have no name".
They did a tribute to Iran with Sunday Bloody Sunday which was great. They did a tribute to Aung as well, but I didn't think it came off as well as it should. It was kind of odd at the end. They seem to lose momentum. They left the stage for a message from Desmond Tutu and I think was wondering where the band went. They didn't really capture the fire when the returned.
For the encore, Bono came out in a jacket covered with lasers. And every so often when the fog would hit him just right, you'd get all these cool beautiful ruby lines extending from his body. It didn't happen as often as it should. He also had this circular microphone hanging from the claw to play with it. He hung on it and swung out towards the crowd. I think the new microphone screwed up the sound because the encore songs didn't sound near as good as the rest of the set. They also didn't have the drama of the opening songs. I also got the feeling Bono didn't want to sing With or Without you.
All in all, a great concert. I'd love to see them again without a million other friends. The staging is something to see and yes, I am ticked off I have no photos to show of the event. If I don't have snaps, did the event really happen?
One of the other cool audience participation things that both bands did was the hold your cell phones in the air while we dim the house lights. It looked really cool. I am simple yes.
So, we are back at the car in the middle of the golf course. We saw one car that had tried to take a short cut out and was trapped in a sand trap. Ha!. Serves them right for trying to sneak out early. It was an suv and it was balanced on the edge of the trap with it's front wheels suspended in space. Some of the cars around my car had already left, so I was able to at least move my car. Then, it was pretty clear to the exit. We left in no time. I think we got back home faster than it actually took to get to the venue. We were in bed by 12:30. Yeeha.
I'm serious about that Anaheim thing, if anybody wants to come down . . . .
Set List:
Breathe
Get on Your Boots
Magnificent
Mysterious Ways
Beautiful Day
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Stuck In A Moment
No Line on the Horizon
Elevation
In A Little While
Unknown Caller
Until The End of the World
Unforgettable Fire
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
I'll Go Crazy - Remix
Sunday Bloody Sunday
MLK
Walk On
One
Where The Streets Have No Name
Ultraviolet
With or Without You
Moment of Surrender
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit