When something attracts many people, many many people, it is so often disaster or bad news on the menu...
Sometimes; sometimes though, it is great occasion and celebration that unites a mass of humans.
Last night was that. Very that. Epitome of celebration, joy, wonderment and pure magic.
God in the technology and massiveness streamed to our little electronic devices, PC's Macs and connected screens. In the Dublin Massive.
Capturing the spirit and relaying to the planet, to the universe the intimacy that comes wrapped up in the ginormity of a U2 show..... live..... was never going to be a walk in the park.
It actually became a walk in the clouds
A trip to the stars
A trip through your wires
over 1000-1500 hashtags every single MINUTE pertaining to the event on dear old Twitter tells its own story of new dimensions and people reached. Heights attained.
Knockers quietened. Dissers squished. Silenced. For a brief spectacular short time.
Hallelujah Hallelujah
No X Factor here. No pretend.
Joy Love Dancing Moving Grooving Singing Bringing Banging
And you can still watch it here.... again. enjoy :-)
http://www.youtube.com/u2
Monday, October 26, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Wisdom of Solomon
Really? That long since last blog? My bad.
Today I decided to take a bus ride.... for no other reason to get out of the house, and get a bag of chips. I am sticking to that story.
I thought I would take something to occupy me on my short journey, so I had a quick look on the bookshelf (very lazy reader me), and picked out a little one that would fit into my pocket, and picked up 'The Wisdom of Solomon', introduced by Adrian Plass.
I have read through it before, and thought it fit the bill nicely, as wisdom is something one can never get enough of..... (bearing in mind also that "those who increase knowledge, also increase sorrow".... oh dear.
One of the snippets that really does excuse my poor blogging regularity :
Be not rash with your mouth
nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God
for God is in Heaven, and you upon Earth
therefore let your words be few
Basically, I think that means, 'if you got nowt to say, say nowt'. like it.
So, my journey is quite short to the chippy, on the bus and back, and it meant I had a bit of a wait (eating said chips), in the bus depot, to catch the return bus home.
Lots of teenage humans dotting around at this time of night (7PM), and they all seem to be 'on the prowl', wandering, hanging around...... just like I used to do when I was that age of course.
In the chippy, a bunch of young lads in the queue before me, surprisingly, were asking each other who is gonna be watching Question Time tonight..... "What's Question Time?" says the gawkiest, while the others look at each other and nod and snigger......
Now, if you live in the UK you could not help but know that tonight the Question Time being spoken about was the BBC panel show, with audience questions, that had, in its own 'wisdom' (or lack of it, depending on your own point of view), invited the leader of the BNP (right wing fascist UK political party), onto the show, because, they (the BBC), now said they had to, as the BNP was now considered, in their eyes, a legitimate political organisation, after winning 2 seats earlier in the year in the European Elections.
What was surprising about the discussion by the chippy lads was that they were at all interested in what is really a politics show, and it resonated a little oddly in this working class small ex pit town why they would be showing such an interest.
So I watched the show, and also the 2 BBC shows afterwards, This Week, and then a re-run of Panorama, 'Undercover - Hate on the Doorstep'
I would really recommend if you can watching that Panorama special, where 2 undercover British Asian reporters spent 8 weeks living on a housing estate in Britain (Bristol actually), with hidden cameras on their person, recording the abuse and hate that they suffered at the hands on mainly young (as young as 9 or 10 years old), and teenage racists. It is really disturbing, but really did serve as an antidote to much of the rubbish that came out of the Question Time show (mainly from the mouth of 1 man, no prizes in guessing who he is).
The very BBC can be so great at programming, and then, so absolutely shit at something else.
Remember them refusing to show the Gaza Appeal earlier in the year? The same bosses who defended that decision were at it again defending the decision to invite a racist political party almost an hour of free airtime (and goodness knows how much else publicity that went alongside this absurd decision).
There are those, many I am hearing, saying that in this country we have the right of free speech, and everyone has the right to air their views, but that is just so hypocritical and downright shameful for the BBC to come that line when they would deny a humanitarian appeal and defend a racist organisation, and allow them time to promote their vile propaganda, it really wants to make me spit.
In the show afterwards it was commented that the BNP leader had been shown up just for what he was, and what his party stood for, and in some ways this was true. He had no answer to many of the criticisms hurled at him, and I am sure plainly lied about some things. No doubt about that whatsoever.
So now the thin 'veneer' as it is being called, of acceptable fascism is being brought into the political mainstream. This is bullshit. This must not stand. It is the Emperors New Clothes.
Or wolf in sheeps clothing. There is no such thing as acceptable fascism, and the more this man and his party are taken seriously, the more they are exposed to people who may just hear what they want to hear, and actually think they have some valid points. And so they grow in number.
Just like a certain mustachioed Charlie Chaplin lookalike Austrian little git and his horde did back in Nazi Germany in the 30's.
It baffles me does politics. I have no faith in any of it, there are the good and the great politicians, but on the whole they just don't swing it for me. Where does it end?
I am reminded of wisdom and wise words, like these ones by The German anti-Nazi activist, Pastor Martin Niemöller
They Came
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
There was more, much more that I learned from the Wisdom of Solomon Book, but that will wait til tomorrow. That will be the bit that goes "A Time for Everything'.....
Today I decided to take a bus ride.... for no other reason to get out of the house, and get a bag of chips. I am sticking to that story.
I thought I would take something to occupy me on my short journey, so I had a quick look on the bookshelf (very lazy reader me), and picked out a little one that would fit into my pocket, and picked up 'The Wisdom of Solomon', introduced by Adrian Plass.
I have read through it before, and thought it fit the bill nicely, as wisdom is something one can never get enough of..... (bearing in mind also that "those who increase knowledge, also increase sorrow".... oh dear.
One of the snippets that really does excuse my poor blogging regularity :
Be not rash with your mouth
nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God
for God is in Heaven, and you upon Earth
therefore let your words be few
Basically, I think that means, 'if you got nowt to say, say nowt'. like it.
So, my journey is quite short to the chippy, on the bus and back, and it meant I had a bit of a wait (eating said chips), in the bus depot, to catch the return bus home.
Lots of teenage humans dotting around at this time of night (7PM), and they all seem to be 'on the prowl', wandering, hanging around...... just like I used to do when I was that age of course.
In the chippy, a bunch of young lads in the queue before me, surprisingly, were asking each other who is gonna be watching Question Time tonight..... "What's Question Time?" says the gawkiest, while the others look at each other and nod and snigger......
Now, if you live in the UK you could not help but know that tonight the Question Time being spoken about was the BBC panel show, with audience questions, that had, in its own 'wisdom' (or lack of it, depending on your own point of view), invited the leader of the BNP (right wing fascist UK political party), onto the show, because, they (the BBC), now said they had to, as the BNP was now considered, in their eyes, a legitimate political organisation, after winning 2 seats earlier in the year in the European Elections.
What was surprising about the discussion by the chippy lads was that they were at all interested in what is really a politics show, and it resonated a little oddly in this working class small ex pit town why they would be showing such an interest.
So I watched the show, and also the 2 BBC shows afterwards, This Week, and then a re-run of Panorama, 'Undercover - Hate on the Doorstep'
I would really recommend if you can watching that Panorama special, where 2 undercover British Asian reporters spent 8 weeks living on a housing estate in Britain (Bristol actually), with hidden cameras on their person, recording the abuse and hate that they suffered at the hands on mainly young (as young as 9 or 10 years old), and teenage racists. It is really disturbing, but really did serve as an antidote to much of the rubbish that came out of the Question Time show (mainly from the mouth of 1 man, no prizes in guessing who he is).
The very BBC can be so great at programming, and then, so absolutely shit at something else.
Remember them refusing to show the Gaza Appeal earlier in the year? The same bosses who defended that decision were at it again defending the decision to invite a racist political party almost an hour of free airtime (and goodness knows how much else publicity that went alongside this absurd decision).
There are those, many I am hearing, saying that in this country we have the right of free speech, and everyone has the right to air their views, but that is just so hypocritical and downright shameful for the BBC to come that line when they would deny a humanitarian appeal and defend a racist organisation, and allow them time to promote their vile propaganda, it really wants to make me spit.
In the show afterwards it was commented that the BNP leader had been shown up just for what he was, and what his party stood for, and in some ways this was true. He had no answer to many of the criticisms hurled at him, and I am sure plainly lied about some things. No doubt about that whatsoever.
So now the thin 'veneer' as it is being called, of acceptable fascism is being brought into the political mainstream. This is bullshit. This must not stand. It is the Emperors New Clothes.
Or wolf in sheeps clothing. There is no such thing as acceptable fascism, and the more this man and his party are taken seriously, the more they are exposed to people who may just hear what they want to hear, and actually think they have some valid points. And so they grow in number.
Just like a certain mustachioed Charlie Chaplin lookalike Austrian little git and his horde did back in Nazi Germany in the 30's.
It baffles me does politics. I have no faith in any of it, there are the good and the great politicians, but on the whole they just don't swing it for me. Where does it end?
I am reminded of wisdom and wise words, like these ones by The German anti-Nazi activist, Pastor Martin Niemöller
They Came
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
There was more, much more that I learned from the Wisdom of Solomon Book, but that will wait til tomorrow. That will be the bit that goes "A Time for Everything'.....
Thursday, September 03, 2009
The Space Between Looking Outward and Looking Within (GB09 review)
Long have I advocated a 'volunteer break' for people who give over their time and love over to Greenbelt Festival every August Bank Holiday, and beyond. This year, after 5 years volunteering, I practised what I preach, and (in the main), did just that.
We was punters @gb09. Me and Mrs J managed to also wangle leaving the kids in a caravan in Northumberland for the weekend (not on their own I hasten to add, but with grandparents), we missed them very so, but it did give us the chance to do the festival just like we used to do it, before we was married, before we knew another soul at the festival.
We did sign up for a few hours helping out at The Amos Trust stall in G-Source for a few hours on the Saturday which was great, and gave us the chance to chat with some beautiful Muslim ladies from an Amos colleague association who were loving being at the festival and really sad they had to leave later that day. We also got to have a chat with the true gent that is Garth Hewitt which is always a great honour and a pleasure. Thanks to Sarah D and George for making us welcome.
I also was asked to perform a small role as part of The Table greenbelt group which did give us some structure to work to as we planned our days there, which worked out well as it meant I got to see stuff I wouldn't have normally gone to see, whilst also having the opportunity to do just about anything we pleased over the weekend.
Things greenbelt 09 was wonderful at presenting that I loved:
Site vibing -
colourful, noticeable, especially like the Kitchen venue interior
Sunday Communion -
outstanding in its' decision re: theme, olive seeds, Palestinian voices, risky and raggle taggle music
Rob Bell interviewed by Martin Wroe -
Greenbelt at its very very best, the questions from the audience and Martin and Rob's replies were a joy
Nuts/Performance Cafe
Splendid food in a splendid venue, class
The way that GB has further embraced technology this year and being able to follow it via the GB app, twitter and flickr, and of course grab mp3's of the talks I missed so soon after they finish
Barbara Nice, Alex Horne, new Festival Bowl venue, YMCA cafe, a chat with Bishop Gene and his assistant (who both adored the Festival), meeting and spending all too brief moments with friends old and new.
The whole gb09 vibe
Being, in the main, a punter this year. No pressure, ability to wander and discover
Things I didn't love:
Over eager stewarding in the Big Top, hurrying people out of the venue through only 2 exits when there we at least 6 they could/should have used. Madness. And dangerous. And being told the venue wasn't being cleared after one performance only to find once inside they had changed their minds and having to leave that performance halfway through to queue for the next show.
Jesus Arms -
Soul-less, cold atmosphere, crap paper cups and so-so beer
Missing the Keep Monday Special day, having to leave very early Monday
And lastly, the home from home we have found in recent years, back in the hotel (yes I am afraid camping days are not on the agenda in recent years, that may return though...).
The very special greenbelt people, some of whom we only see once a year, and some we have the delight of knowing and meeting up with throughout the year.
Each and every one of you good folk who i get to share a beer or 2... or 3 with late into the night, where sleep cries out, but is put off for just that little bit longer because the crack is so good and we don't want to leave it.
I leave these thoughts with images of some of you (the non blurry pics), and think of you all, often. And know that surely in Heaven there is a bar somewhere with comfy seats, each one has your name on it, awaiting your arrival.
So, that space between looking inward and looking outward.
The Long Now.
I got it.
Stood in it.
Paused in it.
We must do it again soon. Soon.
We was punters @gb09. Me and Mrs J managed to also wangle leaving the kids in a caravan in Northumberland for the weekend (not on their own I hasten to add, but with grandparents), we missed them very so, but it did give us the chance to do the festival just like we used to do it, before we was married, before we knew another soul at the festival.
We did sign up for a few hours helping out at The Amos Trust stall in G-Source for a few hours on the Saturday which was great, and gave us the chance to chat with some beautiful Muslim ladies from an Amos colleague association who were loving being at the festival and really sad they had to leave later that day. We also got to have a chat with the true gent that is Garth Hewitt which is always a great honour and a pleasure. Thanks to Sarah D and George for making us welcome.
I also was asked to perform a small role as part of The Table greenbelt group which did give us some structure to work to as we planned our days there, which worked out well as it meant I got to see stuff I wouldn't have normally gone to see, whilst also having the opportunity to do just about anything we pleased over the weekend.
Things greenbelt 09 was wonderful at presenting that I loved:
Site vibing -
colourful, noticeable, especially like the Kitchen venue interior
Sunday Communion -
outstanding in its' decision re: theme, olive seeds, Palestinian voices, risky and raggle taggle music
Rob Bell interviewed by Martin Wroe -
Greenbelt at its very very best, the questions from the audience and Martin and Rob's replies were a joy
Nuts/Performance Cafe
Splendid food in a splendid venue, class
The way that GB has further embraced technology this year and being able to follow it via the GB app, twitter and flickr, and of course grab mp3's of the talks I missed so soon after they finish
Barbara Nice, Alex Horne, new Festival Bowl venue, YMCA cafe, a chat with Bishop Gene and his assistant (who both adored the Festival), meeting and spending all too brief moments with friends old and new.
The whole gb09 vibe
Being, in the main, a punter this year. No pressure, ability to wander and discover
Things I didn't love:
Over eager stewarding in the Big Top, hurrying people out of the venue through only 2 exits when there we at least 6 they could/should have used. Madness. And dangerous. And being told the venue wasn't being cleared after one performance only to find once inside they had changed their minds and having to leave that performance halfway through to queue for the next show.
Jesus Arms -
Soul-less, cold atmosphere, crap paper cups and so-so beer
Missing the Keep Monday Special day, having to leave very early Monday
And lastly, the home from home we have found in recent years, back in the hotel (yes I am afraid camping days are not on the agenda in recent years, that may return though...).
The very special greenbelt people, some of whom we only see once a year, and some we have the delight of knowing and meeting up with throughout the year.
Each and every one of you good folk who i get to share a beer or 2... or 3 with late into the night, where sleep cries out, but is put off for just that little bit longer because the crack is so good and we don't want to leave it.
I leave these thoughts with images of some of you (the non blurry pics), and think of you all, often. And know that surely in Heaven there is a bar somewhere with comfy seats, each one has your name on it, awaiting your arrival.
So, that space between looking inward and looking outward.
The Long Now.
I got it.
Stood in it.
Paused in it.
We must do it again soon. Soon.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thoughts on the Gathering
So, we enter the week that for many of us marks the end of another year, and the beginning of a new year.
We are about to make the journey to a special place.
A place that has to be believed to be seen.
Our community gathering. For some, our only church.
My thoughts extend to Greenbelts' past, and of the people I have met, the things I have heard, the discussions I have been part of, or just earwigged in on.
I think of all the workers, all the volunteers who have put so much in to the preparations and organisation.
I think of my own journey, between last Greenbelt and this coming one. Of the amazing things, of the desperately sad things, of the deep frustrating things, of the life changing things, that have happened through the looking at life through the Greenbelt Lens.
John O'Donohue said at his last ever festival, 'make your gaze beautiful' - so that is my prayer and hope and wish for each and every person who will be touched by the spirit of festival named Greenbelt in the coming weeks and months.
May it move you, imprint upon you the very essence of what it is to know that whatever you are, wherever you are at, whatever you want to be, or don't want to be, that you find your moment.
That moment may be a tiny glimpse into what is possible, or it may be something thats enters you so deep that your world will be rocked to its core foundations, and you will never be the same ever again.
This is my Greenbelt Prayer for 2009, Standing in the Long Now.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
U2 360°, In 360°
Click anywhere on the screen and move your mouse to view the 360 onstage view (requires Quicktime)
Photographer Ralph Larmann has been documenting the U2 360 tour at several stops in Europe, getting some pretty amazing stuff along the way. One of the tools in his kit is a panoramic camera, and he used that to take the above panoramic shot behind theband during the show in Gelsenkirchen.
To zoom in on the shot, use the shift key; to zoom out, the control key. To rotate, click on the image and point it in the direction you want to move. Don’t forget to zoom up to look at the pylon and other components of the rig.
You can also see Ralph’s work on the cover of the August/September issue of Live Design, which will feature a photo gallery of shots from the tour.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Up The High Road
Another great night, great spot and I thought the sound was on the whole damn good where I was (opposite Edge, 5 o'clock to his right leaning on the back rail of the pit)
Was with Mrs Jules (who absolutely loved the whole day), and a mate Twiggy
who brought along his 14 year old first time U2 show.....
it was brilliant being with them and seeing the joy and rapture of their faces throughout......
Enjoyed a stroll around the pitch while The Hours were playing (who I am really liking)
And also Glasvegas, who seemed much more at home (obviously!), in their home patch,
and the singer really started to get into it to the end of their set.....
they were still getting a hard time from one or 2 very vocal big gobs right next to us,
but all in all went down very well
The technology gremlins were in abundance, not just for the sound guys
(we were located close to a giant sub-bass bin that started to go into meltdown
during MLK, just before Walk On and the total collapse for a few minutes of the entire PA),
I had 2 phones also that were set up to broadcast some snippets and twitpics that also decided, nah, you just watch the show instead - same for my camera, almost every pic I took came out blurred..... did get a few gems though....
Highlights for me were Vertigo, ISHFWILF, Unknown Caller karaoke, UV and MOS.
Think we were rather lucky that the rain that the forecast predicted pretty much held off,
more of a fine Celtic mist hung around all day, which maybe seeped into the electronics
and was to blame for all the techie glitches.
As I left the stadium, my thoughts were already on tomorrow night in Sheffield, but I couldn't help stop and pause a moment, and again try to take in the enormity of the whole 360 concept.
This pretty much sums it up.... bewildering and magnificently ginourmous, splattered with moments of intense intimacy........ who else but U2?
They even punched keyholes in the sky.....
Was with Mrs Jules (who absolutely loved the whole day), and a mate Twiggy
who brought along his 14 year old first time U2 show.....
it was brilliant being with them and seeing the joy and rapture of their faces throughout......
Enjoyed a stroll around the pitch while The Hours were playing (who I am really liking)
And also Glasvegas, who seemed much more at home (obviously!), in their home patch,
and the singer really started to get into it to the end of their set.....
they were still getting a hard time from one or 2 very vocal big gobs right next to us,
but all in all went down very well
The technology gremlins were in abundance, not just for the sound guys
(we were located close to a giant sub-bass bin that started to go into meltdown
during MLK, just before Walk On and the total collapse for a few minutes of the entire PA),
I had 2 phones also that were set up to broadcast some snippets and twitpics that also decided, nah, you just watch the show instead - same for my camera, almost every pic I took came out blurred..... did get a few gems though....
Highlights for me were Vertigo, ISHFWILF, Unknown Caller karaoke, UV and MOS.
Think we were rather lucky that the rain that the forecast predicted pretty much held off,
more of a fine Celtic mist hung around all day, which maybe seeped into the electronics
and was to blame for all the techie glitches.
As I left the stadium, my thoughts were already on tomorrow night in Sheffield, but I couldn't help stop and pause a moment, and again try to take in the enormity of the whole 360 concept.
This pretty much sums it up.... bewildering and magnificently ginourmous, splattered with moments of intense intimacy........ who else but U2?
They even punched keyholes in the sky.....
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wembley 2 - Up Close and Personal
Well. possibly..... hmmmmm probably.... the BEST gig I have ever been at.
Closeness to the event (in time and in proximity), may be colouring my judgment, BUT.......
After being at Fridays show in the seats (a last minute unplanned offering from a friend - cheers Emmo!)), I was determined to try and get up the front tonight, and amazingly as it turned out, this was achieved. How it was achieved is a whole story in itself, but in short, involved a full guided tour of the inside of the stadium, and a chaperoned escort right up into the bowels of the pit.
None of this was pre-arranged or planned, it was pure fluke, or, I like to think, one of those divine little happenings that tend to occur when U2 are in town and I get my arse down to see them.
It may have had something to do with the angel of a lady who I was attending the show with, who knows, but here is where we stood....
As we were taking pics, a guy offered to take a couple of us if we returned the favour, with claw in background, souvenier-like. Ian from Toronto was there as a last minute decision on his trip to London for other reasons, and wot a geezer...... he had had a few already and offered to buy us a beer if he could stand with us and hang out as he was on his own.
By showtime he was coming back from the bar 4 beers at a time, there was no stopping him! What helped make the night was watching him become ever more awe-struck (and pissed, but in a non-threatening way), as the night went on. He had NO idea what to expect, not quite a U2 newbie, but was not familiar with any of the new stuff or the concept of the tour.
I literally saw his jaw drop on more than one occassion and he spent a lot of the time ringing his Mrs back in Canada shouting 'THIS IS AWESOME!!! and other expletives. When the screen started to descend and the bridges rotate I thought he was gonna pass out. He kept disappearing and re-appearing with water and doughnuts... and more beer...... This is he....looking a bit scary!
I thought The Hours were very good, and into what they were doing, they had a stage manager directing their foldback mixer guy throughout the set, very professional like. Crowd liked them, I think we will be hearing more about them in the future.
Glasvegas... well. I liked their album a lot, but I felt the singer just didn't connect with the audience at all. He didn't seem to handle the nerves or pressure of such a big event too well, which is a shame, but maybe understandable.
The wait for the main event seemed to go quickly, and pretty soon stage was cleared and Bowie came over the speakers and the smoke machines kicked into action. Here we go..... yes we were THIS close :-)
The sound was awesome compared to last night's echo madness, possibly due to being closer to the ground and absorbsion was much better down here - there are real inherent problems with sound at Wembley, I wouldn't say it is great for acoustics for bands - but when the crowd kicks in, like ISHFWILF, well, then you can imagine what it must be like for the footy fans, the atmosphere must be electric, as the sound has nowhere to go it bounces around forever, wonderful for crowd singing, awful for rock music (but I have heard tonights show was way better all round even for those up in the Gods, well done Joe for taming the echo demons at least as much is humanly possible).
Bono bigged up Joe O, and told the story of how he, Joe O, visited Wembley when the foundations for this new version of the stadium were being laid....and how he had discretely, dropped in a plectrum belonging to Edge right into the very foundations of this special U2 place (Live Aid et al.....)
The set tonight was just brilliant, many many highlights. My angel lady friend was praying for I Still Havent Found...and again they delivered, man that crowd singing ripped into the soul, and I bubbled again, a spiritual moment of great heights was attained.
They only went and done Bad again (only 3 times on this tour and I been at 2 of them!), well, it just does not get any better, I am sure they knew I was there, some kind of mind reading going on perhaps? If only! But thats one of the secrets of being a great great act, to engage with your audience and fans on a personal level, and invite you to think that they are singing certain songs JUST for you, and no one else. My lady angel friend thinks this, in Dublin she got Stuck In a Moment, just when she needed it, and tonight got her Still Havent Found.
I got... well I got up close and personal, you want proof? Well you look at this and tell me what you think.
Man playing bass looking down at U2 fan: "Hey, big guy, I was hoping you would make it up to the front tonight. Ah, I see you brought your angel friend. Nice. What do you think of this little riff....? Well, its been nice chatting, must get along this bridge now, I have other people to see, have a great night!'
See you in Glasgow. GET ON YER KILTS!!!!!!
Closeness to the event (in time and in proximity), may be colouring my judgment, BUT.......
After being at Fridays show in the seats (a last minute unplanned offering from a friend - cheers Emmo!)), I was determined to try and get up the front tonight, and amazingly as it turned out, this was achieved. How it was achieved is a whole story in itself, but in short, involved a full guided tour of the inside of the stadium, and a chaperoned escort right up into the bowels of the pit.
None of this was pre-arranged or planned, it was pure fluke, or, I like to think, one of those divine little happenings that tend to occur when U2 are in town and I get my arse down to see them.
It may have had something to do with the angel of a lady who I was attending the show with, who knows, but here is where we stood....
As we were taking pics, a guy offered to take a couple of us if we returned the favour, with claw in background, souvenier-like. Ian from Toronto was there as a last minute decision on his trip to London for other reasons, and wot a geezer...... he had had a few already and offered to buy us a beer if he could stand with us and hang out as he was on his own.
By showtime he was coming back from the bar 4 beers at a time, there was no stopping him! What helped make the night was watching him become ever more awe-struck (and pissed, but in a non-threatening way), as the night went on. He had NO idea what to expect, not quite a U2 newbie, but was not familiar with any of the new stuff or the concept of the tour.
I literally saw his jaw drop on more than one occassion and he spent a lot of the time ringing his Mrs back in Canada shouting 'THIS IS AWESOME!!! and other expletives. When the screen started to descend and the bridges rotate I thought he was gonna pass out. He kept disappearing and re-appearing with water and doughnuts... and more beer...... This is he....looking a bit scary!
I thought The Hours were very good, and into what they were doing, they had a stage manager directing their foldback mixer guy throughout the set, very professional like. Crowd liked them, I think we will be hearing more about them in the future.
Glasvegas... well. I liked their album a lot, but I felt the singer just didn't connect with the audience at all. He didn't seem to handle the nerves or pressure of such a big event too well, which is a shame, but maybe understandable.
The wait for the main event seemed to go quickly, and pretty soon stage was cleared and Bowie came over the speakers and the smoke machines kicked into action. Here we go..... yes we were THIS close :-)
The sound was awesome compared to last night's echo madness, possibly due to being closer to the ground and absorbsion was much better down here - there are real inherent problems with sound at Wembley, I wouldn't say it is great for acoustics for bands - but when the crowd kicks in, like ISHFWILF, well, then you can imagine what it must be like for the footy fans, the atmosphere must be electric, as the sound has nowhere to go it bounces around forever, wonderful for crowd singing, awful for rock music (but I have heard tonights show was way better all round even for those up in the Gods, well done Joe for taming the echo demons at least as much is humanly possible).
Bono bigged up Joe O, and told the story of how he, Joe O, visited Wembley when the foundations for this new version of the stadium were being laid....and how he had discretely, dropped in a plectrum belonging to Edge right into the very foundations of this special U2 place (Live Aid et al.....)
The set tonight was just brilliant, many many highlights. My angel lady friend was praying for I Still Havent Found...and again they delivered, man that crowd singing ripped into the soul, and I bubbled again, a spiritual moment of great heights was attained.
They only went and done Bad again (only 3 times on this tour and I been at 2 of them!), well, it just does not get any better, I am sure they knew I was there, some kind of mind reading going on perhaps? If only! But thats one of the secrets of being a great great act, to engage with your audience and fans on a personal level, and invite you to think that they are singing certain songs JUST for you, and no one else. My lady angel friend thinks this, in Dublin she got Stuck In a Moment, just when she needed it, and tonight got her Still Havent Found.
I got... well I got up close and personal, you want proof? Well you look at this and tell me what you think.
Man playing bass looking down at U2 fan: "Hey, big guy, I was hoping you would make it up to the front tonight. Ah, I see you brought your angel friend. Nice. What do you think of this little riff....? Well, its been nice chatting, must get along this bridge now, I have other people to see, have a great night!'
See you in Glasgow. GET ON YER KILTS!!!!!!
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