Tuesday night Sandy and Elida (who had come into town) joined me, Eric and my brother at the U2 concert here in SLC. A friend from junior high school, Erik, also flew into town to join us and Eric's brother, Evan, came with us.
We had purchased our GA tickets for last year's concert, but it was cancelled due to Bono's back injury, so with a lot of disappointment, we held on for a year. The wait left us with a tremendous amount of anticipation.
We camped out all day on Tuesday (in the rain, in our tent, playing cards), but the clouds moved on and the sun came out and we had beautiful weather for the concert. When we finally got into the stadium, we declared a spot in the "inner circle" at the outside of edge along the bar. We had such a great view of the stage and the catwalk.
The Fray opened the concert. I have heard their music, but I'm not super familiar with their music. They were pretty good and I'm sure I'll be listening to their music more.
When U2 made their way to the stage, I was overcome with the emotion of seeing them again. A few tears escaped as I jumped up and down, screaming and cheering and singing along. They played songs I've never heard them play live: Even Better Then the Real Thing and Zooropa. I positively loved singing my favorite songs with them! I cannot say how much it is that I loved this concert!!! Love love loved it!!!
My pictures:
Here is the write up in the SL Tribune, which was the best of the paper write ups:
by David Burger
A 164-foot-tall in-the-round set, which spanned the width of the football field and towered over the Olympic torch. The Claw, perched on four legs, was topped by a glowing needle, which more pessimistic observers opined looked like a lightning rod that in stormy weather would invite death and destruction to Bono and the rest of the band.
But God didn't want to strike down Bono on Tuesday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium, as the skies were clear as the Only Band That Wants to Matter launched a two-hour-plus, 24-song epic set that thrilled the more than 40,000 audience members.
The evening had a festive mood with the crowd engaging in The Wave minutes before the band took the stage, as if the Utes were about to whip their new Pac-12 rivals.
U2 began the concert with its ultimate tribute to 1990s irony, "Even Better Than the Real Thing," but the rest of the night was largely devoted to the earnestness the band is known for, especially during a peace rally in the midst of "Walk On."
That's not to say they were not playful with one another; Bono joked to the crowd about guitarist The Edge's inability to get hot water in his hotel room for the past few days. The lead singer thanked the crowd three times for its patience, after having to postpone the concert for a year because of his back injury, "We are so much better than last year," Bono said.
The night was full of the arena anthems that have exploded inside stadiums and your car radio for three decades, but the night's best moments came during songs that weren't as high-profile as "One." During "Miss Sarajevo," Bono showed off his jaw-dropping vocal flexibility, singing the late Luciano Pavarotti's operatic aria that was in the original version of the song. Later, the title track to "Zooropa" bubbled and percolated as the band was enveloped by a illuminated steel web that descended from the top of The Claw.
It was also the night of Bob Dylan's 70th birthday, and Bono led the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday" to Mr. Zimmerman after adding some lines of the Bono-Dylan collaboration "Love Rescue Me" to the end of "All I Want Is You." Best of all, Bono, accompanied just by his own guitar, crooned the first verse of "Blowin' in the Wind" before expanding into "Where The Streets Have No Name."
But in the end, the night was about the emotional connection U2 made with the crowd, with The Claw serving its purpose to make the stadium feel intimate. It has often been said that seeing U2 is a religious experience. But if only every day of church could be this loud, thoughtful and pulse-quickening.
God, don't strike me down.
Watch for the videos on Friday Night Videos!
