tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post7219663338568715872..comments2024-02-04T05:13:04.501-05:00Comments on Nik at Nite: 360 Degrees of U2Nikki Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463618183850438914noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-66655382327010462972009-09-17T10:06:55.023-04:002009-09-17T10:06:55.023-04:00My sister-in-law's boyfriend is a stagehand fo...My sister-in-law's boyfriend is a stagehand for U2. He's in charge of one of the four enormous cranes they uses to erect the set. I've seen pictures of the set "in process" and it's pretty amazing. <br /><br />I take it in Canada they don't hassle you about cold medicines like sudafed either? I live in Minnesota and every time I get a head cold and need some Advil Cold & Sinus or whatever, I have to get it from behind the counter by showing my ID to a pharmacist because of methheads. Lame!Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-59692715290390957712009-09-16T19:34:42.080-04:002009-09-16T19:34:42.080-04:00Loved reading about your experience. I was there t...Loved reading about your experience. I was there too! BUT all the way at the top of Soldier Field. I must say, even though I was in the nosebleed section, the concert still rocked. The stage was incredible! My husband (who is not a huge U2 fan) even said that the concert was awesome!Susienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-34250231613621244772009-09-16T12:20:35.443-04:002009-09-16T12:20:35.443-04:00Hey, Nik, great post! Glad you had an awesome time...Hey, Nik, great post! Glad you had an awesome time in Chicago. The part where Bono touched your hand had me on the edge of my seat. LOL<br /><br />Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be seeing any U2 shows, myself. I'm not too huge on concerts. MAD Magazine said it best:<br /><br />There are 3 types of concerts:<br /><br />1) concerts where the bands lip-sync to their almbums, so you just paid X amount of dollars to hear the same CD you could've heard at home for free.<br /><br />2) concerts where the bands insist on making their live versions unique, so you just paid X amount of dollars to hear a song that sounds nothing like the one you originally loved, or<br /><br />3) concerts where the bands encourage heavy audience participation, so you just paid X amount of dollars to hear the guy behind to you screaming the lyrics, off-tune, into your hear.<br /><br />LOL but still, sounds like you had a ton of fun, which is what counts at the end! And that stage set-up/mechanism looks wicked! I think something like that is the key to an entertaining live performance of any kind.<br />I think the only concert I would be super gung-ho about seeing is the Beatles. Do they have a show coming...oh, wait, neve rmind. LOL.The Question Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-24869117194543421322009-09-16T11:36:38.122-04:002009-09-16T11:36:38.122-04:00A-mazing. My jealousy knows no bounds.
I've s...A-mazing. My jealousy knows no bounds.<br /><br />I've seen them 3 times myself (twice in '92 on the ZOO TV tour, and then once in '97), and I think it's impossible to say that each time wasn't one of the most electrifying live performances I've ever witnessed.<br /><br />My favorite U2 live story comes from that second show in September of '92. After having seen them in March and been so blown away, I couldn't resist going back when I found out that they had scheduled more Atlanta shows in the fall (and keep in mind, this is back in the halcyon days when you could still get U2 tickets for a reasonable $35-$40, sigh), but I never expected them to be even better the second time around.<br /><br />Wrong-o. It was pretty close to the same show, setlist-wise, but they had switched venues from the old Omni Coliseum (RIP, Omni) to the then-brand-spanking-new Georgia Dome, which meant that the size and energy of the crowd increased, and also that U2's enormous stage setup had a lot more breathing room, which in turn made for an even more dynamic experience. To boot, they injected some additional classics and covers into the lineup ('New Year's Day', 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', 'Wild Rover' by The Dubliners, etc.) that whipped everyone into an absolute frenzy. By the time they came out for the encore, we were all virtually exhausted. <br /><br />And then they did something the brilliance of which I am still trying to wrap my mind around 17 years later. There was a long catwalk at the center of the stage that protruded out into the 'Red Zone' area at the front of the crowd, sort of a way for Bono to wade out into the middle of everyone and make us all swoon with the aura of untouchable coolness he broadcasts like some kind of ageless rock 'n' roll vampire. After several encore songs, all the stage lights were turned down, and they threw a single spot on Bono at center stage. Piped-in music came through the speakers, an accompaniment to which he began crooning Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love."<br /><br />As the song progressed, he slowly walked all the way to the front of that catwalk, and then started walking backwards, perfectly timed so that as the last refrain was sung, he had come right back to where he started, at which point the spotlight went out and the prerecorded music swelled with the last 45 seconds or so of the song. When it ended, all the house lights came up, the band was gone, and the show was over -- no applause, no histrionics, just thousands and thousands of people sitting there in stunned silence, breathless, completely defused, trying to figure out what the hell just happened.yourblindspothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17976169517693699335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-79457907857830950732009-09-15T22:28:41.576-04:002009-09-15T22:28:41.576-04:00How awesome was that!? It was so cool you got to t...<b>How awesome was that!?</b> It was so cool you got to take along your best friend, too. I love surprises and my husband is like yours - surprises just don't happen around here(unless you count the first pregnancy - HAHA, I kid, I kid!) I don't have any U2 stories but I do have a passport story. <br />I once tried to buy cigarettes years ago with my passport. HAHA, <b>Classy Ladies</b> like me always do this - it's why we have passports in the first place. Anyway, it goes like this: <br />"We can't accept this as ID". <br />"What? Are you insane? This is as official as it gets, this gets me into <i>countries</i> - my driver's license doesn't." <br />"I am sorry, it isn't on the list of approved IDs."<br />"Do you think you can make an executive decision here and sell me the cigarettes?"<br />"It isn't on the list." <br />"How old do I look to you?!"<br />"I'd say 16."<br />"Unbelievable!"Joan Crawfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04513335615114222374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-53995780245020074642009-09-15T19:59:34.018-04:002009-09-15T19:59:34.018-04:00That looks and sounds amazing Nikki, I'm glad ...That looks and sounds amazing Nikki, I'm glad you had a great time...sorry been out of touch on the blog, its been a crazy summer workwise. Hope your summer was fun! I'm just slowly catching up on your blog :) Rolandasiancolossushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09531748076973604929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-13459579816879634282009-09-15T17:59:17.407-04:002009-09-15T17:59:17.407-04:00Cool, thanks fb.
I have my doubts that I'll b...Cool, thanks fb.<br /><br />I have my doubts that I'll be able to get their early enough to be one of the first 1500 or so. Well, I could, but I doubt my guest each night could. I'm sure there are people there before dawn.<br /><br />I've been in the club for something like 12 years but the benefits aren't as good anymore. I used to get magazines and more CDs. I did get a ton of Vertigo tickets due to a "computer error" or something. I was supposed to get 4 tickets due to my long-standing membership but was given 8 instead. So I bought 4 in Milwaukee (originally from), 2 in Houston (living now), and 2 in Miami (vacation possibility). I ended up selling the 4 in Milwaukee because I couldn't make it back. Went to the Houston show. Then, as luck would have it, work called me to Florida the week prior to the U2 show in Miami. Thus, I parlayed a business trip into a U2 trip! My buddy sold his pair of Miami tix (for 650 and we split the profit) and we went to the show together. Turned out amazing. Ended up inside the ring, 3rd "row", left side.<br /><br />Great... now I'm all excited... callin up Youtube.brentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-64338234496444537612009-09-15T17:08:55.406-04:002009-09-15T17:08:55.406-04:00brent, i found the actual link on their official s...brent, i found the actual link on their official site (forums) that details the GA policy ... here you go:<br /><br />http://community.u2.com/reply/195011/t/GA-OFFICIAL-POLICY-HAS-ARRIVED-Scroll-down.html#reply-195011fbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-68116710914157566442009-09-15T17:04:22.134-04:002009-09-15T17:04:22.134-04:00great write-up, nik ... i almost feel as if i were...great write-up, nik ... i almost feel as if i were there! ;p by the way, did you hear they had to re-sod solider field after the concerts?! http://ow.ly/15P9pX<br /><br />brent: it's just first-come, first-serve for the front of the stage, they're not doing it as a lottery this time around. (i'm a card-carrying member of their fan club, and that's the official word.) most venues will be opening the GA gates around 5 pm or thereabouts.fbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-57326772973741892542009-09-15T16:29:09.397-04:002009-09-15T16:29:09.397-04:00Great write-up! I have GA tickets to the Houston ...Great write-up! I have GA tickets to the Houston and Dallas shows next month. Two shows in 3 days. It's going to be rough! I'm not sure if you'll know this answer - been having trouble finding it myself - but are they doing a lottery system for the inner circle like the Elevation/Vertigo shows? It looks like stage left and stage right are the red zones, which were mostly sold via auction. But what about the front of the stage? Is it first-come first-served or is it lottery at the time of entry like the last two tours?brentnoreply@blogger.com