Courtesy of John Scalzi, some hilarious comments on the band Journey. I say lol, but I rarely laugh aloud when I'm reading something - this, I did.
---
In the circles I run in, Journey is looked on with something less than regard, which means that the band's cultural persistence irritates and terrifies most people I know. I remember ten years ago, when the Escape-era line-up reteamed for the Trial By Fire, Ted Rall declared that the reunion album would debut to massive indifference, so I bet him a fiver that the album would enter the charts in top five. In fact, it debuted at #3, and Ted still owes me $5. Look, people like Journey. It's like the multivitamin of rock: It's got the rockers for the boys, the ballads for the girls, Neal Schon's technically impressive fret work, Steve Perry's swoopingly expressive voice, Jonathan Cain's major-chord bell ringing keyboards, Steve Smith's thundering drums, and whatever the hell it was Ross Valory brought to the party (mostly, a droopy 'stache). Maybe it's not in the best taste, but name a multivitamin that tastes good. No, Flintstones don't count. So chalky.
The other thing, which is what I told Ted at the time, is that for the vast majority of Suburban Americans between the age of 14 and 24 in the early 80s, when it was time to make out and you put Escape on the turntable, you were automatically spotted two bases. Honestly, if you didn't have a hand under a bra or massaging a button fly by the end of "Who's Crying Now," Steve Perry would stop what he was doing, fly to your house and then beat the crap out of you for blowing a sure thing. God forbid you actually flipped the LP, because then, baby, you were going home. There's an entire generation of white 22-to-25-year olds walking around today whose moment of conception is largely coincident to the second chorus of "Open Arms." These people will be driving along with their moms, that song will come on that radio, their moms will get a small, wistful smile, and these people will spend the next three minutes, nineteen seconds uncontrollably shuddering.
Good times, good times.
Anyway, that's why all you snobs will never be rid of Journey; too many other people got lucky with Steve Perry yodeling in the background. Deal with it. It could have been worse. There's a whole bunch of 15-to-20-year-olds whose mothers were inseminated to Warrant. No amount of therapy will ever make that right.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Some Drive By Truckers lyrics
The beautiful thing about the Drive By Truckers is that they have three great songwriters in the band.
Yesterday I was listening to two songs over and over. Here are the lyrics.
Lookout Mountain, by Patterson Hood
(this one's faster, with a killer hook)
If I throw myself off Lookout Mountain
No more for my soul to keep
I wonder who will drive my car
I wonder if my Mom will weep
If I throw myself off Lookout Mountain
No more pain my soul to bear
No more worries about paying taxes
What to eat, what to wear
Who will end up with my records?
Who will end up with my tapes?
Who will pay my credit card bills?
Who's gonna pay for my mistakes?
If I throw myself off Lookout Mountain
who will ever hear my songs?
Who's gonna mow the cemetery when all of my family's gone?
Who will Mom and Daddy find to continue the family name?
Who will stand there taking credit, who will lay there passing blame?
Who will lay there passing blame?
and
Goddamn Lonely Love, by Jason Isbell
(This one's slower and gorgeous)
I got green and I got blues
and everyday there's a little less difference between the two.
So I belly-up and disappear.
Well I ain't really drowning 'cause I see the beach from here.
I could take a Greyhound home but when I got there it'd be gone
along with everything a home is made up of.
So I'll take two of what you're having and I'll take all of what you got
to kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love.
Sister, listen to what your daddy says.
Don't be ashamed of things that hide behind your dress.
Belly-up and arch your back.
Well I ain't really falling asleep; I'm fading to black.
You could come to me by plane, but that wouldn't be the same
as that old motel room in Texarkana was.
So I'll take two of what you're having and I'll take all of what you got
to kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love.
Stop me if you've heard this one before:
A man walks into a bar and leaves before his ashes hit the floor.
Stop me if I ever get that far.
The sun's a desperate star that burns like every single one before.
And I could find another dream,
one that keeps me warm and clean
but I ain't dreamin' anymore, I'm waking up.
So I'll take two of what you're having and I'll take everything you got
to kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love.
All I got is this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love.
Yesterday I was listening to two songs over and over. Here are the lyrics.
Lookout Mountain, by Patterson Hood
(this one's faster, with a killer hook)
If I throw myself off Lookout Mountain
No more for my soul to keep
I wonder who will drive my car
I wonder if my Mom will weep
If I throw myself off Lookout Mountain
No more pain my soul to bear
No more worries about paying taxes
What to eat, what to wear
Who will end up with my records?
Who will end up with my tapes?
Who will pay my credit card bills?
Who's gonna pay for my mistakes?
If I throw myself off Lookout Mountain
who will ever hear my songs?
Who's gonna mow the cemetery when all of my family's gone?
Who will Mom and Daddy find to continue the family name?
Who will stand there taking credit, who will lay there passing blame?
Who will lay there passing blame?
and
Goddamn Lonely Love, by Jason Isbell
(This one's slower and gorgeous)
I got green and I got blues
and everyday there's a little less difference between the two.
So I belly-up and disappear.
Well I ain't really drowning 'cause I see the beach from here.
I could take a Greyhound home but when I got there it'd be gone
along with everything a home is made up of.
So I'll take two of what you're having and I'll take all of what you got
to kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love.
Sister, listen to what your daddy says.
Don't be ashamed of things that hide behind your dress.
Belly-up and arch your back.
Well I ain't really falling asleep; I'm fading to black.
You could come to me by plane, but that wouldn't be the same
as that old motel room in Texarkana was.
So I'll take two of what you're having and I'll take all of what you got
to kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love.
Stop me if you've heard this one before:
A man walks into a bar and leaves before his ashes hit the floor.
Stop me if I ever get that far.
The sun's a desperate star that burns like every single one before.
And I could find another dream,
one that keeps me warm and clean
but I ain't dreamin' anymore, I'm waking up.
So I'll take two of what you're having and I'll take everything you got
to kill this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love.
All I got is this goddamn lonely, goddamn lonely love.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
The Pink Floyd
We watched the concert portion of the Pulse dvd last night. Thank goodness it's finally out on dvd. I was thinking of writing a post about all I remember about seeing the concert in real life. It was a long time ago, and there are a lot bits I remember clearly as well as a lot of bits I don't, but this stands out, really:
It was like god.
One of the bonus features (although the menu has the grace to call them "features," because, really) is the films that show in concert for certain songs. This is something I've wanted for years and years: "too bad you can't just get those films on video!" They're directed by Storm Thorgeson, who is a gawd. He's done much of their most memorable art (and many other things besides, such as that Cranberries album with the eye?). One thing I really like is that he likes to create a tangible 3d thing. Need 500 hospital beds on the beach? Storm brings 500 actual hospital beds to the actual beach. It shows; you can tell, even while you're like but how can that guy really have like an 80-foot cape? what's holding it?
While we're Floyding, Here's a link to a great story from 2002 from the Observer. It's a profile of/history of/encounter with Syd Barrett, and ... if you're wondering who Syd Barrett was, OR if you're a fan, there's a lot of information and interesting stuff here.
It looks like we won't be going to Tom Waits unless he adds a St. Louis date. The short version is that we have a scheduling conflict with the Chicago date, and the long version is that I'm willing to go to a lot more trouble and more expense to get to a concert than J is. So there's one for the great list of regretted missed concerts. I hate that list.
It was like god.
One of the bonus features (although the menu has the grace to call them "features," because, really) is the films that show in concert for certain songs. This is something I've wanted for years and years: "too bad you can't just get those films on video!" They're directed by Storm Thorgeson, who is a gawd. He's done much of their most memorable art (and many other things besides, such as that Cranberries album with the eye?). One thing I really like is that he likes to create a tangible 3d thing. Need 500 hospital beds on the beach? Storm brings 500 actual hospital beds to the actual beach. It shows; you can tell, even while you're like but how can that guy really have like an 80-foot cape? what's holding it?
While we're Floyding, Here's a link to a great story from 2002 from the Observer. It's a profile of/history of/encounter with Syd Barrett, and ... if you're wondering who Syd Barrett was, OR if you're a fan, there's a lot of information and interesting stuff here.
It looks like we won't be going to Tom Waits unless he adds a St. Louis date. The short version is that we have a scheduling conflict with the Chicago date, and the long version is that I'm willing to go to a lot more trouble and more expense to get to a concert than J is. So there's one for the great list of regretted missed concerts. I hate that list.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Jimbo Mathus in Springfield
Apparently Jimbo Mathus is going to be in town tonight.
Jimbo Mathus Dot Net.
His myspace page.
Perhaps best known as a Squirrel Nut Zipper, he's now a scruffy north-Mississippi trance-blues guitarist, the zoot suit replaced by ill-fitting jeans. He'll be at the Underground City Tavern, where, unfortunately, music doesn't start till 10 even on weeknights. It's a work night, and I'm old; most nights around 10:00 I'm barely energetic enough to turn on The Daily Show, so we might or might not make it out.
Here are my not-very-in-depth comments from when we saw him open for Buddy Guy last year at the Roberts Orpheum Theatre in St. Louis:
Our tickets said "an evening with," and apparently the theater management aren't aware of what that means, because there was an opener - but that was cool, as it was Jimbo Mathus - you might know him as James Mathus from the Squirrel Nut Zippers, but he's put away the zoot suit and donned redneck gear. He worked on Buddy Guy's last couple of albums and (therefore, obviously) is big into the north Mississippi blues style - that kind of trancelike blues where you can play the same chord for the whole song, you know? Mmmmmnuh. So Jimbo was pretty good. He was kind of sloppy, but it's not a precision genre, so we forgave. Also his dog Sue was with him, and she hung out on stage most of the time, venturing out to greet the audience from time to time, or nosing at Jimbo's leg as he played. Once she started to run off with the KB volume pedal and a roadie had to save it. heh. Adorable pooch.
No word on whether the dog's with him this time.
Jimbo Mathus Dot Net.
His myspace page.
Perhaps best known as a Squirrel Nut Zipper, he's now a scruffy north-Mississippi trance-blues guitarist, the zoot suit replaced by ill-fitting jeans. He'll be at the Underground City Tavern, where, unfortunately, music doesn't start till 10 even on weeknights. It's a work night, and I'm old; most nights around 10:00 I'm barely energetic enough to turn on The Daily Show, so we might or might not make it out.
Here are my not-very-in-depth comments from when we saw him open for Buddy Guy last year at the Roberts Orpheum Theatre in St. Louis:
Our tickets said "an evening with," and apparently the theater management aren't aware of what that means, because there was an opener - but that was cool, as it was Jimbo Mathus - you might know him as James Mathus from the Squirrel Nut Zippers, but he's put away the zoot suit and donned redneck gear. He worked on Buddy Guy's last couple of albums and (therefore, obviously) is big into the north Mississippi blues style - that kind of trancelike blues where you can play the same chord for the whole song, you know? Mmmmmnuh. So Jimbo was pretty good. He was kind of sloppy, but it's not a precision genre, so we forgave. Also his dog Sue was with him, and she hung out on stage most of the time, venturing out to greet the audience from time to time, or nosing at Jimbo's leg as he played. Once she started to run off with the KB volume pedal and a roadie had to save it. heh. Adorable pooch.
No word on whether the dog's with him this time.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Tom Waits tour. No, really!
Big news.
Huge news.
Really big, huge news.
Tom Waits schedule as announced by Pollstar.com thus far:
Tue 08/01/06 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
Wed 08/02/06 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Fri 08/04/06 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
Sat 08/05/06 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
Mon 08/07/06 Louisville, KY Louisville Palace
Wed 08/09/06 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
Fri 08/11/06 Detroit, MI Opera House
Sun 08/13/06 Akron, OH Akron Civic Center
Huge news.
Really big, huge news.
Tom Waits schedule as announced by Pollstar.com thus far:
Tue 08/01/06 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
Wed 08/02/06 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Fri 08/04/06 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
Sat 08/05/06 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
Mon 08/07/06 Louisville, KY Louisville Palace
Wed 08/09/06 Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
Fri 08/11/06 Detroit, MI Opera House
Sun 08/13/06 Akron, OH Akron Civic Center
Sunday, June 25, 2006
DBT, Robert Randolph, and Black Crowes show
Drive By Truckers, Robert Randolph, and Black Crowes, Friday, June 23, IMB Bank Pavilion, St. Louis.
We made sure to be plenty early because we just saw the Crowes not that long ago and we were really in it for the Truckers, even though they were first and it would only be about half an hour. So J had gotten us seats that were pretty decent for the place, dead center but in the second section, not the very front. Still, $20, so hey. We were pretty happy.
Still, you hope a band you like gets a good reception, and there weren't many people there for the Truckers. In fact, the Good Section was very empty (although there was some sort of VIP GA action down there that we never really figured out). So I thought, you know, J and I are terrible at sneaking or boldfacing our way into better seats; I've had a large beer; I'm just going to ask. So I asked the bouncers in the front of our section, you know, we really love the Truckers and we'll move when the people come whose seats they are, but I just wondered whether my husband and I could just ...? The bouncers were kind of frowny about it, but a security guy overheard and pointed me to a security woman at another section and told me to go ask her. So I went and asked her, and she said she'd ask a manager but she didn't think it would be a problem but she'd come back and let us know. I pointed out where we were sitting and went back to wait anxiously, and about that time the Truckers started. This is where we were sitting:
Anyway, after they'd started she came back and said the manager was getting back to her and someone was sick and they had to take care of that first. But then she did come back and took us off to the side and down and into the front section and told us just to grab a seat in this particular row, so we did. She walked us in past the bouncer at the end and in front of the bouncers at the back. So yay! These were the new seats - less central, but much closer.
The Truckers were great. I'd forgotten my Set List Notepad (tm), but they started with "Heathens" and ended with "Let There Be Rock," and in between they played
Uncle Frank
John Henry
Feb. 14
Never Gonna Change
Marry Me
Aftermath and
Lookout Mountain
It was an awesome set and a nice mix from various albums, although we'd expected primarily new stuff since they have a new album. It was particularly nice to hear "Let There Be Rock," which I have a new affection for. mmm.
Here are the lyrics; maybe you have to be either a hillbilly or my age (or both) to really love this, but stick in the names of whatever bands really turn you on. Patterson Hood said something like "This is a song about how rock and roll saved my life in 1977 and every word of it is true."
"Let There Be Rock."
Dropped acid at a Blue Oyster Cult concert, fourteen years old,
And I thought them lasers were a spider chasing me.
On my way home, got pulled over in Rogersville, Alabama,
with a half-ounce of weed and a case of Sterling Big Mouth.
My buddy Gene was driving, he’d just barely turned sixteen.
And I'd like to say, I'm sorry, but we lived to tell about it
And we lived to do a whole lot more crazy, stupid shit.
And I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw Molly Hatchet
With 38 Special and the Johnny Van Zant Band.
One night when I was seventeen, I drank a fifth of vodka on an empty stomach,
then drove over to a friend's house.
And I backed my car between his parents’ Cadillacs without a scratch.
Then crawled to the back door and slithered through the keyhole
and sneaked up the stairs and puked in the toilet.
I passed out and nearly drowned but his sister, Dee Dee, pulled me out.
And I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw Molly Hatchet
And the band that I was in played The Boys are Back in Town.
Skynyrd was set to play Huntsville, Alabama, in the spring of 77
I had a ticket but it got cancelled.
So the show, it was rescheduled for the Street Survivors Tour.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
So I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw Ozzy Osbourne
with Randy Rhoads in 82 Right before that plane crash.
And I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw AC/DC
With Bon Scott singing, Let There Be Rock Tour.
With Bon Scott singing, let there be rock!
And considering the crowd was rather thin, they got a great reception, with lots of cheering, so we were glad of that. I can't wait to see them headline. We skipped them at Mississippi Nights a couple of years ago, but I'm just hoping they come to the Pageant soon. We'll get down there on the floor and sweat our heads off. heh.
After that we were kind of afraid to leave and go to the bathroom, because we didn't want to not be allowed back into the section, but what we did was walk out very past the bouncer and make sure she saw us, and then when we came back I made sure I had my ticket showing in my hand but didn't offer it and we just walked past her and right back to our spots. And later there was a ton of coming and going and nobody sitting anywhere near us was in the right seats, so that was all right and we relaxed about it.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band are good. They're like ... Steely Dan with Ben Harper sitting in, and Robert looks like LL Cool J's snuggly bear brother. Mmmm. However, while I respect what they do, it's not really our thing. In fact, when I see a jam band, it really kind of reinforces that the only jam band I really love is the Allman Bros. Band.
Robert Randolph:
Then the Crowes came on, finally. Their stage was a little different from when we saw them last year; instead of draperies in the back and a gazillion electric candles in the front, they went more psychadelic, with blacklights and a big backdrop. They still had a guy come out with dozens of incense sticks before they started, though. I wasn't keeping a setlist, but, like last year, they didn't play their couple of biggest hits, although they did plenty of good stuff and it was a hippie peace and love jam fest. I'm really loving how Chris Robinson is so into it. He's like walking meditation except he's doing dancing hippie meditation.
And a picture I took of the video screen near us, for good measure.
Here's about 42 seconds of video during "Thorn in my Pride."
We made sure to be plenty early because we just saw the Crowes not that long ago and we were really in it for the Truckers, even though they were first and it would only be about half an hour. So J had gotten us seats that were pretty decent for the place, dead center but in the second section, not the very front. Still, $20, so hey. We were pretty happy.
Still, you hope a band you like gets a good reception, and there weren't many people there for the Truckers. In fact, the Good Section was very empty (although there was some sort of VIP GA action down there that we never really figured out). So I thought, you know, J and I are terrible at sneaking or boldfacing our way into better seats; I've had a large beer; I'm just going to ask. So I asked the bouncers in the front of our section, you know, we really love the Truckers and we'll move when the people come whose seats they are, but I just wondered whether my husband and I could just ...? The bouncers were kind of frowny about it, but a security guy overheard and pointed me to a security woman at another section and told me to go ask her. So I went and asked her, and she said she'd ask a manager but she didn't think it would be a problem but she'd come back and let us know. I pointed out where we were sitting and went back to wait anxiously, and about that time the Truckers started. This is where we were sitting:
Anyway, after they'd started she came back and said the manager was getting back to her and someone was sick and they had to take care of that first. But then she did come back and took us off to the side and down and into the front section and told us just to grab a seat in this particular row, so we did. She walked us in past the bouncer at the end and in front of the bouncers at the back. So yay! These were the new seats - less central, but much closer.
The Truckers were great. I'd forgotten my Set List Notepad (tm), but they started with "Heathens" and ended with "Let There Be Rock," and in between they played
Uncle Frank
John Henry
Feb. 14
Never Gonna Change
Marry Me
Aftermath and
Lookout Mountain
It was an awesome set and a nice mix from various albums, although we'd expected primarily new stuff since they have a new album. It was particularly nice to hear "Let There Be Rock," which I have a new affection for. mmm.
Here are the lyrics; maybe you have to be either a hillbilly or my age (or both) to really love this, but stick in the names of whatever bands really turn you on. Patterson Hood said something like "This is a song about how rock and roll saved my life in 1977 and every word of it is true."
"Let There Be Rock."
Dropped acid at a Blue Oyster Cult concert, fourteen years old,
And I thought them lasers were a spider chasing me.
On my way home, got pulled over in Rogersville, Alabama,
with a half-ounce of weed and a case of Sterling Big Mouth.
My buddy Gene was driving, he’d just barely turned sixteen.
And I'd like to say, I'm sorry, but we lived to tell about it
And we lived to do a whole lot more crazy, stupid shit.
And I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw Molly Hatchet
With 38 Special and the Johnny Van Zant Band.
One night when I was seventeen, I drank a fifth of vodka on an empty stomach,
then drove over to a friend's house.
And I backed my car between his parents’ Cadillacs without a scratch.
Then crawled to the back door and slithered through the keyhole
and sneaked up the stairs and puked in the toilet.
I passed out and nearly drowned but his sister, Dee Dee, pulled me out.
And I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw Molly Hatchet
And the band that I was in played The Boys are Back in Town.
Skynyrd was set to play Huntsville, Alabama, in the spring of 77
I had a ticket but it got cancelled.
So the show, it was rescheduled for the Street Survivors Tour.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
So I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw Ozzy Osbourne
with Randy Rhoads in 82 Right before that plane crash.
And I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw AC/DC
With Bon Scott singing, Let There Be Rock Tour.
With Bon Scott singing, let there be rock!
And considering the crowd was rather thin, they got a great reception, with lots of cheering, so we were glad of that. I can't wait to see them headline. We skipped them at Mississippi Nights a couple of years ago, but I'm just hoping they come to the Pageant soon. We'll get down there on the floor and sweat our heads off. heh.
After that we were kind of afraid to leave and go to the bathroom, because we didn't want to not be allowed back into the section, but what we did was walk out very past the bouncer and make sure she saw us, and then when we came back I made sure I had my ticket showing in my hand but didn't offer it and we just walked past her and right back to our spots. And later there was a ton of coming and going and nobody sitting anywhere near us was in the right seats, so that was all right and we relaxed about it.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band are good. They're like ... Steely Dan with Ben Harper sitting in, and Robert looks like LL Cool J's snuggly bear brother. Mmmm. However, while I respect what they do, it's not really our thing. In fact, when I see a jam band, it really kind of reinforces that the only jam band I really love is the Allman Bros. Band.
Robert Randolph:
Then the Crowes came on, finally. Their stage was a little different from when we saw them last year; instead of draperies in the back and a gazillion electric candles in the front, they went more psychadelic, with blacklights and a big backdrop. They still had a guy come out with dozens of incense sticks before they started, though. I wasn't keeping a setlist, but, like last year, they didn't play their couple of biggest hits, although they did plenty of good stuff and it was a hippie peace and love jam fest. I'm really loving how Chris Robinson is so into it. He's like walking meditation except he's doing dancing hippie meditation.
And a picture I took of the video screen near us, for good measure.
Here's about 42 seconds of video during "Thorn in my Pride."
Sunday, June 11, 2006
CD acquisitions
Yesterday's music acquisitions:
Finally, the new Neko Case;
Finally, The Little Willies;
Finally, The Wailin' Jennys;
and, on impulse, a new album by The Corrs of traditional Irish music.
That last rather repelled the hubby, who still can't figure out what I like about the Corrs. Well, I'm not sure either; sure, the voices are beautiful, and the musicianship is good, but it's still girly stuff.
How many versions of The Moorlough Shore or My Lagan Love or Peggy Gordon do I need? Apparently two or three: The Corrs, Sinead O'Connor's traditional album, and whatever Susan McKeown does. I'm a tool, I tells ya, a tool.
Finally, the new Neko Case;
Finally, The Little Willies;
Finally, The Wailin' Jennys;
and, on impulse, a new album by The Corrs of traditional Irish music.
That last rather repelled the hubby, who still can't figure out what I like about the Corrs. Well, I'm not sure either; sure, the voices are beautiful, and the musicianship is good, but it's still girly stuff.
How many versions of The Moorlough Shore or My Lagan Love or Peggy Gordon do I need? Apparently two or three: The Corrs, Sinead O'Connor's traditional album, and whatever Susan McKeown does. I'm a tool, I tells ya, a tool.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
blah blah
I believe I posted some of my U2 pictures twice, but I don't feel compelled to go back and investigate which ones.
I haven't used blogger.com for long, and I'm kind of struggling with the templates (want user info on the side, not the bottom!), so bear with me on the Ugly Factor.
I haven't used blogger.com for long, and I'm kind of struggling with the templates (want user info on the side, not the bottom!), so bear with me on the Ugly Factor.
Derek Trucks interview
Here's a link to an interview with Derek Trucks that I haven't actually had time to read myself yet. J the hubby says that Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II are both in Eric Clapton's band this tour. Tickets for St. Louis go on sale Saturday - may the ticketing gods be with me.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Inarticulate babblings re: U2, St. Louis, Dec. 14, 2005
1. RUNNING! The top speed b/e running and E poised in Rock Godness behind Larry as they all gather to worship!
So much I can't even start and I can't even look at my pictures because my battery's so dead and J took the camera sometimes and we have 190 pictures and our seats were exactly what I'd hoped for.
The "Sunday Bloody Sunday" kid was awesome and the "Mysterious Ways" girl was a real dud. The "Yahweh" pianist was good and ballsy enough to do a little fancy thing that made Bono beam at him from all the way across, but at the end he just couldn't hear what Bono was telling him, so Edge had to come and hang all over him and direct him very closely, and at the end during the applause Edge gave him a BIG HUG, and then he went down the ramp back to his place and he had a total "I AM SUCH A GEEK I CAN'T BELIEVE IT" Big Dork, fists in the air, I just won the olympic medal kind of moment that cracked everybody the hell UP. He must've had a sign earlier; B went out nearly to the tip just to get him. HYSTERICAL.
We were even with the end of the front video screens, basically.
Edge wasn't playing through a wireless rig until the encore, so he didn't come out on the ramp at all until then, but I'm so glad he DID play wireless then.
Bono was in such fine voice. The operatic parts were beyond HUUUUGE and great.
I DIED during instant karma. Now Melissa knows what it's like to hear a woman pee herself over the phone. DIED. Larry started the drum thing and I was like, "What's that?" and Bono said "This is a song ... we've been tryin' to do ... Lennon" and I was like "INSTANT KARMA!!!!!!!" omg.
Larry's drum fill? Not nailed. heh.
The St. Louis crowd was lame for 40. Has to be said.
There was one moment, this is why I don't do a song by song review, at the end of either Streets or SBS, I think it was SBS, when we just wouldn't stop cheering. The roar was stupendous. Bono was like "Jebus, people" and Adam was like "Holy Jebus," and Bono covered his ears and grinned at us and they had to WAIT. It was MASSIVE.
So much grinning and laughing and love and babies.
Hoh boy, am I happy. Wow. Like wow.
Leg cling!
Kiss on the mouth!
Happiness!
2. So we were a bit late and there was some hairy traffic at the last minute - the street I was gonna take was closed, so I got in a bit of a jam and had to circle around, and then the parking garage was full, but we made it into the flat lot right across - SO EXPENSIVE!! I mean, I don't mind paying for parking, but more than $10 is just greedy.
Anyway, we missed Kanye West entirely, and we were both a little disappointed, but the crew was in full swing, Dallas Dallas everywhere and my hero Batwoman with the mighty belt of gear. It's always funny to see them check things that just don't need to be checked. Still plugged in? How about now? Here's something I never noticed before, though:
Dallas got out a tape measure and measured Edge's mic placement.
J and I just stared in bemusement. It was hilar.
I'd warned J about Arcade Fire, but I thought I'd just be excited; I didn't realize it was like someone flipped the WOOT switch. It was reflexive! I just yelled "OH YEAH THIS IS IT THIS IS IT!!!" and started hooting and yelling. I grabbed my phone to call Melissa and my hands were visibly shaking!! The floor was hooting too, but people around us weren't, really, until they kind of caught on and overheard and the word kind of spread and WOO WOO WOO!
Edge was just jumping around like a lunatic. hop hop BOING BOING. Babies everywhere. Adam: Snowflake shirt. (I know, I know, humor me.) It looks like a lot of our pictures are stinkers, as always, but a lot of them turned out decent, too.
Some things I really missed about being on the floor - mostly eye contact!! - but it was kind of cool to be able to see them like ... not like the Mecca-like culmination of a mini-hajira (is that the right word??) but actually a concert you drive to and go into like normal and drive home. Only better. No mark on my ticket, no wristband, no writing on me!! So strange, these non GA customs are. I must study their ways.
What else? What else? I don't even know. Adam on the ramp getting mondo love and reaching out and touching people's hands and taking a bow and grinning with all the Adam love. Larry and Adam cracking up over something, at the beginning. I think '40' was a little shorter. Adam was having trouble getting feedback over there. Not absolutely certain whether I ever got Lisa on the phone. Maybe she has a LONG message. It would seem like there was a connection, and I'd look down later and it wouldn't be there, so I'd just call Melissa again.
So much I can't even start and I can't even look at my pictures because my battery's so dead and J took the camera sometimes and we have 190 pictures and our seats were exactly what I'd hoped for.
The "Sunday Bloody Sunday" kid was awesome and the "Mysterious Ways" girl was a real dud. The "Yahweh" pianist was good and ballsy enough to do a little fancy thing that made Bono beam at him from all the way across, but at the end he just couldn't hear what Bono was telling him, so Edge had to come and hang all over him and direct him very closely, and at the end during the applause Edge gave him a BIG HUG, and then he went down the ramp back to his place and he had a total "I AM SUCH A GEEK I CAN'T BELIEVE IT" Big Dork, fists in the air, I just won the olympic medal kind of moment that cracked everybody the hell UP. He must've had a sign earlier; B went out nearly to the tip just to get him. HYSTERICAL.
We were even with the end of the front video screens, basically.
Edge wasn't playing through a wireless rig until the encore, so he didn't come out on the ramp at all until then, but I'm so glad he DID play wireless then.
Bono was in such fine voice. The operatic parts were beyond HUUUUGE and great.
I DIED during instant karma. Now Melissa knows what it's like to hear a woman pee herself over the phone. DIED. Larry started the drum thing and I was like, "What's that?" and Bono said "This is a song ... we've been tryin' to do ... Lennon" and I was like "INSTANT KARMA!!!!!!!" omg.
Larry's drum fill? Not nailed. heh.
The St. Louis crowd was lame for 40. Has to be said.
There was one moment, this is why I don't do a song by song review, at the end of either Streets or SBS, I think it was SBS, when we just wouldn't stop cheering. The roar was stupendous. Bono was like "Jebus, people" and Adam was like "Holy Jebus," and Bono covered his ears and grinned at us and they had to WAIT. It was MASSIVE.
So much grinning and laughing and love and babies.
Hoh boy, am I happy. Wow. Like wow.
Leg cling!
Kiss on the mouth!
Happiness!
2. So we were a bit late and there was some hairy traffic at the last minute - the street I was gonna take was closed, so I got in a bit of a jam and had to circle around, and then the parking garage was full, but we made it into the flat lot right across - SO EXPENSIVE!! I mean, I don't mind paying for parking, but more than $10 is just greedy.
Anyway, we missed Kanye West entirely, and we were both a little disappointed, but the crew was in full swing, Dallas Dallas everywhere and my hero Batwoman with the mighty belt of gear. It's always funny to see them check things that just don't need to be checked. Still plugged in? How about now? Here's something I never noticed before, though:
Dallas got out a tape measure and measured Edge's mic placement.
J and I just stared in bemusement. It was hilar.
I'd warned J about Arcade Fire, but I thought I'd just be excited; I didn't realize it was like someone flipped the WOOT switch. It was reflexive! I just yelled "OH YEAH THIS IS IT THIS IS IT!!!" and started hooting and yelling. I grabbed my phone to call Melissa and my hands were visibly shaking!! The floor was hooting too, but people around us weren't, really, until they kind of caught on and overheard and the word kind of spread and WOO WOO WOO!
Edge was just jumping around like a lunatic. hop hop BOING BOING. Babies everywhere. Adam: Snowflake shirt. (I know, I know, humor me.) It looks like a lot of our pictures are stinkers, as always, but a lot of them turned out decent, too.
Some things I really missed about being on the floor - mostly eye contact!! - but it was kind of cool to be able to see them like ... not like the Mecca-like culmination of a mini-hajira (is that the right word??) but actually a concert you drive to and go into like normal and drive home. Only better. No mark on my ticket, no wristband, no writing on me!! So strange, these non GA customs are. I must study their ways.
What else? What else? I don't even know. Adam on the ramp getting mondo love and reaching out and touching people's hands and taking a bow and grinning with all the Adam love. Larry and Adam cracking up over something, at the beginning. I think '40' was a little shorter. Adam was having trouble getting feedback over there. Not absolutely certain whether I ever got Lisa on the phone. Maybe she has a LONG message. It would seem like there was a connection, and I'd look down later and it wouldn't be there, so I'd just call Melissa again.
Setlists: U2, September 20 and 21, 2005, Chicago
More playing catchup -
Here are the setlists from the Sept. 20 and 21 Chicago U2 shows.
Sept. 20
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Electric Co.
The Ocean
Walk On
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Yahweh
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride in the Name of Love
Where the Streets Have no Name
One
(encore)
Discotheque
The Fly
With or Without You
All Because of You
The First Time
Bad
Sept. 21
City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
The Electric Co.
The Ocean
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
In A Little While
Yahweh
Love And Peace Or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
(encore)
Bad
Original Of The Species
With Or Without You
Fast Cars
All Because Of You
40
Here are the setlists from the Sept. 20 and 21 Chicago U2 shows.
Sept. 20
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Electric Co.
The Ocean
Walk On
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
Yahweh
Love and Peace or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride in the Name of Love
Where the Streets Have no Name
One
(encore)
Discotheque
The Fly
With or Without You
All Because of You
The First Time
Bad
Sept. 21
City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
The Electric Co.
The Ocean
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
In A Little While
Yahweh
Love And Peace Or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
(encore)
Bad
Original Of The Species
With Or Without You
Fast Cars
All Because Of You
40
Eric Clapton dates and prices
Clapton's North American dates were announced a couple of days ago:
Sat 09/16/06 Saint Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
Mon 09/18/06 Saint Louis, MO Savvis Center
Wed 09/20/06 Chicago, IL United Center
Thu 09/21/06 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
Sat 09/23/06 Auburn Hills, MI Palace Of Auburn Hills
Sun 09/24/06 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Tue 09/26/06 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
Thu 09/28/06 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Fri 09/29/06 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Tue 10/03/06 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden (Fleet Center)
Fri 10/06/06 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino
Sat 10/07/06 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino
Mon 10/09/06 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
Tue 10/10/06 Washington, DC Verizon Center
Thu 10/12/06 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena
Sat 10/14/06 Duluth, GA Arena @ Gwinnett Center
Sun 10/15/06 Raleigh, NC RBC Center
Tue 10/17/06 Charlotte, NC Charlottte Bobcats Arena
Wed 10/18/06 Birmingham, AL Birm. Jefferson Arena
Fri 10/20/06 Orlando, FL TD Waterhouse Centre
Sat 10/21/06 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
Mon 10/23/06 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
From what I've seen, the top end (at least in St. Louis) is only $85, which, while nothing to sneeze at, isn't as bad as I was expecting.
Sat 09/16/06 Saint Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
Mon 09/18/06 Saint Louis, MO Savvis Center
Wed 09/20/06 Chicago, IL United Center
Thu 09/21/06 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
Sat 09/23/06 Auburn Hills, MI Palace Of Auburn Hills
Sun 09/24/06 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Tue 09/26/06 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
Thu 09/28/06 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Fri 09/29/06 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Tue 10/03/06 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden (Fleet Center)
Fri 10/06/06 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino
Sat 10/07/06 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino
Mon 10/09/06 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
Tue 10/10/06 Washington, DC Verizon Center
Thu 10/12/06 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena
Sat 10/14/06 Duluth, GA Arena @ Gwinnett Center
Sun 10/15/06 Raleigh, NC RBC Center
Tue 10/17/06 Charlotte, NC Charlottte Bobcats Arena
Wed 10/18/06 Birmingham, AL Birm. Jefferson Arena
Fri 10/20/06 Orlando, FL TD Waterhouse Centre
Sat 10/21/06 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
Mon 10/23/06 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
From what I've seen, the top end (at least in St. Louis) is only $85, which, while nothing to sneeze at, isn't as bad as I was expecting.
Monday, May 22, 2006
A GA diary: U2, Chicago, Sept. 20-21, 2005
Still updating from last fall:
U2 log
Part one of three, the log I kept in Chicago.
Monday 9/19
5:10 p.m.
Already the train is late, and I try not to worry that I’ve forgotten something. As Ally says, as long as I have the actual concert tickets, we can work around the rest. My suitcase seems unnecessarily large because it’s our only suitcase that has wheels. I learned my lesson last time. Maybe I’m anxious about arriving in Chicago at night & having to hail a cab in the dark, a woman alone, with luggage. I’m so small-town. I promised J I’d “be so careful I’d barely have any fun.” I don’t want to be extremely late & worry my friends. Only 20 minutes so far, but they don’t tend to improve.
5:50 p.m.
On train, coming into Lincoln, listening to the Allman Bros “Eat a Peach” on my iPod. Looks very ominous, dark and low’ring outside, with lightning. Does lightning strike trains? Will it rain in Chicago? Did I bring an umbrella? I did not.
8:00 p.m.
You know that scene in War of the Worlds when the flaming train speeds by in ruin? It’s a lot like that, only very slow, more crowded, and with a crying baby.
10:00
Arrived! Thank goodness. I was getting a headache, and the cab ride was wonderful, with the lake on my right and the skyline on my left. My friends Ally and Melissa were waiting outside the hotel.
6/20
5:13 a.m.
You have got to be kidding me.
6:45
We arrive at the United Center. My friends and I are numbers 59, 60, and 61 in line. There are about 8 tents and campers crashed out on sleeping bags and camp chairs. We spread our blanket and get our bearings. Laura, a tall girl who got to play guitar onstage last time we were here, gets out of a car with her blanket. We’re home.
7:45 a.m.
Andrea and the Belgian women arrive (separately). [Note: I know there’s a Belgian and a Frenchwoman, but let’s call them Belgian for convenience.] Belgian women were in Toronto, and Andrea asks about GA at the box office there.
8:05
I’m cold! At what time of day should I apply sunscreen? People are gradually streaming in. Ally and Melissa walk around the United Center to check out what we call the stalking area - where the band arrives, mid-late afternoon, and sometimes comes out to meet the fans.
8:30 a.m.
The Irish flag makes its first appearance, draped over some guy’s shoulder.
8:40
We lie on the blanket and attempt to nap for a while. It’s hard to fall asleep, with people talking and coming and going. I give up around 9:15 when Mandi arrives. The official parking lot opens so people can move their cars. I decide to apply sunscreen.
10:15
We move the blanket uphill into the shade and spend quality time discussing how hot Adam is, which is basically the theme of the morning. Adam is very popular among our group. The port-a-pottys are already gross. Mandi sits up and says “Oh my God, my bra just totally came undone.” It’s amazing how many people in the line look familiar.
11:00
We are so bored. The coming and going is at a lull, and people are sitting in the shade, just waiting, for the most part.
11:40 a.m.
We sit or lie on the blanket. The guys uphill are listening to the May 12 bootleg and talking about prior shows. (I recognize it from the guy in the audience who yells “I love you, Bono!” at intervals.) The group of women behind us are playing trivial pursuit. A guy who’s clearly impersonating Bono walks by and causes almost no sensation at all. My friends recognize him. “Oh, that guy.” Mandi and Andrea are waiting at the box office for them to release GAs. I’m hungry. I don’t know whether we’re going to try to find some lunch or not. The beauty of the number system - written on our inner wrists in blue sharpie - is that we can leave and return without causing animosity. On the other hand, my friend Melissa has arthritic knees, and we’re all trying to preserve our feet and legs for later. It’s the standing, but it’s the being still, unable to really shift your weight or change your position, that’s so grueling.
I’m getting hungry.
12:00 Ally offers to walk to taco bell for us. We gladly accept and make a list. The United Center general manager came by with a couple of staffers and made chitchat with some of the line. Last spring he rode around on a Segway and gave out some free bottles of water on a very hot day. He’s awfully corporate, but he says he’ll come by later with free water. We encourage him to do so. He teases us with the possibility of a free tour later, but he doesn’t seem very sincere about it.
Ally sets off for Taco Bell. Guys behind us still listening to May 12 bootleg. There hasn’t been much consistent traffic, although the spread-out, straggling line has grown to the end of the block. There’s still lots of room between groups, blankets outspread. By 5:00 the line will be solid to the end of the block and beyond with people standing in an actual more-or-less line close together.
12:15
On closer, but still not extremely close, look, fake Bono’s not really that bad. The guys behind us gave me a free bottle of water. I forgive them everything.
12:45
Ally returns w/taco bell. We gobble - delicious - and prepare to go around back for stalking.
1:20 p.m.
We join the 25 or so fans already waiting at the performer entrance, which consists of standing on the sidewalk between a fairly busy street and a chain-link fence. It’s two or three hours before anyone could reasonably expect the band to show up. The baking glare of the sidewalk is a poor substitute for the shady, grassy hillside where we waited earlier. Sunscreen has been slathered and re-slathered, and all that’s to be done now is wait and sweat.
1:50 p.m.
The manager came back with miniature bottles of water for those who want them. I chugged mine. I have to pee already, but I can wait a couple of hours. It’ll re-absorb as I dehydrate. People are further in than it seems will be allowed, but there aren’t any barricades like there were in May. People have brought a strange, ragtag assortment of items to be autographed, including postcards and what looks like an ink drawing of Bono. The Belgian women wears a cardboard sign around her neck with what might be her name written on it. This puzzles me. The crowd has grown to some 40 stalkers.
2:30
Apparently they’re only releasing GAs one at a time, and they’ve only released 3. Andrea got one - she started the line - but Mandi’s still waiting. Melissa’s blanket, her jacket, and Ally’s jacket are still back in the shade, but I brought all my stuff with me. Still cooking; far too hot to wear my denim jacket. Once in a while a car slows down and someone asks who we’re waiting for. I don’t know why they ask. They never seem particularly impressed by the answer. I think my brain is cooking. I am greasy with sunscreen. At least we ate, thanks to Ally’s valiant Taco Bell run. Otherwise we’d probably faint.
2:53 p.m. More people asking what we’re waiting for and not being particularly impressed with the answer. Lonely guy has recently turned into Jesus Guy. Never trust a man in a yellow necktie.
3:00
Additional security arrives and moves everyone back to the sidewalk outside the gates. We stand and crowd in anticipation.
3:30
People who look like Head Honcho security arrive. Anticipation builds. We eye every shiny black SUV that passes, and the drivers return our gazes uncomprehendingly.
4:00
Band members arrive. Bono and Edge both work the fence for a while, signing autographs. Bono takes someone’s cell phone and speaks into it. You can hear him chat people up: “What’s your name? Ryan! A good Irish name.” He speaks to the crowd a couple of times, mostly inaudibly, and poses with a family for a picture. He doesn’t quite come close enough. Edge comes close enough for eye contact. Response to my “Send Adam” sign was inadequate.
4:30 long bathroom line.
4:40
The GA line seems awfully short. Word is the box office only released like 8. In the line for the bathroom, Andrea and I at the same moment saw a guy at the front of the line who bore a striking resemblance to Adam from just that one angle. We cracked the fuck up, and he totally had to have heard us, because he was looking at us and cracking up. Also he was holding a “need tickets” sign, which, for Adam, was surreal.
4:45 The lineup
5:05 The line stretches to infinity.
5:30 Melissa breaks into Arcade Fire. Everyone within earshot gets it.
5:55 We stand. We fidget. We freak the hell out. Melissa sings various film and TV themes.
6:15 We - Mel, Ally and I get onto the rail exactly where we were May 10. In the ellipse: Mandi, Jessie, Andrea, the Belgian, the Frenchwoman, and everybody. The UC manager comes and gives us more funny looks.
6:50 p.m.
The twelve-hour mark is reached. We three are sitting with out backs to the rail wall. There isn’t really room - I can’t breathe. Mel gave her camera to Jessie. I’m just waiting, waiting for the Arcade Fire and the moment we can applaud Dallas.
7:06 p.m. C’mon, C’mon!
Melissa has agreed to be in charge of the two signs I made, since she doesn’t have a camera. They say “SEND ADAM” and “THANK YOU.” We’re gonna try to write a list for the post-opener, pre U2 music.
7:25
Manager came around with wine for people in the middle. Melissa keeps talking to him, so he brought another case of those small water bottles to pass around. I tucked mine into my bag for later, lest I have to pee too soon. I mean, I’ll have to anyway, but I want to be able to refrain.
7:40 Dashboard Confessional doesn’t suck but isn’t really my thing either. I keep wanting to call them Collective Soul.
8:02 The kind of straightforward pop-rock that all kind of sounds alike to me. I’m too old for ‘em.
8:14 intermediate music, list assembled by us three with help from the people around us.
1. unknown
2. E Pro - Beck
3. unknown
4. Idioteque - Radiohead
5. Mr. Brightside - the Killers
8:30 Dallas in full effect.
6. Beverly Hills - Weezer
7. unknown
8:39 Stuart passes by
8. Picture the View? - the Cure
9. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
8:45 Dallas passes by.
10: Float On - Modest Mouse
8:47 Ashley and Wynnona Judd walk by. I see Wynona but I don’t recognize or register Ashley; Melissa does.
11. Rock the Casbah!
12. unknown
13. Arcade Fire omg
11:45 p.m. I didn’t write anything during the show. When I was making the list, a security guard came by and asked if I was a reporter. I said aloud, pretending to write, “Security is nice!!” Guy smiled - laughed and made a cha-ching gesture. Then later he came back - much later - and I recognized him and waved. And he handed me a setlist. Not a stage setlist, but a security copy. And ten minutes later he came back and handed one to Melissa. Later when the lights came up we waved and mouthed “thank you” and Melissa blew him kisses. We walked around back and saw him again and waved at each other. Now we’re waiting around at the band entrance/exit to see if they come out again. I’d love to have my set list autographed.
It must be the United Center. My contacts are doing that fuzzy fucked-up thing they did in May.
12:20 a.m.
There are almost 20 of us at the exit gates, but we’re not sure whether the band is still around or not. We don’t see “regulars” type people we recognize or, really, anyone official to ask, either. I wonder whether, if they were still here, there would be security in sight. We’ve seen employee-types leaving, and someone’s walking a wee Jack Russell-type pup down by the loading docks. Everyone else has phone calls to make, friends to tell about the show. I talked to J, but I really don’t have anyone to gush with. During the show I called Shannon, Eileen, and Lisa three or four times, but I didn’t know whether she picked up or not.
12:34 a.m.
We’re down to 14 stalkers. Hope wanes.
12:45 Larry Mullen. Larry. Mullen. Junior. Signed us autographs for all and let us take pictures. I cupped his hand under the set list as he signed it.
Wednesday 9/21
6:00 a.m.
5:15 came even earlier this morning than yesterday. My contacts are still all blurry; I’m packing eyedrops and specs, but I’m not sure what to do about it. We were up till well past 3:00, riding the Larry high. We were giggly and hysterical. I’ll finish updating at the venue, but after Larry we took a cab back and went to a 24-hour breakfast dive down the street. My food got gross very quickly, but it was good that we ate something. I’m - I think we all are - hoping to get several hours’ sleep at the venue. My eyes feel all red and weary. It’s like college but without the booze. At my age that’s far, far too close to an all-nighter for my comfort. And we have about 12 hours before we go in!
Last night the SUV stopped and I couldn’t see who was getting out of it - you could tell it was someone, from the buzz - until Ally, behind me, said “Oh my God, it’s Larry.” He stood there kind of looking and not-looking at us. Someone gave him something to sign and he asked, “Do you have a pen?” Andrea gave him one. He said “Please don’t video me,” and the guy didn’t really hear him, so he said a bit more forcefully, “I don’t want to be video’d.” The guy asked if we could photo him and Larry said yes. He asked if Andrea liked the show, and she said it kicked. More later.
7:20 a.m.
We got here just a bit after 7:00. I’m number 108, which is a bit disappointing, but I’ve had much worse. It’ll work out, though.
… So Larry signed autographs. I handed him my set list and tried to give him my sharpie, but he wouldn’t take it because he already had the pen. From behind me, Melissa said “You’re the holy grail!” I said, “Shh, don’t scare him!” I stepped back a bit and I said “We miss the boom chas.” He looked almost as though he wanted to smile. His shirt was way unbuttoned.
After he signed each thing he glanced at the person and gave a little nod like “We’re done here, right? Check.” He was very patient in a “not sure I really want to be doing this” kind of way. He tried to get to everyone and we all thanked him. My camera battery was basically dead at that point. I got one off-center picture of him with Ally in the frame. My camera didn’t snap in time when Ally, Melissa, and Mandi were posing with him. There aren’t any pictures of me and Larry. When he signed my set list, he put his hand flat under it to sign on it, and I put my hand under his in a gesture meant to help give support or a platform for him to write on, but it ended as my hand flat under his hand. Which probably was offputting, but it’s a nice memory.
8:00
Ally returns from Walgreens with blankets. Melissa makes what I assume is her first phone post of the day. We’ve been telling everyone in line “we met Larry last night” as they walk up. I have a general impression that we’re really obnoxious. Still hoping I don’t have to take out my contacts. I’m gonna try to get some sleep.
9:15
I slept about 90% for 45 minutes or so. I kept hearing conversations and planes. I gave it up and made a “BOOM CHA” sign. P.S. Still have met Larry.
10:00
I’ve been lying down relaxing but I just can’t sleep. Can’t let go that last 5 or 10 percent. I put in foam earplugs, but I just can’t shut out the conversations around me. There’s some talk of renumbering. I hope that’s to my advantage. I don’t have access to a good shade patch. I managed not to burn yesterday. I should write the Neutragena company and thank them.
11:45
They renumbered to account for people who signed up as though they were camping but didn’t seem to be around. I dropped from 108 to 81. Which probably doesn’t make much difference except that the people with those numbers are going to be really pissed off when they come back. I smell a rumble in Brighton.
11:15
Mandi went to box office line. We get snacks from the wagon. I get a cold Pepsi. He didn’t have any meatless sandwiches. I’m hoping I can totally avoid pooping for the whole day. Stinky Guy from May is here. He’s talking to someone who looks like Mysterious Ways woman from May but probably isn’t. We’re planning to go around back to stalk around noon.
12:00 noon
We head around back to stalk. Andrea shows up, and she and Ally both brought umbrellas. We just got here when they brought out the small free water and said they’d be back 3:00-4:00. Don’t know if I can get any sleep on a hard sidewalk next to a busy, smelly street, but if I could it would be awesome. I feel physically unwell from lack of sleep, because I am. I put in my earplugs, but I can still hear conversations and cars loud & clear.
12:20 This really is the ridiculous part, the long, hot wait round back, but meeting Larry last night made anything seem possible.
12:45. It’s way too hot. I decide that if I don’t get some sleep, I’ll be ill later. I leave the stalkers and go back to the blankets, leaving “SEND ADAM” with Mel.
3:00
I got a couple hours’ nap time. Mandi and I came over to the gate to stalk now. I don’t feel hungry, but I feel weak.
5:10
Larry came at 4:30, w/Adam and Edge soon after. We waited for Bono till 5:00 Line=clusterfuck.
5:40
Clusterfuck continues, but we all went to the fan club line. Looks ok. Took out contacts.
6:23
None of us scanned in. Rail to the right of Larry. Ally, Mandi, me. Melissa went over to the right corner like last night.
Something I meant to mention was how emotional a reaction fans have when they meet a band member. I remember in May when Bono got out of his car, a woman near us took several steps backward in reaction. When Melissa met Edge in May she cried afterward; yesterday afternoon a woman was sobbing; & last night Mandi wept after we met Larry.
8:15 D. Confessional still emo. We’re clearly all exhausted w/ hurting feet. Just waiting for Arcade Fire!
11:30 Melissa texted me earlier that she saw Billy Corgan.
Thursday 5/22
6:45 a.m.
Last night after the show we walked around to the stalking area. The first night it was pretty abandoned, but the last night in the city there was a certain amount of bustle going on. One of the guards told us the band had left already. We knew there was a peace museum fundraiser that night also. Mandi’s mom, on the phone, told her she’d seen them go too - guess they had a police escort. Andrea’s mom had driven (and let us put junk in her car), and I called J as we went to the car. I babbled meaninglessly for a while. They’d just closed with ‘40’ with Sheriff Larry leaving the stage last, that stud. Andrea’s mom had all this cold bottled water and some potato chips & stuff. To be handed a cold bottle of water as we came out of there - priceless. She drove us back to the hotel, too, so we saved cab fare and had a giggly, chatty good time.
We decompressed for about half an hour. Such a luxury, such a gift to have plumbing. Just to wash one’s hands w/ soap and running water instead of a precious handful of bottled, not to mention using a real toilet that flushes and is clean. 6:15 a.m. wasn’t nearly as early as I’d have guessed. I slept really well for a change. Nothing to anticipate, I suppose.
I have mixed feelings. I’m so glad I don’t have to do that again. My God, it was grueling. And I’m homesick and I miss my things. But the hardship is kind of cool, since a couple of hundred people are doing the same thing. There were so many people we recognized. Fellow autograph seeker. Dancing Spanish speaker. Joy from Phoenix. Guy who slept all day. The guy next to us at the rail. All the people Ally’s met along the way. The concerts themselves, completely awesome. I never want it to end.
8:04 a.m.
Getting on this train reminds me of the time we met Larry.
The strangest adjustment isn’t back to civilization, or to work. The weirdest thing, and oddly difficult, is - for me - the first time (as when waiting for the train) that you’re in a crowd that’s not the crowd at the concert. All these people together waiting for something, and none of them waiting for U2. I don’t recognize any of them, none of them have numbers, none of them camped here overnight. They don’t know what I’m going through. We’re not going to just start a conversation because, unlike the GA line, these people and I are not neighbors. We’re not sort-of suffering together, and we won’t celebrate together later. Arcade Fire means nothing to them.
I’m imaging J’s reaction to my reaction to Arcade Fire in December. December is not enough. I want more. More love, more madness. More face time. More autographs!
It occurs to me this morning that I basically just ate potato chips yesterday. I was thinking how on the way up to Chicago on Monday I really wanted to - and did - avoid using the train bathroom because yecch. 24 hours later, what luxury the train toilet would have seemed.
General notes on train home:
Soundtrack home: Arcade Fire
Miss Sarajevo
“We recorded this with Luciano Pavarotti. He’s not here, but I have been putting on a little weight.”
After a while your ass is sore from sitting on pavement, concrete, and the ground. Your feet hurt from standing and walking. Your knees and joints ache from confinement. You think you can’t bear to stand, but if you squat or kneel it hurts something else just as badly. You have to rotate the aches.
You monitor your intake, trying to stay hydrated enough to feel well but trying to juggle it so you won’t have to pee between 5-11 p.m.
That last hour is horrible. When you’re all lined up but the gates aren’t open yet and you don’t know where you’ll be, and you start making plans about pairing up or teaming up if someone scans. It’s what you waited all day for, it’s the payoff moment for all the late night, early morning, lack of sleep dirty sweaty hungry hot cold sick thirstyness. It’s horrid. The suspense is horrid.
Wed. night the guy behind me asked me what they’d opened with the night before, and I pulled out my setlist. The half-dozen or dozen people who could see it all took a good look and a couple of people took pictures of it, which cracked me up. It felt like my thirty seconds of fame, to cause an extremely small stir. They were looking over our shoulders at our pictures of Larry, too. Ally was looking at her picture with the group and Larry and was zooming in on his chest, and I, standing behind Ally, heard a guy like two people behind me say something about it. (“They’re zooming in on his nipple!”)
Word is that Kanye West will open in St. Louis.
At the end it’s weird, strangers saying goodbye. “Did you say you’re going to Detroit? See you in Cleveland!” It’s amazing where everyone’s from. The first night Ally was right next to some other guys from LA.
“The Edge is from the future. Not just the future, but from another planet in another galaxy in the future. … I’m serious. … When his spaceship came down in the north side of Dublin it was making that sound. And Larry asked him, “Where are you from?” And Edge said, “I’m from the future.” And Adam asked him, “What’s it like in the future?” And Edge said, … “It’s better.”
I swear Melissa (or Andrea?) was talking to someone who was like “last May they were filming the scan-in line for Good Morning America,” and (Andrea?) said “We have a friend who was scanned in and she was so excited she kind of freaked out and they showed it on TV” and the guy said - no shit - “Oh! Was she wearing a pink tank top??”
It’s weird how the body responds. I don’t exert myself much, so this is strange. There are moments in the day where all you can think about is how hungry you are or how thirsty you are or how much your feet hurt or whatever, but it passes. Mostly it passes in the euphoria and excitement and anticipation of the event. But like today, yeah, I’m looking forward to an actual decent meal, but at the same time it makes you realize how much people overeat. I know there’s a happy medium, but it makes you just go, Do I really need to eat so much?
Bono, toward the back, hesitantly: “This is … this is a song that …” Comes forward, checks monitor, continues with assurance. “Yeah. This is a song that we haven’t played much …”
The first night there wasn’t any doubt that Bono saw our “send Adam” sign. He kind of did a little double-take. I MADE BONO DO A DOUBLE-TAKE.
Also the first night some people in the second tier on Adam’s end had a big sheet-sign that just said ADAM. At the end he shaded his eyes to look up at them, then gave them a big wave.
The second night when Adam was on the ramp by us he most definitely made eye contact with me and Ally and gave us a big grin.
Bono impersonator was a different Bono both days. First day, he was straw-cowboy-hat, all-denim Bono. Second day, he was green military cap, Love and Peace jacket Bono. He’s a bit younger, but he really does look startlingly like Bono. Guess he’s from a tribute band. That guy’s always in the ellipse, but he doesn’t camp out, he shows up late. He’s always working the crowd, too. Wish I’d managed to get a picture of him, but I hardly even got pictures of my real friends, because I was trying to save my camera battery for later.
Dear God, I like U2 more than ever. This can’t be over. Can I find a way to get to Cleveland?
Thursday night
A day later and it’s surreal. I feel so empowered … it’s weird not to have anything on the horizon. My sharpie numbers are nearly worn off. Yesterday Ally and I were saying how everything was The Best Ever because we were so desperate. The best water, the best potato chips, even the best nap on the ground with the sun in your face. This afternoon, today, I feel like everything is kind of new. Running water, not just for a half hour but all the time. Access to a toilet. I was home for hours before I thought to look in the fridge. Milk! Oh, God, milk! I took a big drink. It was the Best Milk Ever. Dinner had vegetables in it and I ate a whole meal with silverware off plates. Corn! Best corn ever!
It’s the little things.
One thing I learned is that it’s worth the weight of an extra bottle of water in your bag just so you’ll have it later. It doesn’t matter how warm the water is, it just matters that there’s water. My hands are clean. My fingernails are clean. After putting on sunscreen a couple of times, my nails were always filthy. It got to the point where you’d pick up someone’s discarded nearly-empty bottle of water to pour some in your hand and do a quick wipe-wash. This afternoon I took a nap in a bed with sheets and a pillow, indoors. In two days I became obsessed with water and how much and when, and with where and when I could urinate. I felt compelled to have a bottle of water on the train this afternoon.
I thought when I got back from city driving, I was a faster driver here. But when I got home from 3 days of being in a car only when I was a passenger in a Chicago taxicab, I noticed that I drove … like a cab driver once I got back home.
U2 log
Part one of three, the log I kept in Chicago.
Monday 9/19
5:10 p.m.
Already the train is late, and I try not to worry that I’ve forgotten something. As Ally says, as long as I have the actual concert tickets, we can work around the rest. My suitcase seems unnecessarily large because it’s our only suitcase that has wheels. I learned my lesson last time. Maybe I’m anxious about arriving in Chicago at night & having to hail a cab in the dark, a woman alone, with luggage. I’m so small-town. I promised J I’d “be so careful I’d barely have any fun.” I don’t want to be extremely late & worry my friends. Only 20 minutes so far, but they don’t tend to improve.
5:50 p.m.
On train, coming into Lincoln, listening to the Allman Bros “Eat a Peach” on my iPod. Looks very ominous, dark and low’ring outside, with lightning. Does lightning strike trains? Will it rain in Chicago? Did I bring an umbrella? I did not.
8:00 p.m.
You know that scene in War of the Worlds when the flaming train speeds by in ruin? It’s a lot like that, only very slow, more crowded, and with a crying baby.
10:00
Arrived! Thank goodness. I was getting a headache, and the cab ride was wonderful, with the lake on my right and the skyline on my left. My friends Ally and Melissa were waiting outside the hotel.
6/20
5:13 a.m.
You have got to be kidding me.
6:45
We arrive at the United Center. My friends and I are numbers 59, 60, and 61 in line. There are about 8 tents and campers crashed out on sleeping bags and camp chairs. We spread our blanket and get our bearings. Laura, a tall girl who got to play guitar onstage last time we were here, gets out of a car with her blanket. We’re home.
7:45 a.m.
Andrea and the Belgian women arrive (separately). [Note: I know there’s a Belgian and a Frenchwoman, but let’s call them Belgian for convenience.] Belgian women were in Toronto, and Andrea asks about GA at the box office there.
8:05
I’m cold! At what time of day should I apply sunscreen? People are gradually streaming in. Ally and Melissa walk around the United Center to check out what we call the stalking area - where the band arrives, mid-late afternoon, and sometimes comes out to meet the fans.
8:30 a.m.
The Irish flag makes its first appearance, draped over some guy’s shoulder.
8:40
We lie on the blanket and attempt to nap for a while. It’s hard to fall asleep, with people talking and coming and going. I give up around 9:15 when Mandi arrives. The official parking lot opens so people can move their cars. I decide to apply sunscreen.
10:15
We move the blanket uphill into the shade and spend quality time discussing how hot Adam is, which is basically the theme of the morning. Adam is very popular among our group. The port-a-pottys are already gross. Mandi sits up and says “Oh my God, my bra just totally came undone.” It’s amazing how many people in the line look familiar.
11:00
We are so bored. The coming and going is at a lull, and people are sitting in the shade, just waiting, for the most part.
11:40 a.m.
We sit or lie on the blanket. The guys uphill are listening to the May 12 bootleg and talking about prior shows. (I recognize it from the guy in the audience who yells “I love you, Bono!” at intervals.) The group of women behind us are playing trivial pursuit. A guy who’s clearly impersonating Bono walks by and causes almost no sensation at all. My friends recognize him. “Oh, that guy.” Mandi and Andrea are waiting at the box office for them to release GAs. I’m hungry. I don’t know whether we’re going to try to find some lunch or not. The beauty of the number system - written on our inner wrists in blue sharpie - is that we can leave and return without causing animosity. On the other hand, my friend Melissa has arthritic knees, and we’re all trying to preserve our feet and legs for later. It’s the standing, but it’s the being still, unable to really shift your weight or change your position, that’s so grueling.
I’m getting hungry.
12:00 Ally offers to walk to taco bell for us. We gladly accept and make a list. The United Center general manager came by with a couple of staffers and made chitchat with some of the line. Last spring he rode around on a Segway and gave out some free bottles of water on a very hot day. He’s awfully corporate, but he says he’ll come by later with free water. We encourage him to do so. He teases us with the possibility of a free tour later, but he doesn’t seem very sincere about it.
Ally sets off for Taco Bell. Guys behind us still listening to May 12 bootleg. There hasn’t been much consistent traffic, although the spread-out, straggling line has grown to the end of the block. There’s still lots of room between groups, blankets outspread. By 5:00 the line will be solid to the end of the block and beyond with people standing in an actual more-or-less line close together.
12:15
On closer, but still not extremely close, look, fake Bono’s not really that bad. The guys behind us gave me a free bottle of water. I forgive them everything.
12:45
Ally returns w/taco bell. We gobble - delicious - and prepare to go around back for stalking.
1:20 p.m.
We join the 25 or so fans already waiting at the performer entrance, which consists of standing on the sidewalk between a fairly busy street and a chain-link fence. It’s two or three hours before anyone could reasonably expect the band to show up. The baking glare of the sidewalk is a poor substitute for the shady, grassy hillside where we waited earlier. Sunscreen has been slathered and re-slathered, and all that’s to be done now is wait and sweat.
1:50 p.m.
The manager came back with miniature bottles of water for those who want them. I chugged mine. I have to pee already, but I can wait a couple of hours. It’ll re-absorb as I dehydrate. People are further in than it seems will be allowed, but there aren’t any barricades like there were in May. People have brought a strange, ragtag assortment of items to be autographed, including postcards and what looks like an ink drawing of Bono. The Belgian women wears a cardboard sign around her neck with what might be her name written on it. This puzzles me. The crowd has grown to some 40 stalkers.
2:30
Apparently they’re only releasing GAs one at a time, and they’ve only released 3. Andrea got one - she started the line - but Mandi’s still waiting. Melissa’s blanket, her jacket, and Ally’s jacket are still back in the shade, but I brought all my stuff with me. Still cooking; far too hot to wear my denim jacket. Once in a while a car slows down and someone asks who we’re waiting for. I don’t know why they ask. They never seem particularly impressed by the answer. I think my brain is cooking. I am greasy with sunscreen. At least we ate, thanks to Ally’s valiant Taco Bell run. Otherwise we’d probably faint.
2:53 p.m. More people asking what we’re waiting for and not being particularly impressed with the answer. Lonely guy has recently turned into Jesus Guy. Never trust a man in a yellow necktie.
3:00
Additional security arrives and moves everyone back to the sidewalk outside the gates. We stand and crowd in anticipation.
3:30
People who look like Head Honcho security arrive. Anticipation builds. We eye every shiny black SUV that passes, and the drivers return our gazes uncomprehendingly.
4:00
Band members arrive. Bono and Edge both work the fence for a while, signing autographs. Bono takes someone’s cell phone and speaks into it. You can hear him chat people up: “What’s your name? Ryan! A good Irish name.” He speaks to the crowd a couple of times, mostly inaudibly, and poses with a family for a picture. He doesn’t quite come close enough. Edge comes close enough for eye contact. Response to my “Send Adam” sign was inadequate.
4:30 long bathroom line.
4:40
The GA line seems awfully short. Word is the box office only released like 8. In the line for the bathroom, Andrea and I at the same moment saw a guy at the front of the line who bore a striking resemblance to Adam from just that one angle. We cracked the fuck up, and he totally had to have heard us, because he was looking at us and cracking up. Also he was holding a “need tickets” sign, which, for Adam, was surreal.
4:45 The lineup
5:05 The line stretches to infinity.
5:30 Melissa breaks into Arcade Fire. Everyone within earshot gets it.
5:55 We stand. We fidget. We freak the hell out. Melissa sings various film and TV themes.
6:15 We - Mel, Ally and I get onto the rail exactly where we were May 10. In the ellipse: Mandi, Jessie, Andrea, the Belgian, the Frenchwoman, and everybody. The UC manager comes and gives us more funny looks.
6:50 p.m.
The twelve-hour mark is reached. We three are sitting with out backs to the rail wall. There isn’t really room - I can’t breathe. Mel gave her camera to Jessie. I’m just waiting, waiting for the Arcade Fire and the moment we can applaud Dallas.
7:06 p.m. C’mon, C’mon!
Melissa has agreed to be in charge of the two signs I made, since she doesn’t have a camera. They say “SEND ADAM” and “THANK YOU.” We’re gonna try to write a list for the post-opener, pre U2 music.
7:25
Manager came around with wine for people in the middle. Melissa keeps talking to him, so he brought another case of those small water bottles to pass around. I tucked mine into my bag for later, lest I have to pee too soon. I mean, I’ll have to anyway, but I want to be able to refrain.
7:40 Dashboard Confessional doesn’t suck but isn’t really my thing either. I keep wanting to call them Collective Soul.
8:02 The kind of straightforward pop-rock that all kind of sounds alike to me. I’m too old for ‘em.
8:14 intermediate music, list assembled by us three with help from the people around us.
1. unknown
2. E Pro - Beck
3. unknown
4. Idioteque - Radiohead
5. Mr. Brightside - the Killers
8:30 Dallas in full effect.
6. Beverly Hills - Weezer
7. unknown
8:39 Stuart passes by
8. Picture the View? - the Cure
9. Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
8:45 Dallas passes by.
10: Float On - Modest Mouse
8:47 Ashley and Wynnona Judd walk by. I see Wynona but I don’t recognize or register Ashley; Melissa does.
11. Rock the Casbah!
12. unknown
13. Arcade Fire omg
11:45 p.m. I didn’t write anything during the show. When I was making the list, a security guard came by and asked if I was a reporter. I said aloud, pretending to write, “Security is nice!!” Guy smiled - laughed and made a cha-ching gesture. Then later he came back - much later - and I recognized him and waved. And he handed me a setlist. Not a stage setlist, but a security copy. And ten minutes later he came back and handed one to Melissa. Later when the lights came up we waved and mouthed “thank you” and Melissa blew him kisses. We walked around back and saw him again and waved at each other. Now we’re waiting around at the band entrance/exit to see if they come out again. I’d love to have my set list autographed.
It must be the United Center. My contacts are doing that fuzzy fucked-up thing they did in May.
12:20 a.m.
There are almost 20 of us at the exit gates, but we’re not sure whether the band is still around or not. We don’t see “regulars” type people we recognize or, really, anyone official to ask, either. I wonder whether, if they were still here, there would be security in sight. We’ve seen employee-types leaving, and someone’s walking a wee Jack Russell-type pup down by the loading docks. Everyone else has phone calls to make, friends to tell about the show. I talked to J, but I really don’t have anyone to gush with. During the show I called Shannon, Eileen, and Lisa three or four times, but I didn’t know whether she picked up or not.
12:34 a.m.
We’re down to 14 stalkers. Hope wanes.
12:45 Larry Mullen. Larry. Mullen. Junior. Signed us autographs for all and let us take pictures. I cupped his hand under the set list as he signed it.
Wednesday 9/21
6:00 a.m.
5:15 came even earlier this morning than yesterday. My contacts are still all blurry; I’m packing eyedrops and specs, but I’m not sure what to do about it. We were up till well past 3:00, riding the Larry high. We were giggly and hysterical. I’ll finish updating at the venue, but after Larry we took a cab back and went to a 24-hour breakfast dive down the street. My food got gross very quickly, but it was good that we ate something. I’m - I think we all are - hoping to get several hours’ sleep at the venue. My eyes feel all red and weary. It’s like college but without the booze. At my age that’s far, far too close to an all-nighter for my comfort. And we have about 12 hours before we go in!
Last night the SUV stopped and I couldn’t see who was getting out of it - you could tell it was someone, from the buzz - until Ally, behind me, said “Oh my God, it’s Larry.” He stood there kind of looking and not-looking at us. Someone gave him something to sign and he asked, “Do you have a pen?” Andrea gave him one. He said “Please don’t video me,” and the guy didn’t really hear him, so he said a bit more forcefully, “I don’t want to be video’d.” The guy asked if we could photo him and Larry said yes. He asked if Andrea liked the show, and she said it kicked. More later.
7:20 a.m.
We got here just a bit after 7:00. I’m number 108, which is a bit disappointing, but I’ve had much worse. It’ll work out, though.
… So Larry signed autographs. I handed him my set list and tried to give him my sharpie, but he wouldn’t take it because he already had the pen. From behind me, Melissa said “You’re the holy grail!” I said, “Shh, don’t scare him!” I stepped back a bit and I said “We miss the boom chas.” He looked almost as though he wanted to smile. His shirt was way unbuttoned.
After he signed each thing he glanced at the person and gave a little nod like “We’re done here, right? Check.” He was very patient in a “not sure I really want to be doing this” kind of way. He tried to get to everyone and we all thanked him. My camera battery was basically dead at that point. I got one off-center picture of him with Ally in the frame. My camera didn’t snap in time when Ally, Melissa, and Mandi were posing with him. There aren’t any pictures of me and Larry. When he signed my set list, he put his hand flat under it to sign on it, and I put my hand under his in a gesture meant to help give support or a platform for him to write on, but it ended as my hand flat under his hand. Which probably was offputting, but it’s a nice memory.
8:00
Ally returns from Walgreens with blankets. Melissa makes what I assume is her first phone post of the day. We’ve been telling everyone in line “we met Larry last night” as they walk up. I have a general impression that we’re really obnoxious. Still hoping I don’t have to take out my contacts. I’m gonna try to get some sleep.
9:15
I slept about 90% for 45 minutes or so. I kept hearing conversations and planes. I gave it up and made a “BOOM CHA” sign. P.S. Still have met Larry.
10:00
I’ve been lying down relaxing but I just can’t sleep. Can’t let go that last 5 or 10 percent. I put in foam earplugs, but I just can’t shut out the conversations around me. There’s some talk of renumbering. I hope that’s to my advantage. I don’t have access to a good shade patch. I managed not to burn yesterday. I should write the Neutragena company and thank them.
11:45
They renumbered to account for people who signed up as though they were camping but didn’t seem to be around. I dropped from 108 to 81. Which probably doesn’t make much difference except that the people with those numbers are going to be really pissed off when they come back. I smell a rumble in Brighton.
11:15
Mandi went to box office line. We get snacks from the wagon. I get a cold Pepsi. He didn’t have any meatless sandwiches. I’m hoping I can totally avoid pooping for the whole day. Stinky Guy from May is here. He’s talking to someone who looks like Mysterious Ways woman from May but probably isn’t. We’re planning to go around back to stalk around noon.
12:00 noon
We head around back to stalk. Andrea shows up, and she and Ally both brought umbrellas. We just got here when they brought out the small free water and said they’d be back 3:00-4:00. Don’t know if I can get any sleep on a hard sidewalk next to a busy, smelly street, but if I could it would be awesome. I feel physically unwell from lack of sleep, because I am. I put in my earplugs, but I can still hear conversations and cars loud & clear.
12:20 This really is the ridiculous part, the long, hot wait round back, but meeting Larry last night made anything seem possible.
12:45. It’s way too hot. I decide that if I don’t get some sleep, I’ll be ill later. I leave the stalkers and go back to the blankets, leaving “SEND ADAM” with Mel.
3:00
I got a couple hours’ nap time. Mandi and I came over to the gate to stalk now. I don’t feel hungry, but I feel weak.
5:10
Larry came at 4:30, w/Adam and Edge soon after. We waited for Bono till 5:00 Line=clusterfuck.
5:40
Clusterfuck continues, but we all went to the fan club line. Looks ok. Took out contacts.
6:23
None of us scanned in. Rail to the right of Larry. Ally, Mandi, me. Melissa went over to the right corner like last night.
Something I meant to mention was how emotional a reaction fans have when they meet a band member. I remember in May when Bono got out of his car, a woman near us took several steps backward in reaction. When Melissa met Edge in May she cried afterward; yesterday afternoon a woman was sobbing; & last night Mandi wept after we met Larry.
8:15 D. Confessional still emo. We’re clearly all exhausted w/ hurting feet. Just waiting for Arcade Fire!
11:30 Melissa texted me earlier that she saw Billy Corgan.
Thursday 5/22
6:45 a.m.
Last night after the show we walked around to the stalking area. The first night it was pretty abandoned, but the last night in the city there was a certain amount of bustle going on. One of the guards told us the band had left already. We knew there was a peace museum fundraiser that night also. Mandi’s mom, on the phone, told her she’d seen them go too - guess they had a police escort. Andrea’s mom had driven (and let us put junk in her car), and I called J as we went to the car. I babbled meaninglessly for a while. They’d just closed with ‘40’ with Sheriff Larry leaving the stage last, that stud. Andrea’s mom had all this cold bottled water and some potato chips & stuff. To be handed a cold bottle of water as we came out of there - priceless. She drove us back to the hotel, too, so we saved cab fare and had a giggly, chatty good time.
We decompressed for about half an hour. Such a luxury, such a gift to have plumbing. Just to wash one’s hands w/ soap and running water instead of a precious handful of bottled, not to mention using a real toilet that flushes and is clean. 6:15 a.m. wasn’t nearly as early as I’d have guessed. I slept really well for a change. Nothing to anticipate, I suppose.
I have mixed feelings. I’m so glad I don’t have to do that again. My God, it was grueling. And I’m homesick and I miss my things. But the hardship is kind of cool, since a couple of hundred people are doing the same thing. There were so many people we recognized. Fellow autograph seeker. Dancing Spanish speaker. Joy from Phoenix. Guy who slept all day. The guy next to us at the rail. All the people Ally’s met along the way. The concerts themselves, completely awesome. I never want it to end.
8:04 a.m.
Getting on this train reminds me of the time we met Larry.
The strangest adjustment isn’t back to civilization, or to work. The weirdest thing, and oddly difficult, is - for me - the first time (as when waiting for the train) that you’re in a crowd that’s not the crowd at the concert. All these people together waiting for something, and none of them waiting for U2. I don’t recognize any of them, none of them have numbers, none of them camped here overnight. They don’t know what I’m going through. We’re not going to just start a conversation because, unlike the GA line, these people and I are not neighbors. We’re not sort-of suffering together, and we won’t celebrate together later. Arcade Fire means nothing to them.
I’m imaging J’s reaction to my reaction to Arcade Fire in December. December is not enough. I want more. More love, more madness. More face time. More autographs!
It occurs to me this morning that I basically just ate potato chips yesterday. I was thinking how on the way up to Chicago on Monday I really wanted to - and did - avoid using the train bathroom because yecch. 24 hours later, what luxury the train toilet would have seemed.
General notes on train home:
Soundtrack home: Arcade Fire
Miss Sarajevo
“We recorded this with Luciano Pavarotti. He’s not here, but I have been putting on a little weight.”
After a while your ass is sore from sitting on pavement, concrete, and the ground. Your feet hurt from standing and walking. Your knees and joints ache from confinement. You think you can’t bear to stand, but if you squat or kneel it hurts something else just as badly. You have to rotate the aches.
You monitor your intake, trying to stay hydrated enough to feel well but trying to juggle it so you won’t have to pee between 5-11 p.m.
That last hour is horrible. When you’re all lined up but the gates aren’t open yet and you don’t know where you’ll be, and you start making plans about pairing up or teaming up if someone scans. It’s what you waited all day for, it’s the payoff moment for all the late night, early morning, lack of sleep dirty sweaty hungry hot cold sick thirstyness. It’s horrid. The suspense is horrid.
Wed. night the guy behind me asked me what they’d opened with the night before, and I pulled out my setlist. The half-dozen or dozen people who could see it all took a good look and a couple of people took pictures of it, which cracked me up. It felt like my thirty seconds of fame, to cause an extremely small stir. They were looking over our shoulders at our pictures of Larry, too. Ally was looking at her picture with the group and Larry and was zooming in on his chest, and I, standing behind Ally, heard a guy like two people behind me say something about it. (“They’re zooming in on his nipple!”)
Word is that Kanye West will open in St. Louis.
At the end it’s weird, strangers saying goodbye. “Did you say you’re going to Detroit? See you in Cleveland!” It’s amazing where everyone’s from. The first night Ally was right next to some other guys from LA.
“The Edge is from the future. Not just the future, but from another planet in another galaxy in the future. … I’m serious. … When his spaceship came down in the north side of Dublin it was making that sound. And Larry asked him, “Where are you from?” And Edge said, “I’m from the future.” And Adam asked him, “What’s it like in the future?” And Edge said, … “It’s better.”
I swear Melissa (or Andrea?) was talking to someone who was like “last May they were filming the scan-in line for Good Morning America,” and (Andrea?) said “We have a friend who was scanned in and she was so excited she kind of freaked out and they showed it on TV” and the guy said - no shit - “Oh! Was she wearing a pink tank top??”
It’s weird how the body responds. I don’t exert myself much, so this is strange. There are moments in the day where all you can think about is how hungry you are or how thirsty you are or how much your feet hurt or whatever, but it passes. Mostly it passes in the euphoria and excitement and anticipation of the event. But like today, yeah, I’m looking forward to an actual decent meal, but at the same time it makes you realize how much people overeat. I know there’s a happy medium, but it makes you just go, Do I really need to eat so much?
Bono, toward the back, hesitantly: “This is … this is a song that …” Comes forward, checks monitor, continues with assurance. “Yeah. This is a song that we haven’t played much …”
The first night there wasn’t any doubt that Bono saw our “send Adam” sign. He kind of did a little double-take. I MADE BONO DO A DOUBLE-TAKE.
Also the first night some people in the second tier on Adam’s end had a big sheet-sign that just said ADAM. At the end he shaded his eyes to look up at them, then gave them a big wave.
The second night when Adam was on the ramp by us he most definitely made eye contact with me and Ally and gave us a big grin.
Bono impersonator was a different Bono both days. First day, he was straw-cowboy-hat, all-denim Bono. Second day, he was green military cap, Love and Peace jacket Bono. He’s a bit younger, but he really does look startlingly like Bono. Guess he’s from a tribute band. That guy’s always in the ellipse, but he doesn’t camp out, he shows up late. He’s always working the crowd, too. Wish I’d managed to get a picture of him, but I hardly even got pictures of my real friends, because I was trying to save my camera battery for later.
Dear God, I like U2 more than ever. This can’t be over. Can I find a way to get to Cleveland?
Thursday night
A day later and it’s surreal. I feel so empowered … it’s weird not to have anything on the horizon. My sharpie numbers are nearly worn off. Yesterday Ally and I were saying how everything was The Best Ever because we were so desperate. The best water, the best potato chips, even the best nap on the ground with the sun in your face. This afternoon, today, I feel like everything is kind of new. Running water, not just for a half hour but all the time. Access to a toilet. I was home for hours before I thought to look in the fridge. Milk! Oh, God, milk! I took a big drink. It was the Best Milk Ever. Dinner had vegetables in it and I ate a whole meal with silverware off plates. Corn! Best corn ever!
It’s the little things.
One thing I learned is that it’s worth the weight of an extra bottle of water in your bag just so you’ll have it later. It doesn’t matter how warm the water is, it just matters that there’s water. My hands are clean. My fingernails are clean. After putting on sunscreen a couple of times, my nails were always filthy. It got to the point where you’d pick up someone’s discarded nearly-empty bottle of water to pour some in your hand and do a quick wipe-wash. This afternoon I took a nap in a bed with sheets and a pillow, indoors. In two days I became obsessed with water and how much and when, and with where and when I could urinate. I felt compelled to have a bottle of water on the train this afternoon.
I thought when I got back from city driving, I was a faster driver here. But when I got home from 3 days of being in a car only when I was a passenger in a Chicago taxicab, I noticed that I drove … like a cab driver once I got back home.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
U2 show, St. Louis, Dec. 14, 2005: pictures, part 2 of 2
Here's the last batch of U2 photos, from the Dec. 14, 2005, St. Louis show.
Throw your hands in the air!
lights on!
B/A on ramp.
Terrible picture, but Adam leaning to thank and touch people. *thud*
Note Adam.
Mmm. Nice.
Even nicer. With bonus B.
Bono running so fast that all you can see is kind of a leg. He’s so speedy he’s become invisible. No, Bono! Don’t turn into butter!
Speedy Edge speeding past. Dude, my pictures are blurry when you’re standing still.
E ran safely to base and now is a rock god.
I like this one. It’s all about levels.
This one too. The juxtaposition.
Adam had trouble getting it to feed back. He had to keep going back to the amps. My final pictures were pretty bad because my camera battery was dying.
No cowboy hat, no rosary. Bono did leave the spotlight he’d turned on the crowd sitting by his mic stand, but Larry didn’t grab it.
And goodnight.
Throw your hands in the air!
lights on!
B/A on ramp.
Terrible picture, but Adam leaning to thank and touch people. *thud*
Note Adam.
Mmm. Nice.
Even nicer. With bonus B.
Bono running so fast that all you can see is kind of a leg. He’s so speedy he’s become invisible. No, Bono! Don’t turn into butter!
Speedy Edge speeding past. Dude, my pictures are blurry when you’re standing still.
E ran safely to base and now is a rock god.
I like this one. It’s all about levels.
This one too. The juxtaposition.
Adam had trouble getting it to feed back. He had to keep going back to the amps. My final pictures were pretty bad because my camera battery was dying.
No cowboy hat, no rosary. Bono did leave the spotlight he’d turned on the crowd sitting by his mic stand, but Larry didn’t grab it.
And goodnight.
U2 show, St. Louis, Dec. 14, 2005: pictures, part 1 of 2
Here are some pictures from U2's St. Louis show, December 14, 2005. J and I had low seats on Edge's side this time; my previous shows were all GA from the rail outside the ellipse.
J took some of them, including this one of the lights at the very beginning.
Confetti!
COBL.
B.
B over by the piano.
With bonus Adam.
More bonus Adam.
Yum.
a wee b/a moment
J thought The Man was quite cool.
Hot a/e love & peace action:
babies!
J took some of them, including this one of the lights at the very beginning.
Confetti!
COBL.
B.
B over by the piano.
With bonus Adam.
More bonus Adam.
Yum.
a wee b/a moment
J thought The Man was quite cool.
Hot a/e love & peace action:
babies!
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