Seeing as how its now March of 2016, I figured it's time to put a bow on this self titled "top 5 musical moments of 2015" escapade? How will I ever win one of Aunt Jen's monthly blogging awards otherwise? Technology is awesome. I think we all can agree? I know, I know...it can be scary too. Remember all of our parents and especially our grandparents bemoaning each and every "new thing" as it became the toy of the moment when we were wee tots? CD players? Cable TV? Computers? All of the devil. Right? Well, welcome to the new world and technology is literally advancing faster than I'm currently typing. I think the I-Phone 11 is out now? Bono once besought crowds during the Vertigo tour to "Take out your cell phones...dangerous little devices these cell phones...you can pay your bills, you can..." I wonder if Bono knew what was to come?
May 28th of 2015. I'm sure some, if not most of you already know where I'm going with this. The long awaited "Innocence and Experience" tour was getting its sea legs, so to speak. There had been 8 shows so far. U2 had started in Canada, then headed south. San Jose, Phoenix and then to the city of angels. With each performance, we in U2 nation were growing more and more infatuated with what was building. I'm certain that on no tour EVER in the bands history, had there been so much scrutiny of set lists, hashing and rehashing of how the band sounded, whether The Edge would fall off of the next stage, and most importantly...dreaming of what's next. We were way beyond dreaming out loud. We were dreaming on twitter, on facebook, on instagram, on mixlr, we were dreaming through each other in ways never ever fathomed. Back in the old days....you know, way back yonder when we were yelling in unison with Bono "Uno, Dos, Tres....", we watched the band, loved it and then were beyond jealous when searching out and reading other accounts from around the world as U2 blessed others with their music. Now, I realize I'm not referring to the stone ages. But, it was different. So, so different. U2 lived through bootlegs. Ah, the bootlegs. I myself have a collection that I hold near and dear to my heart. The shows that I've been to, the emotional shows in NY after 9/11, the Lovetown stuff from Dublin, and yes...the show of shows, from Sarajevo. I've done it, as I know each and every fanatic in our family has. We relive those shows. That's just the way it worked? Times have changed my friends. And, oh, how much for the better. Let me get back to May 28th. The happenings of this particular day arent my moment #3, but rather the perfect example of my moment. My moment is actually those first 8 shows. But, again, back to the 28th day of May, one of the most magical days in my U2 history.
I can sum it up with two words. The and Roxy. The Roxy. Word began leaking out that U2 was going to play a show there. I don't know if I could have handled actually being granted the gift of a lifetime and being inside those legendary walls. Now, don't get me wrong, I would have somehow summoned the ability? But, LA is LA and I'm in Minneapolis. May 15th is and was the night that the technology went all "ground control to major Tom". For the first 8 shows of the actual tour, we all were learning all the ins and the outs of these wonderful new "toys" at our disposal. And then The Roxy happened. U2 in a small club. Akin to those REAL olden days. There's not many among us that can carve that notch in the bedpost. Seeing U2 at a venue of any kind other than an arena, a stadium, a festival, or some other means being broadcast to millions. But, certainly not the Roxy. Those first 8 shows introduced us to the insane notion of actually hearing the band....as they played? Live? Are you kidding me? And....talk about next level, but also WATCHING? Rumors were confirmed. Tickets were won. I'm sure there were some large money transfers happening as die-hards in the area scrambled to get inside. Let me set the scene at my house that night. I sat in the very chair I am in now. A non-descript brown leather chair. I had the Iphone on twitter and the laptop was on as well. I had one on so I could monitor for periscope feeds, and one so I could actually listen and watch, and not miss anything? Oh, did I forget to mention "Periscope"? What a wonderful and dangerous little tool, this periscope, eh Bono? Unfortunately we couldn't use periscope on this night, it just wasn't to be. But, how many thousands, maybe many thousands of fellow U2 fans were huddled around computers, hooked up to various phones and devices, as nervous as if they were in the crowd themselves? The U2 family had a true hero in the crowd that night, and subsequently many a night on this epic tour. Our friend from Brazil, Sil. Or, as she's affectionately known, @silrigote. We had our connection. Our sister in arms. I can't compare the nervous energy emanating from this brown leather armchair to the energy when I saw the band for the first time, but damn, it felt close. This was the Roxy?! This wasn't some colossal stone bowl of a venue. None of us had any idea what was in store, and yet we were all in it together. U2 wasn't playing just for the lucky souls inside the Roxy's walls, they were playing to all of us. This was happening. The band started to take the stage, evidenced by the screams and the guitar strings being brushed. Sil uttered the same thing I would have..."Holy shit", and it was ON. U2 launched, maybe a bit softly, into "The Ocean" and we were there?! We were all there and I still can't believe it. This crazy technology which is now already old hat still has me shaking my head. The softness ended and the boys churned into 11 o'clock and all bets were off. Tears, goosebumps, smiles....Oh..my...God. Thank God for U2 and thank God for technology and yes, for our friend Sil. We weren't actually there, but we could feel the sweat, the heat of the crowd. We sang along with the band as they took us back to those early days. We swore and cried along with Sil, as we lived rather vicariously through her. And, we did it while freaking U2 was freaking playing at the freaking Roxy? This night set the tone for the rest of the tour. It quickly became a grass roots movement where friends and neighbors from around the globe checked in hours before the shows, reminiscing about last nights show, guessing set list tweaks, judging crowds, making plans for future shows. Every single night. Was it the same as actually being there? No, but it was pretty damn awesome. I was and am a lightweight. I know there are members in my worldly U2 feed that checked in nightly on this tour. That is the beauty of it. Technology has brought the concert and its spine tingling vibe right to your armchair.
What's next? I can only imagine. But, I'm dreaming. Out loud.
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