U2 Concert Report
For the record, I must admit that I am a relative newbie to the whole "U2" phenomenon. However, as Janet has reminded me on numerous occasions, "They're the best band EVER!" So back, shortly after we got married, Janet said that she hoped that U2 would put out another album and go on tour once more before they retired. Then in March of this year, they released their newest album and I surprised Janet with it. Sure enough, shortly thereafter, they announced their Europe and US tour dates and locations. Fast forward to April, we were both out in Colorado for my quarterly AF Reserve duty and I realized that the tickets were going on sale the Monday we were there. So, from my unit's empty office at work, I dialed in and used the automatic system and took 2 tickets in the first section of tickets that came up. Tickets purchased for Tampa on 9 Oct 09. Now we had to wait five months. Needless to say, I surprised Janet to no end that I was actually able to get tickets
The summer came and went here in Florida, and before we knew it, it was time to prepare for our trip. I took two days of vacation and we drove the 7.5 hours down to Tampa on the day prior. We stayed in the Howard Johnson Plaza hotel in downtown (which we both highly recommend... both for the quality of the room and their being pet-friendly). I showed Janet and Aspen around the Tampa area (where I was stationed right after graduating from the Academy) and then we left for Raymond James Stadium and the concert.
I want to pause to say that the staff at RayJa made getting to and from the concert a breeze. We we in the car a total of 40 minutes the entire evening. We got into the stadium, enjoyed the Club-level amenities and then took this photo from our seats.
The opening act was a British band called Muse. I had never heard of them, but they're pretty good. It was probably the perfect opening for U2. The next photo is of Muse opening with their song "Uprising."
And courtesy of YouTube, here's a HD video of Uprising:
Muse finished and then the roadies took over prepping the stage for U2. Finally, at 8:45 PM, U2 came to the stage and the next two hours passed by so quickly. Here's their set list:
Breathe, Get on Your Boots, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For/Stand By Me, Stuck in a Moment, No Line on the Horizon, Magnificent, (A brief pause to talk to the founder of Cirque du Soliel in orbit on the ISS), Elevation, End of the World, The Unforgettable Fire, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Thank You (Falenttinme Be Mice Elf Agin) / I'm Gonna Go Crazy (If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight), (another pause for a prayer for Iran and the citizens who protested the elections earlier this year), Sunday Bloody Sunday/ Get Up, Stand Up, MLK, Walk On, (a third pause featuring a video of Desmond Tutu: We are the same, We are one), One, Amazing Grace, Where the Streets Have No Name.
Here's a shot of the stage during "Where the Streets Have No Name."
And again, courtesy of YouTube, "Sunday Bloody Sunday:"
Finally, there was the encore. Here's the set list:
Ultraviolet (Baby Light My Way), With or Without You, Moment of Surrender
And with that, my concert report is concluded. One brief commentary statement before I close. It was so enjoyable to go to a concert where the artists put to words what they believe. One of the highlights of my life if going to be singing Amazing Grace with U2 and over 75,000 other people; see below...
