30 June 2017

U2 Live At Met Life Stadium (Night 2)





The second night of U2's two-night run at
Met Life Stadium did not disappoint in terms
of sound or energy level. If anything, the show
seemed to run on the momentum of the previous
night, going a bit further in terms of sonic punch.








On both nights, a giant tapestry printed with the 
passport photo of the woman who inspired the song
"Miss Sarajevo" was floated through the crowd.
It traveled a bit farther around the first tier than 
it had on the previous night before collapsing into
the hands of the masses. Thursday's crowd was even
more vocal and more physical than Wednesday's but
both audiences were equally game to light up the night.



After the show, as the stadium lights came up, Bono
said an extra thank you and goodnight to our section.
Pre-show, he had given us a big hello on the way in. 
I'm very glad I returned for a second night and even 
happier that Scott got to enjoy U2 live for the first time. 


29 June 2017

U2 Live At Met Life Stadium (Night 1)


Last night U2 brought their Joshua Tree 2017 Tour
to Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey 
for the first of two consecutive sold out shows. I had
just bought myself a resale ticket (side stage, row 9)
late in the afternoon and from the moment I entered
the gate, I knew this was a good decision on my part.




The band presented their epochal Joshua Tree album
live in its entirety. The full running order of the album
was played start to finish as the centerpiece of a show 
which began with a group of older songs and closed
with a selection of newer ones... crowd pleasers mostly.











U2's ability to engage, excite and involve
60,000 people is as acute as it was 30 years ago.
Watching from a vantage point where I could really
only see the performance (and not so much of the 
visuals on the giant scrolling monitors) made clear
the point that while technology is an element they 
use well, production doesn't supersede performance.
 Also evident was the band's keen ability to make
a giant venue feel intimate with sound and gesture.






Late in the show, a fan held up an 
American flag emblazoned with the 
words "Love & Kindness". Bono, in turn, 
helped hold it aloft to show all those present.








Pre-show, the already beautiful vibe of 
the evening had been boosted by the sweet
surprise of running into some friends from 
high school. I wonder who I'll see tonight as
I've just decided to go back for a second dose.

19 June 2017

We Walk Through June



Hello, June. The Solstice is soon. 


In green fields and gardens...








Past mermaids and mesmerizing neon...


Through cups of #covfefe...


Through test prints of Prince...


With friends both new and old...












Through pavilions and pranks...




With alumni and other old favorites...





New friends grow and become familiar.







On tabletops and in driveways...







With ties and on turntables...




On tractors and trolleys...


Carts and cafés...



In throwbacks to evenings spent
with friends (and Aimee Mann) on DVD.





In waters blue and white...




With feathers and in flea markets...




In second hand shops
with spray painted walls...



By tables and trains...






With Presley and player pianos...





With pinball and piles of kitsch...



In storefronts and snack bars...




With loading docks and letters...




In racks and rows...



And more racks and more rows...



Behind screens and with signs...



With balanced scales and bullseyes...



With postcards and pins...



With monks and more junk...



With jukeboxes and jutting angles...



In motion and on motorbikes...




At stations and side streets...





At doorways and dead-ends...



Freshly painted and with old patches...



With columns and corners...






Under trunks and twists...



In artifacts and atmosphere...



In sketchbooks and other spaces...



Through bigger questions and wide expanses...


With friends who order desserts...



In celebrations of Dad (then and now)...



Through sun showers and shade...




Through tiny creeks and tall daisies...



Through storm clouds and sky fire.