by Dream Out Loud

I could review the whole show (which was incredible) but I kinda feel this snippet in time sorta sums up the experience. well, i was 0-3 this year on seeing Bad live (Philly 5/22, Dublin 6/24, and DC 10/19), and things were not looking good when the 2nd encore began Thursday night. I was at my 10th U2 show but first on the floor. We were second row outside the shelter. I had already highfived Bono (and his knee and boot) when he leaned over the crowd early in the show...and we had 100-odd pictures taken...having a blast...exhausted physically, but ready for more...just hoping and praying that they'd play Bad. Everyone around me (at least 20) knew that this was the song i was waiting to hear. we chanted "We Want Bad" during the break between encores...and we begged for more. When they came back it was All Because of You and then I knew we reached the moment of truth. Would it be acoustic guitar and Yahweh + 40/Vertigo or would it be electric guitar and Bad? The whole evening had a different feel...the energy with Bono spraying the crowd with water...Out of Control...Walk On...Bono had cut his speeches short (especially in comparison to Wednesday)...so all signs were pointing towards them finding the time to play Bad and not have to call it off as they had done in Philly in May (as well as Boston and Philly earlier this month).... Then I saw a roadie pick up an acoustic guitar and my heart sank a little. But it was just a tease as he removed the acoustic from the stage and handed The Edge an electric. My heart rose as i leaned even closer to the stage...and then the most beautiful music began to rise....soaring above the crowd. my wife turned to me and with the biggest smile on her face, said, "here it is!" i haven't acted like that since i was 5 years old. I was screaming and dancing and singing and jumping. my feet hurt, my back hurt, my knees hurt, my throat hurt, my ears hurt, my head hurt...and yet i didn't feel a thing. for the next 8 minutes I truly achieved elevation. i don't remember touching the ground. i had 15-20 people hitting me on the back, screaming at me, "They're playing your song!!!!!" I was on high all night as it was but i reached a place i didn't think i could go to when they played that song. It was the 3rd time i had heard it in my life but to be on the floor and that close and to be surrounded by others screaming the same song.... i still have goosebumps. So, to all of those people whom I asked to pray for BAD, to send whatever "vibes" they could to play the song...all i can say is thank you....it worked! I will never sit in the 400 sections again.

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