by Damien

What an amazing experience we had yesterday.
Seeing U2 play live up that close in such a small setting was unbelieveable!

I got an email from U2.com on Friday night and the feeling was almost like the one I had when I won tickets for the Astoria! I nearly passed out. Ha ha.

We got there and queued from 2pm. There was a nice guy from Riverside who was looking after everyone. He kept making announcements to keep us up to date on what was happening. There were technical difficulties happening all along (I think this was due to U2 not being on the premises yet), so we were outside until about 4pm. Then we had to queue up again inside the studio for another couple of hours. We got into the studio and I got right to the front by Edge's side.

Kings of Leon came on and did 2 songs first.

There was a catwalk that surrounded a small section of people, so Bono could walk round the crowd a bit. Little bit like the heart, only in a square shape.

U2's crew were all there too. I saw Joe and Dallas just by the side of the stage where I stood.

U2 came on stage at about 7.20 I think. They played a blinding version of Vertigo, everyone was going mad to this. Next came Somtimes you can't make it on your own. Great new song. Everyone was clapping at the beginning of this song, so Bono motioned for the crowd to stop. Then people started waving arms instead.

Next was City of blinding lights. Another excellent song. After that Bono gave us a short story of a boy that started at their school when they were towards the end of the last year. He was born with an oxygen problem at birth and this resulted in him being paralysed. At the time a new drug became available which helped the boy to be able to move his head a tiny bit. he learned to type using his head and became a poet. This is what inspired them to write the song Miracle Drug. This was my highlight of the set!!! It is such a great song.

Then Bono asked if they could perform Someimes you can't make it on your own again. Like who were we to say no!!! He wanted to do it without the clapping and waving this time as it was an emotional song. Good call Bono!! Although I think the waving stuff was a bit prompted by the cduk staff in the first place! Everyone was just so excited to be there they just joined in.

That was it, they thanked everyone and exited. All in all worth the six hours. Will remember it forever. The Astoria was totally amazing, but seeing them somewhere this small up close was brilliant.

Cheers
Damien

PS Can't wait to be at Croke Park next June, it will be my 20th anniversary of seeing U2 for the first time on the exact same pitch !

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