by Josh Valentine

SEE THE WORLD IN GREEN & BLUE

There is only one person on Earth who I'd drop everything to see a U2 show with. His name is Kumar. He is a loud young man from New York and of Indian descent. We have been friends since high school. We've had our ups and downs. And we know everything there is to know about U2.

I don't think you'd actually call us "typical" U2 fans. We are very critical of the band sometimes and we often call Bono an "idiot" or The Edge "schmoe" or Larry Mullen "ass" or Adam Clayton "cool." After meeting the band, seeing them play numerous times along the eastern seaboard, and sometimes reaching a superb level of dorkiness in our U2 discussions, it was time for one of us to experience the ultimate U2 adventure... live in Ireland.

Unfortunately, Kumar did not make it to Ireland. I did. In fact, as he reads this he is either calling me "boochoo" or "maaakkii." I wish he had made it because it would have been the best U2 experience of his life. Of course, he says "Hamilton is the best show I've ever seen." So, we'll never know now, will we?

Seeing U2 play live in Ireland is a wonderful thing. Every "real" U2 fan dreams of seeing the band in Ireland. And not only seeing them play, but taking a historical tour of the band's 25 year legacy in Dublin. Suddenly everything you've read about these fine lads from Dublin seems like home. You soon understand the grey sadness and sudden urgency in U2's music. North and south of the river Liffey, the seven towers, and the seaside towns in all become real.

Slane Castle is a magical concert venue, to say the least. The stage and heart set-up for Elevation's outdoor version is a little larger, but never takes away from U2's intimacy. The funnel-like amphitheater at Slane, and the shear brilliance of the castle itself, makes for still another small, crowd-ruling U2 show. September 1st brought cold and mist to the concert grounds throughout most of the day. Ireland's football team won a crucial match against Holland sometime before Moby's excellent performance and the roar from the 80,000 plus crowd was deafening beyond belief. The win for team Ireland provided the fuel the crowd needed for the evening’s main event.

U2 took the stage and, for just over two hours, dominated the world. The extraordinary emotion in Bono's voice during "Out of Control" and that same song's tribute to their Irish beginnings made my journey complete and my hair stand up. That was all I needed. And "Stuck in a Moment," a song that has grown up beautifully since its 2000 inception, further proves that U2 is a gospel group. "Kite," "Until the End of the World," and "Bullet the Blue Sky" gave new meaning to the word HUGE. The Elevation Tour's sweetest and most sincere U2 moment is always the final 2 minutes of "One." Even with the immense crowd at Slane, "One" formed a single body of love. A flowing sea of joy. A raging river of grace. Nothing will ever top this U2 experience for me or anyone else who was there.

Naturally, me and Kumar will have yet another chance at possibly topping our U2 show logs. Perhaps a certain October night in New York City, the city of heroes? I'd say that's a safe bet. The front-row emotional tidal wave will have us screaming "Is your name Capappoopoulis or Pantohoopoulis!?!"

After that it'll be time to get lives. Well, until the next tour.

Return to previous page | Post a Review of this show!