Sunday, July 3, 2011

U2 and Me2 in Miami!

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After months of waiting, the postponed U2 concert was finally here on June 29, 2011 held at Sun Life Stadium. 'Some of you might have been two years younger when you bought tickets', Bono began greeting Miami Fans. Bono proceeded with stadium jokes saying he's been to all stadiums: Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player Stadium and Sun Life Stadium. This experience was surreal: I was standing feet away from The Edge, I could see the tiny wrinkles around his eyes and how nice his fair skin was... I could see the drops of sweat on Bono's face!

My journey here started more than a year ago when I as many others purchased tickets to the U2 concert, it was postponed and I awaited anxiously for the concert with my cousin. Weeks before the show, however, there was a posting for an opportunity to be part of U2's Green Team at the concert and educate U2 Fans on recycling and minimizing their "footprint". I thought that it might be a good idea and submitted a sentence as to why I wanted to be part of U2's Green Team. I along with four other of my school friends were chosen to be part of the U2 Green Team! I met James Beek, who is U2's Greening Manager with Effect Partners. I would love to have his job: he is responsible for minimizing the tour's effect on the environment by managing three aspects: the band and crew, the equipment used and the fans. After three hours of engaging with the public we were guided pass security through the same tunnel where the band would come in. We were guided into the "inner circle" of the stage. What a stage! This is one of the biggest set ups in concert history... a robotic looking structure called "The Claw" that looks like it came from outer space. Thanks to cameras at every angle, the 360 tour does give a 360 degree view to all fans from any seat thanks to a large wrap-around screen. During the middle of the concert the giant screen expanded and lowered, see the pictures below! Also, the center stage revolved a bit to face fans at different angles. The guys walked on bridges that extended from the stage, these moved around the circle in order to get closer to fans. (See pics below).

The band played good old classics like "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "One", "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Walk On". My favorite part of the show was when Mark Kelly, Gabrielle Giffords' Astronaut husband appeared on the screen from a pre-recorded video to say he loved her very much and was looking forward to coming home soon. Kelly flashed the words "It's a Beautiful Day" and the band began playing, during the middle of the song, Mark Kelly sang the lyrics "see the world in green and blue, see China right in front of you, See the canyons broken by cloud, See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out, See the Bedouin fires at night..." and Bono sang over his voice and gave an effect of singing together. Check out the video of that below, its pretty amazing and touching. Dallas Schoo, the Edge's right man guitar technician was right by his side during the show helping him switch various guitars ranging from Fender stratocaster and telecaster to Gibson Les Pauls. This tour carries over 40 guitars and its Dallas Schoo's job to make sure all of them are tuned, stung and have the right effects before the show.

I look back in my high school years when I covered a song from U2, "Where the Streets Have No Name" for my guitar class, I realize that this was the band that defined my teenage years and for many other fans as well. I'll end with the lyrics of "Magnificient", one of U2's recent works:

I was born
I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry
It was a joyful noise.


Check out the pics below from the concert!


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The guys look great after many decades and so does Bono in leather, I hope its pleather!
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I love it when people's hands get in the way!
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Screen being expanded and lowered...incredible
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Bono walking on the bridge
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Astronaut Mark Kelly making a guest appearance to my surprise
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Yet another Fender Stratocaster...
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The Edge and a Beautiful Yellow Telecaster
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Adam Clayton
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Under "The Claw"
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Working U2 Green Team
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U2 Green Team, thank you FIU GoGreen!
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