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transcendence: n 1: a state of being or existence above and beyond the limits of material experience [syn: transcendency] 2: the state of excelling or surpassing or going beyond usual limits [syn: transcendency, superiority]
In this case, it doesnt matter what level of transcendence a band like U2 offers when playing live, if the world around you invades the space reserved for such an experience, you’re going south. Or putting it another way; There’s no denying gravity; it always bring me down to earth…
The feeling I had walking away from U2’s Elevation Tour show in Manchester August 2001 was pure elation. The gig was absolutely phenomenal and I expected no less this time around. And it all looked good from the start: Stunningly hot day, clear skies, sold out stadium, and good seats in the West Stand; which meant no sun in our eyes from London’s late sunsets. Fans such as myself who regularly check in to u2.com and Atu2 to find out all the up-to-date tour news on a daily basis, know that the song ‘Wake Up’ by Arcade Fire is the last song played on the PA before the band come on. On recognition of the song, I was excited, amped, pumping even! So when the band walked onto the stage in broad daylight a little after 8pm, Sara and I, and 70,000 people all over the stadium joined in expressing our appreciation by shouting, cheering and clapping etc. As you do.
Well, the band rocked and rolled. Vertigo opened the show, and Edge played like a madman during the 25 year old ripper ‘Electric Co’. U2 were on form. Really. And so were the crowd – singing along with pretty much every song. But it was over the next hour or so that ‘gravity’ kicked in. Two Blokes sitting in front of us chain smoking – the stand was signposted ‘non smoking’ – got really annoying. The daylight crippled the light show for easily the first half of the gig, as the awesome big screens and lightshow didnt have any real impact until 9:45pm or so. We were near the back of our block, the main lower tier of the stadium, and we felt slightly contained by the second tier just above our heads. Once it got dark, when the main show had so much more impact (Willie Williams, show designer, did an incredible job), we were lit by the house lighting at the back of the tier, so even when dark there was a glow from the light all around us. If we were 4 rows lower and all would have been well. And our bags under our seats were beer soaked thanks to a spillage some time during the night. Fortunately the very cool tour shirts we had bought were in plastic bags and didn’t get any beer on them.
So, all these things actually took away from our gig, and as a whole, we walked away feeling strangely ordinary; which was a real shame. Both Sara and I felt like we ‘watched’ a show more than we were a part of it (due to our distractions). As a whole it was a great show; just not the ‘transcendence’ which might have been experienced by those elsewhere. Certainly those in the sweating, heaving mass of fans on the pitch must have gone somewhere else; they were totally into the gig from go to woe. Or rather, from Vertigo to Vertigo. I quite like how they finished with the song they started with. Very old-school. But there are practicalities as well: The lightshow and video-animation for that song was awesome, and they couldnt use it at the beginning, so closing with it (in the dark) made much sense. And it rocked!
So now I suspect the November New York show we are so lucky (blessed!) to be attending will be a vindication of sorts. A smaller (arena) show; Madison Square Garden no less (!), and total visual control for Mr Williams. We have seats toward the back, but as it’s an arena the distance wont be much of an issue. We may end up standing too, so; totally in the action. We will see.
And New York. New York!!
While it’s a slightly humbling experience that I, one of the biggest U2 fans I know, have had an ‘average’ U2 gig; I’ve been following this little irish band around the planet for nearly 20 years – I’m not going to get a little gravity get in the way now am I?!
A matter of hours really – 48 or so, and we’ll be walking into the stadium… yeah baby!
Sara’s just bought some paints thanks to some lovely philanthropy from home… and she was excited last night showing me sketches and talking about what she wants to paint. I love that she’s ‘back into it’ and I cant wait to see what she comes up with next. Such an amazing talent is our Sara.
She’s also in the middle of planning a girls’ weekend away to Amsterdam in September with her cousins Emma and Vanessa – which all sounds very grand when you’re used to talking about a weekend away up in Matheson’s (which is however, nothing to be sneezed at), and now it’s a flight to the Netherlands. Nice.
I think it’s cool how there will be a daughter of each of the Hutchinson brothers’ (of Sara’s dad’s generation) at a girls’ weekend on the far side of the world. A mini reunion with feminine tendencies!
Anyway, I have a train to catch. We’re off to Richmond after dinner for a beer with Megan’s friend Amanda, and I have to get home with the pickle for the home-made burgers! Yum!
Cheers. K.
PS, uploaded some SF and London pics today… we may get them onto Bebo soon… oh, and Sara’s photo album she’s just finished of her B&W SanFran pictures is spectacular. Like I said, an amazing talent.
