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Post by Josh on Jun 6, 2011 19:55:45 GMT -8
So, Jeremy, Rose, and I went to the U2 concert in Seattle this last weekend. Pretty awesome experience. Definitely the biggest show I've ever been to.
Pretty amazing to be with 76,000 people and hearing Bono say, "I'm dancing before you, Lord!" There were some pretty sublime moments. One of the coolest things was hearing them practicing before the show as we were walking around downtown- just a huge reverberating wall of sound (Magnificent and Light My Way) sweeping through the city.
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Post by robin on Jun 7, 2011 7:19:00 GMT -8
Glad you had fun. I'm curious whether you heard of the recent controversy regarding U2's decision to move their publishing headquarters out of Ireland to avoid paying taxes. Some (not me) see it a hypocritical to champion the cause of eliminating poverty, yet at the same time looking for ways to avoid paying taxes. What do you think? nation.foxnews.com/bono/2011/06/06/bono-avoids-taxes-faces-angry-protesters |
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Post by Josh on Jun 14, 2011 20:20:24 GMT -8
As if that could be the only reason for moving out of Ireland.  |
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Post by rbbailey on Jun 14, 2011 22:16:59 GMT -8
It was great. I got to take my (now 9) year old son -- he had no clue where he had just landed. I think it is just now sinking in. This was my fourth U2 concert, and I have to say, it was the best "show" -- I watched some of their Vertigo in Chicago DVD yesterday and the stage was great, but a sad comparison to what I saw in Seattle. I do believe Bono is suffering from some allergies or a cold, he was singing like he was just trying to hold on, and he wasn't as active as he had been in past concerts. But hey, he had major back surgery a year ago. And with a live performance, you just can't quit because of a cold! Especially after already putting it off a year. Anyway, his voice was off in Seattle, and in the next show they were at, and just last night they did an interview in New York and you could really hear the cold in him. This may have been the reason why he didn't do as much "worship" as I saw him do in the last concert. I actually began worshiping along with him, more than just an AMEN! during the last concert. He actually went into worship songs and spoke directly about what he was doing. In Seattle, it was there, but again, I think he was just plain tired, and simply trying to get through the song list. All this adds up to a very memorable experience, probably will end up being my most memorable, but right now it rests at #2, simply because Bono was not really on his game. But I really have no complaints! It's like I said, a live performance is what you get, I count it as part of the experience to be able to note that I believe he had a cold, etc, etc... Here are a few photos I took: www.flickr.com/search/?w=71734221@N00&q=u2Oh, and I was behind the stage, but it was still the best view I've had at any of the four shows I've seen! Great stage! |
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Post by robin on Jun 15, 2011 8:35:09 GMT -8
As if that could be the only reason for moving out of Ireland. If you were to find out that money was the motivating factor, what would you think? |
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Post by rbbailey on Jun 15, 2011 16:51:06 GMT -8
U2 has done a lot for Ireland. It is not a stretch to say that one of the reasons they got out of the depression from 1930's to the 1970's is in large part due to the success of U2 -- at least, this is what several people in Dublin indicated when I was there in 1997.
Now, U2 isn't exactly hitting hard times (despite the web-slinging-flop you may have heard about) and they have not been known to be stingy with their money. So maybe he is moving out of principle, not just to make an extra buck off the top... off the top of what U2 earned... not what the Government earned.
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Post by Josh on Jun 15, 2011 16:51:47 GMT -8
I don't have a problem with money being the factor. What I meant was " as if they left Ireland because they don't want Ireland specifically to get money". It's like some of the Irish were taking it at a personal slight when it just might have been a wise economic move. Hmmm, U2 having more of their own money to spend on what they think is a worthy cause. I trust them to spend their money more wisely than any government  Somehow I think you agree  That's awesome you were at the show, Ben! I wonder how come I didn't see you? ;D I didn't know he had a cold, but that makes sense. |
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Post by rbbailey on Jun 15, 2011 22:32:41 GMT -8
Yeah -- a few people there.
Extra points for figuring out why the tree pics are lumped with my U2 pics on Flickr!
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Post by Josh on Jun 15, 2011 22:49:40 GMT -8
i was wondering why the ww2 plane, myself?
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Post by robin on Jun 16, 2011 7:13:08 GMT -8
I don't have a problem with money being the factor. What I meant was " as if they left Ireland because they don't want Ireland specifically to get money". It's like some of the Irish were taking it at a personal slight when it just might have been a wise economic move. Hmmm, U2 having more of their own money to spend on what they think is a worthy cause. I trust them to spend their money more wisely than any government Somehow I think you agree That's awesome you were at the show, Ben! I wonder how come I didn't see you? ;D I didn't know he had a cold, but that makes sense. Of course I agree with you, I'm just playing the devil's advocate. Do you think Bono would be outspoken if a company like GE were to move operations to avoid paying taxes when those tax dollars were being used to support the poor or starving within the community? It does appear to me that Bono preaches a form of social justice where government plays a central role distributing wealth to those in need. Therefore this move can be perceived as being hypocritical. |
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Post by rbbailey on Jun 18, 2011 22:06:36 GMT -8
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Post by rbbailey on Jun 18, 2011 22:09:19 GMT -8
i was wondering why the ww2 plane, myself? Not sure! I've got lots of WWII planes in my flickr album, but the link must not have done a direct view for you -- do a search for U2 in my photostream and you should come up with only about 7 or 8 photographs. |
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Post by Josh on Jun 19, 2011 17:08:26 GMT -8
That is soooo cool and so lame because we're behind one of the stage legs!!! |
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