The Joshua Tree tour 2017
Before I start the long days journey into last night, I have something I’d like to get off my chest. I love going to concerts as they bring me unbridled joy. If I seethat one of my favorite bands is in town, I’ll move heaven and earth to try and be there. I’m not making these decisions on a whim. But that’s where the trouble starts as I get push back for using these events to lessen the amount hours of time off accumulated at work. It’s not easy fielding donation calls all day and this helps me relax. I do everything by the book and in the end I don’t regret doing it, not by a long shot!.
Now, to the events of last night. In the first half of this year, it’s been a busy one on the concert front. From my good friends Erin & Her Cello and Madison McFerrin, to newly made friends aka the lovely quartet As Lolas, cult favorites in Sigur Ros & Midnight Oil and the post blizzard triumph of Green Day. All of that lead up to last nights concert, U2 at MetLife Stadium! It’s been a long time in the making.
I’d been a fan of u2 since 2001. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, I was home bedridden after the second leg surgery that summer. To help cope with the unfolding tragedy, I watched a lot of MTV and among the videos shown was a tribute set to their song “Walk On” and the song stuck with me. The following January, they were the performers for half time at Super Bowl 36 and their performance left me captivated, especially the last song that begins with the song ” MLK” before transitioning into “Where The Streets Have No Name”. I just knew right then and there I had to see the band live.
I would get my chance, seven years later. In September of 2009, I saw them at Giants Stadium on the 360 tour, with Muse as the opening act. The night was a good one, even if the album they were touring behind at the time No Line on The Horizon, wasn’t one of my favourites of theirs. From the stage setup in the round, to Bono’s magnetism and the 24 song setlist, it was a good evening had by all. Enough at least to make me forget the long ticket lines at Hoboken on the way in. The next opportunity would come during the summer of 2015 during the Innocence & Experience tour but I didn’t go. It’s never a good sign when you’re on Ticketmaster and the wait for tickets is more than 15 minutes, that’s the universe telling you to move on.
With that moment in mind, I found out about last night in January. I had the presale code in hand and started to look for tickets. I had initially come across ones in the 100 section but I hesitated as the on sale date was close to our San Francisco trip. I went back on my computer later that evening expecting the show to be sold out, but it surprisingly wasn’t and I got a ticket in section 227A. I sat higher up in the 300’s section the night of the Paul McCartney concert last August. I felt triumphant but a little bit guilty at the same time. I didn’t clue my coworker and friend Shaquanna in that this was happening until after the fact. But when it comes to concerts, it’s a selfish and singular endeavor. It was not a shock to hear that the 28th sold out and an additional night on the 29th was added.
I was defiant in the face of the criticism taken over using PTO day for the day after. On the contrary, I was ecstatic for the night to come. Not long after the work day ended, I made a brief stop home to pick up my ticket and camera. After having dinner in Greenley Square, I made it to the chaos of Penn Station. As a result, I made it to the stadium after the show began and the opening act, The Lumineers set was already in progress. For the fact that I’m not so familiar with their songs, it esas a captivating hour of music on their part. Then, the wait was on.
At 9:25PM, The Waterboys “The Whole of The Moon” rang out and the band appeared. I knew this night would be a good one with the opening quartet of “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, ” New Year’s Day”, “Bad” and “Pride (In The Name of Love)”. These songs served as the appetizer for the main course of the night. The stage behind the saw the giant Joshua Tree light up behind them as they kicked into ” When The Streets Have No Name”. Their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree would be played from start to finish during the main set. And I hung on every word as I know the album like the back of my hand. I couldn’t belt it out hard enough during my favorite song, “With or Without You”. A five song encore consisting of , ” Miss Sarajevo”, “Vertigo”, ” Ultraviolet ” and “One” would follow. And with the very last sing of the night, a taste of what’s to come, with their new song, “The Little Things You Give Away”.
As The Pogues ” A Rainy Night In Soho” played us out a little after 11:30pm, I was in a eupohoric mood and I didn’t want it to end. But there was the matter of getting home. And that would be an endeavor unto itself. A full stadiums worth of people tried to take NJ Transit home and it wouldn’t be until half past midnight before I got on the train. Add in another half hours wait at Secaucus Junction and the subway ride home, it would be after 2am when I finally arrived at the Roosevelt Avenue subway station. I could’ve taken the Q33 bus that was there but I was much too exhausted and opted for the taxi ride home and I made it home just after 2:30 this morning. As it was last August, I feel vindicated in my strategy.
On this “Beautiful Day”, pun intended as the song was part of the encore, last night brought the first half of 2017 to an end. For all the changes at home and at work, it’s been a lot of fun as well. With Erin & Her Cello’s summer residency upcoming, the staff appreciation party followed by Depeche Mode at MSG, and then two trips before year’s end, Ireland and a Caribbean cruise after our birthday. And who knows what else I’ll get into and be a part of before the year comes to an end.
I’m ready, I’m ready for what’s next!
