The L.A. Dime

Last night we went to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena with friends (and amazing cheese-gatherers) Laurie and Gary, plus 100,ooo other Angelinos.  With the whole world watching live on YouTube, we saw the the greatest band in the world play an epic and historic concert.  That was the third time I saw U2.  Pop in the ATL was fun, but eh… Then, I saw them a few weeks after 9/11/2001, and the raw emotional outpouring will be forever impossible to match. During “One,” they projected the names of all those killed across the crowd in the Staples Center.  On our faces and chests. An unforgettable moment.  No one could withhold tears.

The 360 tour can only be described as HUGE.  It takes 333 people five days to set up the stage.  Giant stadiums, giant stage, giant screen, and certainly a giant, iconic band that somehow perpetually remains cool.  There were senior citizens there, as well as nine year olds, and everyone in between.  All races, all creeds, all colors.  As I sat in wonder at the spectacle before me, I couldn’t help but imagine what it must feel like for Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry to look out a galaxy of humanity; 100,ooo people who paid on average $100 per seat, and withstood hours of traffic and inconvenience, to joyfully gather and see them play music.  What power.  What influence.  And the thing is, these guys — they absorb that power, that energy, and even that money, and they turn it into good.  I am no music expert, but in my very humble opinion, they rank with The Beatles as one of the greatest bands of all time.  Deny me if you will, but look at the volume of material, the albums, the hits, and then…consider their social influence.  Bono urged the crowd not to give up on them, that they still have a lot left to give. Witnessing the fun they have performing, and the passion they have for their music and their message, I have no doubt that I will be seeing the boys from Dublin again.

Photos courtesy of Gary.

Details about the logistics of the concert here.

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