Archive for Baltimore

the 11th anniversary of the 1st time Larry Hugged Me – 10.19.01 – U2 Elevation Baltimore

Posted in Elevation, Larry Mullen, U2 with tags , , , , on October 19, 2012 by DeenasDays

Today is the 11th anniversary of the first time Larry Mullen Jr hugged me – October 19, 2001 in Baltimore on the Elevation tour. It was the first time U2 played Baltimore. It was also the first and last time I met Larry – outside of a concert. I had been waiting 14 years to meet Larry Mullen Jr. When Larry walked up to me, I told him I didn’t have anything for him to sign, but may I have a hug? Larry looked at me kind of strange, then smiled and said yes. We hugged and without a word, he was gone. Then I immediately turned around and hysterically cried. Hours later, I witnessed the most emotional U2 concert out of the 75 I have been to. It was just over a month after 9/11, and it was as if U2′s All That You Can’t Leave Behind was written especially to heal everyone –  even though it was released the previous year. This is what I wrote after that wonderful U2 Elevation show in Baltimore on October 19, 2001:

I started the third leg of the Elevation Tour in my hometown of Baltimore, and am going to the next 7 shows. The U2 show at the Baltimore Arena on October 19, 2001 was absolutely amazing! The best I’ve seen out of ZooTv, Popmart and the first leg of Elevation! Our adventure started Thursday when me, Jennifer, John, Tasha, Dan and Jenny met downtown for dinner to celebrate Tasha’s birthday. After, we drove by the arena to check out the GA line. There were already about 50 people in line at 10:30pm. Jenny and Dan got in line while the rest of us went back home to get our stuff. We got in line around 1:30am. We had fun hanging out with everyone, but it was quite cold. Tasha and I slept in my car for about an hour. We went over to meet the band around 3pm. They finally came in at 4:30pm. I videotaped them driving in, Bono walking out, Edge walking out, Larry walking out, Adam walking out, and all of them signing autographs. We could barely believe that they were all four outside signing autographs. This was the first U2 played Baltimore and they all four came outside to meet all the fans. Adam signed Tasha’s purple pants. She was VERY excited. He said, ‘They’re great ones.’ When Larry came one person away from me, his bodyguard told me to turn off the videocamera. So I did not get video of my encounter with Larry, but Tasha took a great picture of it. Larry walked to me. I said, ‘I don’t have anything for you to sign, so can I have a hug?’ Larry looked at me a little strange, then smiled and said yes. Then we hugged and it was a nice, strong hug. In the picture, Larry has a big smile on his face. After the hug, I thanked him. Tasha hugged me and then I cried like a baby. I was so overcome with emotion. I had been waiting to meet Larry for 14 years! The concert itself was so unreal! We stood at the tip of the heart on the outside. It was me, Tasha, Jenny, Cathy, and Kate. Garbage was supposed to open, but the drummer got sick, so Graham Parker & the Figgs filled in at the last minute before heading over to their own show. As soon as All You Need is Love came on, the crowd went wild, and even crazier for St. Pepper’s. And then ‘WOO-OOH-HOO! ELEVATION!’ During New Year’s Day, Cathy and I held up her American Flag that she had brought. Bono took it from us. He hugged it. He looked at me and said, ‘You take it back.’ He handed it back to me so gently. He said, ‘Thank you.’ I said, ‘Thank you.’ Then he started walking away, turned to me, gave me the peace sign and nodded. Best Bono concert moment EVER for me. I have a fantastic picture of the Bono hugging the flag. Song highlights of the Baltimore show for me were: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (I cried), Pride (with MLK’s speech a la ZooTV), Out ofControl, Staring at the Sun and Please. A guy behind us was pulled up on stage to play Knocking on Heaven’s Door with the band. During One, all of the names of the passengers on the flights from 9/11 were displayed – and then they went right into Peace on Earth. I cried through all of this. They ended the show with Walk On. It was the most emotional and spiritual and uplifting U2 show. Just unbelievable!

camping out for U2 Elevation Baltimore
10.19.01

Larry hugging me

crying after Larry hugged me

singing with Bono

Bono hugging the American flag after 9/11

10 years later Larry hugged me again, but this time I didn’t have to ask him. On his way to the stage in Pittsburgh on July 26, 2011, Larry walked over to me and hugged me without saying a word. I again cried hysterically. Larry Mullen Jr is a man of few words, but he is a great hugger!

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U2 360 BALTIMORE 6.22.11

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', 360 (2011), Bono, Larry Mullen, Tours, U2 with tags , , , , , , , on November 14, 2011 by DeenasDays

On Sunday, the morning after the second U2 show in Anaheim I left for my cross country trip to Baltimore. I had just 3 1/2 days to drive 2700 miles from California to Maryland to make it to the U2 show in Baltimore on Wednesday. It was very important that I go to the Baltimore show because it is my hometown show, and I have great memories from the Elevation show in Baltimore 10 years ago. People tried to dissuade me from trying to make this long journey in just 3 1/2 days, but I’ve never really listened to reason. Some said I should either skip the second Anaheim show or skip the Baltimore show in order to have a more relaxing drive. I didn’t want to skip either. I had made this challenge to myself to drive to every U2 show in the US on this leg of the 360 tour, so I had to try. For 3 1/2 days, I survived on subway subs, cheese crackers, pizza, water and sweet tea, stopped at Love’s and spent nights at Motel 6s along the way. But I made it! I left Anaheim, California at 7:30am pacific time Sunday June 19th and arrived at my parents’ house in Ellicott City, Maryland at 11:30am eastern standard time Wednesday June 22nd, the morning of the U2 360 show in Baltimore.

driving

DAY 37 – JUNE 19:  The first day Elvis, Cilla and I drove 777 miles from Anaheim to Albuquerque in 12 hours, stopping just 3 times. I passed through the towns in Arizona and New Mexico along Route 66 that I didn’t get to see last year on my Route 66 road trip from Tulsa to Albuquerque.

DAY 38 – JUNE 20:  The next morning we left Albuquerque at 6:15am, drove 733 miles to Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 11 hours, stopping just twice. It was 104 degrees in Clinton, Oklahoma and so windy that it blew the dogs over. I had wanted to make it to Little Rock or even Memphis, but I just couldn’t do it. I was wiped. It was the first day that I did not enjoy the drive. Although I did enjoy passing by Cadillac Ranch and the Big Texan ranch in Amarillo, Texas where I had so much fun last year.

DAY 39 – JUNE 21:  The third day of our drive we left Ft. Smith at 5:40am, drove 863 miles in 14 hours to Wytheville, Virginia, stopping 4 times including my house in Memphis. We sat in traffic and drove through blinding rain storms.

DAY 40 – JUNE 22 – U2 360 #7 – BALTIMORE

The next morning it was finally Show Day – the reward for my long three-day 2700 mile drive. We left Wytheville, Virginia at 6:10am, drove 326 miles and arrived at my parents’ house in Ellicott City, Maryland at 11:25am, stopping twice. I made it – and with hours to spare before the U2 360 show in Baltimore. Tasha arrived at my parents’ house around 1, and we headed to downtown Baltimore about 20 minutes away. I was born and raised in Baltimore, so this U2 360 show in Baltimore was my hometown show. It was my 66th U2 show and my 7th of this leg of the 360 tour. It was the 10th anniversary of the last show on the 1st leg of Elevation (6.22.01). It was 10 years ago in Baltimore on the Elevation tour when Larry hugged me. Before it even started, this U2 360 show in Baltimore was special to me.

U2 360 Baltimore 6.22.11

When we arrived at Ravens Stadium, we walked around the stadium to see where U2 would arrive, sat under a tree and waited. It was so hot that day in Baltimore. It proved to be one of the hottest shows of the tour, even hotter than Miami. U2 drove in a couple hours after we arrived, but again they did not stop. I was really disappointed because I thought they would definitely stop in Baltimore like that had 10 years prior, plus they hadn’t stopped before either show in Anaheim. We got into the inner circle, and it wasn’t crowded yet. We would have had a great view, but we decided to walk around. We ran into our friends (Mike, Abbey, Rob, Lisa) at the soundboard and watched Florence and the Machine. She was good, but a little too screamy for me. I definitely preferred Lenny Kravitz.

the claw in Baltimore

As I did every show, I went behind the stage to wait for U2 to enter the stadium. This time they came out of the tunnel on Adam’s side, but still walked onto the stage on Edge’s side where I was. As Larry walked by, he smile and waved at me like usual but the look in his eyes was one of surprise that seemed to say, ‘You’re here too? Didn’t I just see you in Anaheim?’ He kept looking at me. Then I was jolted out of my Larry bliss by a severe pain in my arm. A woman I had just met, Cindy, was standing next to me and was SO excited to see Bono walk by that she pinched my arm so hard that it hurt for 3 songs – and bruised for 3 days!

LET ME IN THE SOUND!

During Even Better Than the Real Thing, I ran over to Adam’s side of the inner circle to watch the show with Tasha because she loves Adam. But I ended up watching the show behind the stage so I could watch Larry. Before the band introductions, Bono commented about how hot it was in Baltimore and how beautiful MARY-land is. He said it reminded him of Wicklow in Ireland. When introducing the band, Bono said, “Larry has become a movie star. It had to happen.” Then he joked and said Larry was going to star as Billy Idol in an HBO biopic. On this rare occasion Bono said, “Lawrence Mullen on the drums” rather than Larry Mullen. Bono dedicated Pride to Eunice Shriver and at the end got choked up when the audience continued to sing. At the beginning of I’ll Go Crazy, Larry started walking toward the back and Sammy had to catch up to him to give him his conga. Larry looked down at me and smiled. Then I ran around to the other bridge on Adam’s side to wait for Larry to make his way back to the stage. He smiled at me as he ran by before he threw his conga to Sammy.

Larry I'll Go Crazy

At the end of the show, I wanted to watch U2 leave thinking maybe Larry would come over to me like he did in Seattle. We could see their cars parked in the tunnel – they were so close they were almost inside the stadium. When they left the stage, U2 walked straight to their cars, they didn’t even look over to us. But I kept watching Larry. He was almost at his car when he tore off his shirt, and I saw his naked back! Then he put on a black robe. That was almost as good as a handshake. We watched the cars pull away and stood there soaking (and screaming) in the moment. Then someone from the crew came over to me and gave me the set list.

U2 360 Baltimore set list

The set list for Baltimore was similar to Anaheim2. Both shows were used sort of as a rehearsal for the Glastonbury Festival that followed. Magnificent was still not played, and they kept The Fly and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. One and Streets were moved back to their regular spots. 40 was soundchecked, but not played. The Baltimore audience went nuts for Beautiful Day and again for Streets. They really sang along with Still Haven’t Found and Pride, proving my point that these two songs should never leave the set list. The Baltimore crowd surprised me with their enthusiasm. It was the loudest crowd I heard the entire 360 tour. Please watch my video of an overview of the U2 360 show in Baltimore.

Bono and Edge

The set list for U2 360 in Baltimore was as follows: Even Better Than The Real Thing, The Fly, Mysterious Ways, Until the End of the World, I Will Follow, Get On Your Boots, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For / The Promised Land, Stay / In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning, Beautiful Day / Space Oddity, Elevation, Pride, Miss Sarajevo, Zooropa, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I’ll Go Crazy / Discotheque / Life During Wartime / Psycho Killer, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Scarlet, Walk On / You’ll Never Walk Alone, One, Amazing Grace / Where the Streets Have No Name / All You Need Is Love, Ultraviolet, With or Without You, Moment of Surrender / Jungleland

(photo by Beth Nabi)


Elvis, Cilla and I spent the next two days after the Baltimore show relaxing at my parents’ house in Ellicott City, Maryland eating Ledo’s pizza before heading up to Michigan for next U2 show in East Lansing.

Elvis & Cilla were glad to be home - even if only for a couple days

and we're all glad to have Ledo's pizza

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U2 360 Baltimore 6.22.11 – a sort of homecoming

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', 360 (2011), U2 with tags , , , , on June 24, 2011 by DeenasDays

They call me Memphis Mullen, but I was born and raised in Baltimore – I moved to Memphis 3 years ago. This U2 360 show in Baltimore was my hometown show. It was my 66th U2 show and my 7th of this leg of the 360 tour. It was the 10th anniversary of the last show on the 1st leg of Elevation (6.22.01). It was 10 years ago in Baltimore on the Elevation tour when Larry hugged me. It was also the first show Tasha and I were seeing together. Before it even started, this U2 360 show in Baltimore was special to me.

I arrived at my parents’ house, about 20 minutes from Baltimore, at 11:30am the morning of the U2 show, after my long 3 1/2 day drive from Anaheim. I unloaded the car, got the dogs settled, and ate a peanut butter sandwich. Tasha arrived around 1 and we were off. Luckily we found parking quickly and very close to the stadium. I used to have Ravens season tickets, so I kind of had an idea of where to go. We walked around the stadium to see where U2 would arrive, sat under a tree and waited. They drove in a couple hours later, but did not stop.

U2 360 Baltimore 6.22.11

We got into the inner circle, and it wasn’t crowded yet. We would have had a great view, but we decided to walk around. We ran into our friends at the soundboard and watched Florence and the Machine. She was good, but a little screamy. 

the claw in Baltimore

 As I do every show, I went behind the stage to wait for U2 to enter the stadium. This time they came out of the tunnel on Adam’s side, but still walked onto the stage on Edge’s side. As Larry walked by, he smile and waved at me like usual but the look in his eyes was one of surprise that seemed to say, ‘You’re here too? Didn’t I just see you in Anaheim?’ He kept looking at me. Then I was jolted out of my Larry bliss by a severe pain in my arm. A woman I had just met, Cindy, was standing next to me and was SO excited to see Bono walk by that she pinched my arm so hard that it hurt for 3 songs!

Please watch my video of U2 entering Baltimore’s M & T stadium http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7aQUfFZQPk

I watched the show from Adam’s side, but still behind the stage so I could watch Larry. And actually Adam’s side behind the stage has a better view of Larry – more profile. But when he turned around during Mysterious Ways and Sunday Bloody Sunday, he is facing more towards Edge’s side – so both sides have their advantages.

Let me in the Sound!

Please watch my video of Let Me in The Sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=643zU5BnEzo

Please watch my video of Bono’s Sunday Bloody Sunday rap http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6QCT8rBLWY

At the beginning of I’ll Go Crazy, Larry started walking toward the back and Sammy had to catch up to him to give him his conga. Larry looked down at me and smiled. Then I ran around to the other bridge on Adam’s side to wait for Larry to make his way back to the stage. He smiled at me as he ran by before he threw his conga to Sammy.

Larry I'll Go Crazy

Please watch my video of Larry during I’ll Go Crazy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcTb9yMUzDg

At the end of the show, I wanted to watch U2 leave thinking maybe Larry would come over to me like he did in Seattle. We could see their cars parked in the tunnel – they were almost inside the stadium. When they left the stage U2 walked straight to their cars, they didn’t even look over to us. But I kept watching Larry. He was almost at his car when he tore off his shirt, and I saw his naked back! Then he put on a black robe. That was almost as good as a handshake. We watched the cars pull away and stood there soaking in the moment. Then someone from the crew came over to me and gave me the set list.

U2 360 Baltimore set list 6.22.11

Please watch my video of U2 leaving Baltimore http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dls9o76S_B8

The set list for Baltimore was similar to Anaheim2. Magnificent was still not played, and they kept The Fly and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. One and Streets were moved back to their regular spots. 40 was soundchecked, but not played. The Baltimore audience went nuts for Beautiful Day and again for Streets. They really sang along with Still Haven’t Found and Pride, proving my point that these two songs should never leave the set list. This Baltimore audience was the most enthusiastic I’ve seen so far – making it almost tied with Anaheim2 for my favorite show on this leg so far. It was definitely the hottest U2 show I’ve been too.

Please watch my video of part of I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69VbIayr-sQ

Please watch my video of the end of Pride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slQhQTpoYLo

Please watch my video of the intro to Streets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJOFNQng4Cw

Please watch my video of the band introductions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg6BeZt2o3M

Please watch my video of an overview of the Baltimore show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQMM2PGw2OU

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U2 360 tour across America – 2700 miles from Anaheim to Baltimore

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', 360 (2011), U2 with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 23, 2011 by DeenasDays

On Sunday, the morning after the second U2 show in Anaheim I left for my cross country trip to Baltimore. I had just 3 1/2 days to drive 2700 miles from California to Maryland to make it to the U2 show in Baltimore on Wednesday. It was very important that I go to the Baltimore show because it is my hometown show, and I have great memories from the Elevation show in Baltimore 10 years ago.

People tried to dissuade me from trying to make this long journey in just 3 1/2 days, but I’ve never really listened to reason. Some said I should either skip the second Anaheim show or skip the Baltimore show in order to have a more relaxing drive. I didn’t want to skip either. I had made this challenge to myself to drive to every U2 show in the US on this leg of the 360 tour, so I had to try. For 3 1/2 days, I survived on subway subs, cheese crackers, pizza, water and sweet tea, stopped at Love’s and spent nights at Motel 6s along the way. But I made it! I left Anaheim, California at 7:30am pacific time Sunday June 19th and arrived at my parents’ house in Ellicott City, Maryland at 11:30am eastern standard time Wednesday June 22nd, the morning of the U2 360 show in Baltimore.

The first day Elvis, Cilla and I drove 777 miles from Anaheim to Albuquerque in 12 hours, stopping just 3 times. I passed through the towns in Arizona and New Mexico along Route 66 that I didn’t get to see last year on my Route 66 road trip from Tulsa to Albuquerque.

somewhere in Arizona or New Mexico

The next morning we left Albuquerque at 6:15, drove 733 miles to Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 11 hours, stopping just twice. I had wanted to make it to Little Rock or even Memphis, but I just couldn’t do it. I was wiped. It was the first day that I did not enjoy the drive. Although I did enjoy passing by Cadillac Ranch and the Big Texan ranch in Amarillo, Texas where I had so much fun last year.

the long drive

The third day of our drive we left Ft. Smith at 5:40am, drove 863 miles in 14 hours to Wytheville, Virginia, stopping 4 times, sitting in traffic and driving through blinding rain storms. We also stopped by our house in Memphis, and it was still standing and everything was alright. It was nice to be home if only for a half hour.

Memphis skyline

 

The next morning it was finally Show Day – the reward for my long drive. We left Wytheville, Virginia at 6:10am, drove 326 miles and arrived at my parents’ house in Ellicott City, Maryland at 11:25am, stopping twice. I made it – and with hours to spare before the U2 360 show in Baltimore.  Again, never listen to reason, follow your passion – always!

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On the Road with U2 – finally!

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', 360 (2011), U2 with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 13, 2011 by DeenasDays

Tomorrow I leave for the U2 360 tour, a journey that I have been planning for over a year. I am so excited! For 2 ½ months I will be driving with my 2 dogs, Elvis and Cilla, across America to all 16 US shows. Along the way, meeting great people and visiting great places – writing about all of my experiences for a book and recording everything for a documentary.

The U2 360 tour will bring me to Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Oakland, Anaheim, Baltimore, Michigan, Miami, Nashville, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, New Jersey, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh. In between all of these concerts, I am also going to visit Kansas City, Omaha, Mount Rushmore, Reno, Tahoe, Portland, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Hollywood, Milwaukee, James Dean’s grave in Indiana, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and the Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

While on the road, I will write daily updates, including pictures and videos, that I will post here on my blog On the Road with U2. Throughout each day, I will also be posting on Facebook (Deena Dietrich) and Twitter (MemphisMullen).

I would also like to have U2 Fan Meet Ups the nights before the U2 concerts – when I’m not totally exhausted from all the driving. There are already pre-concert parties planned in Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Baltimore, and Nashville that I am attending. So if I can get enough interest, I would like to organize U2 Fan Meet Ups in Oakland, Anaheim, Chicago, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh for the nights before the U2 concerts in those cities.

Thank you to everyone who is supporting me – both with your kind words and reading my posts.

I look forward to seeing everyone this summer ON THE ROAD WITH U2!

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360 in Maryland / DC 2009

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', 360 (2009), Adam Clayton, Bono, Concerts, Larry Mullen, The Edge, Tours, U2 with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 15, 2011 by DeenasDays

Saturday September 26, 2009

The first day of my 12 days of crazy is over. And it is was worst day – the longest driving day. I took Elvis and Cilla to the vet this morning. Can’t believe I’m not going to see them for 12 days! I left at 8:20am and 8 hours 40 minutes later (568 miles) I’m in Wytheville, Virginia. It’s 55 degrees and it was 77 when I left Memphis. I’m freezing – and in shorts. It was a horrible drive – rain from Nashville to here. A pouring, steady rain and it was foggy and hard to see.

Sunday September 27, 2009

Today was a great day! I left Wytheville at 7:45am and got to Cindy’s before 12:30. It was so much fun playing with Tabitha and Keira. I’m glad they remember me and are excited to see me. We had Ledo’s pizza and Cindy made me cupcakes for my birthday and gave me presents. We watched football and hung out until after 5. Then I went home and saw Mom and Dad, but then we went immediately to Jilly’s to eat and watch football. Denver 3-0! Then we stopped by Mike’s house to get the Vegas U2 tickets. Then came home and I got my presents from Mom and Dad. We watched tv until now. Great day!

Monday September 28, 2009

Another great day. Mom, Cindy, Kathy and I went to Charlestown Casino. I only lost $100 and we were there from 10:30 to 4:30. I played a lot of new games. After we got home Kelly Brewer came over to buy my extra U2 DC ticket. It was great to see him again. Mom, Dad and I watched the sit coms tonight. Tomorrow starts the week of U2 – 4 shows in 7 days. I’m going to be SO tired, and I already feel like I’m getting sick. Hopefully not.

 

Tuesday September 29, 2009 – DC U2 Show
Today started with me waking up at 5am for no reason. I left the house at 2pm, was parked at FedEx Field by 3, said Hi to Jennifer in the GA line, got my red zone ticket from Shannon, and was in the red zone line by 3:30. I was about 10th in line. Kelly Brewer came and stood with me and we talked. Then they split the line into boys and girls to search us. They let us in around 5:15 when everyone else went in, but no one told us where to go. We weren’t at field level. It took forever to get down there. Instead of going into the designated Red Zone, I went inside the circle on the front rail in front of Adam. I had my doubts that the stage was too high and I wouldn’t be able to see that well, but it turned out to be a blast and my favorite show so far this tour (better than Chicago). Muse opened. There were ok. I see them 3 more times, so I’ll form an opinion later.

U2 360 DC 9.29.09

the redzone line at 4pm

my view from the front rail

U2 took the stage and of course Larry came out first, so there was screaming. The set list:
                                              Breathe
                                              Magnificent
                                              Get on Your Boots
                                              Mysterious Ways
                                              (introductions as politicians)
                                              Still Haven’t Found/Stand By Me
                                              Elevation
                                              Your Blue Room
                                              Beautiful Day / Black Bird
                                              New Year’s Day
                                              Stuck in a Moment
                                              Unforgettable Fire
                                              City of Blinding Lights
                                              Vertigo
                                              I’ll Go Crazy
                                              Sunday Bloody Sunday
                                              MLK
                                              Walk On
                                              One / Amazing Grace
                                              Streets
                                              Ultra Violet
                                              With or Without You
                                              Moment of Surrender
There was no No Line on the Horizon or Unknown Caller and of course no Bad or Pride. During City of Blinding Lights, Bono brought up a kid on the catwalk and ran around with him then gave him his glasses. During Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bono pulled this guy up on stage who was standing not too far from me holding an American flag. They sang and hugged. Apparently many politicians were at the show. I saw lots of security. My favorite part of the show was when Larry saw my Larry Mullen Band shirt and smiled and nodded. I was taking a picture of Adam for Tasha with the bright light behind him so he looked almsot angelic. The bright light was on Adam and I was right in front of Adam so the light was on me. Larry was turning around to face the back for Beautiful Day. And as he was turning, I started jumping and screaming and that’s when he saw me. A girl 2 people down came up to me after the show and said, ‘I saw Larry smile at you.’ AAAHHHH!!!! Great show! I’m standing rail again!

Edge, Bono and Adam in DC

LET ME IN THE SOUND!

Angelic Adam (my iphone pic i took right before Larry smiled at me)

Larry right after he smiled at me

Edge and Bono

is adam a bit confused?

Edge and Larry rock out

Bono finds a friend

sunday bloody sunday

 

The DC show was my closest, most centered spot of the tour. DC is still one of my favorite shows of the tour. Even though it didn’t have the best set list, there was a great energy from the band and the crowd. And it didn’t hurt that Larry noticed me and smiled, although he did that a few other times along the tour, but this was the first. The guy pulled up on stage happened to be friends with a lot of my U2 friends. And the kid getting bono’s glasses during City of Blinding Lights happened at most shows, but this was the first time I saw it so I thought it was cool.

If you want to see all of my pictures from that DC show please click http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111193&id=734599167&l=e44e835afd or the link on the right of my homepage for 360 2009 pics.

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U23D 2008

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', U2 with tags , , , on March 10, 2011 by DeenasDays

On January 23, 2008 Tasha and I went to the first showing of U23D in Baltimore at the Imax Theatre. It was amazing. Just like being at the U2 show. Tasha and I were screaming as if we were at the concert. It’s ironic because I wasn’t that excited during the Vertigo tour, but I was VERY excited watching U23D, which was recorded from the Vertigo tour. I went on to see U23D 3 more times, and even got my Dad to go with me. But it would be another year and a half before I would actually see U2 in concert.

U23D 2008

 

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The Day I Met Larry – Elevation Baltimore 10.19.01

Posted in 'On the Road with U2', Adam Clayton, Bono, Concerts, Elevation, Larry Mullen, The Edge, Tours, U2 with tags , , , , , , , on February 18, 2011 by DeenasDays

Sunday October 21, 2001 Baltimore, MD

I started the third leg of the Elevation Tour in my hometown of Baltimore, and am going to the next 7 shows. The U2 show at the Baltimore Arena on October 19, 2001 was absolutely amazing! The best I’ve seen out of ZooTv, Popmart and the first leg of Elevation! Our adventure started Thursday when me, Jennifer, John, Tasha, Dan and Jenny met downtown for dinner to celebrate Tasha’s birthday. After, we drove by the arena to check out the GA line. There were already about 50 people in line at 10:30pm. Jenny and Dan got in line while the rest of us went back home to get our stuff. We got in line around 1:30am. We had fun hanging out with everyone, but it was quite cold. Tasha and I slept in my car for about an hour.

U2 Elevation Baltimore 10.19.01

We went over to meet the band around 3pm. They finally came in at 4:30pm. I videotaped them driving in, Bono walking out, Edge walking out, Larry walking out, Adam walking out, and all of them signing autographs. We could barely believe that they were all four outside signing autographs. This was the first U2 played Baltimore and they all four came outside to meet all the fans. Adam signed Tasha’s purple pants. She was VERY excited. He said, ‘They’re great ones.’ When Larry came one person away from me, his bodyguard told me to turn off the videocamera. So I did not get video of my encounter with Larry, but Tasha took a great picture of it. Larry walked to me. I said, ‘I don’t have anything for you to sign, so can I have a hug?’ Larry looked at me a little strange, then smiled and said yes. Then we hugged and it was a nice, strong hug. In the picture, Larry has a big smile on his face. After the hug, I thanked him. Tasha hugged me and then I cried like a baby. I was so overcome with emotion. I had been waiting to meet Larry for 14 years!

Larry hugs me in Baltimore

Bono talking to me in Baltimore

Edge, Adam and Bono meeting Baltimore fans

The concert itself was so unreal! We stood at the tip of the heart on the outside. It was me, Tasha, Jenny, Cathy, and Kate. Garbage was supposed to open, but the drummer got sick, so Graham Parker & the Figgs filled in at the last minute before heading over to their own show. As soon as ‘All You Need is Love’ came on, the crowd went wild, and even crazier for ‘St. Pepper’s.’ And then ‘WOO-OOH-HOO! ELEVATION!’ During ‘New Year’s Day,’ Cathy and I held up her American Flag that she had brought. Bono took it from us. He hugged it. He looked at me and said, ‘You take it back.’ He handed it back to me so gently. He said, ‘Thank you.’ I said, ‘Thank you.’ Then he started walking away, turned to me, gave me the peace sign and nodded. Best Bono concert moment EVER for me. I have a fantastic picture of the Bono hugging the flag. Song highlights of the Baltimore show for me were: I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (I cried), Pride (with MLK’s speech a la ZooTV), Out of Control, Staring at the Sun and Please. A guy behind us was pulled up on stage to play Knocking on Heaven’s Door with the band. During One, all of the names of the passengers on the flights from 9/11 were displayed – and then they went right into Peace on Earth. I cried through all of this. They ended the show with Walk On. It was the most emotional and spiritual and uplifting U2 show. Just unbelievable!

Tasha & I singing in Baltimore

holding the flag in Baltimore

Bono hugs the American flag in Baltimore

 

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