Sunday, September 25, 2005

Found what I'm looking for ...

I'm standing in the nose-bleed seats suffering from bouts of vertigo as U2 are on the stage performing their song of the same name. I never got a chance to see them in Ireland, but here we are in Minneapolis with we made sure not to pass up seeing them this time around.

I consider these guys to be the best rock band in the world. As this was my first time seeing them live, I wasn't disappointed. When Bono asked if anyone here was from Dublin, I roared - but so did half the audience. Liars! The lightshow was mesmorising, the atmosphere electrical as the sold out arena sang-along to every song. But the performaces were truely unforgettable; not the least of which was Bono's ode to his late father, "Sometimes you can't make it on your own."

It's funny listening to Bono trying to explain what a northsider is like to an audience from which probably my wife and I could only understand. It's also funny that in a country that so idolises celebrity misses the simplicity of a band just enjoying what they do. Sure Bono gets knocked for using the platform he's given and trying to make the world better with it; but why the hell shouldn't he. He's not selling merchandise or doing some shameless self-promoting; he sees the opportunity he has to do some good and he takes it. Nothing else would make sense.

In a week were I watch the news-reporters 'brave' hurricanes to make news they should have been reporting, I wonder what's the point of idolising icons when all they exist on is their idolisation. Especially when heros are all around for those willing to see.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Saw em live in croker from the posh boxes right up close to the stage mick-san.Truly awesome is the only description except we had the opposite problem...half the crowd were foreigners taking up valuable space...especially as many of them were going to see me in their native lands!Croke park for the irish is say!!!!

Mick O'Neill said...

I'm obscenely jealous.

That is all.

Anonymous said...

Ah then my work is done!