what a great U2 concert!

It's absolutely no secret at all that I love U2. I've loved them for a very long time... well you know, not since their beginning, but for as long as I can remember- I think it really started for me with Mysterious Ways, then to With or Without you. Really, those are my two all-time favourites (so much so that MW is my ring tone on my cell phone). I've been to one concert - the PopMart tour in 1997. It was a truly life-altering experience seeing them at the Silverdome in Detroit. It was drummer Larry Mullen's birthday, October 31st. Smash Mouth opened for them. Of course I tried to get tickets to the following shows, but was never able to snag tix despite trying with 2 cell phones, two land lines and two computers- but I'm not bitter (much).

How was it that I saw them in concert this weekend? Well let's give some context:

This weekend, despite working all day Saturday, nao'r took the train saturday night from Kingston, took me out for dinner at KitKat and drinks at Joe Mamas, both in the Entertainment district of the T-dot and then sprung for a night at a hotel so we didn't have to make the trek back to the 'saug. He called it my St. Valentine's weekend - since the day itself falls in the middle of this-coming week. He's now already back in Gananoque, having jumped aboard the 6:30pm train back today... A very short but sweet trip for sure.

This morning, after dropping off our bags for safe keeping, and after having some lunch we decided to go and watch a movie- a relatively normal, couple-like thing to do right? Thing is, I don't think we have ever gone to see a movie together... I mean our visits together are short enough as is, spending 2+ hours in a movie theatre, not talking just seems wrong... but, it was frig'n cold out with a windchill of 30 below, so walking around the T-dot just wasn't in the cards. We made our way to the huge Scotiabank Theatre back in the Entertainment District to see what was playing. As soon as we walked in, I went nuts- there it was, screening on the IMAX in less then 45 minutes from the time we walked in the door. The movie that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to great reviews: U23D

For the low price of $13 each including the use of the fashionable 3D glasses, nao'r and I sat smack in the middle of the theatre, thanx to my desire to go grab seats stand in line 30 minutes before the show. A word about these glasses- let's just say there were to kinds, ones for normal folk, and ones for those who where glasses- they were large enough to fit over people's glasses - this four-eyed girl was lucky!

Ok I like how I'm 4 paragraphs down and i haven't even typed a word about the show! Well, let me say this about that:

A. M. A. Z. I. N. G.

Oh. my. word. From the opening with Vertigo to ending with With or Without you and then through the end of the credits, the glasses were on, and Bono and the gang were closer to me then I ever thought would be possible... It gave every fiber of my being not to get up and dance throughout the show. And I wasn't the only one in the packed theatre wishing there was a dance floor! Nao'r was a good sport, I think he was holding my hand not out of love, but to keep my chair dancing from getting out of control! My feet were going, my head was bobbing, my fingers tapping... I caught myself singing a couple of times, but managed to lip-sync for the most part. Did I mention it was amazing? I swear, even at the end, I was whispering for an encore along with the crowd. The hour and a half show was non-stop music, with the usual political statements that Bono is known and loved for...

It was unbelievable how it was filmed, all sorts of different angles, from on stage with the band, to being in the crowd with other concert-goers arms waving in front of you, as if you were there with them! I really can't describe to you how phenomenal it was. And how lucky I am to have seen it- all by chance! It doesn't even open in most of the US, UK and Ireland until Feb 22!

Nao'r is a trooper- not many men would bring their girlfriend to sit and gawk at another man whom she has admitted her love for. But hey- considering I have many years ahead of me of walking through a boat show or a thousand two, the least he could do is sit by my side during an hour and a half movie of U2...

U23D was an experience. The ultimate U2 experience. I think the only thing better than this movie: Have U2 go on tour again so I can go to an actual concert (maybe I'll get that for next St. Valentine's Day)

btw- for a snippet of the show, check out the widget at the bottom of the page