Notes since last time:

–>It doesn’t rain here, it sort of spits in a sideways manner. We walked through the rain, with the other billion people, through neighborhoods I didn’t recognize. The stadium is huge. You get on the field and look around and are amazed at its size. It rained on and off during the Radiators’ set. I realized that I had never been rained on at a concert before. This California Boy was not used to this. It was miserable. I was underdressed and wet by the time Snow Patrol came on. The crowd was happy and supportive and began some of their only-in-Europe behaviors early in their set. It was still raining when U2 took the stage.

–>The any-wall-type-area-is-fair-game-for-peeing rule was still in effect under the stands. Large, burly guards were put into place to stop it, but what could they do? Lines for toilets were way too long. I held it until this morning. Just kidding.

–>At about 8:35 the wave was in full effect. It was pretty cool. The crowd was antsy and ready for the show.

–>The lighting board began filling up with the usuals, Ali, Morleigh, Edge’s parents, kids about the bands’ kids’ ages, Jan and Mr. Wenner.

–>Arcade Fire. Fans taking group photos with their phones. People smiling. Everyone wet. Really wet.

–>You can look to U2tours or u2log to get a review. I never know if a show is musically better or worse than the one that came before. Here’s what I am absolutely sure of: I will never feel a chill (both figurative and literal) like I did when they played I WILL FOLLOW and every voice among the 80,000 sang as loudly as possible. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It’s too light out for the light show, I’m quite a distance from the band, I’m freezing, I’m behind a group of men who were tall enough to play for the Knicks, and yet….I’m in Fecking Dublin singing along with actual Irish people (not American Irish people who own a flag or t-shirt) to a song I’ve only heard live 39 times previously. Magical. You know why it was special. The fans that live in Ireland, have followed them as they’ve conquered the world. The fans who live in other countries have literally followed them back to their hometown. That’s what I did. I followed.

–>During Electric Co., Bono added Bullet with Butterfly Wings snippet. During Sunday Bloody Sunday, I felt what the words meant more so than I ever had before. It’s not just a cool song here.

–>During the slower songs, even Running…, the crowd talked like they were at a house party. I guess you get that at any stadium show.

–>We were far enough back where we weren’t smushed. I wished I was in the front, but I’m glad I didn’t wait in the rain all day.

–>There were groups of drunk people jumping and screaming and hoisting each other up. It wasn’t too bad.

–>When the lights finally did work, it was something special. Especially the ZooTV stuff.

–>At the end of Streets, the huge screen was bright red, just like I remember.

–>We lament the setlist at every show, but I watched the stands, as I often do, and the Running to Pride segue, meant that all the semi-fans who sit immediately stood up for a song they recognized. The band is all but forced to play the hits and from what I saw it works. Every arm upraised, every seat empty, even in the back. It was a sight to see.

–>Cool Croke Park tourshirts are available. My first merchandise purchase since a PopMart hat.

–>We’re off to the Unforgettable Fire Castle now. Talk to you later.

AG.