All this talk about U2 possibly playing Fenway Park in Boston next year has the local Boston newspapers making the comparisons between the Stones and U2. The Boston Herald went so far as to tell it’s readers not to tell U2 that the Stones were the biggest rock band in the world (until October when U2 comes back to the ‘hub and then THEY’LL be the biggest).

My husband and I went to Fenway Park on Friday night to listen to the Stones’ soundcheck. Part of it was curiosity as we were already in that part of town, and the other part was to see how the Stones fans were reacting to their beloved band playing on the other side of the ballpark wall. There were about 30 or so middle-aged fans (the both of us were definitely bringing down the average age of those outside the ballpark), and they were all happily playing air guitar to Keith Richards, dancing around, singing along and just pleased to be listening to Mick & co. sing songs like Shattered, Beast of Burden, and Miss You (among others for the 2 hours of the setlist).

Contrast that with us sitting outside of the arena in Los Angeles back in March, or outside of Miami Arena in ‘01 with a vibe among U2 fans that we would be let into the soundcheck - it was almost an expectation of sorts. We weren’t let inside in ‘01, but we were in ‘05. (Granted, waiting outside of the stadium in Las Vegas back in ‘97 would have been a little better of a comparison as you could hear the music - people would honk their horns and cheer in delight to songs being performed).

The point I’m trying to make is that it seemed from our experience outside of Fenway that the U2 fan community seems to have a higher standard in regard to fan expectations. The Stones’ fans outside of Fenway were not upset or the least bit bothered by not being inside the ballpark to witness the soundcheck - people were just happy to hear the music. With U2 taking a few extra days in Toronto before the start of the third leg, I wonder how many people will wait outside the arena with the expectation they’ll be let inside - and if the band will feel obliged to let fans in.

The Stones’ fans at Fenway gave me a different (and dare I say refreshing) perspective on just how much U2 caters to their fans above and beyond what they really need or have to do. I can picture U2 at Fenway next summer, and the streets around the park will be full of U2 fans…hopefully…hopefully we’ll all just be happy enough to be outside the park for a soundcheck.

Oh - side note….for U2’s crew specifically (if Dennis Sheehan is reading this) - the Stones’ had a TON of their equipment and stacks outside the ballpark on Yawkey Way with very little (to almost no) security around them. Hopefully, you’ll protect your gear a little better than they did. We were able to walk right up and through the boxes and staging stacks left outside the ballpark. Nothing like trying to convince a drunk guy not to take something as the band would be needing it for the rest of their tour! Anyhoo - just an observation from what we saw.