The First Time
Well, I survived it. And so did they. My kids, I mean, who saw their first U2 concert last night in Atlanta.
From my perspective, the show was awesome. High points: Bono doing Pavarotti’s part in Miss Sarajevo, MLK, The First Time, and Bad. Very few obnoxious fans. A great spot in the ellipse. Sharing it with the three people I love best.
They loved the confetti, Vertigo, Elevation, Stuck in a Moment, Mysterious Ways, Bono drumming on Love and Peace, Adam’s smile, lights chasing lights.
I don’t know if it’s U2 policy or the policy of Phillips Arena, but I have to say that I felt great about my kids being at this show. No less than four people checked to make sure we had earplugs, staff went out of their way to be kind and friendly, and I felt like my kids were safe. It was a great feeling.
If you were one of the people who stopped me and the girls to tell them how cool their mom is, thanks! Luckily, they are still young enough to believe it. The time is coming too fast when dancing with mom at a rock concert will be anything but cool, but last night, it was all good.
A great first time for them, and a new U2 first for me.
m2 said,
November 20, 2005 @ 7:48 pm
Amen! I have no idea if the Boston show on Oct. 3rd was technically a “good” show by U2’s standards, but it was pure magic for me since I was able to share it with my son.
JennJam said,
November 21, 2005 @ 11:49 am
Awesome story!!
I’m 33 and have been going to see U2 concerts for years. My 75-year old mother is always excited to hear my stories/reviews. She surprised me earlier this year by telling me that she wanted to go to a show with me . . . she said she wanted to do this at least once in her life! She even said she wanted to do GA!!! After confirming she understood what that meant, I got us GAs for the 12/12 show in Charlotte!! I am more excited for this show than any other this tour!!
When kids and parents share U2, I think it is a magical and wonderful thing. Your kids will never forget the Atlanta show - - - even during those ‘rebellious teen years,’ they’ll secretly remember that you’re really a cool mom, just like you were last night in Atlanta.
NomeJodas said,
November 21, 2005 @ 6:20 pm
I’ll have to add an AMEN to your story! Last week I got to share U2 with my two sons (15 and 10) at the November 13 show in Miami. My younger sister and I got our 4 pre-sale GA’s back in March, and both my son’s were psyched about going; they both love HTDAAB and also the older ‘hits’ which they hear regularly on the radio station my wife has on constantly in her car. It was my 10 year old’s first rock concert, period. The worst part about ’surviving’ the concert with them was waiting almost 5 hours in the GA line, other than that it was pure heaven.
The first of 4 tickets we scanned got us into the Ellipse……the tour manager seeing we had a party of 4 with two children gave us wrist bands for all four…a great night had just gotten better, but little did I know that the best was yet to come. The concert was amazing, spectacular, invigorating, etc…… The November 13 show was my 9th time seeing U2 (I saw them again from up front in the ellipse on the 14th too) and I’d have to say their best performance that I had seen. The band was rocking and so was the American Airlines Arena….you could see the emotion on Bono’s face as the crowd ran with and sang I Still Haven’t Found What I am Looking For from the first note of the song.
The best part of the show though had to do with sharing U2 with my boys. As U2 begins performing Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bono comes over to in front Adam where we were standing, leans forward, gestures for and grabs my youngest son’s outstretched hand…the next thing I know he’s walking across the stage with Bono, who then proceeds to sit him on one of his monitor’s and he gets to sing SBS with U2! I still can’t believe it, but have pictures, so I know it’s true. A truly incredible magical experience for all of us, and both my son’s are now U2 Fans for Life…..I can’t wait to share the next U2 concert with them, and hopefully that will not be too far down the road.
306 said,
November 22, 2005 @ 6:48 am
You wouldn’t happen to know the Atlanta “code” from the concert, do you? I’m doing a thing for a radio station and this is what it says!
“U2 Concert Code
If you were at U2, enter the code here for 10,000 bonus points!”