U2 Out of Control and Stopping Traffic on a Beautiful Day

Monday November 22, 2004

by Angus O'Taffypuller (a pseudonym)

My head is still reeling, and I'm still in a daze over the events of the last 24 hours. The fact that I spent nine hours standing in a park at the water's edge in Brooklyn is only a side note to the unforgettable 45 minutes that followed that wait. But I am getting too far ahead of myself now.

I have been a U2 fan for a very long time now. My fanaticism developed around the time the Unforgettable Fire was out. I latched on at that point to the rest of their back catalog. My fandom was cemented into a mania with the U2 onslaught that developed in the Joshua Tree years. I wanted to learn all there was about the band, find any recording I could attain, and most of all see them perform live. I was able to catch the band twice on the Joshua Tree tour, and have seen them many times since on the various tours that followed. Although I always hoped to get a chance to see the band up close and personal, I never thought I'd ever top that first arena leg of the Joshua Tree Tour. The band has never failed to amaze each of the others times I've seen them, (the New York show following 9/11 in NYC was particularly emotionally powerful) but that first time held a certain special memory that I just never imagined I'd top.

Gearing up for the release of the new album, I've been monitoring the U2 fan sites closely. I still remember the bitter hours spent in the cold back when the last U2 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, came out and I tried to find a way into Irving Plaza for the bands' special club performance. Although I did get to see Bono arrive, I never made it in. I was determined that if there should be any special events this time around, I would not be left in the cold. And sure enough in the middle of last week rumors began circulating that U2 had something special planned for NYC. They were on Saturday Night Live, had a radio listening party Sunday night, but something was up their sleeves for Monday. As the week progressed it looked like the band would appear at Washington Square Park. I didn't plan to miss this! And so I planned to miss work that day and began preparations to arrive in the park early Monday morning and essentially set up camp for the day. Friday night I managed to pick up a copy of the new CD, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, four days ahead of its release. I subjected my wife to repeated listenings of it throughout the weekend as I fell in love with the new material.

Sunday I spent the day out and returned home to find out how quickly things can change! U2log.com and some other sites began reporting that Washington Square was either not happening or was a prelude to the big event. U2 were going to perform under the Brooklyn Bridge! At the last minute I scrapped my plans for Washington Square and began figuring out how to get to Empire-Fulton Ferry Start Park in Brooklyn by the next morning.

And so about 7:30 Monday morning I found myself wondering out of the York St. F train stop and working my way down to the water and over to the park between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. When I arrived I found more activity than should be at a park at 7:30am. Something was definitely up. When I approached the gates the guards asked if I was here for the show. They told me I could enter at 8, as that was when the park opened. So 8am I walked in with a whopping 2 other U2 fans and walked right up the stage. I didn't intend to move for the rest of the day! I chatted with the other two who had arrived with me and we really couldn't understand why nobody else was here. The crew was bustling around us, building the stage and setting up the PA. At one point an MTV cameraman approached us and inquired how we had found out about the show then complemented us on our detective skills. He informed us that the show would be broadcast as a 1/2 hour MTV special in about a week. The cameraman was then shooed away by the crew who requested not to be filmed while going about their work. We began to see crates with the familiar names of Bono and Edge and others labeled SNL. It was finally sinking in that his was really happening! We also spoke to the guy who handles transporting the bands instruments around who confirmed the original plans for Washington Square Park had been scrapped.

Other fans began trickling in around 10ish. And then I hit my first piece of bad luck. We were all asked to leave the immediate stage vicinity, as the crew didn't want anyone getting hurt. At this point about 25 or so of us moved back into the park, but apparently not far enough as they asked us to step back further.

And then the worst happened; we were told we had to clear the area. They set us up at the front of a line that was forming near the park entrance. Luckily I maintained my status at the front of the line.

As the hours passed, I met many of my fellow fans, including Dan from NYU, Ruth who writes for U2log.com, and Miroslava who flew in for the days' events! The friendly company made the hours fly. A massive crowd grew behind us. It looked like I was leading an army! We also began getting reports of U2 sightings throughout the city. Apparently the band was traveling through the city on a flatbed truck, recording footage for the next video from the new album. At one point, the bands crew sound checked the PA by performing Vertigo, the first single from the new CD, and us diehards at the front of the line provided vocals. I was interviewed by many media outlets for being one of the first to arrive, and was having a great day.

At this point, around 2:30, a new crowd developed in front of the line. Tensions mounted as we learned that these were press and VIPs who would be entering before us. I was getting worried. And then at three they reopened the gates and a mad rush was on! I barreled my way back to the front. Although I never regained the spot directly against the stage barrier that I had claimed in the morning, I ended up only a few people away! I was finally seeing U2 up close. The park filled up and fans also lined the bridges' walkways. And then as 4 o'clock approached excitement mounted. Choppers began to circle overhead. And then they closed in on the Manhattan Bridge. The band was making its way across the bridge on the flatbed performing. The cheers and excitement grew wild.

Finally about 4:30 the band took the stage. I was in awe and amazement. Directly in front of me was the world's greatest band. A magnificent view of the Brooklyn Bridge loomed behind them with the South Street Seaport visible across the water. Far back behind the park loomed the Manhattan Bridge. And in the middle was me, thousands of other fans, and U2!

They launched into a searing Vertigo, and you could feel the love and appreciation in the crowd. Bono's voice rang clear and true. The strained world-weary sound he had during the last album and tour was apparently one of the things that can be left behind. The crowd's approval was monstrous. The Edge's guitar powerfully dominated the next song, the upbeat All Because of You. Next Bono addressed the crowd, introducing another new track Miracle Drug. Bono explained the song's inspiration came from Christopher Nolan, who was paralyzed until science helped him move just enough to type, and let him express the beautiful poetry that he had been composing in his head all along.

If that wasn't moving enough, Bono followed up that song by introducing the next new song, Sometimes You Can't Make It On your Own, which is about his father Bob who passed away during the last tour. At this point the sun was setting, the bridge was lit behind the band as a beautiful picture perfect backdrop. Bono expressed that he believes his father left him a gift when he passed on; the newfound clarity and power in his voice. He implored his Dad not to let him "fuck it up now" before playing the powerfully moving song. There was no denying the emotion as he called out "Can you hear me when I sing? You're the reason the opera is in me!"

Now Bono gazed up at the Manhattan Bridge behind me and commented on the unbelievable beauty of the scene. He reminisced a bit about New York City before playing another tune off the new album that is about New York, City of Blinding Lights. The song has the classic Edge guitar sound as a canvas for Bono to paint the beauty of the city upon. It was a true moment of chills due to the shows' location.

Next the band worked through a tentative Original of the Species. Edge moved to keyboards and Bono questioned his own guitar playing ability as he strapped the instrument on. Although not as surefooted as the other material, it was still amazing. Bono explained that they were still working out the kinks of playing that one live. The band then played She's a Mystery to Me, a song Bono and Edge wrote for Roy Orbison. Bono became lost towards the end, and commented that he wasn't sure how to stop the song. Larry stepped up to the plate and counted out a simple drumbeat to close the tune with, smiling and laughing all the while.

And then the crowd exploded as the instantly recognizable opening to Beautiful Day cut through the New York night. It was upbeat, energetic, and perfect outpouring of emotion and love. The song was obviously tight, and Bono sang it with his newfound power. And as it ended the crowd again erupted as Edge's famous guitar intro to I Will Follow rang out. Bono thanked the crowd and the band wandered off but we were not ready for them to leave. U2 retook the stage to cries of one more song and when they began to play again I lost my mind! I saw the last tour three times. Each time I was praying to hear the song Out of Control, a favorite of mine from their first album. They only played it a few nights throughout that tour and needless to say I never managed to catch the right night. Sure enough Larry and Adam were hammering out the amazing opening rhythm of Out of Control. What an amazing finish! After an intense, energetic take on Out of Control I though we were through! But Bono informed us that there was still one more that the band needed. Apparently they needed some more footage of Vertigo, because they tore through the song a ferocious second time. The energy was even higher than for the opening! And with that they said their final goodbyes and promised to see us in the spring. In a stupor, we in the crowd began chanting the refrain from 40, a traditional set closer in the old days…"How long to sing this song…" And I continued to chant, stumbling my way out of the park, and back into the real world. It was a day I will never forget.