2009 September 28

Reflecting on the U2 Concert at Giants Stadium

September 28, 2009 By Tim 1 Comment

This past Thursday I had the good fortune of going to see U2 at Giants Stadium with some good friends. First, even if you think U2 is overrated and are convinced that Bono is the antichrist, you should really go see a U2 show. Second, even if you don’t have the money, go find a treasure in someone’s property, sell everything you own, buy the field, and resell it so you can buy a ticket to see U2. If that’s too impractical, then remember the good Lord created you with two kidneys. The one is essential for life and the other is your U2 concert fund.

I’ve seen U2 in concert a few times (yes, I was born with a surplus of extra kidneys) and each show has been an incredible experience. It is not an exaggeration that I’ve been to over 100 concerts – Bob Dylan a few times, White Stripes, Sufjan, Death Cab, Arcade Fire, Wilco, to name a few. I’ve even seen Geoff Moore and the Distance and can tell you that U2 is a life altering experience – truly amazing. I am not sure I’ve ever felt that kind of electricity before (I mean except for our church on Sunday morning).

I love the sound. From the Edge’s guitar to Larry’s drumming to Adam’s baselines, they sound great. And of course, I love Bono’s words -

“I can stand up for hope, faith, love

But while I’m getting over certainty

Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady” (from Stand Up Comedy)

and

“Dressed up like a car crash

The wheels are turning byt youre upside down

You say when he hits you, you dont mind

Because when he hurts you, you feel alive” (from Stay)

I love that each show tries to be bigger than the last one. Now a couple of things regarding the show. I understand the criticism that it’s similar to the Dismantle … Bomb tour, the circle stage from All You Can’t Leave… but this was a stadium tour. The feat is that they have 70,000 people seeing and hearing the music in amazing quality. While I won’t go so far and call it a miraculous feeding of 5000, you are hard-pressed to find a concert experience of this quality for so many thousands of people. My only disappointment was that the stage was not directly in the middle of the field. We have our theories why but it’s not worth mentioning.

Speaking of the stage, it is incredible. Ths year featured “The Claw” and it’s a sight to see. It takes 4 days to set up, two to tear down. They have 3 sets because of it’s setup time and they use a crew of 500 people and 189 semi-trucks. While it may not be the most environmentally friendly tour (as if there actually was such a thing), it’s certainly helping the economy (for those who keep track of that sort of thing). Frankly I am not bothered by these things. Some concerts are like wedding celebrations to me and practicality goes out the window. I mean do the guests of the bridegroom while he is with them? (Yes, that is used in its proper context ;-)

I also love that Bono uses his celebrity status for good causes – Third World Debt in Africa, apartheid, freedom in Iran and creating awareness of Aung San Suu Kyi’s unjust home confinement in Burma.

I love how spiritual these experiences are. Some may think that Bono is drawing people to himself but I and millions of people will tell you that Bono and friends are used as vessel to draw people into community, solidarity, promote love and justice and force us all to realize there’s someone greater that is behind and in front of all this. - I really believe that.

Please know that this is not an apologetic of my huge claims but a witness.

I went to a rock n ‘roll show and communed with God.

For those interested, this was the set list:

Breathe

Get on your boots

Mysterious ways

Beautiful day – She’s a Rainbow – Blackbird

No Line on the Horizon

Magnificent

Elevation

Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For/Stand By Me

Unknown Caller

Until the End of the World

Stay

The Unforgettable Fire

Mofo

City of Blinding Lights

Vertigo

I’ll go crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonite

Sunday Bloody Sunday/Rock the Cazba

MLK

Walk On

One/Amazing grace

Where the Streets Have No Name – All You Need Is Love

Encore

Ultra Violet Rays

With or Without You

Moment of Surrender

It was one of those terrible, great weeks, you know?

Well you know it was a typical week for me. Went to go see Rob Bell on Saturday, worshipped at church on Sunday, Lamazza class Monday, seminary class on Tuesday, youth group Wednesday, U2 on Thursday, and I took friday off because I practice sabbath. I don’t want to even mention my lunch with Thomas Turner, coffee with Tim Nye, carpooling with Evan Curry and making fun of the CCM kingdom with Mark Allen in fear that you may do some thing rash and hurtful to yourself or worse do something to me out of envy. My one year old laughs at all my jokes, my wife is perfectly pregnant and my parents have more pictures of me than my siblings. (It could be because I was the first born and that I broke the Yashika but the truth is rarely appealing).

I’m preaching next week and all this confidence has me considering to go with a sermon that includes tithing, the trinity and the Christian mandate for a jacuzzi in each pastor’s office. What better time than clergy appreciation month?

Truth is, as many cool things happened this week, it was a tough week in a variety of ways. They would be petty to actually list so I’d rather just keep you thinking about my aforementioned rock’n roll lifestyle.

Seriously speaking for a moment. This was a week that I truly needed to rely on the Lord for grace and strength. I found myself very frustrated by moments that got the best of me. While there were no fits of actual rage, I was fighting an angry spirit all week. Realizing that I had a lot to be grateful for, I kept asking the Lord not so much to change my circumstances but to allow myself to rely on His peace. I spent some time in the Psalms and in Jeremiah and found comfort with them. I was moved by the time it became to me. It was humbling, frustrating, and brilliant.

In that sense it was a great week.

It would have only been better had the Yankees swept the Red Sox and clinched the East. :-)