1. In this series we will be regularly interviewing fans during the tour to ask them about their personal experiences. Today we have an interview with flowerchild, who attended the 1st and 2nd Cologne shows.

    "It was truly an amazing experience, and I'm so glad I could attend both nights"

    This was the first time attending a pair of shows on the tour, how was that?
    It was one of the best concert experiences I've ever had, because, as it turned out, these two Cologne shows were undoubtedly some of the best shows of the European leg! However, I had GA tickets for both shows and stood in line from 9.30am onwards on both days, and while the organization of the queue was really good, it was a tough time for me. Saturday was just incredibly cold and windy (some people wrapped themselves up so well, I could only see their eyes) and after standing in line, an amazing show, getting home late and only about 4.5hs of sleep standing in line again the next day was tough! But very, very worth it To be honest, I don't think night two would have happened the way it did, if it weren't for night one. Somehow, it felt like these two shows were connected, and night one opened the door for the magic that was night two. It was truly an amazing experience, and I'm so glad I could attend both nights.

    Did you have different seating/standing views for each show? How did they compare?
    I had GA tickets for both nights, so I had the luxury to try out different spots for each show. Saturday I went with Kirsten (MacStripey), and we both agreed early on that we wanted to go to the E-Stage. We were #53/54 in the queue and got the spot we wanted without much difficulty. The E-Stage filled up pretty slowly and we had a couple of guys standing behind us, who had just joined the queue around 4pm If I wasn't so small, I guess I could have done the same thing, but first row is my only option, so...

    Anyway, the E-Stage is a great spot for multiple reasons: you get to see Bono enter the stage, you can observe the fans celebrate all around you, especially Bono comes down to the E-Stage fairly often (for about four of all the songs he did on the E-Stage, he stood right in front of us and we had all the time in the world to watch him perform, it was amazing) and you get to see the part of the show that's the most fun and relaxed from up close. Kirsten and I stood close to where the E-Stage connects with the catwalk, so we could still see bits of the screen (the animations, at least, I couldn't see Bono during Cedarwood Road, for example, the angle was too narrow), but hardly anything that happened on the main stage. I must admit, I felt a bit cut off from what was happening sometimes, but the atmosphere was great and we sang and celebrated anyway, so I can't say this put a damper on my experience, I'd already expected it to be that way anyway. You'll just have to accept that, if you're front row, you'll simply miss certain things in favour of other stuff


    On Sunday I was basically on my own. I had bonojour with me, as he was sleeping over at my place, but he went and queued a little earlier than me, and we were divided by the whole North/South side deal, so I had the whole day to make up my mind about where I wanted to stand. I was #55 in line and I was having doubts about making it to the main stage. Not gonna lie, I wanted to get there so badly, and I think I was very, very lucky that I actually managed to get my desired spot in the end. When the doors opened, I ran inside, but was suddenly stopped by a wall of fans just... walking. I was confused and tried to slip past a couple, then saw that there was a line of security guys forming a line, hand in hand, at the front, stopping people from running and - most importantly - from running past the ones that had stood first in line. I walked with them quickly, slipped past another few fans, saw others break away to stand at the E-Stage or catwalk, then my eyes were set on the railing of the I-Stage. And it was empty We walked closer and closer, and when we were about 5-10m away, the security let go and we RAN. I was fast enough and grabbed the railing, stood right in front of Edge's microphone stand and nearly broke out in tears. The fans around me all had single digits on the back of their hands ... Like I said, I was very, very lucky.


    Needless to say, my spot was absolutely amazing. I had full view of the whole main stage, and seeing the band from up close was simply a dream. There really was hardly any space between the crowd and the stage, so you really see everything. I also quite enjoyed watching the stuff you usually don't pay much attention to, like Dallas and Sam running back and forth on the stage to fix things etc, really cool. Of course, when the whole E-Stage part happened, I couldn't see anything again, but that part only lasts for a couple of songs, so it wasn't as bad as standing at the E-Stage during night one. Also, standing at the main stage, there is always someone there you can watch perform, while on the E-Stage you feel like you're waiting for someone to show up.

    If I had to choose again, I'd definitely opt for the main stage, but it's a tough spot to get, so you better be there very early or get lucky like me

    What was your favourite performance or moment of the concerts? Did any song surprise you when they played it?
    Well, we got Party Girl on night two, that was a real surprise (then again, it wasn't my first time hearing it live, I was lucky enough to hear it before in 2005)! I was aware of all the combos the band seems to have settled on since the US leg, so for me it was basically a matter of hoping for certain songs, but knowing what I was in for in the end.

    Personally, I absolutely love the power of the first four songs. Whether it be Gloria, The Electric Co or Out Of Control on the second spot, there is so much joy and adrenaline during that first part, I absolutely loved it (especially at the I-Stage, Bono just kept pushing us to give them more and more, we felt like we were touching the roof of the arena ).

    Iris is one of those songs that really grew on me, hearing it live. It's very powerful with the images on the screen, the absolutely amazing sound Edge creates live (watching him do that had me in awe, I swear), and Bono performing this song so sincerely. Another song that surprised me (already in Amsterdam), simply because I thought I was slightly sick of hearing it, but which proved it was still alive and kicking this tour, is Pride.

    Well, and then there was Bad/40 on night two. I suppose everyone reading this here on this forum will know what this combo of songs means. I did not expect to hear it in Cologne (as it seems to be reserved for cities with at least 3-4 shows), but night two had such an amazing atmosphere and magic to it, it was absolutely the right time and place to play it. I mean, you can hear it on the recording/YouTube videos, but the roar that went through the arena when the little bells of Bad started... it was even louder and more powerful live. I have goosebumps just thinking about it, and I remember breaking out in tears before my brain even registered that they were playing Bad I'd never have expected to have such an emotional reaction, but I did, and everyone around me felt the same. It was incredible, absolutely incredible. I still have no words for it. Just watch that pro shot that went around and watch Bono's face. The band felt it, too.

    Another special moment for me - though it wasn't part of the show - was Dallas handing me a guitar pick before the show I'm not sure he knew how happy he made me, but I'll be forever grateful. Thank you, Dallas It was the cherry on top of an amazing night.

    You of course already attended a show in Amsterdam, how did the crowd in your home country of Germany compare?
    This is actually a little unfair to answer, because I think I visited the weakest of the 4 Amsterdam shows (night two), and the Cologne ones were absolutely breath-taking. Also, I had seats for Amsterdam and had women around me in high heels and lady suits and guys wearing slacks... I mean Usually, Amsterdam crowds are one of the best, but in this case Amsterdam lost big time, I'm sorry! Nothing compares to the atmosphere we had in Cologne, starting with the endless laolas before the shows Cologne is known for its parties and cheerful people, it's a football and carneval citiy. The arena could only be on fire those nights!

    What are your overall thoughts on the Innocence & Experience Tour so far? Could the band improve anything?
    I really, really liking the concept of this tour. While it does limit them a bit in their song choices (it's more of a theater play than a concert, isn't it?), I really like that whole idea going from innocence to experience. Also, I'm not missing the stadiums one bit. If it was up to me, they'd not play in a stadium ever again

    I do think the encore needs a little tweaking (COBL, WOWY and BD have no place there, imo), they could play a couple more Boy/October/War songs instead at the beginning until Iris hits. I also wish they'd switch Vertigo with Volcano now and then (why is Volcano not even a regular song??), or I Will Follow with Tomorrow. Sadly, they settled on a couple of combos, and surprises like Magnificent, Two Hearts, When Love Comes To Town, Crystal Ballroom etc fall really short, but what I learned during those Cologne shows is that.. it doesn't quite matter what's being played, because when that spark turns into a flame, these guys turn any setlist into an unforgettable experience. And if there's one band who can achieve that, it's U2.

    --
    Thanks for participating, Jana!
  2. What a passionate interview!
    Especially the parts about being at the I-stage. Thanks for enlightening us about that Now I feel bad for not being there at least once haha

    And couldn't agree more about the Bad/40 combo. I know how it felt, being at Amsterdam IV. And I'm glad you've lived that moment as well
  3. Originally posted by BelgianBono:What a passionate interview!
    Especially the parts about being at the I-stage. Thanks for enlightening us about that Now I feel bad for not being there at least once haha

    And couldn't agree more about the Bad/40 combo. I know how it felt, being at Amsterdam IV. And I'm glad you've lived that moment as well
    thanks, glenn!

    who knows, maybe we'll meet again next year and then we tackle that main stage front row together
  4. This is some great insight, Bad/40 is a powerful combo for sure, and I couldn't agree more about the encore.

    .. it doesn't quite matter what's being played, because when that spark turns into a flame, these guys turn any setlist into an unforgettable experience. And if there's one band who can achieve that, it's U2.




  5. That would be grand
  6. Sooooo you got exactly the spot I told you on night 2

    You'll just have to accept that, if you're front row, you'll simply miss certain things in favour of other stuf
    ==>> perfect summary.

    Great interview Jana! Looking forward to meet you next year
  7. Originally posted by LikeASong:Sooooo you got exactly the spot I told you on night 2

    You'll just have to accept that, if you're front row, you'll simply miss certain things in favour of other stuf
    ==>> perfect summary.

    Great interview Jana! Looking forward to meet you next year
    yes I did!!

    hopefully! meeting is long overdue
  8. Great interview, love reading these fans stories! It certainly helps to build the excitement for those if us still waiting for our shows to come around!