"I won tickets to the PopMart show in Foxboro, Massachusetts as a prize from a school fundraiser in high school."
Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
My name is Jason Boire. I’m 44 years old. I live in Beaverton, Oregon, USA. I live with my wife and two kids (a 12-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son). I am a Program Manager for an IT program that supports the Department of Veterans Affairs.
How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
It was a complete accident. I won tickets to the PopMart show in Foxboro, Massachusetts as a prize from a school fundraiser in high school. I was aware of U2’s singles from the radio but was not a fan at all. Luckily, this was the last show of the North American leg and the show had rounded into form. I left the stadium with a new favorite band.
Does anyone in your family or one of your friends like U2? If so, did they introduce you to U2, or did you “convert” them?
None of my friends or family are fans, despite my best efforts. I’ve taken my wife to two shows (Vertigo tour and Sphere) and my kids to the Sphere show (see attached picture). Tolerance is the best reaction I’ve been able to elicit.
What does your U2 collection look like? What kind of stuff do you have and how is it organized?
Nothing fancy. I have all of the commercially released studio albums on CD and tour videos on DVD or BluRay, and I have recordings of the shows I’ve been to digitally, and a few U2 books on my bookshelf.
Tell us about your first U2 concert at the PopMart tour, what was it like?
It was amazing. I was blown away by the spectacle, and the band and crowd were both fantastic. This was only my second concert ever, having watched Jewel at a small 2,700-person venue a few months earlier. That show was great in its own way, but it was a very different experience.
When you’re forced to leave to a deserted island and you can take only one U2 album with you, which would it be?
Can I cheat and take the audio of one of their concert videos? If so, I’d probably go with either Elevation Boston or Slane Castle. That was a great era for the band in my opinion. I’d probably lean towards Boston for The Fly and Stay, but it’d be hard to part with some of the Slane exclusives. If I can’t cheat, I’d probably have to go with Achtung Baby.
Who is your favorite band member? Has this changed over time?
Musically, it’s The Edge. I actually prefer his singing to Bono’s, except for his rendition of Peace on Earth from SoS. However, I think Adam’s my favorite from a “vibes” perspective and the one I’d most like to have a conversation with.
What are your expectations for U2’s next album? Do you think it will be their last?
I really don’t know what to expect from a timing or content perspective, but I’m looking forward to whatever it turns into. I hope it surprises me.
How different is U2 compared to other artists that you like?
I’d say fairly different. I tend to listen to an eclectic mix of genres. My other favorite artists are the Beastie Boys, Childish Gambino, the Beatles, and Dr. Dre in some order.
What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
I have a very large collection of Spider-Man comics and a pretty big comic collection in general. I also own way more video games and consoles than I can actually play. My current backlog of games that I bought and haven’t played yet is at 75…
