Ninjas Attack

This blog has absolutely nothing to do with actual ninjas or pretend ones for that matter. But we all know the most important part of a sequel is its name. For example Star Wars hit the jackpot. It's sequel was known as Empire Strikes Back. That's so tough. Matrix Reloaded ... not as good a name. A sequel can be doomed by its name alone, or be well on its way to prosperity. The point of this post though is not a history of movie sequels it's to carry you through my journey to Chicago to see U2. The sequel includes a stunning revelation and the concert itself.

Jess and I arrived in Chicago as previously stated around 4:00 P.M. The concert is at 7:30 and we need to figure out our mode of travel as well as a dinner plan. After studying the Metra Rail we realize it's not going to work. It leaves us like 2 miles from where we want to be, and we're not rolling the dice and walking it. 2 miles of unknown roads in Chicago ... you can see why we're not too excited. So this leaves only one mode of transportation, back in the car for more driving fun and somehow finding a way to pay the exorbitant amount of tolls. Knowing it's Chicago and there is traffic we decide to leave at 5:30. We arrive at 6:30, after hitting tons of traffic and losing what seems like $25 to the state of Illinois and the upkeep of these horrible roads, and find rock star parking.

This is a phrase I haven't used on the blog yet, and one I use often. I think you can understand it. It's the type of parking you'd get if you were a rock star. In all reality rock stars are probably flown into the stadium so they don't have to walk at all. What a life. But our parking enables us to literally turn right from my parking spot, right onto the road, and then 30 feet ahead a right onto the freeway. It's as good as you can get. The Chicago gods are smiling on us. We then go stand in the freezing wind, windy city anyone, until the doors open. It's suddenly 7:03 when I wonder when the doors for this sucker are opening up. The concert starts in 27 minutes, and it hardly seems like an internationally famous band like U2 needs to have a line of people outside to drum up excitement. My sister doesn't know, and I wip out my cellphone to double check the time. That's when it happens ...

We realized there's an hour time change. We drove into Central time and it's only 6:00. Suddenly it makes a ton of sense, all the clues we missed. We listened to satellite radio on the way there and so they don't give the time. There was no stewardess to tell us the local time which I'm accustomed too. The clock at the Hampton Inn that we thought was wrong, nope, it was our watches that were wrong. The rock star parking, it was there because we were 2 hours early! We instantly feel like idiots. So despite the fact that between us our IQ is roughly 300 or 310 or something we didn't remember to change the clock. No matter though as they open the doors shortly at some random time like 6:14 CENTRAL TIME. So this enables us to catch a quick bite to eat and some of the Celtics Game 7 debacle. I'd rather not talk about it.

Just a couple of thoughts from one of the most amazing shows I've ever seen. The opening band was horrible. Kings of Leon opened for them and they had this Southern rock kind of sound. The drummer was pretty skilled and I think the bassist was as well. Unfortunately the guitarist and the lead singer left some to be desired. Every song ended on the same mash of chords and the singer saying something like, "Yeeaaaahhhhhhh!" Dreadful. How does a killer band like U2 not get someone AWESOME to open for them. Is it the fact that they're so good that no one will. Some band doesn't want to be an opener and take a small cut of the profit? I think that's what it must be.

U2 played for like two and a half hours. It was so sweet, and much longer than their last tour. The show contained that magical mix of energy, passion, and straight up talented music. They managed to play seven songs off their new album as well as some of the good old stuff as well. They played two of my top five favorite songs of theirs, yet somehow managed to play my least favorite song as well. All told about twenty-eight songs I think. Including several blatantly Christian references, choruses of Hallelujah, awesome fiber optic lighting, two encores, and a rendition of Psalm 40. The band referenced their passion for Africa several times and at one point had everyone hold up their cell phones with arena lights down to demonstrate the power when everyone bands togehter under one cause. All in all quite moving, and I found out they were recording the concert DVD at that show. So if you want to feel the same power, emotion, and all around awesomeness (yes I just made up a word if John Madden can do it for Monday Night Football I sure can for my blog) check out the concert DVD when it comes out. You can bet for sure I'll blog about it.

That's it for this sequel. Look for the conclusion to this awesome trilogy Wednesday. It will enlighten you with two awesome car games, well priced gas, Toledo, OH and a way to pass a good couple of hours that you may never have thought about before. Oh yeah, don't stop here with the blog. Make sure you read Andrew's below as well. We just both happened to blog on the same day. Silly us.