Bono wrote a memoir. I was really excited when it was announced months ago and preordered it right away. Then as a complete surprise (to me at least) he announced a book tour. What??? Coming to Toronto, what?? I had to go. I knew it was going to be a once in a life time, super rare event, and I kinda didn’t care what it cost. Luckily I have been maintaining my u2.com membership in hopes of an Achtung Baby anniversary tour, so I was able to get a presale code.
Of course, ticketmaster is complete trash. I immediately got in with no wait, got a pair of tickets, cashed out – payment fail. For no reason. Got kicked out, back in the lobby queue, not moving out of it, retrying, going onto the laptop instead, getting in and of course, no tickets available. I was so mad. But I perservered! I just kept refreshing, over 20 minutes later, I was able to snag 2 tickets. Didn’t know where they were, didn’t know how much they were, I just took whatever. Turns out they were pretty great seats mid floor, for a price I was comfortable with. Now to find someone to go with.
I offered them to all my u2 friends and no one was able to go with me 🙁 🙁 🙁 which I really found epically sad. Honestly, I didn’t want to take J because he doesn’t care at the level I needed the person to go with to be at. And I know he didn’t really want to go anyway, because he just doesn’t care. So I found a random girl on facebook who was looking for tickets, and it worked out great.
I drove up for the 2nd time in the same weekend, and with all the construction I was kind of lost, but somehow ended up on the street where people were waiting for Bono to arrive at the venue. And there was a parking ramp right there. So very convenient haha. My new friend Kimberlee showed up, and a few other friends of hers came as well, and we all hung out waiting for Bono. It gave me flashbacks to London in 97 (on a WAAAAY SMALLER scale haha). Bono arrived around 530, and various staff had said he wasn’t going to talk because he had to save his voice, and he might or might not sign. So when he arrived, he did a quick walk up and down the line to wave, but no autographs or anything.
I was not sure what to expect when this show got announced. A book tour – I figured it would be Bono talking for 2 hours, reading from the book. The same thing an author might do at a book store for a signing/reading. And I tried very hard not to pay attention to reports from the first few cities. But I was unable to avoid the news that he was actually going to be singing too! It really was like a one man show. Bono with a cellist, a harpist, and a “dj” percussion, keyboardist. There was a simple stage set up of a few tables and chairs, and 2 screens which were used to display Bono’s drawings of various things/people he was talking about. He interspersed songs between the stories he was telling – mainly of the relationships that have made him who he is – parents, Ali, the band. It was very heavy on his father, the way their relationship progressed through the years.
Oh man it was something special. It was emotional, it was funny. He was still Bono, with his Bono mannerisms. Acoustic songs in a different vein than with U2. I find it hard to really discuss. He held the audience in his hands (as usual, but in a wholly different way). It was awesome.
- “City Of Blinding Lights”
- “Vertigo”
- “With or Without You”
- “Out of Control”
- “Stories for Boys”
- “I Will Follow”
- “Iris (Hold Me Close)”
- “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
- “Pride (In the Name of Love)”
- “Where the Streets Have No Name”
- “Desire”
- “Beautiful Day”
- “Torna a Surriento”
The show ended with the death of his father, and Bono singing opera. He had done a little on Miss Sarajevo on the 360 tour (?) which was impressive then. But holy jeeesus. Given that his voice seemed sore, and the not talking before the show thing, he killed it. Ridiculous.