The band announced last week that they would go on tour to mark the 30th anniversary of their Joshua Tree album. This album was one I bought on cassette when I had just turned 13. I listened to my cassette over and over -front and back -back to front. I had a paper route at the time and each day my trusty Walkman and I would deliver those papers. I had a couple friends who helped me through those delivery days; Billy Joel, George Michael and Bono. Yes, there were lots of mix tapes in between but those three guys were my go-tos.
I remember leaving my 13th birthday party, which I chose to have at Chuck E. Cheese to kind of stick it to teendom, and listening to the magnificent voice of Paul Hewston [Bono] and wishing I could belt out notes with as much passion as him.
U2 stayed with me during my high school years and in the summer of 92, as a recent graduate and almost college student, a few friends and I got tickets to the Three Rivers Stadium show. At that time a ticket cost around $25.00. We all bought t-shirts too (probably another 20 bucks), which I proudly wore around my college campus until I wore it out. I didn't go to many shows during my high school/college years but I remember seeing U2 was a big deal. Big production, big sound. It was a warm summer night and I had just turned 18. Life was full of possibilities and us girls had great taste in music that would see us through the decades that lay ahead.
Now to the present. The shows which weren't a frequent occurrence then are even less of an occurrence now. The show has to be a pretty big deal to A. shell out the cash and B. arrange for childcare. The last show I saw was during the Three Rivers Arts Festival because A. it was free and B. the kids could sit on a blanket with me. Yes, people, I put the roll in rock n' roll as in that's how this family of 5 rolls.
I was watching the news after a rough day last week when I saw that U2 was going on tour. I watch the news on mute since it is not always family friendly and that way I can read the closed captions. I could believe what I was reading! My coming of age album would be the focus of this tour. I decided to sleep on this news and see how I felt when I woke up. Tickets were not going on sale for another week. I had time.
The next morning I texted my friend - one of the girls with me at Three Rivers Stadium 25 years ago. She now lives in North Carolina and I knew for her this concert would entail more than a jaunt down the Parkway.
(8:53 a.m.) Me: Would you consider coming in town to see the show?
(8:54 a.m.) Her: How crazy! I was just looking over the tour dates.
(8:56 a.m. )Me: My husband would not want to go and Joshua Tree is my fave album
(8:57 a.m.)Her: My girls are still in school but if my husband is around I could. I saw presale was tomorrow. It would be awesome to go with you.
In the day it took to finalize whether this was a go on her end - she joined the U2 Fan Club so we could participate in the presale. She got tickets and now all we have to do is wait. We were meant to go I tell myself. We just had to.
Say what you want about bands and their crazy ticket prices. Say what you want about celebrities that are outspoken and may ruffle some feathers, but this show isn't about that. It is about two friends recapturing their youthful spirit in this crazy world. Many things have changed in 25 years. Heck, Three Rivers Stadium is gone, 25 dollar ticket prices are gone and poor Walkmans are extinct. But some friendships stand the test of time and putting them to music make them infinite.
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