Willie's Tour Diary - Honolulu

bayou12780 · 12-21-2006, 08:40 PM

From Willie's Tour Diary on u2.com. Interesting and candid comments...

"Traffic going to the venue was absolutely brutal, which set the tone for the day. I am not sure if it was particularly highlighted for me, having just come from the ‘land of politeness’, but there was quite a rough atmosphere in the venue. Not aggressive exactly, but from security through to the mood of the crowd there was a slightly confrontational feeling in the air. Maybe it was the Mai Tais.
...

To be completely honest I didn’t really enjoy the U2 show that much. The house security appeared to be in something of a shambles and (possibly as a result) a tangible level of aggression surfaced, with a few scuffles in the crowd. By the time I’d got from backstage to the mix position I was a little tweaked. To add to this, for the first few numbers there was what seemed to be an endless series of small, irritating technical problems – one of the video screens went out, the lighting desk started doing odd things with the strobes, etc. All the same I made a point of looking at the show, understanding that we’ll never see this again. The big Vertgio op art swirls, the Julian Opie walking man… all gone for good."

Caroni · 12-21-2006, 08:54 PM

Thank you, for those like me that can´t be a U2.com member this is very nice

POOR GUY!!!!!!!!

partygirlvox · 12-21-2006, 09:03 PM

I'm sorry he didn't enjoy it, but I did.

4U2Play · 12-21-2006, 09:14 PM

That's so weird, I felt the exact same way Willie did.

After three shows in Tokyo, where the crowds were very intense but also polite, Honolulu seemed a bit rough. Maybe it was because everyone had been waiting outside for hours and hours and were irritable.

At the back of the ellipse between the two B-stages, a couple of drunken Irish guys were thrown out by security for fighting with a girl, people wouldn't allow other people to get by them, fans were getting mad at all the people holding up their signs blocking their views of the B-stages, the whole VIP fiasco pissed off everyone hanging over the rail outside the ellipse, it was a strange vibe going on back there.

Caroni · 12-21-2006, 09:34 PM

I have a theory, I think hot climates

puts people in bad mood

U2 fans are really nice to be that rude!

Liesje · 12-21-2006, 09:58 PM

Yeah the mood there was just not the same. We had a horrible issue with security basically harassing a girl in front of me in the stadium. I think they just got too keyed up over the show and the mood carried over to the fans. If security looks scared or angry, we assume that nothing is going to go smoothly, people start getting testy and nervous, and the shit hits the fan. Everyone had this giant sense of entitlement.

Kinsa · 12-21-2006, 10:01 PM

It's weird, but now that I think about it, two fights did break out in front of me (both during Pearl Jam's set), and I've never seen that at a U2 show. And security did seem really lame in dealing with it, it didn't seem like they dealt with the agressor at all. I guess I'm so used to going to NFL games, where fights are pretty common, that I really didn't stop to think that it was odd to see two fights at the U2 show.

Still had a great time though!!

JCOSTER · 12-21-2006, 10:05 PM

Well if you think about the stadium from what I have gathered wasn't equipped in handling such a large crowd. Considering that its seems though all went pretty well!

Liesje · 12-21-2006, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JCOSTER
Well if you think about the stadium from what I have gathered wasn't equipped in handling such a large crowd. Considering that its seems though all went pretty well!

I think they got a little more worked up than they needed to. This was a pretty little stadium and the front section of GA was not even half full. My initial thought after arriving was "holy shit they have SO MANY security officers here, this is going to be smooth running!" It was more that they didn't know what to do and having so many people caused miscommunication between fans and among their staff.

I had an amazing time, but U2 is just so good that I can honestly say I've had more amazing times elsewhere

Maybe stadiums are not for me.

Blue Room · 12-21-2006, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Liesje
Everyone had this giant sense of entitlement.

U2 fans, with a sense of entitlement?? It just can't be!!

JCOSTER · 12-21-2006, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Liesje

I think they got a little more worked up than they needed to. This was a pretty little stadium and the front section of GA was not even half full. My initial thought after arriving was "holy shit they have SO MANY security officers here, this is going to be smooth running!" It was more that they didn't know what to do and having so many people caused miscommunication between fans and among their staff.

I had an amazing time, but U2 is just so good that I can honestly say I've had more amazing times elsewhere Maybe stadiums are not for me.

I like an arena much more myself.

Caroni · 12-21-2006, 11:12 PM

Remember that there were parl jam fans too

silvrlvr · 12-21-2006, 11:32 PM

It isn't like the stadium folks didn't have plenty of time to prepare for the show, meet with both bands, gauge the behavior of the fans and figure out the best way to handle any situations.

Caroni · 12-21-2006, 11:41 PM

I still think it because of the climate

coolian2 · 12-22-2006, 12:02 AM

Yeah, but

Quote:

This has been a fantastic little run, producing some of the best shows of U2’s career – perhaps we should consider doing a dozen shows after a six-month break at the end of every tour…

12-21-2006, 08:40 PM	#1
bayou12780 War Child Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cap City USA Posts: 532 Local Time: 07:37 AM	Willie's Tour Diary - Honolulu From Willie's Tour Diary on u2.com. Interesting and candid comments... "Traffic going to the venue was absolutely brutal, which set the tone for the day. I am not sure if it was particularly highlighted for me, having just come from the ‘land of politeness’, but there was quite a rough atmosphere in the venue. Not aggressive exactly, but from security through to the mood of the crowd there was a slightly confrontational feeling in the air. Maybe it was the Mai Tais. ... To be completely honest I didn’t really enjoy the U2 show that much. The house security appeared to be in something of a shambles and (possibly as a result) a tangible level of aggression surfaced, with a few scuffles in the crowd. By the time I’d got from backstage to the mix position I was a little tweaked. To add to this, for the first few numbers there was what seemed to be an endless series of small, irritating technical problems – one of the video screens went out, the lighting desk started doing odd things with the strobes, etc. All the same I made a point of looking at the show, understanding that we’ll never see this again. The big Vertgio op art swirls, the Julian Opie walking man… all gone for good."

12-21-2006, 09:03 PM	#3
partygirlvox The Female Eunuch. Premium Gold Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sunny Goodge Street. Posts: 10,702 Local Time: 12:37 PM	I'm sorry he didn't enjoy it, but I did. __________________

12-21-2006, 09:58 PM	#6
Liesje Best in Show Premium Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In the dog house. Posts: 16,760 Local Time: 07:37 AM Images: 1	Yeah the mood there was just not the same. We had a horrible issue with security basically harassing a girl in front of me in the stadium. I think they just got too keyed up over the show and the mood carried over to the fans. If security looks scared or angry, we assume that nothing is going to go smoothly, people start getting testy and nervous, and the shit hits the fan. Everyone had this giant sense of entitlement. __________________

12-21-2006, 10:01 PM	#7
Kinsa The Fly Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 160 Local Time: 12:37 PM	It's weird, but now that I think about it, two fights did break out in front of me (both during Pearl Jam's set), and I've never seen that at a U2 show. And security did seem really lame in dealing with it, it didn't seem like they dealt with the agressor at all. I guess I'm so used to going to NFL games, where fights are pretty common, that I really didn't stop to think that it was odd to see two fights at the U2 show. Still had a great time though!! Last edited by Kinsa; 12-21-2006 at 10:04 PM..

12-21-2006, 10:05 PM	#8
JCOSTER Get On Your Boots!!! Premium Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upon a rock. Posts: 13,133 Local Time: 07:37 AM	Well if you think about the stadium from what I have gathered wasn't equipped in handling such a large crowd. Considering that its seems though all went pretty well! __________________ Catching your bright blue eyes in the freeze frame I've seen them so many times I feel like I must be your best friend

12-21-2006, 08:54 PM	#2
Caroni New Yorker Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Under Angel´s falls in Venezuela Posts: 3,134 Local Time: 08:07 AM	Thank you, for those like me that can´t be a U2.com member this is very nice POOR GUY!!!!!!!!

12-21-2006, 09:14 PM	#4
4U2Play War Child Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: California Posts: 769 Local Time: 04:37 AM	That's so weird, I felt the exact same way Willie did. After three shows in Tokyo, where the crowds were very intense but also polite, Honolulu seemed a bit rough. Maybe it was because everyone had been waiting outside for hours and hours and were irritable. At the back of the ellipse between the two B-stages, a couple of drunken Irish guys were thrown out by security for fighting with a girl, people wouldn't allow other people to get by them, fans were getting mad at all the people holding up their signs blocking their views of the B-stages, the whole VIP fiasco pissed off everyone hanging over the rail outside the ellipse, it was a strange vibe going on back there.

12-21-2006, 09:34 PM	#5
Caroni New Yorker Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Under Angel´s falls in Venezuela Posts: 3,134 Local Time: 08:07 AM	I have a theory, I think hot climates puts people in bad mood U2 fans are really nice to be that rude!

12-21-2006, 11:12 PM	#12
Caroni New Yorker Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Under Angel´s falls in Venezuela Posts: 3,134 Local Time: 08:07 AM	Remember that there were parl jam fans too

12-21-2006, 11:32 PM	#13
silvrlvr Refugee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 1,232 Local Time: 07:37 AM	It isn't like the stadium folks didn't have plenty of time to prepare for the show, meet with both bands, gauge the behavior of the fans and figure out the best way to handle any situations.

12-21-2006, 11:41 PM	#14
Caroni New Yorker Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Under Angel´s falls in Venezuela Posts: 3,134 Local Time: 08:07 AM	I still think it because of the climate

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