Uncle Jim & U2

September 12, 2009

U2 @ Soldier Field

My Birthday

My friends and I visited Chicago for a very special reason - to see a band that brings 'a certain charm' to the still frame pictures frozen in our memory.

Maybe I shouldn't speak on behalf of them. For me, U2 reminds me of much more than just music. It takes me back in time when I was 7. More specifically, 1987.

The year JOSHUA TREE was released.

That album represents a myriad of memories from my childhood. It's ironic that the North American tour kicked off in Chicago, because my Dad was born here. He grew up on the southside of the city. Sox fan. Wrong side of the tracks, so he puts it.

After he made his way through childhood and adolescence without too many snags, he joined the Air Force and was eventually placed in Dayton, OH. My birthplace. Without getting into all the messy details, 1987 was a memorable year for one simple reason. U2.

The Joshua Tree is an album that my dad seemed to incessantly listen to while driving his hoopty sky blue rust bucket - a vehicle with a rusted out hole in the back seat floor board. I can remember projectile ralphing on the dashboard and floor board, in the passenger seat, on the way to the babysitter one morning.

The album reminds me of trips to Chicago to see the family during holidays. Summer days with Mtv reverberating Bono's voice through the large wood frame television we had. It's an album that takes me away where I can close my eyes and just smile!

Jimmy Jimmy Cocoa Pop......Cereal?
Another person of influence in my life has to be the infamous Uncle Jim. As you can see, he joined me for the U2 show. He is a music lover and thought it would be cool to see a show with me as well as to see U2 at their pinnacle.

My friends and I woke up at 6am to hop in line to wait all day for the sickest standing room general admission spots. Jim doesn't arrive until 4pm. He hops in line and ends up getting into the stadium before we do. Go figure.

I have a very cool relationship with my Uncle, who I actually worked with for a summer during the college years, waterproofing basements. I learned a few life lessons from him while living and working with him. He really knows how to work hard and enjoy himself equally!

During that summer in Chicago, I really got back into the Joshua Tree album and reveled in the song 'Red Hill Mining Town.' It struck a chord within me. The feeling of a beautiful day on the horizon, no puns intended. Any word I use can relate back to the vast collection of U2 discography. ha!

Lately, 'In God's Country' is a great song to play while driving on a warm sunny day through the back country of Ohio or Indiana.

'Where the Streets Have No Name' is a song that, for me, can always be played to encourage the following of a dream or ambitious goal that you want to reach.

Every song means something different to the listener. This is a personal and sentimental band that millions of people feel similar about. These guys must be musically gifted or the luckiest dudes in the world.

They didn't get anywhere without working hard to get better each day to realize their dream. A lesson many people can learn from.

Matty B was nice enough to get the tix for me so thanks bruva.

Not much flow to the blog - guess that's why it's a blog!!!