40 years ago this album changed my mind. U2 Boy

[The Polack MSgt]

[Ohiogal]

1. High on my list of favorites, as well, MSgt

[yankeepants]

2. In 1982 on a hot summer afternoon I went to see U2

at a gym at a Community College in Upstate NY. There were about maybe 150 of us. It was amazing! It was like a high school dance with the greatest band in the world. They played to us like we were at MSG. Bono and The Edge came down into the crowd on the floor and danced with us. I had been a fan since they appeared a couple of years earlier so this was pure gold.

[Bayard]

4. What a totally awesome experience!

[electric_blue68]

10. What a fabulous experience!

NYC's weekly Village Voice late '80 must have had an ad for the venue where U2 were the playing as the opening act. .
I missed the ad.

I was a really good (amatuer) rock concert photographer by '70. I did have 2 photos published. 😁

[Bayard]

3. 40 Years???

Is it possible I am that old? OR, that the band is that old?

Greatest ever!

[electric_blue68]

12. Heh. They are like 58, 59, 60.

[louis-t]

5. Great record. I heard most of the album played live

4 times. In December 1980, I was in a band that did 4 shows with them in New England. They opened for us twice, we opened for them twice. I saw an interview with The Edge recently. He mentioned us! They even remember the band name. Pretty wild. There are some articles online about the dates. I matched up the dates from their website with a hotel itinerary that survived. I have two of the passes.

[Hoyt]

6. Cool experience.

[electric_blue68]

8. That is so neat! Great experience!

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Very Cool!

Good for you, Louis.

[electric_blue68]

7. It was the IWF/OOC single that got me...

which I heard before the while album.

While I wasn't that impressed with the rest of the album two things besides the single kept my musical atennae up.🙂

I became a fan of the original CBGB'S Bands pretty soon after they emerged. Two of those bands were amongst U2's musical influences.

The second magazine that documented the ever expanding Punk, New Wave scene in NYC, our Tri-State area, the USA, Britain, Ireland and beyond was called 💖 New York Rocker. The 2nd editor of it went to England to listen to new bands. He saw U2 at the Marquee Club. His late 1980 review? This band is plays anthemic songs, they are engaged with the audience, and they're ambitious. If they can stay together past their Sophomore album I believe they can make it to Stadium Level..

This same NYR published a 4 pg interview w them (done with he day after that Marquee show). I was very impressed! So I just had to wait to see them live. I had to give up a Tix to a summer show in '83 - I was demanded to be elsewhere. However the venue was right next to NYC's Circle Line. I took it in the hopes I could at least catch a sound check. And I did! 😁 Edge playing piano, Adam in bass for NYD.

It was finally Dec 84 at Radio City Hall where I finally got to see them live with friends! We danced, cheered, sang our way through the show. I have seen them here in NY/NJ on every tour (except POP) since then! 💖

[FM123]

9. Wow, how can it possibly be that many years.....

I saw them in concert up in West Palm Beach when they were touring that album (1982?) and believe it or not, they were the opening act for the J. Geils Band

[electric_blue68]

11. J Geils - that's an interesting contrast!