52nd City

Free Ticket to U2

So, Jim Utz is my hero. I was the first person he called when he got a last-minute Heisman from someone else on a free U2 ticket, which is to say, I got a free ticket to U2. That someone else passed on such a bounty is awesome and alternate status on free stuff is awesome. Hey, the tickets were awesome. Woo-hoo! There's no one in St. Louis I'd rather talk music with than Vintage Vinyl's ace promotions man and that was an option at the U2 show this happened this week; if not mistaken, on Wednesday, though it feels like it was yesterday. For example, we talked about Metallica's "Some Kind of Monster," the best documentary, possibly, ever.

The band - U2, not Metallica - played a number of songs from their catalogue, many of which I knew, though I stopped purchasing their records after "The Unforgettable Fire." Which I like a lot. They didn't play the title track of that record, or "New Year's Day," two moments of mild disappointment. The songs from the radio and the iPod commercials are alright and the band's execution of them is solid. These U2 fellows are pros. And their lighting staff is also fantastic. What a beautiful stage and so well-lit. Did I mention that I know the man who tuned the U2 keyboards? I do.

After the show, the highlight was definitely going to Rue 13, where Jim spins on Monday nights, from 11 p.m.-3 a.m. There are 2-for-1 specials on both drinks and sushi. Some would call this a great deal. However, we didn't attend on Monday, but Wednesday. DJ Kenny Kingston was playing music from the '80s, a spin he calls the "Dollar Bin," and a night that used to be featured with Lo. Jim had a sake for $1, as it was $1 sake night. Woo-hoo!

Now, back to U2, so I can finish.

The show was full of people, at least 18,000. How likely is it, then, to be sitting behind a mid-level local celebrity? Well, when you a $162 seat, it's certainly possible. And, mind you, I didn't look at the ticket price under "Bullet the Blue Sky," half-way through the main set. YIKES! Jim Utz is my hero, as is his friend Doug, who secured the ticket in the first place. In front of both of us - me and Jim, not me and Doug - is Martin Kilcoyne, co-host of "The Morning Grind" on KFNS 590 am and sports anchor on Fox 2. Throghout the show, I watched the band, but also couldnt help but glance at Martin Kilcoyne, who has the rhythm of a turnip.

That's my story about my free ticket to U2.