the show of a lifetime.

U2. i'd venture to say one of the world's most famous bands. bono + the edge + some of the greatest songs ever. even if you're not a die-hard fan, there's no doubt that you love "with or without you", "where the streets have no name", "beautiful day", and "i still haven't found what i'm looking for"...

i knew they'd be amazing live... even just in a "normal" venue.

but the 360° tour? taking it to a whole new level. the stage set makes use of a massive four-legged supporting rig that has been nicknamed "the claw" and has set a world record for the largest concert stage structure. and as of last month, the tour has also set records for both highest-grossing & highest-attended tour of all time.

so when they announced they were coming to nashville, i freaked out, along with the whole city- the band hasn't played here in 30 years (bono actually said it was december 1981 - 2 weeks before i was born!) and they also bypassed the typical huge arena, and chose vanderbilt's football stadium - making nashville's stop the smallest venue on this tour.

i'd heard about the stage... but y'all, it really does look like a spaceship. it's so crazy involved and technical and detailed... a circular ramp, rotating bridges, expanding cylindrical video screen, elaborate lighting effects. it require 120 trucks just to transport the massive set (of which there are 3 - and they want to leave them around the world as permanent concert venues when the tour is over... pretty cool!) we just kept looking at each other with amazement as every moment continued to wow you more than the last.

the show was literally one of a kind. i honestly don't think anything could ever top the hugeness that it was. and i love knowing that the man behind it all is singing about freedom + redemption + love ... as thousands of people join in.

(if you don't think you'll get to one of these shows - check out the live dvd of the tour stop at the rose bowl last year... totally worth a watch!)

and don't even get me started on how much i love how bono has opened the world's eyes to poverty (especially in Africa) and the millions of lives he's influenced & affected. (check out one.org if you don't know)

talk about a man who has used the platform he's been given to do some serious good.

even if that platform is shaped like a giant spaceship-claw.