2009 Inaugural Concert- a bro's view.

Here are a few pictures from the inaugural concert which took place earlier today, attended by around 700,000 people, with Miami, bro representing the 305. I went with my cousin and kinda cuz Alfonso (a talented photographer who took the 2nd, 3rd and 5th photos). 

That first picture up there was taken at a local bar, but I think it needed to be included, as it rules.

I had a stressful time getting into the concert. We arrived a bit late and had trouble finding our way to an adequate viewing spot. Because of this, we missed viewing about the first half hour of the show, which included like my FAVORITES: Bruce Springsteen, Mary J. Blige, Jon Bon Jovi, and more. Here's the lineup: click. 

We were loitering at the ticket-only area after they closed the doors, and wouldn't let anyone else in, when we spotted Ed Harris and The Today Show host, Hoda Kotb, you can see I got a picture of her up there. Not too shabby. 

Once we made our way up to the Washington Monument, we finally became part of the crowd, joining in on the energy and peoplepower that made this election possible. 

Usher, Stevie Wonder, and Shakira performed probably the tightest performance of the day. Many of the biggest names in music that I've seen have been at political concerts like this one, but much smaller. It's kind of a subpar way to see such great names, but it's unique and personal, because you're kind of both at the same party, same ideals, same "friends." I had never seen U2 live before, and this was one of those moments when watching a performer, where I felt like we're in it together. Bono gave a shout out in support of Palestinian liberation, and people cheered like crazy. This is probably the only city in America where you would get a response like that about this topic (agreed upon by those of us discussing at Farrah's). U2 are Irish, and Northern Ireland is/was occupied territory; for years IRA freedom fighters were doing the same type of subversive fighting as Hamas.

Highlights of the event: 

At one point, they had two different bald eagles come out, both of which wigged out dirty style, flapping their wings like crazy. Everyone around us was like, WTF??? Totally a strange little moment in American history. Must be something "they do." I think Challenger is pictured above. They edited the bird part out of the HBO special. 

Bono: "This is not just an American dream, but also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream ... an Israeli dream and a Palestinian dream." Fighting against oppression. 

Garth Brooks singing American Pie and Shout: everyone really went nuts over these two songs. 

Ladies in fur: so many fur coats. Looked a bit like a battlefield. 

Dancing: Farrah and I did a little dance during This Land is Your Land, people with cameras liked that.

The Boss.

THE BOSS.

The Boss.