I'm sorry that these aren't better than they are. I knew that I had some photos somewhere from that show (it was my first of what has turned out to be many U2 shows!) and these are the only two that I could find. Of course these are bad phone photos of the horribly-mistreated pictures that sat in a shoebox for years.
Phil - I remember that Larry was sick and they asked people in the front for Tylenol (the security people asked) after Art in America played their opening set.
Timothy Travis
24 April, 2017
my friend/coworker was at this show
i didn't discover U2 until War came out. when i went in to work talking about the great band i'd discovered, she said, "yeah, i saw them at a church in Grand Rapids." i was so jealous but she was also a fan so we got to talk about the music a lot.
djsparks
03 July, 2015
U2 in Grand Rapids!
Wow, what a precious memory. Thanks for sharing, Phil. This show happened before I was even born, but being a Grand Rapids resident, it's so cool to think that U2 played in that church so many years ago.
PhilBlock
01 July, 2015
Philblock
(Can't believe no one's commented on this show yet!) My recollection is that the band never played an encore because Bono got sick, or at least that was the rumor. Nonetheless, it was a mind-blowing show, partly because it happened in an ornate church, and because we had no clue what to expect in terms of the overall vibe or style of the band (nothing like youtube existed then). Bono seemed like an absolute wild man on stage; looked nothing like the 'Boy' album cover I had. It was a sweat-fest. The sound was SO loud that I remember seeing small chunks of plaster falling out of the ceiling. My brother claimed he helped unload & carry equipment with the roadie crew and Larry before the show (needed extra help?). I still have my white w/black graphics concert t-shirt that I bought from that show, a prized possession.