Well they did it again; another fantastic night from the fab four.

They spend so much money on their stage; it looks fantastic no matter where you’re standing. They opened with ‘City of Blinding Lights’ (Not a bad song, some nice lyrics) and their optic curtains had light falling down them in time with the descending notes. Then ‘Vertigo’, which is not one of my favourites, until I realised that they had clearly written it for concerts. Listening to 20,000 people shout 1,2,3, 14 (why 14?) in Spanish before the entire ellipse lights up with red lights whipping around it’s perimeter, was quite a spectacle.

It looks like the set list wasn’t wildly different from Ireland’s, but I was a little disappointed by the absence of ‘The Fly’. Still, they sang ‘Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses’, which to this day is one of my favourites. Here’s hoping for ‘The Sweetest Thing’ next time.

They packed out the Target Centre (strange, Target’s logo looks very like the Vertigo emblem, and therefore their stage) for a record crowd of over 20,000 (no match for Croke Park) and played brilliantly.

But then, in terms of who’s likely to read this, I’m preaching to the choir. You already know they put on one of the best shows in the business. It’s nice to know that while their latest album isn’t mind-blowing, they’ve still got it where it counts.

A good man died on this day.

Gerry McCafferty was taken by cancer and passed away peacefully with friends and family. It feels good that so many people emailed me to make sure I knew, despite being 4500 miles away. Gerry was involved with YI from when I was a teenager and he greatly added to what was a already an extremely positive and memorable experience. I could say loads about what a stand-up person he was, but I’ll share one enduring memory…

Gary, Lisa, Brian, Michelle Fitz and myself decided to go and hear Paul MacAree play at White’s Tavern. We had a few pints and a good laugh, as always. Michelle Fitz gets up to sing (we must have been holding Gary down) and on her way, two drunken gits make some inappropriate remark about her breasts, and don’t show any signs of stopping there, either. I HATE mouthing off in bars, and I’m always nervously aware of who’s near me, because I’m rather sensitive to the possibility of a fight breaking out.

No need.

Without a word to us, Gerry turns and shouts “STEADY ON!” at these two pricks, and there wasn’t another peep out of them. Now, I’m sure Gerry has done much more noble, brave and notable things in his life, but that’s my experience of a man who wouldn’t stand idly by, and I want to share it.

Incidentally, MacAree finished his set and dragged us around to City Hall to see what was going down for the UVF ceasefire. We were the bulk of a small crowd, but we started belting out “I Can See Clearly Now”, whereupon CNN, Reuters and God knows what other news-services stick their cameras in our collective face. It was a great laugh until big Don Ritchie shoved me in front of a lens and went on about us loving Jesus.

Then the party was broken up by a crowd of Loyalists marching toward us shouting “EAST, EAST, EAST BELFAST!” Brian said we were ok because he thought they were only shouting “Peace, Peace, Peace At Last.”

Oh Mullan…. at least he can fill a pram.