U2 at Glastonbury

Interesting times at the postponed headlining gig for U2 at Glastonbury Festival! A protest group were subdued [maybe heavy handedly] by Security after inflating a 6m balloon protesting U2's offshore tax arrangements in the face of their stance on campaigning against poverty and in light of the economic situation in Ireland. Read the story here

I love U2's music and the mystique around their fame, their stories and the pop culture phenomenon the band have become... having liked the sound of Larry Mullen's drums from the first time I ever heard them in the 1980's. I find their music, themes, ways of portraying life and it's multi-faceted nature quite stunning and meaningful. At the same time I have always understood how much they are just like the rest of us... fallible, especially when it come to image and all the hype [the sunnies, private jet, summer homes in southern France etc etc!! Isn't the tax story just a reminder that none of us is perfect?

The tax story has an interesting twist that prior to recent years the Irish had tax exemptions for artists, actors, musicians but introduced those [no doubt because of current struggles] and around that time U2 moved their tax centre off shore... like many athletes and musicians across the UK, a few notable Aussie tennis and golf stars etc... should they be paying the right amount of tax in Ireland... absolutely... does it devalue their anti-poverty work... sure does... does it mean some of their music no longer fosters my spirit and gives me space to explore who I am and what my hopes for the world might be... no way!! The weekend's media has all been about the protest, I wait with interest for the big silence or the half baked response from the bands 'machine'...

"U pay tax 2!!"

U2 360 Live at ANZ Olympic Stadium Sydney 14th December

"Wow... wow!!" said Bono part way through tonights second Sydney 360 concert which is really hard for me to compare to last night! They were just such different experiences!!
Last night Rah, Andrew, Ros and I [and many familiar faces I saw trooping in to the Stadium] enjoyed the concert from the stands where tonight [or more correctly today] it was Darren and I lining up with GA Standing Arena tickets. I again did some laps at Homebush Aquatic Centre in the middle of the day and met Darren around 3pm to wait in the shade until the line filled out a little. At 5.30pm we speed walked down through the stadium and onto the playing surface, to the right of the 'Claw' stage and around and under the outer circle so we were in the pit between the outer and inner circles with our backs to the rail and able to see the band side on in full view, a matter of metres away... briliant and yet surreal under such a spectacular electronic extravaganza!!

Tonight was different because of:
- different song order and choices
- watching from under the massive screen
- standing as close as I would on a good night at Newcastle Workers
- able to see band members walking the circle behind us so they are basically 1 metre away

Again the 'good news' was front and centre in this show with standards sung full of emotion and those pauses listening to the audience chime in were brief and appreciative rather than a sign the band were sick of repeating the song. Indeed I watched Adam Clayton playing tonight and he was loving it...
'New Years Day' replaced 'I Will Follow' in the running order [in fact I liked the flow of last night better] But 'Love Rescue Me' sung as an old time gospel song was a great companion to 'Amazing Grace.' Bono didn't get as many lyrics mixed up tonight and 'With or Without You' was hauntingly moving.
U2s great gift is to take old songs and reinvent them for current times. Great examples include: Bullet the Blue Sky; Sunday Bloody Sunday; and in New Zealand the offering of 'One Tree Hill' and 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' as lament and a chance to sing out your grief at the Pike River Mine disaster.
'One' has had that focus at this and the last tour, with Desmond Tutu's taped intro and invitation to join the list of those who have tried to make the world a better place.
What I love about a live U2 show is how it connects me with my past stories and experiences and also calls me to act differently in the future. They are inspiring and timely reminders. I thought tonight about the brilliant 'Lovetown' concert in 1989 at he Ent Cent, Zoo TV, PopMart and more... as Bono relived those times and even joked about the night Adam missed a show after drinking too much... I fondly recalled a simpler less busy time...
I know U2 are recording [and working on their 'Spiderman' Broadway musical but I am not at all sure they'll return to Australia... I hope so, but if not 'Wow!!'

U2 360 Live at ANZ Olympic Stadium Sydney 13th December

U2 360 Concert Spoiler Alert!!

"I don't really want to leave!" said Bono as the first of their two nights in Sydney wound down after 11pm!! There's plenty of well scripted banter in a U2 show but this was genuine response to the vibe and a shared sense that it had been a special night!!
After two disappointing nights at the 'Vertigo' stadium shows in 2006, 'The Claw' lived up to all the hype in terms of the audiences view of the band and the quality of the sound [which was almost perfect]!! The best part is that a U2 show is never just a replication of their CDs and the passion, 'edge' and enjoyment of the band were palpable tonight!
From 'Return of the Stingray Guitar' and it's pop synth energy [to get the sound sorted] to 'Beautiful Day' I felt invited, connected and inspired by four blokes enjoying their night. 'I Will Follow' reminded me of times spent in the early 1980's in a mates car [complete with handy drum sticks] listening to 'Boy' and 'War' on a cassette tape with a carload of fans hearing these songs for the first time.
The new sounds of 'Get on Your Boots' with the amazing resolution of the 360 screen showed how good this would be when we got to the 'standards' further into the playlist. 'Magnificent' is one of my favourite of the newer U2 tracks as it speaks of 'call' and Bono's using of his gift [the voice of a tenor just like his dad] to engage in the activity of God in the world.
'What time is it now?' and the theme of time ran through the show as U2 made a simpler invitation this time around, about what kind of world we want it to be and how we have the opportunity to 'have a say' in that through our thoughts and actions...
'Mysterious Ways', 'Elevation' and 'Until the End of the World' continue the journey until 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' brings tears to the eyes.
In the 'middle' of the show Bono mentioned the late Michael Hutchence [former lead singer from INXS] who died not long before their PopMart shows in Sydney but it was weird juxtaposition having just done a 'shout out' to Bob Geldof 'in the house'. 'Stuck in a Moment' [included a 'Do They Know It's Christmas' snippet] and one of my favourite songs 'Bad' [punctuated with 'Need You Tonight' and 'Never Tear Us Apart'] gave way to 'In a Little While' and 'Miss Sarajevo' with the obligatory girl plucked from the audience to be serenaded and dance with Bono while like in many songs the original clip footage played in 360 on the amazing LED screen overhead.
The dominant themes of the last two tours gave way to a celebration of possibilities in making your own meaning: 'City of Blinding Lights', 'Vertigo', 'I'll Go Crazy' [and the remix went off] before 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' became one of my highlights of the night [including the addition of Jay-Z. I had been reminded of the bands show in Auckland just after the recent Pike River Mine disaster and their invitation that at times like those in Ireland when we don't know what to do 'We Sing!!" and I hoped it had helped some people...
It wasn't tired, didn't clash with the contemporary context the way some uses of it have [others have been spot on brilliant] but the song showed passion, anger and mostly determination and it felt like we were just getting started... 'Scarlet' with it's simple refrain of 'rejoice' celebrated the release of Aung San Sui Kyi but reminded us that 2300 political prisoners remain for the crime of 'believing in an Election result' so with a thankyou, U2 played 'Walk On' the best I've heard it while young people brought large paper lanterns to the circle stage and stood, then placed them on the edges for reflection. 'You'll Never Walk Alone' didn't quite seem to fit but the crowd joined in as it had all night when Bono stopped momentarily... It was sometime around here that I commented 'OK, let's go!!' and wasn't disappointed...
The encore allowed the shift to the great footage of 'The Arch' Desmond Tutu imploring us all to be ONE as an intro to another of my favourites. Bono then sang 'Amazing Grace' and while I was lost in listening I noticed a crowd either singing or wondering...
'Where the Streets Have No Name' was the best rendition of my favourite U2 track that I have ever heard live [even better than the 'Lovetown' tour and with man tears streaming down my face I joined in the singing at the risk of all my neighbours experience [not for the first time tonight]. I chuckled at the sms I received in 2006 from a friend who had been driving across the city that night and on spec pulled into Olympic Blvd thinking the traffic will have been altered and everyone will be inside, so that sitting on his car bonnet just outside he heard the strains of this song and texted me because he knew I would appreciate the moment!!
Original footage of Bono onscreen only added to the spectacle as the entire screen and lighting turned traditionally 'red' in reference to the original concert footage at Arizona's Sun Devil Stadium where the Daniel Lanois 'Rattle and Hum' documentary turned from black and white to full colour! Is it time for us to 'make poverty history', to treate others as equals, to change the world? all invoked not in words this time but in the tunes...
'Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me' allowed Bono to show off a cool trapeze red led mic and red led jacket before 'With or Without You' and 'Moment of Surrender' just took off... the sound was just amazing and I commented later [largely due to these moments] that I didn't need to 'go to church' for another year, after that worship experience!! It all left me speechless for a few moments after as we trooped our way down the 'Yankee Stadium' styled cattle ramp exits which clear the stadium so quickly... encouraged to continue a journey of vulnerability, change and transformation!!

U2 360 was an amazing 2 nights in Sydney

In a few days I will have time to download some photos and write about my experience of 2 nights at ANZ Stadium at Homebush in Sydney enjoying the extravaganza that is U2 in 360 degrees!! I spent one night sitting in the 600s and the next standing in between the circular stage and the next ring which forms a runway for the band members to play to all areas of the arena.... In all my years of fandom I have never been only 2 metres from the band as they play!! Anyhow, lots to reflect on and share asap!!

U2 Presale

So, I have purchased my tix to U2 in Sydney through the fanclub presale!!

Sorry I wasn't able to call around and help people join in... the fanclub is limited numbers... I have a second code that might help someone if you meant to contact me... it's all happened really quickly... either way public tix 3rd September!!

Now, like many of my friends I am horrified at the prices and Ticketek's $18 fee!!!! robbery!!

I know the RED Zone is for charity BUT $400+???

My seats are 'nosebleed' 610 area and aren't cheap... I might go 'standing' for Saturday or Sunday when announced if I'm gonna be in Sydney for work!! I hope the 'Claw' works because I didn't like their last Tour show... stage was too low and made it hard to look over lighting and peoples heads!!

So, this is my last stab... if they keep doing stadiums and it sucks then that's it for me!! If they do indoors I'll be there on a zimmer frame!!

U2 in Oz for December 2010?

Could it be that rumoured Suncorp concert depends on how Bono's back pulls up when the 360 tour resumes in Turin in coming days and beyond... the feeling is that Aussie stadiums are easier to book at short notice post footy season and there's no way the band will come to Oz for just one show!!

In other news that will infuriate old fans and readers alike, U2 recently made the Forbes rich list for an obscene amount of income in recent times!! [was it $130 million] making their offshore tax moves all the more dodgy given the message about 'making poverty history' which I guess they have certainly done for themselves!! Although again I will say the Irish government changed a long standing law about creative arts profits and their move was in some ways a protest on behalf of all film and music makers, not just their own bottom line!!

Anyhoo, bring on December if the rumoured Police security 'sign offs' and shipping movements are anything to go by!!

U2 free zone about to break open!!

Apart from one video player, regular readers [both of you] will know 'Pumphouse' has been largely a U2 free zone until firm announcements about the 360 degree tour bringing 'the claw' to Australia!!

No announcements about Horizons remixes, 36o DVDs from the Rose Bowl [June], awards, DVDs, films at Tribeca etc.... not even canvassing of the U2 tax moves in the wake of changes to the Irish tax system for the creative arts...

Well, don't cancel your overseas holiday BUT use pencil in your diary in November and maybe early December 2010!! It does seem a short timeline so that's it until the official news!! It seems it might be dependent on shipping costs

U2 Rumours as Ban Continues

OK it's now 2010 and after this post I will not mention U2 again until they announce Australian Tour dates... let's face it, that's more likely than announcing they're rejigging their tax arrangements so as not to go offshore with their income and tax!!
I find it hard to believe rumours of Feb/March tour dates in Australia are still out there [with counter claims of football and cricket clashes] BUT I reckon November is still in the running... just in case you need to clear your diary!
Stay tuned for release date of the new U2 album [although that's likely to be made up of unfinished previous music] called 'Songs of Ascent'

U2 webcast on U2tube last Monday

I break my U2 embargo [until Australian dates are announced] only to acknowledge that this event happened earlier in the week and if you already know how to capture clips from youtube it's all there on their official Youtube Channel, live from the LA Rose Bowl.
I will not be writing about the gig, songlist, the claw, NASA, Desmond Tutu, red zone or the vibe...

U2 Embargo: Only Annoucements about a Tour

Stay tuned in the next few days for an announcement about extra U2 Tour Plans [with rumours active about Israel, South America, Oz in March - May 2010 etc] and keen observers will have noted a short return season of U23D at Sydney's IMAX with details here.
Check out here for band announcements!!

Clear your Diary next March for U2 Downunder!!

I'm breaking my 'no U2' site embargo with news leaked through an interview about what U2 hope to do with the three stages 'claws' they're using to frog-jump the world on their current 360 Tour!! Check out all things U2 here

Send your park location suggestions to the lucky dog "Rev Dr Steve Taylor' [who is presenting a paper at the upcoming 'Hype and Feedback' Conference in the US in October] here

At one of my favourite U2 sites http://www.atu2.com/ and various others like deTour and Interference there are references to the Mark Fisher interview about their hope that the stages could be installed in Parks somewhere 'downunder' as concert venues in their own right... read about it here or at:

http://www.atu2.com/news/mark-fisher-says-u2-will-play-australia-and-south-america.html

There's lots of stuff around about more recording of tracks that missed the last 2 albums and a new record at or beyond year end.... AND as pictured above the band have just played to a Wembley Stadium record 88,000 crowd this week in London.... what a shame Nic will just miss the chance to head to Millenium Stadium Cardiff on the Greenbelt Trip!!

OK.... back to the silence pending official emails and my special U2 advance ticket offer email!!

U2 Ramping up the Tour

Last post before the 'Pumphouse' U2 blackout of their supposed 'world tour'!!

With rumoured dates soon for a South American leg early 2010 and maybe Australia late 2010!!
The tax evading Irishmen have been criticised for 65,000 or is it 650,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions footprint and unanswered questions about whether they'll offset!!
It should be noted that despite my admiration for their music I have not gone as far as attending the 'Hype' Conference this coming October in North Carolina in the US... which has some interesting presenters and a concert nearby with tix available during the event!! Check it out here!!

Second last post before the U2 Blackout

U2 kicked off their 'world tour' [well the top half anyhow] last night in Barcelona with, by all reports, an amazing stage 'the claw' and show!

Here's your playlist:
Breathe
No Line on the Horizon
Get On Your Boots
Magnificent
Beautiful Day
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Angel of Harlem [with comment for Michael Jackson]
In a Little While
Unknown Caller
Unforgettable Fire
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Pride (In The Name of Love)
MLK
Walk On
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
-------
Ultraviolet
With Or Without You
Moment of Surrender



And the night included a live call to the International Space Station!! celebrating the upcoming moonlanding anniversary!

Soon to be a U2 Free Zone

My blog is soon to become a U2 free zone! Not because of their tax avoidance activities or summer villas in the south of France but because they are churning out material like never before, about a concert tour which has no plans, rumours or chance of coming anywhere near us anytime soon!

BUT before that it's worth mentioning that they want to keep up the reminders and pressure about the house arrest and unfair teatment of Aung Saan Suu Kyi...

After being democratically elected in 1990 the miltary didn't accept that result and refused to hand over power. Since that time she has been mostly under house arrest.

U2 are encouraging fans to print off and wear a mask to their shows and beyond plus listing websites across Europe where you can go to learn how to help in the protests and efforts to bring change to Burma!!

Literal Videos

Anne W sent me this video on Facebook and I laughed a lot!!

"Magnificent" U2

U2's video for their new single 'Magnificent' is out with the usual hype! This is one of the three or so tracks from the latest album that I am keen to use in some contexts. It like many of the other introspective tracks on this record is very much a psalm about call, the impact of being 'loved by God' and the follishness of forgetting it.

Magnificent
Magnificent
Magnificent

I was born
I was born to be with you
In this space and time
After that and ever after I haven't had a clue
Only to break rhyme
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born
I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise…

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent
Magnificent

Catch the video here or here

"Magnificent" U2

Had I been speaking at an Easter Camp this year I would have designed a reflection around the U2 song which will be their next single out on May 4, the song "Magnificent," one of the three or so tracks I think present moving and meaningful reflections on life from the individual perspective in all it's dilemas about meaning, choices and relationships.

Check out the intimate Boston performance here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5psPY8yd2s

"Magnificent"

Magnificent

Magnificent

I was born

I was born to be with you

In this space and time

After that and ever after I haven't had a clue

Only to break rhyme

This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born

I was born to sing for you

I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up

And sing whatever song you wanted me to

I give you back my voice

From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise…

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify

The Magnificent

Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark

But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify

The Magnificent

Magnificent

Magnificent

U2360

This week U2 have announced their so called World Tour [of Europe and the US] but don't hold your breath for Aussie dates!! The big splashy website revamp and details include a radical new stage giving rise to the 360 bit where apparently the stage will rotate with a baskteball like bank of speakers and screens above their heads in the centre!! Check it out at U2.com here

Unless they can squeeze in Asia in December you could look forward to a visit in 2010 but probably 2011!! Anyway, we'll see!!

In the meantime the band were enthusiastic, high energy and good fun for the five night history making stint on Letterman's Late Show which we saw here on Oz TV until Monday night!! Pictured above is the naming ceremony where part of W53rd St right outside the Theatre was named U2 Way

"No LIne on the Horizon" U2 One Review

So friends have been waiting to hear my review of U2s latest offering... essentially this post follows on from my initial thoughts about the album generally!!
It's not stunning, earth shattering, landscape changing... but it's not bad!!

The Brian Eno/Danny Lanois [lan-wah] influence means that this record has echoes of former eras especially familiar riffs from 'Boy' and 'War' mixed with under produced and stark musicianship. It is one of those albums yoiu'll enjoy the more you listen!!

But there's no anthemic, seminal, 'you have just got to hear this!!!!' kind of track... it's more ambient and sparse.

Love is a dominant theme and to some extent the undesereved or more importantly unfettered love and grace of God woven through episodes and aspects of life!!

That said there are at least three songs that'll make brilliant wallpaper soundtracks for photo reflections or audio-visuals...

"Magnificent"
"...only love can leave such a mark/But only love, only love can heal such a scar"
This is an ambient reflection on place and belonging given the restorative and healing power of love on a grainy life lived in the moment.

"Moment of Surrender"
This is my favourite track from the album!!
"...it's not if I believe in love/but if love believes in me...at the moment of surrender/of vision over visibilty/I did not notice the passers by/and they did not notice me"

To me these songs are about 'feel' and this for me feels like an Easter Friday tune... it would be great with black and white artistic images of the Easter story, the cross and stuff that's happening around us from news, nature and life...

"Cedars of Lebanon" picks up on the imagery around the shade of a tree, it's place in the landscape and the history of the place... and to me has a confessional element.
"...the worst of us are long drawn out confession, the best of us are geniuses of compression..."

"No Line on the Horizon" U2

Suspisciously U2's new album was available for sale/download on the Aussie distributors website getmusic.com.au with blame attributed to a staffer BUT it was gone two hours later!!
So far to me it sounds interesting and OK without being as stunningly landmark as previous efforts... I'll turn it up loud tomorrow and we'll see... mercifully for those lacking enthusiasm this could be the penultimate post on U2 and bring the topic to a close a week early!!