NEWS LYRICS PHOTOS BAND FORUM CONNECT ABOUT HOME

Note: This is a guest article written for @U2 by fellow U2 fan Tim Cunningham, who was in attendance Tuesday night as U2 appeared on a live radio event at The Metro in Chicago.

"It's crazy in Chicago right now" was the theme of the evening as the crowd of nearly 250 people cheered and applauded anytime Shirley Manson tried to bridge the gap from a song or a commercial break to the interview. We were...for we knew that we had to go crazy tonight.

Last week Q101, an alternative rock station in Chicago, leaked that U2 would be performing at The Metro, a small intimate club that normally seats 400-500. Those who have seen a show there know it is a sort of hallowed ground for local bands in Chicago. Legend has it that The Metro was the first concert venue played by Smashing Pumpkins. Tonight, though, the marquee outside read "Stand Up Comedy U2."

I got there around 6:00 p.m. Chicago police were blocking Clark Street in front of the club as the black SUVs pulled in to deposit Adam, Bono and The Edge. Larry came later.

After quickly checking my credentials, we were escorted into the hall. We walked out onto the main floor to find that there were already 75 people or so pressed up against the stage. I hung to the back, not all that interested in getting too close. The venue filled; the balcony was crowded; the floor had plenty of space for everyone.

U2 came out to great applause. The stage had a simple blue curtain behind two long couches and a single chair. Later, Shirley Manson would take the chair on the far left, then Larry, Edge, Adam and Bono (left to right) filled in the spaces on the couch. Larry, closest to Shirley, was the first to speak about his song choice: The Ramones' "I Want to Be Sedated." He said that at his age "bits start to fall off" and he wanted to be sedated.

From the start, the show was plagued with problems. Adam's microphone kept popping and at one point he playfully set it down on the edge of the couch and moved away from it. Several times the producer just disappeared away from the stage/soundboard and Shirley was frantically looking around for someone to direct her.

Fans Ask, U2 Answers

In the room, there was very little we were able to hear of the actual songs played but it was during these moments and the commercial breaks that we had the most fun. Shirley would pick someone from the audience to ask a question and someone from the band would respond.

Someone asked about U2's appearance at the Obama inauguration concert and The Edge commented on how great it was to be part of a moment in history. Bono then talked about the significance of performing "Pride (In the Name of Love)" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the same place Martin Luther King delivered his iconic "I have a dream" speech.

One fan asked if we were going to see more of The Edge on lead vocals. Bono stood up and pretended to walk off stage.

Another fan asked Bono how he managed to stay married and so much in love with Ali after 20-plus years. Bono's response was that he could do it because he still didn't truly know Ali, and was always learning something new about her. (Lots of "aawwwwws" from the audience on that one.)

Someone mentioned that their daughter was named Grace, after the song from ATYCLB, and asked Bono for his definition of Grace. Bono replied with something along the lines of, "it's the acknowledgement that God never runs out of patience."

At some random point, Bono stopped the Q&A and addressed the crowd: "I just want to say that we did a little experimentation a few years ago with an album called Pop. It was here in Chicago at Soldier Field that all of it came together for us, and we want to thank you for that."

Bono also said that they were "four boys from the Northside of Dublin" and then asked the audience, "Isn't there a bit of a north/south rivalry here in Chicago?" The crowd cheered with affirmation. For those who don't know, Chicago has a big rivalry between the northside and the southside, also known as Cubs fans versus White Sox fans.

When asked what his favorite song from NLOTH is, Bono said, "probably the final third of the album."

Someone asked about Billy Corgan speaking in front of the U.S. Senate about musicians getting paid for their songs being played on the radio. Bono and Edge spoke about the significance of radio and at one point simply said "of course we care about the radio, that's why we are here tonight."

Ticketing for U2 360?

One fan asked about tickets for U2's upcoming tour: "You guys caught a lot of shit in 2005 for the handling of the ticket situation. What have you done to insure those $30 tickets actually make it into the hands of fans instead of scalpers?" There was a bit of nervous eye darting amongst the four members of the band as some of the other fans applauded in support of the question. Edge started by saying that what happened in 2005 was a situation that was out of their control, so they weren't totally responsible for it. However, he said he's confident that the measures U2 have taken will make sure fans get the tickets.

Bono then took over the question (some of it I believe was aired live as he kept talking). He stated one of the reasons they are playing stadiums in the U.S. this tour is that the number of tickets mean more people can get in to see the band. He said that the $30 seats "may actually be the best in the house" and mentioned that the tickets on the field are "50-some dollars." He stated that yes, there are going to be really overpriced tickets because "rich people have feelings too." He also made a point I found interesting: He said he knows that there are the fans who travel from city to city and know all the words and there are people who merely go to a U2 concert "not to hear the songs, but because it is an event." He felt sure that both groups would find happiness in this new tour.

Someone asked U2 their top three concerts they ever saw. Edge said The Clash in 1978, Springsteen in London and The Waterboys. Bono deferred until his song choice aired, later stating that the greatest concert he ever saw was Leonard Cohen in Dublin this past summer. This led into the playing of Cohen's "Hallelujah," and Bono specifically requested the PA system stay up. He sang the first verse for the crowd.

U2 seemed to be enjoying the evening, even pulling out their cellphones at various points to take pictures. Adam shot some video with his. It should also be noted that professional cameramen were walking around shooting video and still images. I noticed at the end of the evening that they started using windup Super8 cameras.

U2 stuck around after the event to sign autographs for about 10 minutes. After making our way to the stage, my friend Kevin and I asked The Edge, "Are we ever going to hear 'Mercy'?" Edge said, "We really want to play it live, we're just trying to find a place for it." He commented very briefly about how the entire band enjoys that song. When I told him I thought it was the greatest song ever written, he looked me in the eye and said, "Really? Thank you" while giving me a fist bump. Nice.

I wasn't at all surprised to see people there who did not appear to be all that interested in what was going on. They merely were there for the "event" that is U2. However, there were quite a few obvious U2 fans there, enjoying the moment. Clearly, like Bono said, both groups can enjoy it for what it is.

Thanks to Dino and Sharon!



© @U2, 2009.

@U2 Calendar

3/22 - 5/10/2010 8th Annual "Build a Well for Bono's Birthday" Drive Begins The goal is $50,000. April 4 2010 08:00 PM - 11:00 PM - Easter with Hollywood U2 No, there won't be an egg hunt. Full Calendar