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"Our time will be remembered by how we let an entire continent burst into flames and stood around with watering cans." -- Bono, 2002 |
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"Our time will be remembered by how we let an entire continent burst into flames and stood around with watering cans." -- Bono, 2002 |
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Column: off the record..., vol. 9-376
@U2,
September 20, 2009
U2's space junk has fallen to earth yet again, landed in North America, and already made its way to Chicago, Toronto and Foxboro, Mass. Fans are giddy with excitement, and the general consensus seems to be that the boys are still at the top of their game when it comes to the live shows. This isn't surprising, as the band has always taken great pride in their live performances, and it shows. Last week I went to my first "first" (or opening) show in Chicago. During the Vertigo Tour in 2005, I saw my first "last" show, which was like hanging out in a pub with 30,000 other buzzed patrons all singing our hearts out, because we knew that when it was over, it was really over. The fat lady was singing, and we had to wring every last drop of goodness out of our experience because it would have to last us another four or five years. The band was as comfortable and relaxed as I have ever seen them. I didn't expect the "first" show to be anything like that. It was a much different kind of energy, one of expectation and anticipation. Would they be as good? What would they play? What is that thing?? I wasn't expecting the set list to be drastically different from the European shows, but I hoped that the delivery of those songs would live up to my memories of past performances. I know memories are like smoke, constantly changing shape as the years roll on, but there's always a ghost of a feeling that comes back when U2 plays. It's release. And relief. Yes, they still are a great band, even if you've heard those songs a million times before. They may not be as animated and Bono never remembers the lyrics, but standing under tons of steel at my first "first" show, I realized just how fragile this whole enterprise is. Listening to the opening notes of "The Unforgettable Fire," I was in the spaceship, beamed back some 20-odd years to some of my first U2 shows. We were all much younger, less settled, maybe we had mullets or mohawks, or both. In the beauty of that song, I heard my youth, but in Bono's voice there was the splinter of time as he struggled with some of the notes during the chorus. It brought me right back to the present, my own cracks clearly in view. Everything changes, but the one constant we've been so privileged to share is that this band has put themselves out there for us with passion and compassion. The odds against any band lasting for 30 years are astronomically high -- the proverbial bus is always just around the corner -- so arguments about the set list or ticket prices or carbon footprints seem inconsequential to me. As I get older, I would rather just appreciate the opportunities I have before they are gone for good. The fat lady is always in the back of my mind reminding me that this time could be my last, so why waste it being angry that I didn't hear my favorite songs or sorry that I was smashed in the pit? I'm just going to get into the ship and let them take me away for a few hours, while we're all still willing and able. I'm going to publicly and vehemently oppose Maddy's view of the "I'll Go Crazy…" Redanka Remix that's being used on the current tour. I absolutely LOVE the live version of the song and felt that this was one of the best parts of the show. I don't particularly care for the album version, but I was completely sucked into every aspect of the live performance: Larry stomping about with a djembe, Adam and Edge swaggering around all sides of the stage, the mirror ball, the lights, Bono's whacked-out delivery. It's the ballsiest, most endorphin-inducing thing they've done in a long time, and it left me hoping they'd segue right into "Mofo." (Sorry folks, this fan will never stop lobbying for something from Pop in the set list.) Pure ecstasy, but the natural kind! Matt posted this entry on our blog this week, and I had the same thought when I saw the still; that those people were trying to get a good picture rather than watching Bono perform. All along, my argument against tweeting during live events has been you can't do both well, but the picture taking doesn't bother me in the least. I am the 5'4" person he describes, and yes, it does suck when one of the band members makes his way over to my side and 1,000 hands shoot up in the air, but only because they're blocking my shot. I've always loved photography, and feel naked without a camera in hand. I was ecstatic when U2 announced they would allow cameras into their shows, because that meant that all those years of hiding it were over! It's been a blessing and a curse. Generally, the types of cameras allowed (point and shoot) don't do well in concert venues and I'm not terribly skilled, so I'm seldom happy with the results. Children, work and life have seriously cut into my hobby time and my gear is woefully outdated, but I've been encouraged and inspired by these photos taken by our @U2 staff photographer, Phil Romans. Phil doesn't call himself a professional, but you'd never know by his body of work. Both Phil and U2 are keenly aware that in photography as well as rock-n-roll, technical savvy is just as important as talent when producing great art. In this blog post, Phil hits on a weird phenomenon I've felt before:
I thought it only happened to me! While Phil will always be one of my favorite photographers, I'm really enjoying this new guy. The slice-of-life quality of his pictures suggests we stop and pay attention every so often, because sometimes the most beautiful moments are the ones we are likely to ignore. Thanks to all the fans who listened to our live-stream broadcast of the tour's opening night, especially the ones who took the time to send me a note. During the show, I wasn't even sure the stream was working, so it was a great surprise to get back to my hotel afterwards and find an inbox full of messages, thanking me for the broadcast! If I had known so many people were listening, I might have toned down my enthusiasm just a notch. Naahhh! I would like to welcome everyone coming to my hometown for the G-20 summit this week. Bono, if you want to stop by on your way from New York to Washington, D.C., I'll give you the scoop on where to find the president's favorite pancakes, next time you need to get into his good graces. Seriously, call me. And finally, a shout out to those of you who said I wouldn't: Ed and Sean from "bubblin' Dublin," Ally from Glasgow, Raj, Sandy, Jason V., Erika & Dan, K-Ro…hey wait, what are you doing? Geez. Have a great week, everyone! © @U2/Maione, 2009.
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