Photo from the official U2 Facebook page.
On St. Patrick’s Day eve, here are a few observations about U2 and the Irish band’s current flurry of activity. But first, a quick mention about a gig coming tomorrow night.
Metro, the renowned venue located just down the street from Wrigley Field, is staging a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with The Tossers as the headliners. The Chicago-based sextet pumps a Celtic atmosphere into its hard-edged music. Scott Lucas and The Married Men, The Avondales, and The Handcuffs are also on the bill. The music starts with The Handcuffs at 8:00 pm.
Songs Of Surrender - The Reimagined Album, which arrives tomorrow, is an ambitious effort that takes 40 previously released U2 songs and presents them in new, more intimate settings. It’s also risky because so many of the band’s songs have become classics due to their unbridled energy. U2 also hooked up with 40 filmmakers, described as ‘creators’ on the website, to visualize the message of their chosen songs via short, imaginative clips. Fans have a chance to access special merchandise by taking part in the U2 Songs Of Surrender 40 Songs, 40 Cities online event from tomorrow through Sunday. The instructions are a bit complicated, so I recommend that anyone who’s interested check out the link I’ve posted above.
On the TV scene, Bono And The Edge: A Sort Of Homecoming will be available to view on the Disney+ Channel tomorrow. The documentary features the pair of U2 band members hanging out with David Letterman in Dublin.
The Songs Of Surrender recordings are directly related to lead vocalist Bono’s SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story memoir. The book finds him taking a soul-searching journey from his childhood days amidst the troubles in Ireland to his current status as one of rock’s biggest stars and most fervent activists. At times, it’s reminiscent of Woody Allen’s pseudo documentary Zelig, as Bono rises from his humble beginnings to confer with global leaders, and party with legendary performers from Frank Sinatra to Paul McCartney.
While there will always be those who view Bono’s save-the-world proclamations as self-serving, he comes across as genuine and over the years, he and his wife Ali have placed themselves in extremely dangerous situations. Bono frequently acknowledges his ego can be expansive, and he offers several examples of his violent temper. Unlike countless other rock and roll memoirs, Surrender is devoid of backstage and hotel room sexual escapades. That’s probably due to the religious faith that has guided Bono through the years, as well as his choice to honor the power of women.
The book is an extended love letter to his wife Ali, whom he first met when they were teenagers. I can’t claim to have followed every philosophical twist and turn Bono explores, but he’s never boring. And maybe the best thing about SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story is discovering the origins of all those terrific U2 songs.
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