U2 Inches Closer

U2TOURFANS / Mark Peterson /

New York:  Millennials, Gen X, Baby Boomers all nestled in MSG is late July, and the band is about to perform its last show in during the sold out week in New York.

What's next screams a fan? The future! That's what comes next. Questions should the band go large? Or return to smaller venues?

Time plays a wicked game with bands, as they get older, their audiences do too, and yet some may not be along for the ride as U2 starts to privot towards the future some could say they have heard that sound before others will embrace it as new fresh innovative, maybe even insightful. 

U2 / Bono/ U2TOURFANS / Mark Peterson

The band has its challenges coming forward in this new millennial music world. Downloads increase, less direct purchasing and the thirst for live music ever increasing.

Bono view of the future has grown increasingly important. One could wonder if this obsession with legacy could halt the creative flow of the band as it tries once again to reinvent its self the future blazes forward. 

U2 inches closer towards that October date, and fans grow restless for that U2 release. Given the timeline and the narrative from the band we could expect to see something very shortly. Betting on the live dates coming up, the boys could test some new songs just has we heard over the weekend.

The possibility has moved from maybe to a strong yea something is about to happen.  Summer is about to end,  The Hamptons becomes a ghost town, Fire Island awaits our return as we all ease back into full-on work mode.

40 Years U2 Last Longer Than Most Marriages

New York:  40 years of anything can grow old stale or even lose its luster, yet U2 remains stronger than ever.  So strong that even Garth Brooks has a goal to surpass U2's touring results.   Wait a minute before we get into 40 let us celebrate David Howell Evans birthday.

U2 / Bono / Nick Walker / U2TOURFANS

40 years of making music together and touring the world. Politics, Religion, Marriages all mixed into to a pretty complex yet fulfilling relationship. Over the years Bono the more vocal of the band members has lead the group into some challenging conversations about the world we live in and possibilities of what peace and good will could bring to all of us.  Looking at what makes U2 work so well you have to think about a posting on the venue all before you enter the stage; that states "Leave your ego at the stage door" Could it be that simple that the band has been held together with egos and emotions left out of the creative process of making music?

U2 / Nick Walker / U2TOURFANS

Doubt it however what is clear is that this group of men has grown into this relationship that may have had some rocky roads. However, the boys have always maintained the golden rule; keep your dirty laundry in house. You never see websites, gossip sites posting issues with the band, management or frankly anything thing that would cause "shade" on the band.

They fully understand that they have an image, a product that has taken years to grow into a mega giant and at this stage of their musical careers, it's more important to remain true the concepts of music, relationships and of course you the fan.

What does the next 40 hold for U2 well, we all know that old rockers just fade away they never die. Heck Rolling Stones are heading out on tour summer of 2017, and those boys are in their 70's could we expect to see U2 hitting the road at 70?  One would never know.

However, one thing is for sure.  Faith, Hope, and Love have kept this band together this long and while tomorrow never promised we could put some confidence in the possibilities of the lyric being true. "I'll be with you again."

U2 Fan New Remix Release

New York:  Often we get emails with some pretty creative fan swag. Everything from images, videos, and remixed music. We have been thinking about how we can share what's in our email grab bag.  Well fresh from our email. ANDR3X drops some freshly baked beats into our email box and becomes our official song of the day.  

U2's With or Without You remixed by ANDR3X gives you that warm euro feels as if you're drifting thru the O2 area at dawn as the last truck pulls away.

In the distance, you see the next venue; you overcome with feeling as if you really can't live without us. 

A new day, a new local crew and you know that tonight thousands of fans will all connect as one.  You have no better job. You are a crew member of the world's largest band.  

Now thats a pretty good feeling to start your Friday in America as you await your next adventure.  Thank you, Andrew. 

U2 Global Experience 2017

New York:  Remember a couple of weeks back we posted about Grammy Possibilities? Sure you do. In the music business to be considered for a Grammy, music must be released before the end of October.  Songs of Innocence had a subtle album release which allowed U2 to qualify for entry for consideration.  

U2 / Nick Walker / U2TOURFANS

Songs of Experience could still release before 2016 runs out (after all, its predecessor dropped with little warning), but the Barcelona interview could hint towards a revised timeline, with a 2017 release more likely.

"It's not finished yet, but you will like it," replied Bono. "In terms of lyrics it is stronger than [1983 album] War; it has more clarity."  

A global tour will have to take into consideration South America; let's consider this. If the tour kicks off in Miami ( Florida ) the boys could then pack up quickly and head off to Mexico, Peru, Chile, Brazil and return to NYC and swing across America during the summer when stadium tours most often happen.  

Making logical routing of a tour that needs to take into a count Central and South America which would be in Summer season early January.   Now, of course, this is pure speculation on our behalf.  However, most of us have worked in the industry, so we do have some experience with tour schedules. 

U2 Spain Fan Site Scoops All

New York:  Let's give it up to our friends over at U2 Spain.  Bono and boys confirmed that they would be hitting the road in 2017. 

The Edge stated also that they enough songs for a couple more albums. Also well noted was our comment that if they want to be considered for a Grammy they would have to make the cut-off date of end of September early October. Bono said " You might see a few things in September or October.  

So this pretty much aligns with our thoughts that the boys and the marketing machines will soon start turning up the levels.

Possible kick off cities? How about Miami is the winter months, and swing down to South America and back to the US for a massive stadium tour. 

From Bono's comments sounds like the new album could support a stadium vibe.  It's early, and we will check around with our traveling friends and see if Peru, Chile, Brazil would be on the schedule.

Meantime cheers to our friends in Spain. Nice coverage. Quality work mates.

MTV Years of U2

New York:  On Saturday, August 1, 1981, at 12:01 a.m. EST, MTV steamrolled right into America's living room.  Footage of the first Space Shuttle launched, andcountdown of Columbia and the launch of Apollo 11 visuals on our television screenMusic would forever linked to videos. The first video on that early morning was "Video Killed The Radio Star."

U2's first video to get heavy airplay was New Year's Day considered at the time the most ambitious video at that point. Directed by Meiert Avis, who worked on "Gloria and "I Will Follow".

Meiert and the boys had planned to shoot the video in Sweden, however, that just did not work out. So they headed off to Norway, and those beautiful mountains and lots of snow gave way to one of the most beautiful videos produced.

What most people did not know was that the band members not experienced riders as well as being right in the middle of a tour gave an opportunity for some Swedish teenage girls disguised as the members of group riding on horseback with masks over their faces to shoot the horse riding scenes.

"New Years Day" is U2's fifth most frequently performed live concert song, what would you think the first song would be? 

Happy Birthday MTV

#MTV #u2

U2 Music Trumps Hate

Before it was fashionable to statement"Love Trumps Hate" U2's music has always positioned a positive message of hope, faith, love and acceptance. U2 fans know that the band does not wear its faith on their sleeves rather they allow the lyrics to speak for them.  Faith is much more than a statement of belief in God; it's a feeling that extends beyond self and-and reached out to those that need it most within most U2 lyrics you can find a message, reference and most often God is the lyric. Most fans would not call U2 a Christian band, and even they are first to admit they are not a Christian band. They are just a few boys from Dublin.   

Tim Heufeld wrote an article“God is in the house” indeed HE is.  For the last three decades, U2 has written songs of faith, hope, and love going thru phases as most Christians do. Tim pointed out that on two albums “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” and “No Line on the Horizon” could be considered as U2’s grounded works.

Bono/ Raw Power/ U2tourfans

Bono and the Boys never claimed to have a lock on faith, love, and God, only that one should find peace and why not in God, right that Christians look at U2 and wonder how they can be Christian with drinking, and partying and well frankly enjoying life. 

Clearly, how can they be? Simply put God is for everyone and how you choose to live your life is a choice you make, it’s not mine or yours to say this person is more God like we are all in God’s image.  U2 only provides the tools for you to make your choice. We looked over Tim’s U2 Rapture Playlist and believed its worth a listen. Try it -

Bono: My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love.

Bono/ Raw Power/ U2TOURFANS

TOP TEN RAPTURE PLAYLIST

10. “Tomorrow,” October (1981)

Won't you come back tomorrow / Won't you be back tomorrow
Will you be back tomorrow / Can I sleep tonight

Open up, open up to the love of God / To the love of He who made the blind to see
He's coming back / He's coming back
I believe Him / Jesus is coming / I'm gonna be there

9. “Stateless,” The Million Dollar Hotel (2000)

I've got no home in this world / Just gravity, luck, and time
I've got no home in this world / Just you and you are not mine

Stateless / Weightless / Stateless

8. “A Sort of Homecoming,” The Unforgettable Fire (1984)

And you know it's time to go / Through the sleet and driving snow
Across the fields of mourning / To a light that's in the distance

And you hunger for the time / Time to heal, desire, time
And your earth moves beneath / Your own dream landscape

7. “Last Night on Earth,” POP (1997)

She feels the ground is giving way / But she thinks we're better off that way
The more you take the less you feel / The less you know the more you believe
The more you have, the more it takes today

You got to give it away / You got to give it away
Well, she don't care what it's worth
She's living like it's the last night on earth

6. “Gone,” POP (1997)

You get to feel so guilty got so much for so little
Then you find that feeling just won't go away
You're holding on to every little thing so tightly
Till there's nothing left for you anyay

Goodbye, you can keep this suit of lights
I'm be up with the sun / I'm not coming down

5. “I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” No Line on the Horizon (2009) (Live U2360 Remix of course!)

It's not a hill, it's a mountain / As you start out the climb
Listen for me, I'll be shouting / We're gonna make it all the way to the light
But you now I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight

4. “Where the Streets Have No Name,” Joshua Tree (1987)

Where the streets have no name / Where the streets have no name
We're still building, then burning down love / Burning down love
And when I go there I go there with you / It's all I can do

3. “Walk On,” All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000)

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen

Leave it behind

2. “Until the End of the World,” Achtung Baby (1991)

Waves of regret and waves of joy / I reached out for the one I tried to destroy
You, you said you'd wait / 'Til the end of the world

1. “Elevation,” All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000)

You elevate my soul / I've lost all self-control
Been living like a mole / Now, going down, excavation
I and I into the sky / You make me feel like I can fly so high
Elevation

Playlist credit: Tim Heufeld

#U2 #TrumpHate #Love #Peace #Music #NewAlbum

U2, Summer In New York

New York: Summer is NYC has always been about music, the heat and of course being outdoors.

The apartments small, the bills heavy and yet this is what we love. NYC in the summer what else could be better? New York is also about music fans.

U2 fans have been waiting for the next u2 album to be released and for good reason.

This next addition should pull in a bigger generation of future U2 fans.  The connected experience, thats the best way to view U2 fans. Fans connecting with other fans and embracing an experience that is beyond the lyrics.  Music does not define a life, music is the soundtrack to your life.  Our sound track has taken many turns and yet we remain connected.

Over the next few days as we clean our offices and get ready for the next U2 album we are going to share some thoughts about music, U2 fans, U2, and of course U.

As always we welcome your thoughts too. Now we have to get back to cleaning out our office, anyone own a pair of black leather pants and a pair of sun glasses ? We found them in our gig box.  #U2 #NewYork #U2Fan