Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Awesome

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  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Relating this to a 20something colleague she was appropriately impressed that I could stand just 2m away from bono hisself. What I wonder now is: if U2 are the new Stones, who will be the next U2? Franz Ferdinand? Arctic Monkeys? Or some yankee emo croud?

    None of the above.

    Maybe the Chili Peppers are the only band that could quality, god forbid...

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • tim kong,

    Not a huge fan of the U2 sound - but have to agree with Russell, that their care and attention to technical production has always been a pleasure to watch.

    It's not always worked, and it's a bit OTT at times, but they've consistently stretched the boundaries of what a live show is and means. They have had the Trabants and the massive staging, and then they've had beautiful, quiet moments where the video is simple black and white, with slow close-ups of details. They have made live shows both beautiful and bold, intimate and insane.

    That is in a large part due to the quality crew they surround themselves with. I say that knowing one or two of them, having worked with them - and having a huge respect for them.

    I have seen them live, in London - but the biggest buzz I ever had was seeing the Edge side of stage, watching the band I was working with - in a field somewhere in Ireland. Someone with a lot of mana - turning up to watch our little gig. That was cool.

    There's also a tale of slightly drunken lunacy after an MTV Award performance in Dublin - that ended up with the same Edge buying me a pint of Guiness at the in-house bar of the Clarence. Talk about hazy visions - Marilyn Manson sitting on the same sofa as Andrea from the Corrs - while chatting to Alicia Silverstone. :-)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    I've seen U2 twice now, 1984 at CHCH Town Hall and then the zooropa tour, both were stunning.

    But don't make me laugh (and I'm not looking for a fight), don't even think of putting the RHCP anywhere near these guys. RHCP are pop pure and simple.

    As for real stayers, yeah the Stones have put out some good original material, but on stage they're a parody of themselves, but none can match The Who.

    Check out these

    http://www.leeds.ac.uk/thewholiveatleeds/index.htm

    36 years after the original gig. The Uni has an excellent site, with downlaodable concert programme, video interviews and pics.

    and also

    http://www.thewhotour.com/

    check out the Squeeze Boz section of this site. It's their live tour diary, concert footage interviews etc.

    U2 did some stunning early 80s music, they were an original garage band. Seconds, The Electric Co, Out of Control, Bad, Gloria all good stuff.

    They do a stunning version of Out of Control on the Live at Slane DVD (which my brother was at).

    I do like it when bands redress old songs and get it right. If you ever get a chance to see the Who Live at the Roayl Albert hall with Eddie Vedder, Paul Weller etc, they do a stunning revisit of The Kids Are Alright and So Sad About Us.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    The Stones didn't used to be self parody. Witness the movie "Ladies and Gentleman The RS" from 1971. I saw them at Western Springs in 73(!!) and they were incredible. Although I didn't see them on their last tour (not in the country and probaly wouldn't want to to be honest) by the time I saw them in the eighties I couldn't help feeling that they were in full, rather cynical, only in it for the money mode.

    That said, their last album was ok, although it was no Let it Bleed, despite the critics frothing.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Live.... Rage Against the Machine. No gimmicks, flash lights or anything else but bass, drums, guitar and fury. It was wel known that no band ever wanted to go on after them at festivals for fear of sounding like enya by comparison. Viva la revolution!

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    Yamis

    similar between The Who and Jimi Hendrix, nice little rivalry about who would follow whom on stage.

    If you're talking original guitar, bass drums vocals then there is no comparison to the Who. After all they invented the Mashal Stack (well stole enough pieces). John wanted his bass to be louder than Petes guitar, so he built his stack of speakers up, pete copied and the legend began.

    Simon, I was refering to their later stage career. Early stones was priceless.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Compie, Yamis..I'm with you on The Who. Live at Leeds still stands for me as one of the greatest albums ever, live or otherwise. Not sure about the new album though....

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Simon, you're being charitable about the new Who album. It is so aggressively bad that I actually grimaced several times.

    Music should not make you grimace. Especially not at home, alone, in a comfy chair.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    It got a bloody four star review in Mojo too! Quite odd. Yes, its terrible, I agree. The only old buggers make new album I want to hear is the new Roxy produced by Eno rumoured for 2007

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    I'm keen to hear the new Who album then I will tell you where it's at - lol

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    Patchy, and I' m a huge Who fan. I liked the mini rock opera part of it, and there were one or tow in there that are a lot better live (the who site has live concert footage), but to go so far as making one gag, biit harsh.

    bands like the saw doctors make people gag, not the who.

    Mind you I saw the Who at the Hollywood bowl in 2002, and inexplicitly they had Counting Crows open for them. Deciding to keep my dignity I found a bar somewhere on the way. The barman got me so ratted on tequila that I arrived just as The Who came on stage. Being a Kiwi and not wanting to walk all the way to the back where my seat was (i didn't know I'd need binoculars), I just spent the night running from ushers jumping in empty seats till a gay couple took pity on a dunk kiwi and let me stand with them. Boy did the happy police ushers frown uopn the lack of health and saftey. I played deaf and igonored them. They are sticklers for being told where to go though, they'd do well in Russian bread ques.

    Whops tangent.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    lol.

    Was in a band that got the opening slot for the Counting Crows.
    Until they cancelled the show....

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    there was a nano second where clean dreadlocks were cool, and then you beocme the Counting Crows.

    It's like that dick gripper/undies add on TV at the moment, situation and timing eh.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    there was a nano second where clean dreadlocks were cool, and then you beocme the Counting Crows.

    or Zed...ouch.....

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

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