Note to all TWB Members...

Not too long ago, I declared my love for the U2 Go Home: Live at Slane Castle, a live concert DVD that my bass player loaned me. Yes, it's a great concert...absent the Atomic Bomb tunes, its a much open set, complete with a few old tunes that have since been cut from the live shows.

But the second thing is this: this DVD has reaffirmed my love and appreciation for a particular U2 song...and what's more...it's convinced me that, in my opinion, this is probably the best tune the band's ever written and recorded.



I'm including it here for all of you out there who play music with me from time-to-time on the road. TWB - this tune is now our new soundcheck song. Learn it. Love it. Live it.

Surprising News for 2009

New York, New York (AP) - Startling news today from U2. Paul McGuinness, long-time manager and business front for the band, announced earlier today that one of the world's biggest bands has decided to make some personnel changes.

This comes as a shock to most, as the band is set to embark on a massive media blitz to promote their new album, No Line On The Horizon, which is tentatively set for a February 2009 release.

"I don't think people are surprised there's been a change," McGuinness said in an interview. "I think they're just shocked at which member is leaving."

McGuinness is speaking of the departure of U2's guitarist and de-facto musical director, "The Edge."

The manager is quick to answer fans who are upset by the change.
"Edge is still very much a part of the band. It's just time. Enough with the delay, already. You know?"

But the band is moving on. The story leaked over the weekend on a couple of U2-related fan blogs, drawing varied responses from fans all over the world. Not only has the band asked The Edge to step down, they've filled his spot with an unknown guitar player from the U.S.

"The band is happy with Todd. They think he'll be a great fit."

McGuinness is speaking of Todd Wright, the 32-year old Texan now slated to fill the electric guitar spot. Wright is a long-time fan of the band and can already play 2 or 3 of their songs on acoustic guitar.

"I hope the guys know that I'm more of an acoustic guy," Wright shared in an interview this morning. "I'm not real strong on the electric guitar, but I'm on a diet and I've purchased 25 beanie caps. Somebody from the wardrobe department is going to sew sequins on my jeans and buy some skinny, non sequitur t-shirts for me. I mean, the music is mostly programmed anyway."

U2 frontman, Bono, could not be reached for comment. McGuinness admitted the transition would be a difficult one, but stated that every band has to walk through difficult times like these to grow as people and musicians.

Wright is optimistic. "I can't wait to hear all those songs live." When reminded that he would have to actually play the songs live, the young guitar player ended the interview and cried in the men's room for half-an-hour.

2009...or so they say!

This is the part where music purists mock me.

But I don't care.

THIS excites me!

The New U2

In the Studio: U2 Q magazine, September 01, 2008 by Tom Doyle As if to spotlight the pace with which U2 are close to completing their as-yet-untitled 12th album, Q's phone call to Edge is delayed by half an hour while he lays down an acoustic guitar overdub at the quartet's Dublin studio on a new song called "Get On Your Boots." "Then we can put the mix to bed," the guitarist sighs with satisfaction. So this album is being completed as we speak? "Yeah. It's happening live in real time. It's totally frantic." Having effectively abandoned their initial plan to work with Rick Rubin (although some material has survived), U2 took the unusual move of bringing in their long-time producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois as co-writers early on. "We thought, If we're all writing together we'll get more stuff and it'll be a more fruitful use of time," Edge says. Experimental writing sessions held last year in Fez, Morocca, yielded numerous new songs. Some -- with the introduction of local musicians -- bear a distinctly North African flavour. A visit to the World Sacred Music Festival enhanced what Edge calls the "religious-sounding" tone of a few of the tracks. "But we don't want to be musical tourists," the guitarist states. "We came back with a certain flavour and influence of that trip and a sense of freedom." As time went on, the music grew ever more diverse and spontaneous. "We wanted to give it some variety," Edge says. "There is some dark, heavy stuff but there are also some lighter things. Some we've really had to sweat to get and some just came so easily." Work-in-progress highlights include "f--k-off live rocker" "Breathe"; "For Your Love," which Edge says is one of his best-ever riffs; and the aforementioned "Get On Your Boots" ("Eddie Cochran with barbershop harmonies"). Other notable tracks include the eight-minute-long "Moment of Surrender" and "No Line on the Horizon," inspired by a distortion box called Death By Audio recommended by ex-Secret Machines guitarist Ben Curtis. Opinion is currently divided as to whether the album will make a pre- or post-Christmas release. Anticipation couldn't be higher, however, with mixer Steve Lillywhite having already proclaimed the record "their best yet." "Trying to weave it all together into a coherent collection is the challenge," Edge admits. "But, yeah, it has the potential to be our best." © Q magazine, 2008. Source: atU2

Todd Is Late To The Party, Part III

Finally...

Just got it...

And I'm digging it...

Anybody else spinning this one? Who's loving it? Who's hating it?

And how 'bout this:

What are you listening to that you wanna' brag on?

U2 FANS ONLY...

At the risk of encouraging all my music-snob friends who don't like U2, I have a question.
If you are true U2 fan - I'd love your input.

The last U2 albums have been good. Really good...

Here's my question?

Which record is better? If you had to pick, what would it be?

1. All The You Can't Leave Behind
or
2. How Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

If you are "hater" and really feel the need to slam a band that is loved and appreciated by someone as smart and talented as me, I guess that's okay, too.

Regardless of your feelings on U2, there is no way any sane human being can ignore the work of genius that was The Joshua Tree.

And the new 2oth Anniversary version kicks tail.

You in, Rob?

Bono, How I Love Thee; Let Me Count The Ways

It’s happened gradually, but I fear I am near complete saturation in my attempt to be all things Bono to the ministry of worship. How so?

I can’t do “Everlasting God” without adding the bridge of “With or Without You.”

I continually ask my band to play U2 songs in soundcheck or dismissal of services.

I ask people to join me on stage.

Let me explain: as many of you know, during the Vertigo tour, Bono began allowing people on stage to actually play with the band. At the particular show I attended in Dallas, they let a 20-year old kid strap on one of Edge’s acoustics and rock “Angel of Harlem” in front of thousands of people.

As I watched it play out on stage that night, I remember Bono saying something like, “Why do I do things like this?”

Well, I had one such Bono-esque thought tonight.

We took a three-piece to Colmesniel and it went quite well. This always happens when I do stuff w/ acoustic, drums and bass. I end up enjoying it a great deal, mostly because drums and bass are a bit more present and I am required to play in a much different style.

However, in setting up, Sean (the pastor at the church) mentions that the kid who’ll be running our Powerpoint is a very good electric guitar player. You know what happened, right? I pull Sean aside and say something like:

“If I asked Cameron to play electric for us tomorrow night, do you think he could?”

Sean gives me a definite yes, so I find Cameron a few minutes before we started. I thought the kid was gonna’ hug me. He was so excited. Then to make matters worse, I tell the crowd in between songs that Cameron will be joining us for the Tuesday night service. Talk about over-committing!

I actually think the kid is gonna’ do great, but I do hear a tiny little Bono-voice saying “Why do I do things like this?”

Question of the Day:Musicians, who COULD you join on stage?