the good, the bad and the queen: live on the bbc

damon albarn is always up to something. even though i sided with the gallaghers in that britpop scrum way back when, damon may prove to be more interesting in the long run.

first blur, then gorillaz - albarn's latest project, the good, the bad and the queen, includes clash bassist paul simonon, fela kuti drummer extraordinaire tony allen, and ex-verve guitarist simon tong. the sound is hard to pin down with words. it's as eclectic as one would expect. the band calls it alternative, punk, afro-beat.

the name of the band: the good, the bad and the queen, refers to the diversity in london. the band's danger mouse-produced album is due to be released in 2007.

the good, the bad and the queen: live bbc electric proms, 10-26-2006

[mp3] the history song
[mp3] 80s life
[mp3] herculean
[mp3] three changes

the full set is here.

more info: bbc

article: time out london

myspace: the good, the bad and the queen

~ peace

whateverness

bono in london on monday at the q awards.

do you think bono had that look of whateverness on his face before or after host jonathon ross started the q awards off by calling heather mills mccartney a "fucking liar?" ross said he wouldn't be surprised if he found out "she had two legs." classy. later in the evening, amy winehouse (who the fuck is she?) started screaming for bono to "shut up!" as u2 was awarded the award of awards award. via mtvuk.

sounds like a really awesome event. or something.

more info: the q awards / edge's speech.

~ peace

ps: happy birthday to our favorite 14 year old:

there's a taste that you can't shake

[mp3] mew - special

i have gotten into mew lately. the candy coated scandinavian vocals floating around layers of guitars. itunes has a free mew download this week, and they compare the band's ethereal sound to sigur ros, with the compelling inventiveness of muse:

[free itunes download] mew - apocalypso

a certain rock star has warned me that i may not like mew live. they lack the charisma. danish boys and all. but we're going to check them out friday at bowery anyway. the bill also has the grates, fields and annuals. one of those bands has to not suck. right?

website: mew

~ peace

the door is open

this morning i dug a tunnel under bono's house and emerged in his sauna. he was in there. in a rubber suit. riding an exercise bike. every now and then he would hop off and do push ups. one-armed. all the while, he was singing along to the new justin timberlake cd.

[mp3]
sexyback - justin timberlake

i was like,"bono, i'm glad you are delusional bringing sexy back, but shouldn't you be singing u2 songs so you are ready for the tour? it starts again. soon!"

[mp3]
gloria - u2 (live at red rocks, 1983)

[mp3]
party girl - u2 (live at red rocks, 1983)

before he could answer, some guys grabbed me and wrapped me in a white coat. and drove me away.

but it's cool, peeps. 'cause i totally escaped.

~ peace

best headline ever

keane to go for butt?

related: tom chaplin is addicted to port.

not related: yahoo has new photos of bono & ali at a charity event in monaco.

~ peace

full video: the saints are coming

[youtube]: the saints are coming

includes "imagined" footage of u.s. troops redeploying from iraq to assist new orleans residents in the aftermath of hurricane katrina. u2 making a statement against the bush administration? maybe this whole collaborating with green day thing wasn't such a bad idea after all.

listen to me now

"blah blah blah blah bla blah blah blah. blah. blah. blaaaaaaaaaaah."

i always love the way he hits the high note on that last blaaaaaah. it's opera. baby.


SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN

[official video]
quicktime file.

[live video]
from hanover quay, dublin, 2004. quicktime file.

[mp3 - acoustic version]
from the how to dismantle an atomic bomb limited edition bonus dvd. this is just bono and edge.

[mp3 - video version]
bono sings an extra live layer of vocals at the beginning.

that's all.

~ peace

pictures of toby keith shirtless: not so much

did you know that if you google the words shirtless toby keith, you may find yourself directed here?

i mean here as in here. right here. this blog is the number one search option. weird.

i was going to say that my misery about this toby keith situation is immense, beyond all bounds. i was going to say that if my heart were to burst and my misery flow out, it would flood the whole world. click here for more chekhov-type misery.

but really, i'm not a dixie chick, so the whole toby keith thing is not a problem for me.

view: toby keith in the new one campaign ad.

plus, i'm on vacation. sort of.

shirtless photo: not toby keith.

ps ~ my itunes survivor battle is really entertaining me. badly drawn boy was trailing the pack for a while, but he is growing on me. slowly. all i know is that sam roberts is totally not going to lose.

~ peace

do it, do it, do it

article: africa - celebrity and salvation
this is a thought-provoking and well-written article. it is critical of aid in general, and it makes some interesting points abut the jaded news perspective that celebrity involvement in africa sometimes results in.

article: millions for millions
for the last 30 years, nobel peace prize winner muhammad yunus has provided very small individual loans (microcredit) to impoverished people. he developed a policy of lending mainly to women not only because they were more responsible about repaying the loans but because families benefited more when the women controlled the money. this article also examines how microfinance is evolving into a fully commercial, profit-making sector. it's an interesting take on the conflict between pure do-gooders and profit-minded do-gooders.

view: new one campaign ad

view: u2 by u2 promo video

if you looked at any of those things, you are awesome. suit and tie bono says so. really, he does. and i'm pretty sure he means it.

~ peace

u2: window on the sky (?)

**update - it's called window in the skies, and you can listen to it here.

in the november 2 issue of rolling stone, the upcoming u2 single is described as being "an epic in the style of city of blinding lights, with rich vocal harmonies."

while rolling stone is calling the song window in the sky, this promo piece has the song listed as window on the sky. so, is it in or is it on? peeps need to know!

either way, another reliable source describes the new song as having a "sort of '70s pop/crooner - sweetest thing kind of vibe."

rolling stone says that the new song, which will be included on the U218 singles compilation, is expected to be released to radio in early november.

i think that i am not going to post about this song again until then.

i am actually not listening to u2 at all lately. i have too many crap songs in my itunes, so i am eliminating albums one by one. (not u2 albums). i am trying to really listen to all of the albums that i haven't had the time to properly listen to this year. i'm taking them in small groups for a few days, and then whichever album sucks the most of each group, i am deleting. in a few days, one of these in my first group will be voted off the island: albert hammond, jr., yours to keep / guillemots, through the windowpane / the decemberists, the crane wife / badly drawn boy, born in the u.k. / scissor sisters, ta-dah / sam roberts, chemical city.

if anyone can save me time by pointing out which one sucks the most or vice versa, that would rule. or would that be cheating?

whatever......

the saints are coming: video

[full official video]: youtube

[official video clip]
the saints are coming (clip)
(uploaded to sendspace). a minute-long, quicktime video clip of the new u2 and green day video for the saints are coming. it has black and white studio footage of the bands recording the song in the studio interspersed with news footage from the new orleans area in the aftermath of hurricane katrina. the video was directed by chris milk. the song was recorded as a benefit for music rising.

video clip via u2 east link.

don't answer, don't ask, don't try and make sense

this is my boss.

these are some bono-hating mofos.

i'm cranky today. do not get in my way. (unless you are adorable.)

~ peace

on my way

ben kweller, webster hall, nyc, 10-20-2006, on my way. video by kevin skobac. pics from the show are here.

saw ben kweller friday night. beforehand, we almost got blown away by one of those randomly-out-of-nowhere windy as hell manhattan nights. dodging garbage and flying pieces of randomness.

i had never seen ben kweller before. i'm not a crazy big fan, but i love the new album. lots of woah, oh, ohohohs. he does that a lot.

before he came on stage, his intro music was steve miller, creedence and dylan. so that gives you an idea what he's up to. his parents were in the house, visiting from texas. he dedicated a song to them. that was cute.

he has a lot of energy. the highlight for me was when he played hospital bed. two keyboards going on with the big rocked out guitar. his songs definitely have more power live. but the solo acoustic set in the middle was also cool. he didn't play i gotta move, which bummed me out because that's my favorite one on his new album.

ben comes across as a very genuine lyricist, and he connects with the audeince in a very heartfelt manner. he has a knack for melodies, and his set sort of turned into a bit of a nice-guy sing-a-long. for me, he is lacking a little bit in sexiness. i don't even mean that in a shallow or physical way, but more in the vibe his music delivers. he doesn't have an edge. i sort of watched and thought, this is nice. and it was. nice.

sam roberts band opened, and they played very straight forward rock with some interesting sonic textures. some echo and heavy percussion. a lot of urgency and classic rock style. good stuff.

overall, it was a very good night. we didn't get blown away, but nothing flew up in the air and hit us in the head either. so that was good.

visit: sam roberts band / ben kweller

mp3s: sam roberts band / ben kweller

forgive me father...

...but this is funny
(although, that's totally 1985 era bono hair, yo.)

here's something else to look at:

google video: edge & bono in london
sweet little interview from the book signing last month in london. notice the removal of the bono shades around the 1:30 minute mark.

we're going to see ben kweller tonight.

that's all.

bono might have a fauxhawk

edun "one" launch party, london, october 18.

pic: bono & ali

article: hello magazine

10 questions with emm gryner (bono wants you to read this)

bono demands that you listen to this song. now.

[video] almighty love - emm gryner live performance on rte t.v. in ireland:



so, did anyone else read the q magazine article where the boys in u2 mentioned which songs of the past 20 years they wish they'd written and go "emm who?" because i did. of all the songs they mentioned, bono's mention of "almighty love" by emm gryner as a song he wished he'd written is the one that jumped out at me.

who is this emm gryner person? what does this almighty song sound like? i went searching....and found an epically bittersweet pop song. about love. and pain. written, performed and sung by a chick who runs her own record label. who has a diehard fan-base that adores her. who toured as a singer in david bowie's backing band. who has more indie-ness in her pinkie than exists in the entire bodies of 99% of the the jingle jangly blogosphere.

in emm, i found a cool person. when i contacted her to see if i could post an mp3 to her song, she said yes. and then i asked her some questions. and she answered them. cool.

10 QUESTIONS WITH EMM GRYNER




Bono mentioned to Q magazine that Almighty Love is one of his favorite songs of the past 20 years. What was your reaction to that?
EMM: I was blown away. To be mentioned by someone I admire, and also, be mentioned alongside such other great songs was a true honour.

Did you know he was a fan?
EMM: No.

What does that song mean to you?
EMM: The song is one of the most personal, most difficult songs I've written. I wanted to write a simple song with a simple melody that described the duality of love and hurt, and I think it captures that.

For people less familiar with your music, how would you describe what they might discover on your new album?
EMM: Orchestral pop, homemade rock 'n' roll, ballads, all inspired by my own adventures.

If we threw those "desert island" questions from Q magazine to you, how would you answer? Who's your favorite artist of the last 20 years?
EMM: Bright Eyes.
What song of the last 20 years do you wish you'd written?
EMM: So hard to choose. There are so many, but some of my favorite songs are: In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel, Something Vague by Bright Eyes, Rise Up With Fists by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Surround by In-Flight Safety, Stay by U2 [live mp3] , Survive by David Bowie, Human by the Pretenders, So Young by Ron Sexsmith......Ahhh too many.

What is the essence of any song that really makes it one that you like?
EMM: Melody, and the way lyrics complement one.

I know you have a very deep connection with your fans. How important is that to you? Do you make music for your fans or for yourself?
EMM: I really believe in having a connection with fans because they are the ones whose support keeps you alive, keeps you making music. When you have a real connection with fans, that is, one that isn't fueled by media and money, you come across the most fascinating, creative people. I always make music for myself, but I am so grateful that my fans enjoy it. I consider myself very lucky.

A lot of people talk about being indie, but they seem to be describing some kind of musical genre, not actual business practice. You seem to be truly independent in a business and musical sense. How do you define that word "indie"?
EMM: The word indie really has been twisted over the years to mean so many things. Even on different continents, the word seems to have different meanings...to me, it means, doing things on your own terms. To me it doesn't imply a certain sound. I think we should come up with a new word to describe the reality of truly being indie, can we have a contest?

We are totally having a contest right here.

In the meantime, when can we catch you in NYC?
EMM: No shows planned yet, except my side band hot one should be playing New York in mid-November.

Can you tell us a secret ?
EMM: I ate broccoli every day last week, and sort of enjoyed it.


[buy]: the summer of high hopes, emm gryner's new album, featuring almighty love.

[visit]: emmgryner.com

bono in dublin

bono doing the dirty work in dublin today.

bono says "styling wasn't the band's strength."

understatement of the century?

i don't know you and you don't know the half of it

you tube: don't give up
video of bono and alicia keys performing on oprah.

aussie u2 log: tips for buying a camera for your upcoming u2 shows. OMG. i am so fucking jealous.

today at work i got one of these teeny tiny cameras in the mail. i am going to test it out this week. it even shoots video. maybe i'll shoot a mini-movie of my life in cubicle city. or maybe not.

[mp3]
u2 - dirty day
live version, from the zoo tv dvd. more zoo tv audio here.

you can't even remember what i'm trying to forget.

everything gone blue

[mp3]
findlay brown - but you love me

on the way back i lost my crown / left the angels got swallowed by the ground / with the fear that i'd never tried / then the tears came, the first i'd ever cried

i ran across findlay brown's haunting psychedelic-tinged folk sound on a recent cd sampler from word magazine. people who play the comparison game have referred to findlay as a british simon and garfunkel. in my head, i hear elements of iron and wine, george harrison and darker shades of crosby, stills & nash. but my head is not normal, really, so take it as you will....

it turns out that findlay's song on the word compilation was listed incorrectly as "separated by the sea." the song is actually called "but you love me." i found that out by emailing findlay to ask him if i could post his song. he said "no probs."

i'm not sure if the intrigue lies in his lyrics or his delivery or his urgency. or the simplicity. the percussion? whatever, i like it.

visit findlay brown on myspace for more info.

paul fonzarelli

words to live by...

don't give up: bono & alicia keys

[mp3] bono & alicia keys - don't give up (africa)
live on the oprah winfrey show, october 13, 2006.

there is a studio version (proceeds go to the keep a child alive charity), which is available for download here.

photo via oprah.com / oprah mp3 via alicia-keys.net

no time to make a rhyme

• 
  ultragrrrl's got a bono mention in this post.

• [mp3] how can i tell you - ben taylor
  ben taylor has posted this cat stevens cover and several other tunes on his site as free downloads. ben is touring the u.s. in november and december. dates here.

• i have fallen in love with the new ben kweller. hard. i never liked those "ben" guys who play piano. but alas, i do like this. he's working a neil young meets john lennon type vibe. maybe he always has. and i just never noticed. 'til now. read heather's musings on ben kweller here.

• photo: bono, bush and christy turlington. somebody please take bono home and lock him up for a week or so. (please take him to his home, not yours).

later

oprah, bono. bono, oprah.

video: oprah and bono go shopping

yer man is causing traffic jams in chicago today. woot.

touring the angel

depeche mode, live in milan, 2006

[mp3] world in my eyes

[mp3] a question of lust

[mp3] walking in my shoes

[mp3] policy of truth

[mp3] precious

i have a friend who, every time i listen to or mention depeche mode, he makes a girl face and shakes his hips. this means he thinks depeche mode makes happy clappy dance music, i think. sometimes, at night, i can't sleep because i feel so sad for his ignorance.

the above tracks are from the dvd touring the angel: live in milan. click below for more info:

if i had to have a favorite...

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST OF THE LAST 20 YEARS?

BONO:
if i had to have a favorite, it might be the edge.
EDGE:
my daughter sian. she is incredible. she is just coming out of her abstract expressionism phase.
ADAM:
radiohead.
LARRY:
arcade fire.

COULD EACH OF THE ABOVE ANSWERS MAKE ME ANY HAPPIER?

ME:
no, i do not think it is possible.

u2 answers lots of questions in the 20th anniversary version of q magazine's november issue. the mag has 20 different covers:



WHICH TRACK OF THE LAST 20 YEARS DO YOU WISH YOU'D WRITTEN?

BONO:
brownsville girl, bob dylan and sam shepard [lyrics]; unfinished sympathy, massive attack [video]; live forever, oasis; the last song i'll ever sing, gavin friday; lucky man, the verve; almighty love, emm gryner [download].
EDGE:
wonderwall, oasis [download].
ADAM:
back to life, soul II soul.
LARRY:
block rockin' beats, the chemical brothers [download].

plus a few other respondents.....

WHICH TRACK OF THE LAST 20 YEARS DO YOU WISH YOU'D WRITTEN?

PAUL MCCARTNEY:
fields of gold, sting.
MADONNA:
behind the bars, elliott smith.
NOEL GALLAGHER:
looking glass, the la's.
DAVID GILMOUR:
my drug buddy, the lemonheads.
DAVID BOWIE:
debaser, pixies; teenage riot, sonic youth.

there are 20 interviews in the mag, but not all of the interviewees answered the same questions. and nobody said they wished they had written a u2 song. but britney spears did say this about bono: "a lot of his quotes are quirky. he's cool.". riiiiiiiiiiiight.

related: emm gryner mp3 and q&a
(bono wants you to click that link)

world's worst nightmare:

bono with two mouths.

the studio version of green day & u2's "the saints are coming" single, to benefit music rising, will be released later this month. this tune will also be included on the best of collection U218 singles that is set for a november 21 release.

in addition to the green day collaboration, U218 will include 16 U2 "hits" and a new (!) u2 song recorded last month at abbey road with rick rubin. the limited edition version of U218 will also include a bonus cd with 10 live tracks from vertigo milan.

lots of fans seem to care which "hits" u2 selects to put on this best of cd. i don't care. at all.

all i care about is the fact that one song on this cd is a NEW SONG. what will this song sound sound like? will it change my life? will it break my heart? will it be devastatingly divine? will i love it? will it be as painfully bad as the time i heard "a man and a woman" for the first time and my screams of agony could be heard around the tri-state area? i can't wait to find out.

peace

not good, says mom

bob dylan: modern times
album review by my mom: "this album is new? this is new, right? this album is not good. it's not good. this is awful."

i could argue, but i won't. there was once a life in dylan's voice that could reach inside my head, but now it just stops at my ears.

one time, about 11+ years ago, my sister and i were supposed to see bob dylan in concert. he was opening for the grateful dead. we missed dylan because we got sidetracked on the way to the show. we were stuck in a ridiculously out of control vermont one-lane highway traffic jam. the station wagon we were in was being driven by a kid who was tripping on acid. we were only moving about one-inch per minute, so it didn't seem that unsafe. plus, there were streams and streams of people riding past our car on bicycles. selling us things. like gigantic balloons full of nitrous. it was a pretty good time. as far as traffic jams go.

related:

bob dylan "borrows" his lyrics

all you ever wanted to know about nitrous
warning: contrary to common drug lore, nitrous oxide is highly addictive and at times lethal.

happy monday

another tough day at the office

bono and penelope cruz at the new york film festival premier of "volver" last night.

more pics: u2eastlink / getty

related:

article: cruz's bono ambition

website: volver

rhcp: sbs

chad smith and john frusciante playing sunday bloody sunday at the red hot chili peppers concert in toronto on september 25, 2006:

thanks rosephile.

related: chili peppers & mondo stage gimmicks

playing tricks on me

alert: if you ever go to this bar and order vodka and seven up and they run out of seven up, they will give you a glass full of vodka.

stalkers: bono and edge were at joe's pub thursday afternoon taping an episode of a new hbo talk show hosted by dave stewart. joe's pub is 2 blocks from my office. literally. unfortunately i did not know they were there. but i am getting the odd feeling that bono and edge are stalking me. i'm scared. for real. freaks.

amusing me:

view: nick carter and aaron carter might be are idiots.

read: zuton disses keane's tom chaplin
"anyone who goes to rehab over a bit of coke is a bit of a knob."

that's cold.

peace

i wanna be around

hot man photographed by kevin davies.

the above photo is included as part of a profile of bono in the october issue of the british harper's bazaar. (beyonce is on the cover.) the bono article is written by noreena hertz. the article is about project red, and shopping, and how nice bono is. really. it's deep, yo.

[wma audio]
i wanna be around - tony bennett & bono
this is from the recently released tony bennett album called duets. buy it here. bono is pretending to be frank sinatra with this vocal performance. i think.

amusing me:

jack white drama / ryan adams drama / witches!!

kick ass

page six, today's new york post - "jennifer garner is a beauty as part of project red, bono's campaign enlisting companies like the gap to offer red products and give a portion of the profits to the global aids fund."

this shot, by annie leibovitz, is part of gap's new ad campaign for product red. seven other celebs are also participating.

msnbc article: gap in the red

product red has mostly been a UK-based effort since its launch last january, but product red has already channeled more than $12 million to the global fund. in the united states, gap will launch its product red collection on october 13. gap will donate 50 percent of its product red sales to the global fund. products range from $10 for a tee to $350 for a red leather bomber jacket.

more info: gap red products

related: jennifer garner's awesome great workout mix!

this website is (not) updated by witches

pics: mr. edge, mrs. edge and mrs. bono in dublin.

read: a very excellent zoo tv dvd review that includes this beyond perfect description of bono: "he's a walking advertisement for stendhal's syndrome awareness..."

audio: zoo tv sydney dvd in a zip file.

podcast: bbc interview with bono. from london last month. he's on from the 2-and-a-half minute mark to the 6-minute mark.

visit: a website that IS updated by witches.

what, you were expecting a post about the state of world affairs?

i don't wait in lines

[mp3]
the velvet underground - i'm waiting for the man

did i remember to mention to you guys what i did last week?

FRIDAY, SEP. 22
wake up with several emails alerting me that u2.com is having a contest to meet the band in nyc. 150 people will win and get to meet u2 at the nyc book signing for the u2 by u2 book. friends say "enter! you might win! woot!"
i enter.
spend weekend crossing fingers and forcing random people i meet to cross their fingers, too. spend time emailing and calling friends to say "if i don't win the contest, i won't wait in the line. i don't wait in lines!"

even though i had met edge very briefly before, and on two occasions stood right next to bono in a crowd of fans, my career u2 stalking has consisted of 20 minutes of waiting for them. total. until last week. because, you see, i don't wait in lines. and famous people don't impress me. yeah. that's right. (stop laughing.)


MONDAY, SEP. 25, A.M.
wake up with email from u2.com that says "you didn't win. ha ha." (not in those words - but close.) i begin to wonder if bono and i might have a one-sided love affair. this is the second event in less than a week that he hasn't invited me to.
i thought we had something.
apparently obsessively stalking someone on the internet does not make them your boyfriend. who knew?

MONDAY, SEP. 25, NOON
read on message boards that book signing will take place 5 blocks from my office tomorrow. wonder how i will manage to stay away from that. after all, i don't wait in lines!
send emails to friends saying "too bad i don't wait in lines or maybe i might meet u2."

MONDAY, SEP. 25, 6 P.M.
leave work and walk a few blocks to book store. find 20 people are already waiting in line. i ask "how many are getting in tomorrow in addition to the 150 u2.com winners?" line nazis peeps say "oh, at least 100 we think. probably 150. are you waiting?"
i think about it for one second and say "no, there is no way i will wait on this line overnight. i don't wait in lines. good luck."

MONDAY, SEP. 25, 7:30 P.M.
fellow u2 nerd yetta calls me and wonders "shouldn't we go wait in the line?"
phone disconnects.
i am on my way home and thinking, "doesn't yetta know that i don't wait in lines?"

MONDAY, SEP. 25, 7:45 P.M.
call yetta back. she says she is going to wait in the line.
i say "i'll meet you there!"

MONDAY, SEP. 25, 11:30 P.M.
waiting on line.
we are 99 and 100 on line. many more people join the line after us.
yetta and i make friends with people, including a chicago cop next to us and a cute salesman from nyc. we play cards.
yetta tries to engage me in the "what celebrity do you want to sleep with" game. yetta is mad that i only have one celebrity on my list. the game ends prematurely.
we pass time by watching garbage trucks go by.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 2:00 A.M.
yetta wants to know why i love bono so much.
i am not good at these games.
i say i can't explain it but it's something he has on the inside and it shines through to the outside.
yetta accepts this answer.

TUESDAY SEP. 26, 3:00 A.M.
a dozen young men in line start a fight. one guy takes his shirt off. why do boys do that?
police come. police leave. creeps stay in line. creeps argue with people who want them off the line. creeps plan on selling their books back to one guy in charge who will then sell their books on ebay. they stay in line all night.

TUESDAY SEP. 26, 4:00 A.M.
the line of people lying on the sidewalk now winds around a city block. drunk people walking home wonder what is wrong with us. very few are impressed to learn we are waiting for u2. one handsome young man with an irish accent stops near me and screams that "bono has the americans fooled. bono owns half of dublin!"
crowd responds "so?"
a kid near us says to the bono-hater "you have a receding hairline."

TUESDAY SEP. 26, 8:00 A.M.
lots of new people show up.
i pull my hood up and try to avoid being seen by co-workers on their way to the office. (because i don't wait in lines.) some people try to get in front of us in line. it is hard to police the line, especially now that the actual police have arrived and are in charge.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 9:00 A.M.
nyc's finest, along with several barnes & noble security guards, stomp around the line. they repeatedly ask, "who is #100?"
i repeatedly shout "me! me!"
i have a giant blue #100 written on my hand.
we are told everyone with #100 and under written on their hands will get in.
minutes later a giant barrier is slammed in front of our faces.
pumpkin headed, red haired man yells at us "you are not getting in!"
we protest "but we are in the top 100!"
pumpkin man yells "no you aren't. that's it. go home!"
we moan "but they cut the line. it's not fair."
pumpkin screams in my face "bono makes the rules!"

this is what pumpkin looks like.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 9:15 A.M.
contemplate killing pumpkin.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 9:16 A.M.
realize i am losing control of emotions. try not to cry.
yetta talks to lots of people in charge. nobody listens.
we contemplate a hostile takeover, then decide to go to work instead.
yetta works far away. i have a short commute (5 blocks).

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 10 A.M.
feel bad for self. later realize i am being ridiculous, but at the moment, feel like crying and/or killing someone. (pumpkin seems like the best option.)
do only thing one can at such moments. call mom.
tell mom what happened.
mom listens, says nothing.
finally, i say "mom, i'm really upset."
mom says "i can tell."

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 10:15 A.M.
not satisfied, decide to call sister.
say to sister "i waited in line all night. i was #100. they didn't let me in! this is not fair."
sister says "you are a fucking nut."

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 10:25 A.M.
arrive at work late. decide not to tell anyone that i spent the night a few blocks away on a sidewalk. hope nobody smells me or sees dirt on jeans.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 10:30 A.M.
blurt out to sean, the first co-worker i see that "i slept on the sidewalk and i have a #100 on my hand! i want to see u2! but i didn't get in! and i have dirt on my jeans. and i smell! don't tell anyone, please!"
sean is confused. calls tom over.
i blurt out "tom, i slept outside barnes & noble to meet u2 and i was #100 in line and the cops are so mean and it is not fair."
tom asks "isn't u2 in new orleans?"
sean says "you should have cut the line."
conversation ends. i go and pretend to work.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 12:30 P.M.
leave office for lunch break. decide to swing by store and see if u2 arrives at 1 p.m. as scheduled. spot bono's security man, john, outside. call john over.
along with other "line waiters" tell john "we waited in line all night. we didn't get in. it's not fair."
john is the first person all day to listen to this sympathetically.
john says, "that doesn't sound right. that sucks."
we overhear a woman at the front door mentioning that the band will come in the back door, and john nods and says to us "back door."

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, 1:00 P.M.
run as fast as possible to the back door. other people are already at the back door.
john arrives at back door, rearranges barrier, i end up in front row with a few people deep behind me. there are several dozen people waiting.
john comes back over to where i am standing with others who have overnight numbers written on our hands. john winks at us.
i fall in love with john.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, U2 TIME
u2 arrives.
bono is first, followed by edge. they are meeting people on the other barrier opposite to us.
edge separates from bono and comes over to us.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, EDGE TIME
edge says little. lots of nods. i ask him to sign a notepad. he does,
i only have a reporter's notebook! nothing official for edge to sign. i waited in line overnight and edge is signing a reporter's notebook! how could I be so unprepared? i blame it all on pumpkin, the bastard.
edge has a very new looking black leather jacket on. his eyes are very green and shiny.
bono is still on the other side.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, ADAM TIME
adam and larry arrive. adam comes over. he has dark aviator glasses and a burgundy leather jacket. he signs his name for me. i say "thanks adam!" he says "oh, it's my pleasure."
a woman next to me says "i think you are great guitar player!"
adam, the bassist (!) says "thank you."

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, LARRY TIME
larry is next. larry! larry, who normally doesn't sign. larry who doesn't enjoy meeting people. larry is here. and he is smiling.
larry is not friendly? yeah right.
(and i don't wait in lines.)
larry has dark shades on so i can't see if is his eyes are happy, but his lips are smiling.
he has a black shirt on with the sleeves rolled up.
i can see his forearm muscles. the girl next to me touches his forearm. i just smile at him. he smiles at me and signs my notepad (edge, adam, larry - all in my reporter's notebook at this point).
why can't i speak?
larry says to me "okay there you go, is that alright then?"
um, yeah.

TUESDAY, SEP. 26, BONO TIME
here comes bono.
bono arrives next to me and two other girls with blue #s on our hands. he looks at our hands and reads the numbers to himself. "what is this?" he wonders aloud.
he is holding my left hand, looking at the #100 in blue ink written on it.
"100?" he announces "that's a good number."
bono. is. holding. my. hand.
(!)
bono likes my number. (i always knew he would.)
the crowd gets unruly. people next to me are shrieking at him and there are people from the street running over and now we are pressed against the barrier. bono's presence has caused pandemonium.
bono is smiling, talking above our heads, having a conversation with everyone. at once.
bono is holding onto my hand.
people are yelling at him about the overnight line. not me. i am silent.
i am just looking at him. he is taller than me.
he is wearing jeans, a t-shirt and the same jacket he wore the night before in new orleans. the one with the brass buttons. his face is pink. everything about him looks softer in person.
his sleeves are too long and one of them is hitting me on the wrist.
suddenly he is not touching my hand anymore.
he is signing things. now he is signing my reporter's notebook. he is right in front of me and i have nothing to say. i do the only thing that makes sense to me at the moment - i grab him.
he is in the middle of signing his name for me and i have grabbed his hand mid-autograph. as a result, his signature says B-O-N-squiggle-squiggle (see?)
he shoots a an eyebrow at me. i let go of the hand. he moves to the next person.
i reach over to touch his sleeve. lots of people are reaching out and touching him. he doesn't mind. he is busy talking. to everyone. he asks if we have read the book. he wants to know how it ends up.
he asks "do we win in the end?"
bono is grinning. everyone laughs. everyone is smiling.

and then he's gone.

i'm glad i waited.


bono on his way into barnes & noble. photos courtesy of jcoster.

thanks for waiting with me yetta. you will catch them next time. for sure.

[mp3]
ash (w/ chris martin) - everybody's happy nowadays