Our U2 expert, Bob St. Onge, has made his way in to the U2 show at Boston!

Some photos from the event… talk about a SMALL venue!

More to come!

- Shawn

Nope, not Marty Riemer, but my good friend Marty Lennartz from the mighty Chicago radio station WXRT.

Marty and I often share our "James Lipton" moments when we meet backstage at Bonnaroo for 40 interviews in 4 days. But this time, we both had similar "good fan" experiences meeting Bono. Eerily similar.

You know who else is like that? Bill Clinton. Ask anyone who has had the great good fortune of meeting the guy, and they’ll all agree. He might not say it, but Bill Clinton could walk up to a table of radio djs and say, "Hello, I am a rockstar." And within minutes, not one person would discount that statement.

Here’s Marty’s account of night 2 of U2’s escapades:

—

U2 Three Nights Live, Night Two, Chicago.

The city was in a U2 frenzy.  WXRT called it U2’s Day and  played nothing but U2 all day long. The TV stations sent crews to the station to report on the buzz.

U2 was in Chicago. The worst kept secret in town.  U2 and Shirley Manson, chatting and playing their favorite songs at Chicago’s premiere rock club, Metro. Where else?

A roomful of lucky U2 fans gathered to watch a radio show. The band sat on two leather couches looking totally relaxed. Larry set up “I Wanna Be Sedated” and the Edge chose “Brown Eyed Girl”.

I’m sure those classics sounded great on the air. Too bad what happened in the room during the music wasn’t part of the show. Shirley opened it up to an informal audience Q and A.  Questions about inspiration, lyrics and one from a guy who wanted to know how Bono and his wife have been able to maintain a relationship all these years. Bono answered it by saying he’s known her since high school but he’s still trying to get to know her. Sweet.

After the show, it all moved to a very cool bar in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood called the Violet Hour. Handmade original cocktails and private club atmosphere. The band showed up and spent time with everybody.

Bono sat with us and was engaging, charming, humble and also charismatically down to earth, if that makes sense. He’s a man who can talk to popes, presidents and radio people. Let’s say, he knows how to work a meet and greet. Not in a slick and shallow sort of way. He actually carried on a conversation with the people around our table. He talked about the old days, Edge’s guitar as well as inside stories about No Line On The Horizon. He said four of the songs were recorded in one take.  “20 minutes for four songs, two years for the rest”. 

He remembered a story of meeting someone almost 30 years earlier and he told us the band’s longevity is due to the fact they  all get along in the green room. Off stage, they like each other.

Bono was then ushered off to the next table and Adam came in and was equally generous. Band’s of U2’s stature aren’t normally so giving of themselves.

It was almost like they were a new band trying to make a mark and make some friends.

When it was all over Bono, before he left, made a point to stop back at our table to said he enjoyed spending time in our little corner of the room. 

That’s something I’ll remember.

—

- Shawn

No one knew what to expect of our U2 evening, least of all me! But our Mountain "Do You Know U2" contest winner, an employee of REI, came prepared for an adventure. Literally! He was carrying a huge backpack. Change of clothes if the event turns formal? GPS system if the band tries to shake us? Solar shower? Stay tuned for the answer but first, from the lobby of our Hollywood hotel, meet the man who knows U2!

Once we had been shuttled to our secret location, The Capital Recording Studio, we were all told numerous times to check our cell phones and recording devices. Everyone seemed obedient enough, except me of course, who cannot be trusted. I snuck both my phone (old-timey BlackBerry with no camera) and flip video cam in the old fashioned way, under my dress.

But once the event was over, EVERYONE pulled out cameras and phones to document the band walking into the small crowd of fans. There were maybe 60 people max and in the melee as the band greeted and chatted up everyone, I nervously pulled out my camera and began to record. Check out this timid little vid. Don’t blink or you’ll miss The Edge!

True story: I watched this several times before realizing the guy getting the autograph is OUR contest winner! It was so random… but now, so cool. Inside that huge REI pack? Two coffee table U2 books now signed by every member of the band.

Much more to come… and remember, you can follow me on Twitter at twitter.com

- Shawn

And so it began, my 10 minutes of relatively private time with (arguably) the world’s biggest rock star, Bono.

In a corner booth in a dark lounge, with flash bulbs popping and nervous-looking minders hovering, Bono chatted with 3 excited female fans who all happened to be Music Directors at radio stations. Present at the table: raven-haired hottie and former Mountain-eer Haley Jones, now MD at The Sound in Los Angeles, and earthy goddess Kelly Ransford (follow her at twitter.com/kellykfog ) from KFOG in San Francisco. Oh, and me: skinny, buck toothed Olive Oyl look-a-like, once again WAY overdressed.

He charmed, we charmed. We drank a toast to the new album and I shouted “Bob’s your uncle,” an old Stewart family rallying cry and he laughed.

More flashbulbs but no lull in the conversation. We talked about The One Campaign (join at www.one.org). Bono ordered a margarita (with salt).

We talked about change, the inauguration, and public service. He asked if anyone will care about Africa now that we’re all broke.

I reached across the table and handed him his drink with my giant floor grazing arms and said, “My arms are long.” And he heaved a sigh and said, “And so is my…thirst.”

I mentioned that I’d read an article in USATODAY about more American’s volunteering in the down economy. And he said, “USATODAY?” and I said “Yes.” And he said, “Today’s USATODAY?” and I said, “Yes.” And he said, “I must get that.”

Flash bulbs. Nervous minders getting nervous-er. And finally someone told him it was time to move on. I believe I saw a twinge of regret in his eyes. Was he wearing sunglasses? I didn’t even notice.

Here’s what I do recall:

- He smelled nice.

- We touched accidentally several times (we were sitting side by side) and every time I thought, I just touched Bono.

- At one point, someone joined our little bouquet of Music Directors, and we had to “scoot over” to make room. I said to Bono, “You can sit on my lap.” He said, “I might just.” To which I replied, “The night is young.” And he looked at me and laughed. Laughed!

- The flashbulbs did not phase him even a little.

- He was sitting on my good side.

- I genuinely liked him.

More tales from my once in a lifetime night with U2 (including a preview of tonight’s guest dj-ing, Adam’s curiosity about The Mountain, and why I chose to pass on meeting Larry Mullen, Jr.) all to come…with some U2 home movies too!

- Shawn

Kat here.

Shawn’s been crazy-busy in LA today, and her news is coming down the pipeline, from me to you…

7:16 PM

Hey! In LA and the event is at Capital Studios in that cool capitol bldg, shaped like a record. Only 200 people allowed. 

10:20 PM

I JUST MET THE EDGE

10:50 PM

Oh my gosh I just spent 5 minutes on a sofa with Bono. BONO!!!!!

10:52 PM

Bono took off his shades and Adam kissed me.

 

I’m sure Shawn will have tons more info upon her return to the airwaves. Until then, keep checking back – and at her Twitter.

- Kat

From the desk of VP of Content, Kat…

This is it, folks. U2 360. 

U2 has released information about their upcoming North American tour. 

Sept. 12 – Chicago, Soldier’s Field
Sept. 16 – Toronto, Rogers Centre
Sept. 20 – Boston, Gillette Stadium
Sept. 24 – New York, Giants Stadium

U2 has not confirmed openers for many of their dates, but some names you may be seeing on the bill include Glasvegas, Elbow, Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol and Black Eyed Peas. Additional artists will be announced.

With this setup, I bet they’re taking two of those four day breaks just tearing down and setting up the venue!

From U2.com…

Long-time U2 Show Director Willie Williams has worked again with architect Mark Fisher (ZooTV, PopMart, Elevation and Vertigo), to create an innovative 360° design which affords an unobstructed view for the audience. U2 360° also marks the first time a band has toured in stadiums with such a unique and original structure.

"U2 has always been at their best when surrounded by the audience, this staging takes a giant leap forward. With 85 percent of the tickets priced at less than 95 Euro, general admission floor tickets priced at 55 euro and at least 10,000 tickets at every venue priced at the 30 Euro price range, we have worked very hard to ensure that U2 fans can purchase a great priced ticket with a guaranteed great view" says U2’s manager Paul McGuinness.

Arthur Fogel, CEO Global Touring/Chairman – Global Music Live Nation: "Following the overwhelming worldwide success of the Vertigo tour where every available ticket was sold, there is tremendous anticipation for this tour and to experience this revolutionary production. As usual fans will not be disappointed." 

I’m excited for the upcoming tour, but in all honesty, I’m just hoping I can get a ticket! The Vertigo tour sold out in a snap.

My concert schematic is expected to look as such…

I’m merely a serf in the kingdom.

Tour after tour, U2 continues to amp up the show.

If they had this much money 20 years ago, what do you think they would do for their Joshua Tree tour??? 

I’m guessing that a giant treehouse would be involved.

For more information and a really cool flash video of the U2 360 stage setup, click here.

- Kat

What a long week for your MD and her VP of Content Kat. I think we both wish U2 would just simmer down and take a nap for a few days…

Oh, wait…that’s what they are doing post-Letterman, pre-1 Station, U2, 3 Nights , our huge promotion that starts Monday night live from L.A. I get to escort our lucky Mtn listener and he gets to try and restrain me. Good luck with that!

Here’s the last song from U2 Live in NYC. Here’s what I remember about this. I was texting with my friend Jim Sutcliffe of Philly who had declined to be my date for the show, updating him on setlist etc. During this song, he wrote “They opened with ‘11 O Clock Tick Tock’??? If they play ‘A Sort of Homecoming’ I will open a vein!!!” They didn’t play that song, and Jim survived to see another U2 show. But it was still my own personal once in a lifetime U2 moment.

U2 – Bad (Live from NYC)

Also, if you’re looking for more U2 news, you can check out http://u2log.com/. But check "Ask the MD" first.

– Shawn