Scatter o' Light

Scatter O' Light Has Moved To Scatterolight.com

2009-09-08T13:00:00.001-04:00

It's Official - Scatter O' Light has a new address: scatterolight.com

ALL new Scatter O' Light content will be on scatterolight.com going forward, so update your bookmark / rss feed if you so desire and hopefully we'll see you on the new site ...

In Development (scatterolight.com)

2009-09-06T14:58:00.007-04:00

Scatter O' Light is moving off of blogger and to its own domain: scatterolight.com

Nothing fancy. And layout/visual theme still in development, but the Scatter O' Light development team (ha) will make it more official in the next day or so and then there will be no more new posts on this blogspot address. New Scatter O' Light content will be on scatterolight.com going forward, so please update your bookmark / rss feed or whatever it is that brings you here ;)

U2.com > News > Day 9 And Counting

2009-09-03T23:09:00.003-04:00

u2.com video: day 9 and counting

also:

countdown to 360 north america video: sam

countdown to 360 north america video: joe o'herlihy

Posted using ShareThis

quick links

2009-09-03T10:48:00.005-04:00

via atu2blog: there is a new documentary on anton corbijn called shadow play.

"the" u2 marathon is on all day today (thursday) on wbwc - listen online here.

u2 will be on saturday night live on the season debut on september 26. (what will they play? remix version of crazy? regular version? what else?)

variety says the bono is involved with a film project called the virgin of las vegas.

Parallel topper Alan Moloney is also producing "The Virgin of Las Vegas" with U2 frontman Bono. Liam Neeson is attached to star in the $14 million project, which affectionately recalls the Irish pop culture phenomenon of show bands. Show bands, which became popular across Ireland before the onslaught of TV, used to play cover songs in the early days of rock 'n' roll and amassed large followings across the country. Neeson will play an aging show band singer, prone to drink and living in Vegas, who finds his life turned on its head following the arrival of a mysterious stranger. Barry Devlin is penning the script.

later ...

why is u2 not playing the song stand up comedy on the 360 tour?

2009-08-30T19:23:00.007-04:00

like a little old lady: Stand Up Comedy - U2

Q: why did u2 not play the song stand up comedy at all on the first leg of the u2 360 tour?

a) because it stinks
or
b) they are saving its live debut for the usa since they think we have really ~~questionable~~ awesome taste
or
c) they are waiting for will.i.am to drop some hot beatz on it so they can play it remix style
or
d) other reason

why did they bother even writing that song, finishing that song and putting it on the album if they didn't plan on playing it live?

(i do realize they have forever to still decide to play it and there are lots of songs they recorded and have never played but this song is so irritating to me. it started out as a killer riff and they neutered/tried to make a pop hit out of it. and now they don't even play it? live? where it will for sure be better? the fact that u2 hasn't yet played it makes me think u2 might not like it so much. conclusion. jumped.)

here is a complete listing of all 35 songs u2 played during leg 1 of the 360 tour.

unRELATED: somebody track down apple cheeks and let him know that friday night is now wednesday night at giants stadium!
SPIN Magazine: Muse - Pomp and Circumstance

It's midnight on Manhattan's Lower East Side, and the apple-cheeked guitarist in the baggy tank top doesn't know what's coming. "Yeah, we've got another show in Brooklyn in a couple days," brags Apple Cheeks to Dominic, a skinny blond Englishman in a black leather jacket. It's early summer and the two are standing outside the front door of a small club/bakery called Cake Shop. The musician's band finished playing a few minutes ago, and he's still feeling flush. The sidewalk is lousy with well-appointed degenerates who look as though they've also got another show in Brooklyn in a couple days.

"We're playing a place called Bruar Falls," he says, arching his eyebrows above his thick glasses. "I'm pretty sure we're headlining." Bruar Falls is the size of a rich man's bathroom.

Dominic looks up from his iPhone. "My band's playing New York. Not till September, though."

Apple Cheeks isn't impressed. "Oh really?" he asks. "Where?"

A goofy grin spreads across Dominic's face. "Giants Stadium."

Apple Cheeks' jaw goes slack. "Wh -- what band are you in?"

...

[more]

U2 BONO GLASGOW

2009-08-27T23:23:00.008-04:00

U2 BONO GLASGOW 180809
Originally uploaded by misterpunk2003

U2 Bono and Adam Wembley

2009-08-27T23:22:00.000-04:00

U2 Bono and Adam Wembley 150809
Originally uploaded by misterpunk2003

U2 WEMBLEY 2009

2009-08-27T23:21:00.000-04:00

U2 WEMBLEY 2009
Originally uploaded by misterpunk2003

crazy

2009-08-25T11:30:00.001-04:00

there is a u2 - i'll go crazy if i don't go crazy tonight mp3 single available on amazon (u.s.) today for $1.81. it includes the single version and the redanka remix and the dirty south remix.

there is also a live from somerville version of crazy tonight on amazon (u.s.) for $0.99.

itunes has an i'll go crazy "album" for $7.99 that includes the single version, 5 remixes and the 2 videos.

my favorite version is the live remix version. which too badly is not being sold anywhere. but actually i think it isn't captured that well when i see it on video or hear the bootlegs. it's an in-person you have to be there to fully appreciate it thing.

but you know what's crazy awesome? this:

no, i am not talking about bono, people.

(i'm talking about that thing his hair is doing at the front top middle.)

later

love the intro and outro

2009-08-24T23:39:00.002-04:00

beautiful day in cardiff.

next stop: chicago. i'm trying not to go to chicago. but who knows.

puffles

2009-08-22T09:45:00.001-04:00

pic from friday: suit and tie bono

audio rip of the u2 in sheffield concert that aired on the radio on thursday is available at u2start (free registration required). the band sounded pretty damn good.

our friend northern star has a post on her blog that includes a bono meet up, chit chat and wembley 2 report
...Debbi said that his voice was really good at the moment to which he replied, (something like this anyway)"Thanks, I thought I was singing good." He then asked us how the sound was "Because the sound was bouncing back at me". We told him that it was good where we sat. He asked whereabout we were, Debbi said that we were in seats to the side of the stage to which I added, "On Edge's side in the lower tier." Bono nodded and said he was glad the sound was ok for us because he "Was worried about that." [more]

finally, sorry but the intro to this grizzly bear review made me laugh so hard.
In the week that U2's supposedly democratising '360 degree' staging initiative turned out to be a transparent ruse to facilitate charging roughly a third of a huge stadium crowd full price for the opportunity to watch Bono's backside perform, evidence was urgently required that pop's promises to dissolve existing hierarchies can be more than just hot air.

New York-based foursome Grizzly Bear supply that evidence, with a show at Camden's Koko which makes an elegant mockery of the idea that the only functional structure for a life-changing rock 'n' roll band is one messiah and three disciples... [more]

no wait, really finally, look, rosie just went clammin' and got some CLAMS:

later

disappearing act

2009-08-21T12:23:00.003-04:00

youtube: u2 - disappearing act (fragment) / alt audio link

this unreleased unforgettable fire era track has been "worked on" and a fragment of it was played a few days ago while bono and edge were being interviewed by edith bowman on bbc radio. more info plus interview links on atu2.

placeholder

2009-08-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

chuckle

2009-08-18T13:07:00.003-04:00

Gwyneth Paltrow Makes Chicken Goop.com with Abby Elliott (via)

yeah.

so last night we went to see brendan benson play the first show of his tour supporting his new album. he didn't seem so ready. he was nervous and kept wondering why everything was moving so fast. one guy booed when brendan started and stopped his first song and explained he hadn't played any shows yet except for one mini one in nashville. this dude in the crowd booed and brendan was like, "fuck you man booing nashville. that's music city. what the fuck. get out of here. why don't you go blog? go blog your boos." i laughed, but i don't really like that insult. his album is streaming on npr. and this article on brendan in the independent is good. "There's a big distinction between being a fan of music, and making it. It's frustrating and sad sometimes, listening to something so good and so beautiful, and thinking, 'I want to write a song like this'. But writing music's more like being seized or possessed, and being asked what a song's about afterwards is like remembering a dream. And sometimes, it's just a song."

unrelated:

the single uprising is on muse's new album that will be out on september 14. the album will probably be ridiculous.

later.

XX + SVIIB

2009-08-17T18:30:00.001-04:00

i went to see these two bands on friday: the xx and school of seven bells. mostly i went because it was free and there was cold beer. but also because, as the crazy high girl next to me said, "the blogs are all about to be sucking the xx's dicks."

the xx are two boys and two girls, 19 0r 20 and one of the lead singers/guitarist is a girl named romy and she has a pretty great voice.

and benjamin curtis from school of seven bells, well the edge likes him (and his effects). and vice versa. (while he was still in secret machines, benjamin curtis also played guitar on the bono version of i am the walrus from across the universe.) not that i view things through this u2 jaded prism. or anything.

anyway, the guardian says the new xx album is quietly, utterly electrifying. and if you've seen this video, you get an idea of what they are like, live too. they just stand there like they are hypnotized. it's not really for me.

school of seven bells is slightly more animated live. benjamin curtis sort of spends all the time twhirling around and making space rock guitar sounds that alternate between having a hook and going in circles. the deheza sisters stand pretty still with their instruments and sing their harmonies. live it was a bit muddled for me (maybe i was too close to the stage), but the record has lots of atmospheric beauty to it:

dudes in the crowd spent a lot of time during the school of seven bells set figuring out which deheza sister is hotter. (apparently the keyboardist because the guitarist is "too perky.")

web: school of seven bells / the xx

london

2009-08-16T13:12:00.003-04:00

above pics are from night 1 of u2 at wembley stadium. more here: ineedmyfix.com

last night u2 played night 2 in london. this video jumps out at me:

bono is singing the song in a bizarre tempo for the first few minutes. when he did that in dublin i was thinking it was a screw up. like how he has decided on this tour to change the way in a little while ends and end it with a second scatter of light verse. or how he refuses to sing certain verses of ultraviolet (i guess it's the price of love... is now, "i guess that's the something something something something something it ain't cheap.") the first time you hear it you are dumb enough to think it is a slip up and then you realize he is doing it on purpose.

london 8-14-09 setlist / london 8-15-09 setlist

also, this image of bono's note to the sun that u2log posted is funny (click to enlarge):

and finally, here are some cute pics from on the way out of the u2 after party in london last night.

peace

it might get loud: do not wait for the dvd

2009-08-15T18:00:00.001-04:00

seriously, you MUST see this in a theater. one with a very good sound system if at all possible.

i saw the movie it might get loud yesterday. the edge, jack white and jimmy page. yeah, yeah, you know all about it. i have read some people commenting on such intellectual sites as ONTD! and YouTube arguing about why certain members of this group shouldn't be included in a documentary about the electric guitar. as if maybe they weren't all worthy. edge uses effects you know! and jack white ain't no derek trucks. (so .. and so?) seriously, i don't know if i want the people who make these comments to see the movie and have their minds altered or if i just want them to die. tough one.

this movie is well done and it focuses on three very worthy individuals. it has some scenes that made me cry. not because of anything that was said but more just because of the feelings of awe inspired by the music and the images coming at you very big and loud. i literally had an internal conversation with myself at one point. "cara, why are you crying? i don't know, maybe because you love the edge so much? maybe because your popcorn ran out? who knows." [end conversation]. really, maybe it was little things like, oh, i don't know, jimmy freakin page standing next to the edge powering through i will follow. i really enjoyed this. i also had to literally bite my hand to stop from saying "OH MY GOD" too loudly when edge was walking us through (and jumping up onto) one specific location at mount temple.

i did think parts of jack white's segments dragged near the end and i wish jimmy page could articulate some of his feelings a bit more clearly. even though he is the most well-known and highly regarded (i'd say) of these three, jimmy comes across as having the least interest in crafting his own narrative. meanwhile, jack, who i really do like, is amusingly all about the struggle and keeping it real, yet his persona is clearly the one with the most artifice. as a u2, um, psychotic, i'd be lying if i didn't admit i wanted more edge. if the movie was called it might get edge i'd be happier. but it was really cool. the other two guys ain't so bad;) it is an amazing gift to u2 fans to have the edge as one of the featured stars in a movie such as this one. i hope the dvd comes with many many extras.

more info: it might get loud website

related:

U2.com > News > 'Friend and Mentor'

2009-08-15T17:17:00.002-04:00

Eunice Kennedy Shriver by Bono.

Posted using ShareThis

2

2009-08-11T14:14:00.006-04:00

(:58 - 1:06), below.
screamer: "bono, it takes a second to say goodbye."
bono: "it takes more than a few minutes it turns out."

love bono's intro to one in croatia, below, (2:08-2:20 ).
"tonight we want to play it for everyone in this region whose had their warm hearts broken by cold ideas*"

* (or maybe he said ideals?)

u2 just played two nights in zagreb, croatia and have five dates left on this leg of the tour.

2009-08-14 - London, England
2009-08-15 - London, England
2009-08-18 - Glasgow, Scotland
2009-08-20 - Sheffield, England
2009-08-22 - Cardiff, Wales

have fun if you are going peeps! and please tell bono to bring his white pants to the u.s next month. it's okay if it is after labor day when he gets here, i won't hold it against him.

gary lightbody's fanboyism is endearing and real

2009-08-09T13:49:00.004-04:00

u2.com: something i've never seen before

... I have never in my life seen a crowd reaction like that of Katowice last night. Right from opener Breathe there was a daft magic in the air. Insanity everywhere you looked. People's faces clothed in the kind of joy I've only seen in gospel churches and then only on the TV so to see this religious fervour up close was overwhelming. The city outside the stadium could have been under heavy fire from alien spacecraft and I don't think anyone would have heard, saw, or indeed cared that much.

Then The Edge takes to the piano for New Year's Day (playing it guitar pick still between his fingers!) and the place is bathed in red and white instantly. Red cards held aloft by the people on the floor and white cards in the seats to make a giant Polish flag you could probably see from space. It took the breath clean out of me. By the end even Bono was speechless, for a few seconds anyway. The things he said next are lost to me verbatim but what I won't forget is the tears that came to me then. In floods. And when I turned to check if anyone had snared me for blubbing I realised that every single person around me also had tears in their eyes. We were sharing something that simply never happens at rock shows anywhere. A collective emotional and spiritual surrender of epic proportions. This was majesty and tenderness married and that is a rare thing indeed.

Last night was something I've never seen before and I can't quite fathom it. Not sure I ever will or even want to. It will sit alongside the greatest nights of my life and I thank U2 and Poland for that. Also thank you to the Polish U2 fans for giving us the best reaction to our own set we've had on this tour so far. All in all then a night of triumphs...

more ...

related:

in honor of the edge's birthday

2009-08-08T18:39:00.003-04:00

here's a photo of bono's freckles

photo via + click for more

and i'm totally going to go see the edge's movie this friday. can't wait.

later

found sounds

2009-08-07T18:38:00.004-04:00

stephe sykes contributed to the scatter o' light super-awesome book list series. (see: a list, part 7: from the blue eyed devil). stephe is way cooler than me. his band is called heroes of popular wars. the new album is called church and mcdonald. these are some of the new songs...

[mp3] a bus called further - heroes of popular wars
[mp3] it's a doozy - heroes of popular wars

more info on myspace

bono should lie down more often

2009-08-06T00:00:00.003-04:00

i am still slowly stumbling upon all these things i forgot to look at:

i haven't been able to sit down and get my head straight and explain my summer so far. even to myself. one thing: there was simultaneously so much and so little u2 happening for me when i was in europe. i mean, we did go to 5 u2 concerts. so i know the previous sentences sound weird. whatever. it's just that i detached from the internet a little bit. sorry bono, i didn't read ALL the nasty and nice stuff people wrote about you. i'm still not! (and it feels good.)

later

so my sister felt like barfing during the coldplay show

2009-08-05T15:30:00.005-04:00

we went to see coldplay on monday in massachusetts and halfway through my poor sister almost passes out. plus she asked me for my extra earplugs. at coldplay!

i realize this is a cliche thing. to make fun of coldplay. and i am not doing that. we don't dislike coldplay! or we wouldn't have gone to their concert. i think she may have felt like puking not because of the guys on the stage, but more because she has spent all summer getting up at 5 a.m. and working all day and coming home and working all night at being a mom while her brat little sister has spent the summer traipsing around europe without a care in the world.

we have seen coldplay live two times. once on their last tour. and then this time. after this show, my sister said, well, it was pretty much the same vibe as the last one. and i said, yeah it was the same, except with ~~crappier~~ different songs. and she said, and crappier outfits. the audience seemed to enjoy it, though.

anyway, since i haven't really been paying attention to coldplay, i was not aware they'd be doing this:

i will let you deem for yourself whether that is good or not.

my favorite parts of coldplay's catalog all come from their second album, a rush of blood to the head. i think it is darker and more complex of an album than most people give coldplay credit for. but since they do have songs like viva la vida and fix you i can see why people don't give them credit for the stuff that is, well, not like that. like this:

elbow opened the show. i missed some of elbow. cause we were getting all fucked up and stuff in the parking lot. in a minivan! ha ha, maybe not. but, damn guy garvey has such a voice. one of the best.

anyway, that's that.

latez

up close and personal view of u2 guitar player's unique style

2009-08-04T18:21:00.002-04:00