Seconds by U2

A great deal of the fans of U2 have most likely never heard this song. I was in college when U2 was breaking from a college band across the pop divide in the mid eighties. When the album War was released the foundation of rock and roll might well have shifted.

The album War was one of the great albums in rock and roll history, not only for the incredible music it featured but because it was the beginning of the widespread acclaim of U2. The early albums Boy and October had made them the quintessential college band but they were still far from the mainstream success that would happen in 1987 with The Joshua Tree.

With songs like Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day War is usually the place that new or next generation U2 fans start. Still more often than not that is where they stop. Two Hearts and traditional concert closer " 40" might be the choices for those who want to go one step further.

This morning listening to First Wave on the satellite when Seconds came on I was floored at what am amazing song this is. With it's constant beat, it's fade out and fade in the song owes as much to Pink Floyd as it does to the Beatles but when one considers that this is an album track. An album track that features the sing song " Airborne ranger" marching song as background noise no less but still an album track. Taken along with " Refugee" these two songs sealed the deal on what might be one of the most thematically true rock and roll albums in history.

Coming from Ireland and witness to the troubles as the grew up no one could speak with more authority than U2 on the perils of war, declared or not and speak they did. This was an incredible album, something I was jarringly reminded of this morning. Sometimes it is easy to forget how meaningful music is to you when you are 19 years old. This morning I got a glimpse into my past and remembered. It only took a " Second"

Keith Urban in Concert

My wife and I went to see Keith Urban last Saturday night at the Bangor Waterfront. We have gone to many shows that I was interested in, it was an easy decision to go see Keith Urban one of my wife;s favorites.

I cannot say that I was on pins and needles for the show but certainly by the time Saturday evening came around I was looking forward to the show.

When we arrived at the show we noted that the previous night's full moon was still shining bright this night. The opening act was a fellow named David Niall that my wife was familiar with, some of the songs were identifiable as hits based on the crowd reaction.

The crowd was energetic and excited. A great deal of young college age girls, high school girls, and women too old to be dressed the way they were. I joked to my wife that one wonders if these, truthfully very pretty young ladies, thought that Keith might offer them a date that night if they looked extra good. Urban took the stage and I have to admit here and now that I do not know a great deal of his songs. I have not paid much attention to country music over the last couple of years.

Still I did find out in watching the show that Urban can truly play the guitar very well. He did play the song Stupid Boy, a song I am a fan of, that features a good bit of guitar work.

The show was fine but I think what it is most important to talk about here is the way Mr. Urban treats his audience. Which was absolutely incredible. Many musicians speak well of their fans, many claim to love them and appreciate them, however I have never seen a musician be as thoughtful as Keith Urban was.

During the show Urban brought up some young girls to have a picture taken with him, he went into the crowd a few times, at one point giving his guitar to a young girl. He had a sing along during the song " I Want To Kiss a Girl" in which he brought up four folks to sing with him and engage in a singing contest. Anyone who was at the show will not soon forget the wild man. a fellow named Ryan, that he brought on stage with him. Frankly I do not think that Mr. Urban will be forgetting his visit to Maine and his new friend Ryan.

In introducing his band members he lets them each take the stage and sing a bit of a song. After hearing the three folks sing With or Without You, American Girl, and It's A Long Way to the Top ( from AC/DC) makes clear that Urban owes more to the classic rock of Tom Petty than to the traditional country of years past.

As the show ended and my wife were filing our way out I was surprised to see the members of the band, including Urban, on stage posing for pictures ten minutes after the show ended. They were speaking to individuals until, it seemed, that most folks ( in the pit) that wanted to say a word or touch a hand received an opportunity to do so.

I can take or leave the music though I think Urban has a strong sense of what makes a hit and continues to put some vibrant guitar effort into all his music. For me, however, what is the most important thing to remember is that Keith Urban, married to a movie star, has a strong sense of how lucky he is and how important it is to show genuine gratitude to the people, his fans, who make him successful.

Urban convinced me. A good singer, a great performer, a better person.

August and Everything After - Live at Town Hall by The Counting Crows

Adam Duritz and The Counting Crows have turned their first album into a cottage industry. The album which launched them is a wonderful album, one they admittedly never come close to matching in depth and meaning. A couple of years ago they rereleased album with many additional songs from the sessions that did not make the original. These songs too were very good, and strong but the Crows music is often polarizing. Not alot of people who are in between on their music.

I am surely in the Counting Crows camp as I love the music. Yesterday Amazon informed that they have now released a live performance of their original album performed recently. Of course Springsteen started this area with his performances of some of his classic albums on his most recent tour.

I have several live Crows albums and Duritz shines in these moments. So with a sense of what new can they offer in another live album of this material I listened. In short it is a great album. No there is no revalation. There is nothing new. The band clearly loves this material, Duritz was in great form offering many great stories and lead ins to songs. The intro to Sullivan Street is funny but the gem of the album is the extended Rain King with a full version of a funky Thunder Road in the middle. I have heard this before but did not have a recording of it. Round Here, Mr. Jones and Murder of One are highlights as expected with Murder of One with a few brief lines of U2's Red Hill Mining Town.

A great album, one wanting to know what the Counting Crows and their diehard fans connect on would be well to start here.

Sad Song by The Cars

It is interesting that some bands have a sound that is their signature..that makes you recognize them before you even know the song.

U2 has that sound. Tom Petty has that sound as do The Rolling Stones. I can recall 20 or more years ago driving down the road and hearing the new single by The Stones called Mixed Emotions. The first notes made it clear who it was. The song was not introduced you just new.

This morning after dropping off my kids at school on the way home a song played. Instantly it was familiar but after twenty years it did take a moment to name the band. I ( at the next light ) used the Shazam copycat on my phone and soon found out it was indeed The Cars.

Ric Ocasek's voice is the same as always. He sounds great, the song could be off Candy O. Some might say that is not a good thing, that twenty years have passed and a band should not sound the same.

Signature sounds though are signature sounds. This is a nice reminder of The Cars music from my high school days.