Obama Speech to Congress - Leadership Again

Barack Obama's speech to Congress was truly brilliant tonight. It is almost surreal to see true leadership -- it's been so long.

Calling for bold, decisive action not just on the economy, banks and housing, The President "connected the dots" and spoke about transforming Energy, health care, and our education system as well. These things are all inextricably linked -- particularly so with Energy.

If you didn't see it, you can read the transcript or watch here.

(I was streaming the new U2 album all day via the website -- review coming soon :-)

Governors Scramble for Stimulus Aid

As posted last Sunday, our nation's governors have less opportunity to "play politics" with the stimulus bill, since they are actually charged with the responsibility of taking care of people. They balance budgets, ensure garbage is collected, someone answers the phone at 911, police patrol the streets, courthouses hear cases, etc, etc. So when this reality hit:

The Senate version of the bill, to satisfy the demands of a group of centrist senators, cuts tens of billions of dollars in aid to the states from the measure passed by the House late last month. The single biggest of those cuts was a $40 billion reduction to a state stabilization fund, which angered many governors and state legislatures.

... the folks who feel the pain along with the people, put politics aside and got into the action.

Facing rapidly declining revenues and mounting cuts to state services, governors around the nation scrambled Monday to influence senators to change their positions on the Senate’s economic stimulus bill, which is less generous to state governments than the one approved by the House.

As the bill headed toward final passage in the Senate on Tuesday, state leaders made frantic calls to Congressional committee leaders and amply exercised their thumbs, sending BlackBerry messages from the back seats of cars between appointments, all in the hopes of averting cuts and shoring up their ailing budgets. Though no changes could be made to the bill on Monday, House and Senate representatives still must sit down to reconcile the differences between the measures.

The Senate version of the bill, to satisfy the demands of a group of centrist senators, cuts tens of billions of dollars in aid to the states from the measure passed by the House late last month. The single biggest of those cuts was a $40 billion reduction to a state stabilization fund, which angered many governors and state legislatures...

Read the full story here.

It's Boss Time!

Step back from the guacamole dip and put those chicken fingers down -- it's Boss Time!

Super Bowl shows don't get any better than this ... Although he doesn't play it, catch the reference to Radio Nowhere as he jumps up on the piano introducing "10th Ave" ...

"Is there anybody alive out there?!"

Get On Your Boots

Get On Your Boots is the first single release from the much anticipated No Line on the Horizon, the first studio release from U2 in about 5 years. NLOTH will release March 2nd (as reported below). GOYB was released as a digital download January 23rd, which was the day I had it :-)

"Boots" is a big sound and kicks ~ss from note one. It's tempting to say it's an outgrowth/continuation of Vertigo, but the sound is different enough that this would be inaccurate. The dominant thread in the tune is a powerful bass riff that really carries the song the bulk of the distance, and a killer Edge riff that comes and goes - and makes for a strong finish. But at 2:30, they transition to a new tempo / refrain with a percussion line strongly reminiscent of Zeppelin's When The Levee Breaks, with Edge and Bono belting out a pleading "let me in the sound" lyric that repeats with some Bono ad libs. This melds back to the Edge riff and Adam's rumbling bass line, closing in an absolute spanking of 3.5 minutes of hard core U2 -- wow!

The first new U2 sound in 5 years was, of course, an inspiration that gave way to the artwork at left. The cover artwork for the album is a minimalist photo of a horizon over water. Not long after the release of Boots, U2.com had as their entry photo an amazing, intimate shot of the band's studio jam session. The gorgeous rich color of this image laid over the stark NLOTH cover with a selection of "Boots" lyrics was something I put together one night after listening to the song ... it was about a 5 minute inspiration that I really like. You can also check it out and download a larger, high quality bmp at my google images... meanwhile, as the stimulus package reality show played on ... the Boots video released, and U2 hit the Grammys.

All day Sunday I looked forward to seeing the boys live for the first time in aeons. Finishing dinner a couple minutes after 8 I flipped on the TV "just in case they came on early" ... and to my total horror ... saw them 2/3rds of the way though Boots. Horror or horrors ... I missed most of it. But, through the miracle of TiVo and some video editing software I'm playing around with, here's the minute or so I did catch:



The Grammys has had YouTube take down the full version. Although the full video has embedding disabled, you can still catch the (official video) here :

If you just want to sample the new tune, check it out here - the image is the album cover described above:



Alright ... tomorrow I'll post some more on the stimulus package ... there's a part two that needs to be told ... as well as the Boss from the Super Bowl. Know right now if you missed that performance, you're hardly worthy of being --at all. Period. Thankfully, ATYCLB will give you a second shot at worthiness. For now, since it's Saturday night ...

"I don't wanna talk about wars between nations -- not right now..."

Stimulus Package Debate

It was a true "reality show" last week as the stimulus package debate unfolded in the US Senate, and the same old tired politics played itself out. But this was not a meaningless television show. Americans continue to lose jobs in the 100's of thousands by the month. Since the downturn began, the economy has shed more jobs than the entire population of Chicago.

Meanwhile, despite the unanimous consensus by economists that massive government spending is a necessary component of the economic recovery bill, the Republicans again chose to put politics over country, attempting to re-cast the bill as "a spending bill, not a recovery bill." Could they possibly be more disingenuous?

The Senate’s proposed cuts took aim at an array of popular spending programs that critics said should not be part of a fiscal recovery bill, even if they represent laudable policy goals, because they would not deliver a quick enough jolt to the economy.

That's a quote from the NY Times, and became tactic #2: paint necessary items and services as "not quick enough." This, despite the fact, that the stimulus requires moderate to long range elements as well as immediate stimulus, as Nobel prize winning economist Paul Krugman recently pointed out.

But it's more instructive to look at the specific sections of the bill they objected to and where Obama felt compelled to make concessions. It's telling, consider (continuing from the NY Times):

Even Mr. Obama’s signature tax cut for middle-class Americans was scaled back as part of the deal. Under the new plan, tax credits of up to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples would begin to phase out at lower income levels than first proposed, saving the government $2billion.

That's phase out "at lower income levels" .... in other words, those among us who need it the most ... the article continues on:

The biggest cut, roughly $40 billion in aid to states, was likely to spur a fierce fight in negotiations with the House over the final bill. Many states, hit hard by the recession, face wrenching cuts in services and layoffs of public employees as they struggle to comply with laws requiring them to balance their budgets.

Question: why do Republican governors overwhelmingly favor the stimulus plan that Obama put forth? Answer: because it gives them the money and the means to continue to provide services to their people! A tax cut doesn't keep Police on the street. A tax cut cannot rebuild a decrepit bridge. A tax cut cannot pay employees to keep a court house functioning -- these critical services require direct funds -- otherwise known as government spending.

Eight years of irresponsible fiscal policy, to include $10 billion per week funneled out of our country and into Iraq, has left the states literally -- in a state of emergency. Here in our own state of Florida, parents who took comfort in knowing their children were in a top flight special arm of the public school system known as "the magnet program" ... are now organizing in protest to that program's cancellation. And that's but one tiny example.

In addition to the large cut in state aid, the Senate agreement would cut nearly $20 billion proposed for school construction; $8 billion to refurbish federal buildings and make them more energy efficient; $1 billion for the early childhood program Head Start; and $2 billion from a plan to expand broadband data networks in rural and underserved areas.

"Underserved areas" ... tax cuts for "middle class Americans" ... "school construction ... energy efficiency ... early childhood programs" long proven to work ... these are the things Republicans want to cut -- benefits for the most needy among us.

Denying the most needy among us, placing politics ahead of country -- this has become the modus operandi of this morally bankrupt organization. All Hail their new Prince, Vicodin junkie Rush Limbaugh.

Let history judge them accordingly.

Obama Signs Children’s Health Insurance Bill

Today was a great day for the Obama administration, the Democratic leadership, and for America, as the House gave final approval and President Obama signed into law Children's Health Insurance Legislation.

"S-CHIP" or state children's health insurance program, provides health insurance coverage to children who come from low income homes that are above what Medicaid would cover -- the working poor.

President Bush, the "good man," the "fine Christian" that I was constantly told he is, had led the charge against the bill. He was successful, and for two years, millions of children needing health services didn't get them.

The plan was created in 1997 and has generally enjoyed bipartisan support. By every measure over the years it has been a success. This program will immediately provide health care to over 7 million children, the overwhelming majority of whom would otherwise not have had it.

Today, a decent man did the God-fearing thing. Today, America took care of its children. It didn't even make the nightly news (ABC, at least), but for 7 million children, I guarantee you, it was the most important thing that happened.

Obama Signs Children’s Health Insurance Bill

King of Beers

Never actually saw this add, but playing around on Hulu tonight when I needed to catch the end of the Office episode from last night, I started perusing the Super Bowl Ads and found this ... So stupid you gotta laugh ...

The Eagles come to South Florida

The Eagles came to south Florida last Monday evening, the 26th of January, for what Glenn Frey joked was "The Eagles Assisted Living Tour." On their rocking chairs these guys are not.

I was there not because I love the Eagles (which I do), one of the all time great classic folk Rock bands, but because of the strength of their 20 track new release, Long Road Out of Eden. I've got a lot of old bands I love, but my rule is: you gotta have a great new release to make the show worthwhile. Call it my secret fountain of youth.

So after hearing the new album (and watching some footage from Hell Freezes Over, their last tour) I knew they were going to be in top form -- and they were. It was the full lineup - Henley, Frey, Felder, Schmitt and Joe Walsh - plus a whole rhythm section on horns, some of which is below.

One of my favorite tunes from LROE is How Long - a beautiful up tempo rocker reminiscent of Already Gone from On The Border. It's a real Eagles classic with strong solo vocals from both Henley and Frey, beautiful harmonies and a nice guitar solo: the complete package.

There was no back up band and the show was listed as starting at 8:00 PM. It was about 8:20 when the lights went down and the stage darkened. The audience screamed in anticipation, as the silhouettes one by one strode on stage. About 30 seconds of tortured anticipatory silence followed, still dark, until dead on queue -- the stage lit up in blue splendor as each bolted out of darkness, all dead on queue from note one, and into How Long: (super short clip, but the camera nazis were everywhere for the first 30 minutes)



Another great one from LROE is the caustic Henley ballad Too Busy Being Fabulous (man, these guys have had their share of rough west coast chicks!). I think we've all known the type ... and they wasted no time launching into the 3rd song from LROE with the 2nd song of the night (a tad longer, but still a tiny morsel):



They went into Hotel California with only the 3rd song of the evening, a bit surprising, but no disappointment to me. I loved the way they shifted through time throughout the whole evening. You never knew which decade was coming up next.



And on and on they went for hours. In The City was a particularly strong rocker/Joe Walsh performance on a gorgeous electric. This grainy video where auto focus seems to have gone haywire doesn't really come close to approaching justice of course, but you can barely make out Joe in action on the big screen, and the audio gives you a hint:



The only disappointment was what they didn't do, most notably, from LROE, the 2nd Joe Walsh tune Last Good Time in Town, and the Glenn Frey What Would I do with my Heart, and from the "reaching back" department, Tequila Sunrise would have been a real treat. Nevertheless, they ended the night with Desperado (alas, my disc had long since been full), and from the first to last notes ... it was one to remember ...

Thanks Zo - We'll Miss You!

A class act says goodbye ...

1-20-2009

Amen!

"America ... is getting ready to leave the ground "

'On this spot where we're standing, 46 years ago, Dr King had a dream. On Tuesday, that dream comes to pass.' U2 performed 'Pride' and 'City of Blinding LIghts' to an audience of 400,000 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington tonight.


Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, John Legend and James Taylor were among a catalogue of household names performing at the 'We Are One' inaugural concert for President-elect Obama. Towards the end, Samuel L Jackson took the stage in the shadow of the giant statue of Abraham Lincoln and recalled Rosa Parks, the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King and how 'a band from Ireland was moved by Dr King's message and his sacrifice and wrote a song to remember and honour him...'

"Let freedom ring," announced Bono as U2 arrived on stage and struck up the opening bars of Pride (In The Name of Love). “This is not just an American dream,' he said. "Also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream … an Israeli dream ... and also a Palestinian dream."

'Let freedom ring, let freedom ring....' he continued, as Edge played the opening chords to City of Blinding Lights. "What a thrill for four Irish boys from the north side of Dublin to honour you sir, the next president of the United States, Barack Obama...'

And it looked beautiful again tonight, in this city of blinding lights where as the song went tonight. 'America is getting ready to leave the ground....'

We Are One

The Barack Obama Presidency is already like no other. Tune in to HBO, or your NPR radio station, to see the We Are One concert live at 2:30 PM EST. A host of stars, including U2, will play. After the concert, the President Elect himself will address the crowd. The event will be rebroadcast free on HBO at 7:30 and 11:30 PM EST.

Bono: Guest Columnist in Sunday New York Times

"Fully inhabiting the moment during that tiny dot of time after you’ve pressed “record” is what makes it eternal."

Whether writing in the NYT or penning the lyric, Bono has the flair. Check out his guest column on Sinatra in the Sunday, 1-11-2009 New York Times ...

On the Cover of Rolling Stone ...

Unbelievable -- not that U2 is "on the cover of Rolling Stone" ... of course. The boys are a sure bet with each new release. I refer instead to the fact that The Edge is hanging out with Jack White (oh, yeah, Jimmy Page was there too). Jack White is the White in White Stripes, his breakout band that features a total lineup of himself, and sister Meg who bangs out drums for him.

Teaming up with buddy Brandon Benson, Jack went on to form The Raconteurs. Their debut release Broken Boy Soldiers, was the most amazing new disc I've heard in about a decade. Having already fallen in love with Jack's back to basics "balls out" guitar that so defines the essence of Rock 'N' Roll, BBS was so chock full of hooks and killer licks it screamed for radio airtime, and Steady As She Goes did get airtime and even video. I'm still scouring TM for tix to a So FL show.

So the idea of Edge palling around with Jack ... too much. In any case, here's some of the best stuff on the new one yet ... off to pick up the new RS tomorrow :-)

---

"U2 Break Down 'No Line on the Horizon"
In early December, Rolling Stone traveled to London to visit U2 in the studio as Bono and Co. worked on the upcoming No Line on the Horizon. The journey was as spellbinding and energizing as you might imagine, and you'll be able to read all about it when our new issue hits newsstands on Wednesday, January 7th. To tide you over, here's a track-by-track preview of 10 choice songs (and you can dig deeper into all our U2 coverage in our archive):

"Get On Your Boots"
The likely first single, this blazing, fuzzed-out rocker picks up where "Vertigo" left off. "It started just with me playing and Larry drumming," the Edge recalls. "And we took it from there."

"Stand Up Comedy"
Another hard rock tune, powered by an unexpectedly slinky groove and a riff that lands between the Beatles' "Come Together" and Led Zep's "Heartbreaker." Edge recently hung out with Jimmy Page and Jack White for the upcoming documentary It Might Get Loud, and their penchant for blues-based rock rubbed off: "I was just fascinated with seeing how Jimmy played those riffs so simply, and with Jack as well," he says.

"Crazy Tonight"
"It's kind of like this album's 'Beautiful Day' — it has that kind of joy to it," Bono says. With the refrain "I know I'll go crazy/If I don't go crazy tonight," it's the band's most unabashed pop tune since "Sweetest Thing."

"Unknown Caller"
This midtempo track could have fit on All That You Can't Leave Behind. "The idea is that the narrator is in an altered state, and his phone starts talking to him," says the Edge.

"Tripoli"
This strikingly experimental song lurches between disparate styles, including near-operatic choral music, Zooropa-style electronics, and churning arena rock.

"Cedars of Lebanon"
"On this album, you can feel what is going on in the world at the window, scratching at the windowpane," says Bono, who sings this atmospheric ballad from the point of view of a war correspondent.

"Magnificent"
"Only love can leave such a mark," Bono roars on what sounds like an instant U2 anthem. Will.i.am has already done what Bono calls "the most extraordinary" remix of the tune.

"Moment of Surrender"
This seven-minute-long track is one of the album's most ambitious, merging a Joshua Tree-style gospel feel with a hypnotically loping bass line and a syncopated beat.

"Every Breaking Wave"
A swelling soul-pop song, with bright synth sounds influenced by OMD and, Bono says, "early electronica." "You don't hear indie bands doing blue-eyed soul [like this]," he adds.

"No Line on the Horizon"
The title track's relentless groove began as a group improvisation. "It's very raw and very to the point," says the Edge. "It's like rock & roll 2009."

[From Issue 1071 — January 22, 2009]

Get the Lastest on U2 Anytime

Here's some U2 fun for you; enjoy this U2 Widget - get the latest on The Boys anytime!

It Just Keeps Getting Better

Economic forecasts be damned -- this is gonna be a great year: Ladies and gentlemen, pick a city, cause The Dead are hitting the road again!

Under the banner, "An Evening With," the trek will encompass 19 shows in 16 cities, kicking off April 12 in Greensboro, North Carolina, and wrapping up May 10 in Mountain View, California. The quartet will be joined by guitarist Warren Haynes and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti.

Check it out ...

Mandy per Melissa

Amanda at beach in LW, taken by older sister Melissa for photography class, ~1995 ...

U2 Reveals Five Versions of New Record

From Artist Direct ...

Now that they've announced a release date for their new studio record, No Line on the Horizon, U2 has unveiled not one but five formats for its March 3 release. Aside from standard CD and double LP pressings, the album will be available in three limited edition packages. According to Billboard.com, the digipak version costs $35.98 and includes a 36-page booklet, foldout poster and "a new (downloadable) film from Anton Corbijn featuring the music of U2"; the magazine version drops the CD in "a special 60-page soft cover magazine-style book" and also includes Corbijn's film as a special download; and the deluxe $96 boxed set tacks on a 60-page hardcover book, a second poster and the Corbijn project on DVD.

No clear tracklisting on U2's new one yet, but we do know that will.i.am contributed to a new cut called "Crazy Tonight."

U2 - Q The Music