DRUMS!!!

U2.com Live on YouTube. This Sunday.

I can't believe the news today: U2 Live on YouTube. This Sunday.

U2 have confirmed via video blog that their sold-out concert at the Pasadena
Rose Bowl in California, this Sunday, 25th October, will be streamed free, in
full and live on YouTube. It's the first time a show of this size will be
streamed live.

The Rose Bowl show is the penultimate U2 show this year -
with more to come in 2010 - and already is set to host the venue's biggest ever
audience of over 96,000 fans. The 360° Tour, which has been critically acclaimed
and 're-invents rock'n'roll' (Rolling Stone Magazine), will now boast unique
access for fans worldwide - as fans in territories yet to be visited by the
tour, or not at all, will be able to enjoy the whole show online.

Can you guess what I'll be doing on Sunday?


Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2
I can't believe the news today
I can't close my eyes and make it go away.
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
'Cos tonight
We can be as one, tonight.

Broken bottles under children's feet
Bodies strewn across the dead-end street.
But I won't heed the battle call
It puts my back up, puts my back up against the wall.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Oh, let's go.

And the battle's just begun
There's many lost, but tell me who has won?
The trenches dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters
Torn apart.

Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long, how long?
'Cos tonight
We can be as one, tonight.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

Wipe the tears from your eyes
Wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your tears away.
I'll wipe your bloodshot eyes.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.

And it's true we are immune
When fact is fiction and TV reality.
And today the millions cry
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die.

The real battle just begun
To claim the victory Jesus won
On...

Sunday, bloody Sunday
Sunday, bloody Sunday..

9-9-9

Number 9. Number 9. Number 9.

If you're not a Beatles fan, then you have no idea what I'm talking about, and you won't care about this either:

The Beatles: Remastered
We are delighted to announce the release of the original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game. Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

If you are a Beatles fan, then this is exciting news.

The Beatles. So much can be said about their musical genius. Their influence. Their....weirdness.

Come on. If you have ever heard any of their albums and really paid attention to the lyrics to many of their songs, you've had to wonder what they heck they are talking about.

"We all live in a yellow submarine!"

That's All The Lumber You Sent...

Said a friend to a friend one day:

Was a man who passed away

St. Peter met him at the gate

Pete said: "Walk with me if you will

I'll take you to the house you built"

Man said: "I can't wait!" Passed a mansion made of stone

But with each new house he's shown

They get smaller by degrees

Stopped in front of a two-room shack

Pete said: "Hope you're happy with that"

Man said: "How can this be?"

- Pete say: "That's all the lumber- that's all the lumber

That's all the lumber you sent

Looks like the builder- man, he's got your number

That's all the lumber you sent"

Man didn't know what to say

Poor guy was blown away

Said: "You mean this is what I deserve?"

Pete said: "I'm afraid it's so

't's too late but now you know

Shoulda done better work

"Said: "You mean not lie and cheatAnd helpin' old ladies 'cross the street?"

Pete says: "Well, that's a start

Remember that man back in that great big house?

He found out early what it's all about

Built that place with his heart- as for you

"That's all the lumber- that's all the lumber

That's all the lumber you sent

Looks like the builder- man, he's got your number

That's all the lumber you sent

What if that man was me

And I failed that miserably

You're showin' me things I don't wanna see!

St. Peter if you can

Send me back to earth again

's'that somethin' you can do?

Pete said: "It ain't up to me

If it was I'd like to see

How you plan to improve"

Said "I'd love God and fellow man

Take a wife and make a stand

Be the givin'est guy I can be

And when I get back to this neighborhood

There'd be a gigantic pile o' wood!

And I'd say: 'What's this I see?'

- and you tell me

That's all the lumber

- all that's your lumber

That's all the lumber you sent

Big boss'll help you- hammer it all together

That's all the lumber you sent"

Rediscovered Church Of Rhythm!

I was browsing on eMusic last night and stumbled across a band that I loved back in the mid-90's, Church of Rhythm (COR). I really liked them back then and bought their 2 albums on cassete tape. I used to listen to them quite often, but as CDs and then digital music became more popular, I packed away my records and cassetes, and haven't heard some of that music in a long time. I still have them all, but they are in a box under the stairs.

Both of their albums are good, however the 2nd one, Not Perfect, is really the best. It has a lot of songs dealing with trouble in this life and trusting God and having faith. The music is very upbeat hip-hop-electro-rock with singing and some rap mixed together in a very professional way. These guys were extremely talented and I was bummed when they broke up after the second album. However....

I just found out that founding member Max Hsu later created the band Superchick. I'm sure I've heard some of their music, but I never really paid much attention to them. I think I'll be checking them out very soon and I'll let you know what I think.

While many of their songs are noteworthy, I think that I Believe In God is especially good. I think maybe because I've been both people in the song.

I Believe In God - Church Of Rhythm

A man walked up to me the other day
He was very educated and he had a lot of things to say
He was oh, so forward thinking and so very up to date
And he wanted to teach me about faith

He said how can you believe in a thing you've never seen?
He said how can you believe with all the evil that we have seen?
He said don't you know that no one believes in your simple old fashioned faith?

I said I believe in God
I said I believe in the impossible
I said I believe in God
Though none go with me I will follow

He said man I've been to a church
I was lied to, judged and hurt
All I saw was guilt and hypocrisy, why believe?

I said friend, you didn't meet my God that day
I said friend, sit down let me tell you about grace
Well, I've been where you are some yesterday,
but today, I believe

I said I believe in God
I said I believe in the impossible
I said I believe in God
Though none go with me I will follow

I said I've been saved by faith
I said Jesus loves me this I know
I said I believe in grace
And where He leads me I will follow

So don't turn away,
Please don't close your eyes
If I did not believe with all that I am
I would not waste your time

I said I believe in God
I said I believe in the impossible
I said I believe in God
Though none go with me I will follow

I said I've been saved by faith
I said Jesus loves me this I know
I said I believe in grace
And where He leads me I will follow

Sugarland Concert

As you may have noticed from past posts, I'm not a real big country fan. My wife 'forced' me to go to this show with her, and I don't regret it. It was amazing. (Pics from my crappy camera phone).

The show started off with Billy Currington, whom I don't really know much about. The only song of his that he sang that I recognized was "Good Directions". He played a cover of Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason" (thanks @MusicGeekChic) and another one that I haven't figured out what it is yet. He was good, but not being real familiar with his work, I'm not going to comment further.

Then Sugarland came on. I'm more familiar with their work because my wife likes them and they apparently get more radio airplay than Billy does.

Before this concert, I would have said that I liked a couple of their songs. Last night, though, I became a fan. There is only one word to describe their show. WOW!

They started the set with "Love" and DANG, DID THEY ROCK IT!! It was incredible! The rest of their set was fabulous, but that song was definitely the signature moment. The song is really catchy and the lyrics are thought provoking.


The video and special effects were absolutely top-notch. This easily ranked as the #3 best concert that I've ever seen (and I've seen a LOT of concerts). Number 1 being 1992 U2 Zoo TV/Outside Broadcast, and Number 2 being Michael W. Smith's I'll Lead You Home tour in 1995ish.


This was by far one of the best technical productions I've yet seen. They had this cool screen behind them that they had both live or pre-shot video and graphics. It was extremely well implemented and fit the songs very well.

Another cool thing they did is they have some special stuff custom for each venue, like a poster with the location, date and time on it that they signed, and they had some video of some sights around town that they showed during some songs.

They also did a medly of 80's songs that included a nice tribute to Michael Jackson, who passed away earlier in the day, with a little bit of "I wanna rock with you" in it.

It was an excellent concert and I encourage you to see it if the tour comes to your town!

Love - Sugarland

Is it the face of a child

Is it the thrill of danger

Is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger

Is it more than faith

Is it more than hope

Is it waiting for us at the end of our rope

I say, it's love

I say, it's love

Is it the one you call home

Is it the Holy Land

Is is standing right here holding your hand

Is it just like the movies

Is it rice and white lace

Is it the feeling I get when I wake to your face

I say, it's love
I say, it's love

Is it the first summer storm

Is it the colors of fall

Is it having so little

And yet having it all

Is it one in a million

Is it a chance to belong

Is it standing right here singing this song

I say, it's love
I say, it's love

Is it a veil or a cross

Is it the poet's gift

Is it the face that has launched over thousands of ships

Is it making you laugh

Is it letting you cry

Is it where we believe that we go when we die

Is it how you were made

Is it your mother's ghost

Is it the wish that I'm wishing for your life, for your life, for your life the most

The King Of Pop....

I've just heard the sad news that Michael Jackson has died.

Despite his legal and financial troubles and alleged inappropriate activities with children, there is no denying that he truly was the King Of Pop.

I can't deny that I loved some of his music. C'mon, who didn't love Thriller, Beat it, Get On The Floor, Billie Jean, Bad, Smooth Criminal, and ABC?? Who hasn't tried to moonwalk? I sucked at it. Michael was truly a musical legend.

'Do You Remember The Time', when you first saw the Thriller video? Ok, it's cheesy now, but back in 1984 it was cool. Very cool.

Thriller won 8 Grammys and remains the top selling album of all time. I can't begin to name the artists that were influenced by Michael. Pretty much everyone that has done anything musically since 1975 would probably mention him.

I haven't told many people this story, but I guess I have to now. Back in 1984 the Jackson's did their Victory Tour. It just so happens that the same night they were at Mile High Stadium in Denver, I was at a Sandi Patty concert at McNichol's Arena, which used to be across the street from Mile High. (No, I don't really care for Sandi's music, but a group of friends asked me to go, and since it was free, I did.) Anyway, after the concert my friends and I were in the parking lot listening to the Jackson's across the street. Well, at the time, Michael was 'famous' for wearing that single white glove. (I can't believe I'm actually admitting this on the internet) I found a single black glove laying in the parking lot, so I put it on and was dancing and moonwalking to the music. (*thoroughly embarrassed now*) It was a fune time.

RIP, Michael, you will be missed. I hope you found the Lord.