Gavin, Bono, Shane McGowan
We’re still recuperating from our whirlwind trip to New York City, where we attended the “Gavin Friday and Friends” concert at Carnegie Hall. By ‘we’ this time I don’t mean the editors of U2log.com, though some of them – past and present – were among us. By ‘we’ I mean the International Brigade, a group of friends who met online, through their love of music and Gavin Friday in particular. Some of us are into U2. Some of us aren’t. Since the late 80’s we have seen Gavin play live on many occasions, in various cities, on different continents. We all have to travel to see him play, because he doesn’t come around that often. When we heard of this event there was no question about it – we were there.
As sure as we were, many others were confused as what exactly the night was about. A charity gig? A tribute? An Aids benefit? A Hal Willner extravaganza? U2 were going to perform. Or not… the band was billed as separate members. The Virgin Prunes would reform. Or not. They said they never would. Who the hell are Flo and Eddie? Some U2 fans seemed unfamiliar with widely acclaimed artists like Rufus Wainwright, his sister Martha and Antony of Antony and the Johnsons, while others rolled eyes at the mention of Scarlett Johansson, Courtney Love and, well, U2.
For us die hard Friday-fans this concert was always about Gavin’s 50th birthday and those in the know gleefully looked forward to see an audience subjected to an evening of songs from his repertoire and influences. (“I hope U2 play their new single”, one fan wrote on a message board. Eh, no. “Is this a family show?” another asked. Not likely.) We were also very keen to find out how the other artists would interpret the songs that mean so much to us.
Larry, J.G. Thirlwell
U2 were more or less the odd ones out in this affair. Lydia Lunch next to Bono? J.G. Thirlwell next to Larry? Never in a million years could someone have imagined it. But the eclectic line up represents Gavin perfectly. Rock, cabaret, punk, pop, cinema, theatre, literature, classical and jazz… his body of work draws from every genre under the moon. This makes him unique, interesting and more or less unmarketable in a business that likes to put artists in a box. Friday is an acquired taste, like durian fruit, or olives. So strange at first taste, but oh so good when savoured.
Hal Willner, who produced Gavin’s first solo album ‘Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves’, has staged many similar events over the years: the Harry Smith nights, Leonard Cohen tributes, the Disney, Nino Rota and Rogue’s Gallery shows. Gavin has been involved in all of them. They are invariably long, messy, glorious, planned accidents. Willner’s talent lies in bringing artists from different genres together and make them cross the divide, always backed by a stellar band. The backstage scene is laid back, a leave-your-egos-at-the-door kind of vibe. The common denominator is a love of music. ‘Gavin Friday and Friends’ was Bono and Hal’s gift to Gavin, two friends’ tribute to their mate whose dream it was to play Carnegie Hall. They set it up over a 6 month period, deliberating through e-mails, text messages and meetings across the globe. Bono took care of business and got [RED] involved. Willner looked after production. It all came together.
Sat comfortably in front row, we watched the spectacle unfold. There was good, there was less good, there were touches of brilliance and moments of surrender. It wasn’t a Gavin Friday gig, although he was on stage for most of the night. His own live shows are intense, tightly structured affairs, steeped in darkness and shimmering light. Willner cast Friday in a show that reflected his own interpretation of who and what Gavin is. Personally, I had expected an emotional roller-coaster, but enjoyed instead a celebration of my favourite artist’s work.
Eric Mingus, Gavin
Some of the highlights were unexpected. Antony, who is the music scene’s go-to man for backing vocals this decade (Lou Reed and Bjork are among the artists who’ve made use of his services), was the first to duet with Gavin and did so beautifully on the classic ‘He Got What He Wanted’. Courtney Love, a U2 and Virgin Prunes fan since the early days, surprised me first with her impassioned introduction to the Virgin Prunes-part of the set (she set U2’s angels against the Prunes’ demons), then with her duet with Gavin. The two of them and their big punk hearts tore up Magazine’s ‘The Light Pours Out of Me’, a song I didn’t even know existed and now cannot forget. Rufus Wainwright provided his Quebec-rooted harmonies on Kurt Weill’s ‘Benares-song’, his voice twisting and turning around Gav’s own Celtic-tinged vocals. The gentle giant Eric Mingus lived and breathed ‘Caruso’, his growl a match for Gavin’s snarl. And Joseph Arthur’s clear, strong voice added punch to ‘Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves’.
Andrea Corr, Gavin
Girls like a bit of Man Friday and the dames that graced the stage all vied for his attention. Courtney threw her body at and around him (and the next day tweeted he was ‘beyond hot’), while Maria McKee claimed first dibs. Later in the show, Gavin smoothed his way into Chloe Webb’s personal space, then made moves on Andrea Corr as she sang ‘Time Enough for Tears’, the couple holding hands like teenage lovers. Bono had to make do ogling Lady Gaga in her fishnets.
And what of U2? Well, they tried their hand at Gav’s ‘I Want to Live’ and ‘King of Trash’. For me, they didn’t match the originals. ‘I Want to Live’ lacked desperation (though Bono ad-libbed a bit of inspired opera) and ‘King of Trash’ was simply not trashy enough. Granted, they must have been cacking their pants sharing a stage with the likes of Bill Frisell and John Zorn. But they performed well on the songs picked from Gav’s glam-tinged teenage years: T-Rex’s ‘Children of the Revolution’ and Bowie’s ‘Jean Genie’. It was Bono on his own, however, who shone with ‘The Last Song I’ll Ever Sing’. A perfect chance for him to release the tortured torch singer inside of him. His take on the song was on par with, perhaps even better than Gavin’s own. The Edge on his turn served more than adequately on Gavin’s always mind blowing ‘Another Blow on the Bruise’.
The Edge, Gavin, Larry
Then came the Virgin Prunes – some of them, anyway. Early on in the two-part set, in fact. Gavin, Guggi, Dik Prune (The Edge’s brother) and guest vocalist Jim Thirlwell, blasted Carnegie Hall with two classics from If I Die, I Die: ‘Sweethomeunderwhiteclouds’ and ‘Caucasian Walk’. Back in the day, Guggi was the fan favourite. It’s easy to see why. His stage presence is decidedly less menacing than Gav’s, whose unrelenting demeanor would scare the living daylight out of even the hardest post-punk Goth.
Where Guggi seemed hesitant – he’s a painter now and has had very little stage time since he left the band in ’84 – Thirlwell (that’s Foetus to you) was a solid back up, his vocals soared alongside Gav’s. Meanwhile, Maurice Seezer, pianist, impressed on the drums! Guggi threw shapes, his wiry body a living work of art. Gavin, center stage, stood tall, then crouched. Staring down the house, pounding his chest, conjuring up sulphur.
For the Virgin Prunes fans in our midst, it was a revelation to see that Gavin can still access and channel the primal anger that fueled his early Prunes’ performances. No Brit could ever match this Irish wrath, we speculated. Not even the Sex Pistols – whose anger was always externally motivated, while an Irishman’s fury seems to come from deep within the land.
That knowlege and the idea that friendship can be a lifelong, inspirational, all conquering thing, is what we took home with us after the show. (We already knew that Gavin Friday can command any stage.) ‘Bigger than love’, is what Gavin said on Twitter (follow him here) the day after the show. Totally.
- Full setlist here
- Post your own birthday wishes here (reg. not required)
Fantastic review, great read. One hopes there will be an album or something like it from this thing. Especially for the benefit of we in the mostly ignorant masses. 🙂
Fantastic review, great read. One hopes there will be an album or something like it from this thing. Especially for the benefit of we in the mostly ignorant masses. 🙂
Absolutely perfect, Caroline.
Thanks for putting into words what we still cannot find words for ourselves.
Absolutely perfect, Caroline.
Thanks for putting into words what we still cannot find words for ourselves.
This is supposed to be a U2 blog. We know you’re bff with Gavin Friday, Caroline, but there are FIFTY SIX posts on this blog tagged with his name. That’s more than The Edge (who was just in a FILM for god’s sake. As well as, you know, being in U2.) Surely your enormous internet empire has a virgin prunes blog that you can post this sort of irrelevant material on? For U2 fans the only parts of interest were two brief paragraphs.
Magazine are one of Edge’s favourite bands. TLPOOM was I *think* on his iTunes playlist a number of years back, but it may have been another track. I’m delighted I missed what was, by all accounts, a massacre of Caruso.
This is supposed to be a U2 blog. We know you’re bff with Gavin Friday, Caroline, but there are FIFTY SIX posts on this blog tagged with his name. That’s more than The Edge (who was just in a FILM for god’s sake. As well as, you know, being in U2.) Surely your enormous internet empire has a virgin prunes blog that you can post this sort of irrelevant material on? For U2 fans the only parts of interest were two brief paragraphs.
Magazine are one of Edge’s favourite bands. TLPOOM was I *think* on his iTunes playlist a number of years back, but it may have been another track. I’m delighted I missed what was, by all accounts, a massacre of Caruso.
I spent 400 euro in mobile costs this summer keeping people like you informed of U2’s European tour, via twitter, live audio feeds, pictures – watching the shows with two mobile phones in my hand and a camera, providing the kind of commentary nobody else did, or could. So I’ll do whatever the fuck I want with this site. Don’t like it? There’s plenty of other U2 sites out there that cater especially for you.
I spent 400 euro in mobile costs this summer keeping people like you informed of U2’s European tour, via twitter, live audio feeds, pictures – watching the shows with two mobile phones in my hand and a camera, providing the kind of commentary nobody else did, or could. So I’ll do whatever the fuck I want with this site. Don’t like it? There’s plenty of other U2 sites out there that cater especially for you.
Dear Henri,
if you would be a real U2 fan, you would realize that without Gavin there might not have been a U2!
And nobody forces you to read and comment on every post on this site!
Also the fact that Bono was one of the driving forces behind the show and it was partly his present to Gav makes it all ON TOPIC!
So fuck off or pay some respect to Caroline!
(who btw I also bff with Bono, so I guess you ae just bloody jealous!!!)
Dear Henri,
if you would be a real U2 fan, you would realize that without Gavin there might not have been a U2!
And nobody forces you to read and comment on every post on this site!
Also the fact that Bono was one of the driving forces behind the show and it was partly his present to Gav makes it all ON TOPIC!
So fuck off or pay some respect to Caroline!
(who btw I also bff with Bono, so I guess you ae just bloody jealous!!!)
Thought it was a great review of something I was infinitely interested in. Not only because U2 was there, but also because Gavin Friday has been such an integral part of their lives over the years, and an amazing artist in his own regard. Thanks for doing whatever the fuck you want with the site, as I usually appreciate it. 🙂
Thought it was a great review of something I was infinitely interested in. Not only because U2 was there, but also because Gavin Friday has been such an integral part of their lives over the years, and an amazing artist in his own regard. Thanks for doing whatever the fuck you want with the site, as I usually appreciate it. 🙂
@STV I am aware of U2’s history. And I respect U2log because it’s a great site. Unfortunately once in a while Caroline goes off the deep end over banal Gavin Friday information. “There’s a Gavin Friday book available on eBay!” or “Gavin Friday singing a song on his website!” — it’s a drag because I regard the site so highly, these aside.
You’re right that this was more relevant to U2 than any of the other Gavin Friday entries posted here. That just makes it more annoying that we got such sparse information about it.
As I said, there are Gavin Friday websites. Why don’t you just keep the Gavin Friday stuff to them? It’s not interesting to U2 fans. It’s interesting to Gavin Friday fans.
And I’m not jealous of anybody or anything; I’m simply saying that as a formerly avid reader of the site, it’s a hilarious indictment of Caroline’s penchant for yammering on about Gavin Friday that there are more posts about him than any U2 member except Bono. Furthermore you’ll note that she’s the only U2log editor who thinks it necessary to post about him on here.
@Caroline: Thanks for the coverage of the tour. It’s the high standard of the coverage that you provide of U2 which pisses me off when I come here and have to read about Gavin Friday. The fact that the man is pretty talentless by comparison doesn’t bother me, it’s the fact that you’re doing the equivalent of posting about Coldplay’s friends on a Coldplay fansite. It’s irrelevant.
@STV I am aware of U2’s history. And I respect U2log because it’s a great site. Unfortunately once in a while Caroline goes off the deep end over banal Gavin Friday information. “There’s a Gavin Friday book available on eBay!” or “Gavin Friday singing a song on his website!” — it’s a drag because I regard the site so highly, these aside.
You’re right that this was more relevant to U2 than any of the other Gavin Friday entries posted here. That just makes it more annoying that we got such sparse information about it.
As I said, there are Gavin Friday websites. Why don’t you just keep the Gavin Friday stuff to them? It’s not interesting to U2 fans. It’s interesting to Gavin Friday fans.
And I’m not jealous of anybody or anything; I’m simply saying that as a formerly avid reader of the site, it’s a hilarious indictment of Caroline’s penchant for yammering on about Gavin Friday that there are more posts about him than any U2 member except Bono. Furthermore you’ll note that she’s the only U2log editor who thinks it necessary to post about him on here.
@Caroline: Thanks for the coverage of the tour. It’s the high standard of the coverage that you provide of U2 which pisses me off when I come here and have to read about Gavin Friday. The fact that the man is pretty talentless by comparison doesn’t bother me, it’s the fact that you’re doing the equivalent of posting about Coldplay’s friends on a Coldplay fansite. It’s irrelevant.
Caroline, I love this site and appreciate all of your time/dedication/resources/energy/etc that you put into it; I love reading ALL of the stuff you post.
Thanks for all you’ve done! illegitimi non carborundum!
Caroline, I love this site and appreciate all of your time/dedication/resources/energy/etc that you put into it; I love reading ALL of the stuff you post.
Thanks for all you’ve done! illegitimi non carborundum!
Sigh.
I could tag 90% of the posts here with adam, larry, the edge, bono. I don’t because the whole site’s about them.
Tagging is a relevantly recent addition to the site, hundreds of posts haven’t been tagged yet, I don’t know if they ever will. The daily link digest doesn’t get tagged at all. Tons of Edgy goodness in there.
As for being the only editor who posts about Gavin Friday… that’s because I’m the sort of the only editor who still posts anything here.
I will continue to run the site the way it pleases me. That’s the only way I can do it.
I did a search on our database.
Since July 2000 (we’ve been going 9 years) we have made 5,203 posts
Bono appears in 2,042 posts
Edge in 596
Larry in 205
Adam in 176
‘U2’ in 3,705
Brian Eno in 234
Gavin Friday is mentioned 115 times.
Sigh.
I could tag 90% of the posts here with adam, larry, the edge, bono. I don’t because the whole site’s about them.
Tagging is a relevantly recent addition to the site, hundreds of posts haven’t been tagged yet, I don’t know if they ever will. The daily link digest doesn’t get tagged at all. Tons of Edgy goodness in there.
As for being the only editor who posts about Gavin Friday… that’s because I’m the sort of the only editor who still posts anything here.
I will continue to run the site the way it pleases me. That’s the only way I can do it.
I did a search on our database.
Since July 2000 (we’ve been going 9 years) we have made 5,203 posts
Bono appears in 2,042 posts
Edge in 596
Larry in 205
Adam in 176
‘U2’ in 3,705
Brian Eno in 234
Gavin Friday is mentioned 115 times.
Message pour Henri-
Listen Henri. This is a free site.
The fact that you feel the need to be a critic about the content of a free U2 fan sitesays more about you than anything else- seulement a mon avis-
You know, you can choose what you read- ouai, tu peux choisir…sans blague.
Message pour Henri-
Listen Henri. This is a free site.
The fact that you feel the need to be a critic about the content of a free U2 fan sitesays more about you than anything else- seulement a mon avis-
You know, you can choose what you read- ouai, tu peux choisir…sans blague.
I’m not disputing that it’s Caroline’s site to run. I’m providing feedback. Clearly Caroline doesn’t value feedback from her readers that disagrees with her opinion on how the site should be run, and is running the site to please nobody but herself and people who happen to agree with her. That’s fine, it’s her choice. All I’ve said is that Gavin Friday news isn’t something I, as a reader and fan of U2log, am interested in, and I don’t understand why it’s posted on here as frequently as it is. The all-time nadir was definitely the “BUY A GAVIN FRIDAY BOOK ON EBAY” but all posts on Gavin Friday leave me baffled, and I think it makes appearances on here as frequently as it does due to Caroline’s [frequently] self-proclaimed friendship with the talentless curmudgeon himself.
I’ll shuffle back to the shadows and filter your RSS feed to block out what are essentially adverts for Gavin Friday, but my final point is to reiterate that the Gavin Friday posts on here are as relevant as posts on a Coldplay fansite about Coldplay’s mates.
Again, Caroline, thanks for providing outstanding coverage of U2. I don’t mean to slight your work down the years because it’s been excellent, and if the readers of the site have to contend with occasional adverts for Mr. Friday then that’s something I’m sure they’ll all put up with. It’s clear that there are more appropriate outlets for it but if you don’t want disagreeable feedback then that’s fine.
I’m not disputing that it’s Caroline’s site to run. I’m providing feedback. Clearly Caroline doesn’t value feedback from her readers that disagrees with her opinion on how the site should be run, and is running the site to please nobody but herself and people who happen to agree with her. That’s fine, it’s her choice. All I’ve said is that Gavin Friday news isn’t something I, as a reader and fan of U2log, am interested in, and I don’t understand why it’s posted on here as frequently as it is. The all-time nadir was definitely the “BUY A GAVIN FRIDAY BOOK ON EBAY” but all posts on Gavin Friday leave me baffled, and I think it makes appearances on here as frequently as it does due to Caroline’s [frequently] self-proclaimed friendship with the talentless curmudgeon himself.
I’ll shuffle back to the shadows and filter your RSS feed to block out what are essentially adverts for Gavin Friday, but my final point is to reiterate that the Gavin Friday posts on here are as relevant as posts on a Coldplay fansite about Coldplay’s mates.
Again, Caroline, thanks for providing outstanding coverage of U2. I don’t mean to slight your work down the years because it’s been excellent, and if the readers of the site have to contend with occasional adverts for Mr. Friday then that’s something I’m sure they’ll all put up with. It’s clear that there are more appropriate outlets for it but if you don’t want disagreeable feedback then that’s fine.
me thinks mr fiday’s contribution to the extras on the vertigo dvd for u2 was fantastic and the most worthwhile as stated before.u2 fantastic and i am intrigued and empowered how these chaps from Lypton village have all made a great impact.
u2 prunes gavin friday all interlinked
one and not the same blah blah blah.Tyhe dreamers have won hurrah hurrah.
the shag albumn is fantastic but hey i love pop so what do i know.
Looking forward to his 2010 release as well as the u2 one.
pleases let the site run as it is,money time all given for free show a little respect and enjoy ps could have seen the prunes play sleepy bedford boys club in the 1980’s but to my shame missed out and it was only a 5 minute walk from where i lived as well.the really sad thing is i cannot remember what momentous event kept me frtom attending either.
me thinks mr fiday’s contribution to the extras on the vertigo dvd for u2 was fantastic and the most worthwhile as stated before.u2 fantastic and i am intrigued and empowered how these chaps from Lypton village have all made a great impact.
u2 prunes gavin friday all interlinked
one and not the same blah blah blah.Tyhe dreamers have won hurrah hurrah.
the shag albumn is fantastic but hey i love pop so what do i know.
Looking forward to his 2010 release as well as the u2 one.
pleases let the site run as it is,money time all given for free show a little respect and enjoy ps could have seen the prunes play sleepy bedford boys club in the 1980’s but to my shame missed out and it was only a 5 minute walk from where i lived as well.the really sad thing is i cannot remember what momentous event kept me frtom attending either.
Caroline,
Long time fan of the site. Keep up the great work!!!
Henri,
Dude, if you really knew an iota about U2, you’d realize how silly you come across. Gavin Friday is essentially part of the U2 machine, also touring as THE U2 consultant. Besides being Bono’s BFF along with Gucci (aside from Mr. Larry, that is), good ol’ Fionan Hanvey, Mr. Gavin Friday to you, has been a huge muse & creative foil for Bono. Where do you think Mr. MacPhisto is inspired from?
I like hearing about all of the sides of U2’s world, even Daniel Lanois or Brian Eno, because what they bring to the table informs us further as fans. This insistence on self-blinders in regards to what constitutes as U2 news is pretty myopic. And really whiny & disrespectful of all the hard work & service I, for one, really appreciate here. So, if you don’t agree with what’s on here, start your own Pure U2 Only Superblog. Until then, I say don’t be a rude guest.
Caroline,
Long time fan of the site. Keep up the great work!!!
Henri,
Dude, if you really knew an iota about U2, you’d realize how silly you come across. Gavin Friday is essentially part of the U2 machine, also touring as THE U2 consultant. Besides being Bono’s BFF along with Gucci (aside from Mr. Larry, that is), good ol’ Fionan Hanvey, Mr. Gavin Friday to you, has been a huge muse & creative foil for Bono. Where do you think Mr. MacPhisto is inspired from?
I like hearing about all of the sides of U2’s world, even Daniel Lanois or Brian Eno, because what they bring to the table informs us further as fans. This insistence on self-blinders in regards to what constitutes as U2 news is pretty myopic. And really whiny & disrespectful of all the hard work & service I, for one, really appreciate here. So, if you don’t agree with what’s on here, start your own Pure U2 Only Superblog. Until then, I say don’t be a rude guest.
Dear Caroline, could you please cease to write anything interesting? When I visit your website, I expect to read about U2, Bono, Larry, Edge & Adam. And maybe a little thing about Paul McGuinness. What Bono said at the shows. What songs were played (but please, not too many mentions of those so-called snippets, I don’t have a clue who all these other artists are). If they like to go fishing in their spare time. Their favourite colour.
You see, I don’t get all this other artsy-fartsy stuff. This Gavin Friday bloke for example, I know he’s the artistic driving force behing every single tour, is involved with (and therefore gets thanked on) every single album, has been a friend of the band since their childhood, has probably had the biggest influence on them personally as well as musically and is therefore absolutely very interesting to a lot of U2 fans, but I don’t get him at all. He’s not IN U2, now, is he? And his music is far too complicated for a simpleton like me, I just want to read how many times Pride was played this tour. So please, stop this at once and just stick to easy to understand subjects like ‘Does Larry have a piercing and if so, where?’ or ‘Should Edge enter Sudoku competition?’. Thanks.
Dear Caroline, could you please cease to write anything interesting? When I visit your website, I expect to read about U2, Bono, Larry, Edge & Adam. And maybe a little thing about Paul McGuinness. What Bono said at the shows. What songs were played (but please, not too many mentions of those so-called snippets, I don’t have a clue who all these other artists are). If they like to go fishing in their spare time. Their favourite colour.
You see, I don’t get all this other artsy-fartsy stuff. This Gavin Friday bloke for example, I know he’s the artistic driving force behing every single tour, is involved with (and therefore gets thanked on) every single album, has been a friend of the band since their childhood, has probably had the biggest influence on them personally as well as musically and is therefore absolutely very interesting to a lot of U2 fans, but I don’t get him at all. He’s not IN U2, now, is he? And his music is far too complicated for a simpleton like me, I just want to read how many times Pride was played this tour. So please, stop this at once and just stick to easy to understand subjects like ‘Does Larry have a piercing and if so, where?’ or ‘Should Edge enter Sudoku competition?’. Thanks.
Dear Caroline,
Laat ik Bono/U2 maar citeren: don’t let the bastards grind you down!
Keep up the good work – best u2 news source I know, because it’s not all about u2.
Thank you!
Wim
Dear Caroline,
Laat ik Bono/U2 maar citeren: don’t let the bastards grind you down!
Keep up the good work – best u2 news source I know, because it’s not all about u2.
Thank you!
Wim
I don’t remember calling him my ‘friend’ here. I may have, but I don’t remember it. It’s very rare for me to use the word even. I work for the guy, we get on.
I don’t know what your problem is Henri, you seem to have some kind of personal grudge. Or you are a very, very clever troll, trying to get a rise out of me with your ‘talentless’ remarks.
And that’s right, I don’t really need your feedback or criticism. You are a guest in my house, the only right you have is to be courteous.
I don’t remember calling him my ‘friend’ here. I may have, but I don’t remember it. It’s very rare for me to use the word even. I work for the guy, we get on.
I don’t know what your problem is Henri, you seem to have some kind of personal grudge. Or you are a very, very clever troll, trying to get a rise out of me with your ‘talentless’ remarks.
And that’s right, I don’t really need your feedback or criticism. You are a guest in my house, the only right you have is to be courteous.
Thank you for the review. I wanted to be there but could not make it due to prior committments. Reading your post was a brief summary to me, I would have loved more details…. Keep up the great coverage. I sincerely appreciate everything you post for U2log.com.
Thank you for the review. I wanted to be there but could not make it due to prior committments. Reading your post was a brief summary to me, I would have loved more details…. Keep up the great coverage. I sincerely appreciate everything you post for U2log.com.
Great review, Caroline!
I loved the Gavin Friday concert at Carnegie Hall. I feel privileged to have been there because so much musical magic happened on stage. Gavin’s duet with Eric Mingus was spectacular! Their lyrical exchange was like a sword duel — back and forth and up and down. I was mesmerized by the performance. I was equally mesmerized by Martha Wainwright’s performance of “You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart.” There were so many special moments in the show. Every performance was testament to what a talented artist and songwriter Gavin Friday is.
As a U2 fan, I appreciate how the concert forced U2 to play something outside their comfortable repertoire of songs. I love U2. I love their songs. I love going to their shows. I do not criticize their setlists (I believe in being thankful for what you get, not what you don’t get) but, hell yeah, I’d like to hear them play something different. That’s exactly what I got from U2 at the Gavin Friday concert. Bono’s performance of “The Last Song I’ll Ever Sing” brought me to tears because it was so beautiful. It was the ultimate musical moment of my U2 fandom, replacing the performance of “We Love You” in Antwerp during the Elevation tour.
If you are an educated U2 fan, you know that Gavin Friday has significantly influenced U2’s work. I know I’m not alone in my wish to learn how Gavin influences U2. There is only one person in the fan community who is qualified to speak on that topic, and that person is Caroline. I hope that negative comments about Gavin from an ignorant U2 “fan” does not affect Caroline’s decision to share things with the U2 fan community in the future. It would be a shame.
Regarding the editorial content of U2log.com: Readers do not have input on what is published at U2log.com; the owner and editors of U2log.com chose what is published. As an editor of U2log.com, I support articles about Gavin Friday being published at the site. Frankly, I think U2log.com should have MORE articles about Gavin.
Great review, Caroline!
I loved the Gavin Friday concert at Carnegie Hall. I feel privileged to have been there because so much musical magic happened on stage. Gavin’s duet with Eric Mingus was spectacular! Their lyrical exchange was like a sword duel — back and forth and up and down. I was mesmerized by the performance. I was equally mesmerized by Martha Wainwright’s performance of “You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart.” There were so many special moments in the show. Every performance was testament to what a talented artist and songwriter Gavin Friday is.
As a U2 fan, I appreciate how the concert forced U2 to play something outside their comfortable repertoire of songs. I love U2. I love their songs. I love going to their shows. I do not criticize their setlists (I believe in being thankful for what you get, not what you don’t get) but, hell yeah, I’d like to hear them play something different. That’s exactly what I got from U2 at the Gavin Friday concert. Bono’s performance of “The Last Song I’ll Ever Sing” brought me to tears because it was so beautiful. It was the ultimate musical moment of my U2 fandom, replacing the performance of “We Love You” in Antwerp during the Elevation tour.
If you are an educated U2 fan, you know that Gavin Friday has significantly influenced U2’s work. I know I’m not alone in my wish to learn how Gavin influences U2. There is only one person in the fan community who is qualified to speak on that topic, and that person is Caroline. I hope that negative comments about Gavin from an ignorant U2 “fan” does not affect Caroline’s decision to share things with the U2 fan community in the future. It would be a shame.
Regarding the editorial content of U2log.com: Readers do not have input on what is published at U2log.com; the owner and editors of U2log.com chose what is published. As an editor of U2log.com, I support articles about Gavin Friday being published at the site. Frankly, I think U2log.com should have MORE articles about Gavin.
I’ll transcribe Paul McGuinness’ speech from the show later this week.
I’ll transcribe Paul McGuinness’ speech from the show later this week.
Thank you so much Caroline!! I appreciate your coverage of the spectacular night. I love this article (and this site) because it brings an edge and critical perspective to the band.
I value all the work you do — is there a way to donate to the site?
Thank you so much Caroline!! I appreciate your coverage of the spectacular night. I love this article (and this site) because it brings an edge and critical perspective to the band.
I value all the work you do — is there a way to donate to the site?
erm, hit submit a little early. kill teh above postlet ^^;
Personally the “tangential” stuff is a large reason why I keep coming back to this site (it’s really the only u2 news site I visit regularly). There’s a (for me) very refreshing mix of deep appreciation and irreverence that keeps things interesting.
Bono will be the first to tell how ridiculous the “spectacle” of U2 is – he spent the first decade trying to come to terms with that as it emerged and the last two finding ways to embrace it. This site seems to reflects the “fun” side of the band without getting into trainspotting.
erm, hit submit a little early. kill teh above postlet ^^;
Personally the “tangential” stuff is a large reason why I keep coming back to this site (it’s really the only u2 news site I visit regularly). There’s a (for me) very refreshing mix of deep appreciation and irreverence that keeps things interesting.
Bono will be the first to tell how ridiculous the “spectacle” of U2 is – he spent the first decade trying to come to terms with that as it emerged and the last two finding ways to embrace it. This site seems to reflects the “fun” side of the band without getting into trainspotting.
@elaine Thanks for asking, Elaine, it’s very kind of you. Donations aren’t really necessary 🙂
Everybody else, thanks for your kind words and support.
@elaine Thanks for asking, Elaine, it’s very kind of you. Donations aren’t really necessary 🙂
Everybody else, thanks for your kind words and support.