Thursday, April 9, 1992
The Battalion
Page 9
da y- April 9
r~^U2 delivers rock'n'roll artwork with Zoo TV tour
I
By Rob Newberry
77?e Battalion
AUSTIN - Maybe U2
didn't play all the songs I
wanted to hear, but they
still put on the best rock 'n'
roll show I've ever seen.
Before a sold-out crowd
at the Frank Erwin Center
in Austin Tuesday night,
the biggest band to come out of the '80s gave
fans a taste of their Zoo TV tour. After a rather
bland set by alternative rock great, the Pixies,
and some dumb commentary and disc-jockey
ing by some guy dressed like a clown, U2 took
the stage and proceeded to assault the audi
ence with driving rock 'n' roll, lots of sexual
antics and a plethora of confusing images.
The set kicked off with a string of material
from their new album, " Achtung, Baby!" They
opened with the album's first song, "Zoo Sta
tion," then jammed through a slew of other
new material, including "The Fly," "Even Bet
ter Than the Real Thing," "Mysterious Ways,"
''Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses,"
i'One" and "Until the End of the World."
Granted, these new songs aren't my fa-
| vorite U2 tunes. "October" is my favorite al
bum, but the band elected to omit anything
prior to their fourth album, "The Unforgettable
fire." Strangely enough, though, I wasn't dis
appointed to have some of my favorite songs
left out. In fact, the way U2 put together their
erformance made me like some of the new
ongs a lot better.
U2 has put together much more than a col
lection of their new songs for a live perfor-
ance. The Zoo TV show is an artistic experi-
nce from beginning to end. Using all sorts of
rops, and a carefully arranged song order, the
and gave the entire experience a message that
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play their songs live.
The tour gets its name from the main props
the band uses on stage - about a dozen televi
sion sets, displaying various images and films,
and five large screens set up behind the band,
doing the same thing. During the music, the
screens display everything from a‘barrage of
words and phrases to overlayed scenes from
television shows, supposedly tuned in live via
sattelite from several foreign countries.
The way U2 utilized the imagery was a big
part in conveying their message. During "The
Fly," sexual words like "SEX," "WHORE" and
"PUSSY" would flash quickly on and off the
screen, interrupted at points by seemingly un
related phrases like "GUILT IS NOT OF GOD"
and "EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS
WRONG." Some of the phrases seemed al
most profound, like "CONSCIENCE IS A
PEST," but others, like "ASSASSINATE
GOD," seemed strange for a band that still
claims to believe in Christianity. Then again,
the message that came across through the
whole show, one of loss and disillusion in ev
erything, was brought out during the end of
the song, when the word "BELIEVE," in white,
faded away into "LIE," in blood red.
Some of the Zoo TV stuff was sarcastic and
funny, instead of so disorienting. As some of
the random scenes from various TV shows
were parading on the screen, a caption flittered
by, reading "Tonight - U2 LIVE - at the Frank
Erwin Center in Austin - Home of Dental
Floss."
The show featured other attractions, in ad
dition to the TV screens, like a belly dancer
during "Mysterious Ways," and a small silver
automobile swinging from the ceiling, hover
ing above the crowd and band.
The relentless pounding of imagery and
sound during the initial set of new material
did eventually let up. The band walked out on
a smaller stage set up in the middle of the Er
win Center's floor for an acoustic rendition of
"Angel of Harlem," and kicked off a set of
their older material that included "Bad," "Bul
let the Blue Sky" and "Running To Stand Still."
But while the imagery let up a little, the pow
erful emotional sadness continued, and
reached a crest during the end of "Running To
Stand Still," as Bono stood alone in the middle
of the audience, with his face and arms raised,
chanting, "Hallelujah...Hallelujah," before dis
appearing in a mix of green and red smoke.
The show continued with some more old
material, including "Pride (In the Name of
Love)" and "I Still Haven't Found (What I'm
Looking For)." By that time, it was obvious
that the emotional experience of the show was
affecting the band as well as the audience, as
Bono stumbled through his words during his
introduction, "We feel very lucky...and...oh,
just listen." And as if to answer those fans
who have wondered whether Christian beliefs
still influence the band, when the band got to
the end of the third verse (a description of the
crucifixion ending in "You know I believe it"),
Bono threw in the phrase, "and still do," be
fore going in to the chorus.
Before finishing the show, U2 plowed
through "Desire," ^Ultraviolet (Light My
Way)" and "With or Without You." They con
cluded with the haunting "Love is Blindness"
from the new album; to add to the song's
theme, the band played in complete darkness,
and the Erwin Center was lit only with a pale
blue glow. After the song, with no lights on,
Bono said goodnight and the band left.
When the lights came on, the tension of the
artistic message and the emotional energy
broke. But everyone that left the show took
with them the memory of a great concert expe
rience and a sad recollection of the emptiness
in everything around them.
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nted liveasfe .against one another in June.
Love has over 40 kids on his team and is expecting
more to sign up this summer. His goal is grow as big as Col-
E lege Station's team which carries around 90 members.
f Rgyjgy, "College Station has had a team for years and has never
™-eally had any tough competition before," said Love. "I ex-
ect the teams will become rivals pretty soon," he added.
In addition to organizing the children's swim team.
Love also organized a swim team for adults who wanted to
improve their strokes. The class meets two nights a week at
the Southwood pool in College Station. He said that there
are a few in the adult program who compete, but most just
come out to stay in shape.
"Coaching the adults is perfect for me," Love said. "I
get to work-out with them and also earn a little cash on the
side."
Love hopes to continue coaching both teams throughout
his college career, but is a little unsure about his plans after
then.
"I plan on coaching for as long as it doesn't interfere
are especial')! with my long term goals," Love said.
o some sickenf g ut f or noW/ h e i s most concerned with making sure his
cliches. For H i kids are getting all they can out of swimming.
? socks thee'l "j really hope that there will be a few kids who will find
Mice saysshe| the rewards I found from swimming,
lore attracti'' l |
In Advance
Moore Hall rocks Quad
with Northside show
This Saturday, the second North-
side Concert on the Quad will be tak
ing place from noon to 8:00 P.M. The
free concert is being organized by
Moore Hall, with a little help and do
nations from residents in the other
Northside dorms.
The show is scheduled to feature
five bands, all local acts from the
Bryan/ College Station area. Head
lining the concert will be Dr. Love
and the Erogenous Zones. Also ap
pearing will be Crossbone Butterfly,
described as a soft of U2/Cult hy
brid; classic rock outfit Bayou; blues
rockers Mother's Monkey; and local
hardcore band Grimace.
Don't get the wrong impression.
The show is free and nobody will be
asking for any donations. The guys
from Moore say it's just something
they wanted to do for kicks.
Actually, it's a great idea. With
only one or two places in town that
still want to bring music to College
Station, it's hard to find something to
do on a Saturday afternoon, and even
harder for local acts to book gigs.
Go out and support this show.
Although 200 people showed up for
the first one last year, there's no rea
son why there shouldn't be twice
that many people this year. After all,
which would you rather do: stay and
study in the dorm or support local
music and rock the quad?
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Music
Information is provided by the individual
nightclubs and is subject to change.
Gallery Bar
In the College Station Hilton at 801 E. Uni
versity Dr. Only ages 21 and older admit
ted. Call 693-7500 for more information.
Friday, Saturday - Big Apple Trio. Jazz.
Starts at 8 p.m. No cover.
Kay’s Cabaret
At Post Oak Mall. Ages 18 and older ad
mitted. Alcohol served. For more informa
tion, call 696-9191.
Thursday - The Toes. Acoustic country.
Starts at 9:30 p.m. No cover.
Friday - 3 Beers. Classic rock. Starts at
9:30 p.m. $3 cover.
Saturday - Hierophant. Rock. Starts at
9:30 p.m. $3 cover.
Texas Hall of Fame
On FM 2818 in Bryan. Alcohol served.
For more information, call 822-2222.
Thursday - Special F/X. Country. Starts
at 9 p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m. $4 cover
($2 off with TAMU ID).
Around Town
Friday - Johnny Lion and the Country
NuNotes. Country. Starts at 9 p.m.
Doors open at 8 p.m. $5 cover.
Saturday - Jerry Nail and the Armadillo
Express. Country. Starts at 9 p.m. doors
open at 8. $4 cover ($2 off with TAMU ID).
Equinox
Located at 329 University Dr. in College
Station. Alcohol served. For more infor
mation, call 846-2496.
Saturday - Ant Hill Mob. Rock. Starts at
9:00 p.m. $3 cover.
Two Pesos
Located at 303 University Dr. in College
Station. Alcohol served. For more infor
mation, call 846-4135.
Wednesday - Sneaky Pete. Sing-along.
Starts at 8 p.m. $2 cover.
Saturday - ’N the Rutz. Rock. Starts at
9:30. $3 cover.
Stafford Opera House
Located at 106 S. Main in Bryan. Alcohol
served. For more information, call 775-
4082.
Thursday - Ten Hands. Funk. Starts at 8
p.m. $6 in advance, $7 cover at the door.
Friday - Susanne Sharp and the Samber
Saturday - Chris Duarte. Blues rock,
funky blues. Starts at 9 p.m. $5 cover.
Wednesday - KANM Benefit with The
Road Kings. Rockabilly. Starts at 8 p.m.
$5 cover.
Comedy
Information is subject to change.
Garfield’s
Located at 1503 S. Texas Ave. Reserva
tions recommended. Ages 21 and older
admitted. Alcohol served. Call 693-1736
for more information.
Thursday - Nicky Shane and Jim
Nenopolous. Starts at 10 p.m. Tickets:
$4 in advance, $5 at door.
Sundance
Located at 801 E. Univerisity Dr. in the
Hilton. Ages 19 and older admitted. Alco
hol served. Call 693-7500 for more infor
mation.
Thursday - Al D. Freeman. Starts at 8:30
p.m. Tickets: $4 in advance, $5 at door.
No reservations.
Jaria
$ 1— per pound
Every Thursday • 5p.m. to 8p.m.
0 N E
COLLEGE STATION. TX. • 696-5570
Live Music
$2 cover charge
Every Thursday
$2*50 pitchers from 8-10
Every Night
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Golf
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“Putt-Putt Golf Course" is a U S Reqistered Trademark.
BUNGEE JUMP
Now Only
Located close to campus!
3 1/2 miles west on
University Dr. (Hwy. 60)
Just past Easterwood Airport
The Department of Speech
Communications and
Theatre Arts
The Aggie Players
present
The Story of
the Conquest of
the Kingdom of
New Mexico
by Oscar Giner
April 9-11 & 16-18 8 p.m.
April 12 & 19 2 p.m.
Rudder Forum
Texas A&M University
General Public $6.00 Students $5.00
Tickets available at Aggie Player Box Office
862-2052
This program made possible in part through a grant from the Arts Council of
Brazos Valley anf the Texas Commission on the Arts.
j '.fS< r TZTjt
“A
QUARTERS
NIGHT
Every
Thursday
Evening
2 QUARTERS buys you
A FROSTED PINT
of draft beer (50C)
9-11 PM
326 George Bush
696-DA VE
211 University
268-DA VE
919 Harvey
764-DAVE
Carter Creek
846-DAVE