Page 6
University Daily Kansan, April 6, 1981
Irish band U2 mixes sensitivity, punk energy
By BLAKE GUMPRECHT
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
U2, appearing tonight at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City. From left: Bono, Dave "The Edge" Evans, Larry Mullin and Adam Clayton.
It was 1768. Punk was nearing its peak in Great Britain. But at a small experimental school in Dublin, Ireland, four teen-agers were forming a different type of band.
Noticeably absent were the harsh sounds, rebellious lyrics and antagonistic attitudes of outfits like the Sex Pistols and the Clash. Instead, the band was singing songs of hope, complete with dreamy melodies, reversing guitar chords and introspective lyrics.
The band was U2, a band that many today are calling one of the most important new groups to emerge in years and possibly the first capable of bridging the musical gap that has existed between the United States and Europe since the mid-70s.
Although their debut album was just released in November, already the band has been featured on the cover of several British albums, including "Love is a Battle," Europe and are currently headlining an 38-date U.S. tour, which stops at Kansas City's Uptown Theater tonight.
LAST SUMMER, Island Records declared U2 the label's most important signing since King Crimson. Only one member of the band has celebrated his 21st birthday.
"We wanted to do something different," explains Paul Hewson, better known by his nickname of Bono, the band's lead singer. "We wanted the energy of punk, but we wanted more sensitivity, more emotion, a different sound.
"The Sex Fistplots, the Ramones, the Clash--
they were great. But then it just became tribalism, people wearing uniforms, hiding from themselves. The whole thing of rock'n roll is to break out of the uniform. We want people to do what they want."
U2's music is a throwback to another era. "Boy," the band's debut album, illustrates the struggle from adolescence to manhood with images of "Shadows and Tall Trees," Ocean, "Twilight"—metaphorical lyrics, flowing melodies and an almost fragile sound.
IN DUBLIN, out of the mainstream of the rock industry, U2 developed slowly. The band didn't put its first record until late 1979 when it released a three-song single, but immediately began touring outside of Ireland. A record contract soon followed.
had played in a band before, drumming in a military trouser.
The band has been touring ever since the album's November English release. In this country, "Boy" quickly entered the charts after it hit the stores in late January. It is the 63rd best selling album in the country in this week's Billboard magazine Top 200.
Hewson, guitarist Dave "The Edge" Evans, drummer Larry Mullin and bassist Adam Clayton were students at Dublin's Crown Hall and met the band. All four had grown up together.
"We were just four adolescents going nowhere," Hewson says. "We were brought together out of a common desire not to fall into the traditional 'girlfriend, learn how to look nice' routine. We had a common musical idea. Now it looks like we're going somewhere."
Mullin was just 14 years old at the time, Evans 15, Clayton and Hewson 16. Only Mullin
U2's intricate, echoy sound and Hewson's sometimes mystical lyrics have prompted some critics to lump them with the bands of England's so-called psychedelic revival: Echo and the Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes and Wah! Heat.
The comparison irks Ikews, who claims the Beatles 'Sgt. Tept. Peeper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' album, pre-Tormmy" Who, "Stone Island" Rolling Stones among his musical impulses.
"I don't even understand paychelidai-1
was ten years old at the time," he says. "It's
hard to say."
U2's second album is already in planning. Tenatively scheduled for fall release, it will be titled, appropriately, "October." Ten others have none. The album although none have been performed in public.
"It will be a logical progression," Hewson says. "All the songs on 'Boy' were written by Jimi Hendrix. A few older. We've seen a lot of things we like and don't like. The songs will be more pointed."
On Campus
A RELIGIOUS STUDIES MINI-CAMP
CAMPAIGN FROM 10:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. in 1404 South Hill.
MAAP'S EXHIBITIONS FILMS will present 'Iay Boukir,' "Aves" and "Reflections on the Moon" at 2:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Spencer Museum of Art.
TODAY
EDWARD BOOKER, CELANESE CORP,
Charlotte, N.C., will give a Minority Affairs
lecture at 3 p.m. in the Council Room of the
Kansas Union.
ARTIST NANCY GRAVES will discuss her paintings and sculpture at 8 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art.
SCOTT WATSON WILL PRESENT HIS
WORK IN THE REALM in the
Saworthock Recital Hall in Murphys Hill.
WILLIAM LEVITAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS will present a Classics-Music History colloquium entitled "Heard Melodies: Musique de la Greece Antique" at 2:30 p.m. in 400 Murphy Chapel.
WESTERN CIVILIZATION FILMS will present "The Lottery," "Conversation with B.F. Skinner" and the "The Long Childhood" at 7 p.m. in the basement of Lippincott Hall.
TAU SIGMA STUDENT DANCE CLUB will meet at 7 p.m. in 242 Robinson Center.
will meet at 7:30 p.m. in Parler Cof the Union.
CAMPUS CHRISTIAN HOUSE BIBLE STUDIO
JOEX COE WILL GIVE AN SAU POETRY
JOEX COE 30 p.m. in the Big Eight Room of
the Kaneau Theater.
AKIRA IRIYE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO will present a lecture of "The Changing American Perceptions of Asian Studies" at 8 p.m. in the Council Room of the Union.
THE SIERRA CLUB will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Union.
Monday, April 6
The Old Dark House
(1932)
KU VARISITY BAND SPRING CONCERT will be presented at 8 p.m. in University Theatre.
The Invisible Man
Two splendid thriller-chilers by James Whale. House is the prototypical story of travelers who end up at a house full of wonders on a rainy night, as funny as it is sexy. With Boris Karloff, Thetles Theigler, Melvin Douglas, Charles Laughton. The Invisible Man is 14. G. Wells' story of a woman caught in a curse and a serum and the hew he cracks. Claude Rains' film debut (though only his violent) and a smashing film (71/17 min.) B&W.
(1945)
Tuesday, April 7
The Pirate
(1948)
Yolanda and the Thief
Unless otherwise noted; all film will be shown at Woodford Auditorium in the afternoon or early Friday, Saturday, Popular and Sunday films are $1.50; Midnight films are $2.00. All tickets are on a first-come, first-served Union, 4th level. Information 864-543-0796, smoking or refreshments allowed.
Two classic MGM musicals, in the Picture, Judy Garrard believes Gene Kelly was the inspiration for this in *Cole Porter* musical. Yolanda is a Technicolor fanatic of a conman (Preda Alesi to convince a rich woman to marry him). It is Lucille Bremer, whom Asaleira has his favorite dance partner. Both directed by Michael Minell. (1020/108, light, color, 7/30.)
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HARDLY
WORKING
UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY MEETING
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Monday April 6th
3140 Wescoe 3:30 p.m.
All psychology majors and students interested in psychology are urged to attend.
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GRAND OPENING
THE SWEETEST BUY IN TOWN
Come join us for Chocolate Unlimited's Grand Opening, April 3-12 and discover our complete Soda Fountain and Gourmet Candy Shop.
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The musical genius of Gino Vannelli. Nightwalker.
vanelli rocks with a passion on Night-
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"DUMMY KRAT," Dramatic new music by Gino Vannelli.
The riveting rock of Willie Nile on Golden Down.
He made one of the most rawed-about album covers of the 1990s. New Wave Nite Is back, ringing out with the vibe of a rapper who is marked him as a leading rocker on the rise. He has released an album that stands with the classics "Feebored" and "Poor."
GOLDEN DOWN. The energy and vision of Willie Nile.
Reckoning.
Brightill new line recording by the Grateful Dead.
GRATEFUL DEAD
Includes DIRE WOLF
RIPPLE/TO LAY ME DOWN
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Jeff Lorber conquers new musical worlds on Galaxian.
Reckoning is a rock landmark the first of two double-record sets documenting the Grateful Dead's historic 1980 performances in New York and London. This special two-record set includes acclaimed classics as "Dire Wolf" *Ripple* "It Must Have Been The Roses" and, 13 more.
The overhewing instrumental virtuosity of the Dregs is in top form on Unsung Heroes. The instruments used are wind, percussion and materials of rock, jazz, country and classical music into one heroic sound that has won them a witticism following "Cruise Control." These musicians live beyond the call of duty on UNSING HEROES.
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The mighty metal manipulations of Krokus in *Anole America Records* and *Onate America Records and Tapes*. Distributed by Aria Records.
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Musical Innovations by Dave Grusin on MOUNTAIN DANCE.
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Jeff Lorber
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They re five of the finest musicians in the world, and they re back with a brilliant link up to their new band. The duo has also talented British quintet starting guitarist John McCaffrey and productions create classic rock on dazzling new tracks.
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