Years before becoming an Anglican priest, Andrew Asbil felt drawn to Irish rockers U2 and their message of hope and salvation.

"I've been a huge fan since the first album, Boy, came out," says Asbil, 48, now minister at Toronto's Church of the Redeemer.

Boy, released in 1980, set U2 apart, he says. It wasn't the fluff the 1980s became known for, instead challenging fans to find meaning in life. In his first year of university, Asbil was hooked, and remained a fan as his studies led him to theology.

"When I started my seminary work, I began looking at the lyrics in a different way and began to see a lot of the biblical narratives."

The band's lyrics seeped into his conversations and sermons. Last spring, he even featured "The Moment of Surrender" from U2's latest album in Good Friday services.

"It's a song that says there come moments in your life when you have to surrender to love," he says.

And on Sept. 14, the Church of the Redeemer, at Bloor St. and Avenue Rd., will host a U2 night, with Asbil exploring the theological underpinnings of the band's music, with musical accompaniment from parishioner and Toronto musician Mike Daley and his band. The free event runs from 7 to 9 p.m.

U2 plays two shows at the Rogers Centre on Sept. 16 and 17.

Asbil, who has seen the band several times, says there is almost a "covert" aspect to the spirituality of the band's songs that attracts both secular and religious audiences.

"There's a subtlety to it," he says. "They weave in images that are archetypal, but also spiritual."

Not everyone agrees, however. Bono's legendary ego can come across as self-righteous and has turned off as many people as it's inspired. Asbil says not all his parishioners share his enthusiasm for the band. Bono, himself, has admitted to an inflated opinion of himself.

"I've got a messianic complex. It's true. And anyone who knows me, it's hardly a revelation," he said in his 2006 address to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.

U2 has never hidden the faith of its members, though few outside the most devout of Christian families paid much attention.

Three of the band's four members – singer Bono, guitarist The Edge and drummer Larry Mullen – were deeply involved with Shalom, a charismatic Christian group in Dublin, when the band formed 30 years ago.

Bassist Adam Clayton has been described as spiritual, but not religious.

They left Shalom after leaders of the movement told them to choose between it and their music. They chose the music, but never left their faith behind. Now free of organized religion, they could explore their faith on their own terms.

And that, says author Greg Garrett, is what distinguishes U2 from other Christian rock bands, who he says push "a message instead of following the truth wherever it led them."

No traditional Christian rocker band would sing "I still haven't found what I'm looking for," as U2 does, writes Garnett, author of We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2.

Still, the band's obvious Christian references made it "safe" for the children of religious families to listen to, Garrett says in a telephone interview, while its willingness to ask troubling spiritual questions appeals to the non-religious.

The theology of U2 is a yearning for answers and a relationship with God rather than claiming to have found any such thing. That, says Garrett, resonates in a secular society in which traditional houses of worship struggle to keep members.

It's religion for those who don't want churches or the faith of their youth. The faith of U2 is questioning and unsure, yet hopeful that a better world is possible. It is Christian-based, but its messages of peace and love are common to many religions.

"I presume the reason for this gathering is that all of us are here – Muslims, Jews, Christians – are all searching our souls for how to better serve our family, our community, our nation, our God," Bono said at the Prayer Breakfast. "I am certainly searching, and that, I suppose, is what led me here."

U2's music could perhaps come only from Ireland, where religious strife has torn the country apart. Bono is the son of a Protestant father and a Catholic mother.

In "Sunday, Bloody Sunday," he sings, "I can't believe the news today, I can't close my eyes and make it go away," calling on listeners to bear witness to the troubles around them as the first step to addressing them, Garrett writes.

In the song "One," the turn of phrasing is key as Bono sings, "We get to carry each other," Garrett says.

The line isn't the more obligation-sounding, "We've got to carry each other," as the faithful have often viewed scriptural passages telling them to help the less fortunate.

"It's not about duty, or slogging through working at the soup kitchen," Garrett says. "It's a great joy and blessing to be able to lift each other up, because community is where we're formed."

Asbil admits he cringes at U2 shilling for Research in Motion on its latest BlackBerry commercial, but quickly comes to their defence.

"The purist part of me says, `Oh, for heaven's sake, how can you do that?' But on the other hand, they are business people, they donate a lot of their time, they donate a lot of their money, they donate their name" to social causes, he says.

"The lasting legacy of U2 is that the music speaks to a higher ideal."

(c) Toronto Star, 2009.

" Page 100 on the thread about nothing....and they said it could'nt be done. "


" August 19, 2009 -- Tulsa World

McCartney: A moment to behold for all

Maybe I'm amazed.

I take that back: There is absolutely no maybe about it.

I feel so blessed to have been part of a Paul McCartney crowd Monday night that saw the former Beatle's life played out on stage. From his opening number, "Drive My Car," to the ending strains of "The End" from Abbey Road, Sir Paul and Co. were nothing short of perfect.

And the fans ate it up.

Take Susan Moore and Sapulpa resident Kathy Lewis, for instance. Moore, from Yale, Okla., had suffered six strokes recently. You think that stopped her? No way, no how.

"I told them I was coming, even if they had to bring me in on a stretcher," she said as she waited outside the BOK Center on Monday night to get in along with Lewis.

They reminisced about their first brush with the Beatles in 1964.

"It was February 1964 when the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan," Moore said.

"And we all watched it ­ there are six of us here tonight from Yale, and we all watched The Beatles on Ed Sullivan," said Lewis.

Monday was Moore's first McCartney show. She said her favorite song was "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," because, she confided in a hushed tone, "George Harrison was my favorite Beatle."

She probably loved McCartney's tribute to Harrison, a ukulele-infused "Something."

Moore might have been slowed by stroke as she sat in her walker/chair combo, but her enthusiasm couldn't be stopped for anything.

Then there was Susan Krieger, from Springfield, Mo., who stood outside waiting for the show in a pink McCartney T-shirt, Beatles handbag, John Lennon "Imagine" earrings and a matching "Imagine" pendant on a chain.

"You should see my car," she said. "I've got a Beatles license plate that says Beatles 1963-forever," she said. She's also got Paul stickers, peace stickers and more.

Monday night's show was Krieger's eighth McCartney show. She doesn't miss him -- the band is her life. She's seen Ringo Starr twice ­ "I'm blessed," she says. But for her, Paul is something special.

"He is an entertainer," Krieger says. "When you see him, it's like you're alone in the room with him." Gerry Sumner of Tulsa and Kathy Roe of Inola were equally enthused. Sumner had seen McCartney at the 2002 Oklahoma City show, but said she wouldn't miss this one. It was Roe's first show. Both had been Beatles fan since 1964, they said.

One fan was attending her first McCartney show ­ probably because she is 14.

Brianna Wagner of Foyil waited in line with her parents, Donna and Brian Wagner. Brianna said she's been listening to the Beatles her whole life.

"I sang the songs to her when she was a baby," said Donna.

Brian Wager advised his daughter when she was on the academic team to always answer either Beatles or Elvis to music questions, he said. So Brianna has gotten her education.

Her friends at school were jealous of her getting to go to the show ­ proof positive that the Beatles are timeless.

Donna Wagner has been listening to the Beatles since she was 8, she said.

"I was young and thought I'd discovered this whole new band," she said."I had no idea how huge they were."

Obviously, her adoration hasn't worn off.

And neither did anyone else's in the crowd. They flocked in jeans and T-shirts, Versace sunglasses and Coach bags to Crocs and cutoffs. Most stayed the whole show, cheering, crying, screaming and singing.

A particularly poignant moment came during "Hey Jude." The entire audience seemed to be singing "Nah, nah, nah, na-na nah, nah" again and again. It was beautiful.

So were the encore demands. Deafening screams, cheers and applause filled the BOK Center, and when McCartney came back on the stage (the first time ­ the eternal rock star did TWO encores), he received a Shea Stadium-like welcome.

Monday night was a thing of beauty and a great candle on top of the BOK Center's first birthday cake. They've made it a year to remember, and McCartney didn't disappoint. Not for one second.

He even played a not-as -well-known song, "I've Got a Feeling," which happens to be my one of my favorites.

His tributes to John Lennon, Harrison and his late wife Linda were touching. I admit, I cried a few times. But I left with such a good feeling ­ I felt like I was privy to a Moment. A big one. Thank you, Sir Paul, and thank you BOK Center for a wonderful evening  "




http://www.maccareport.com/

" and they said it could'nt be done.  "


!!!!!!!

mojoman wrote on Aug 19^th, 2009 at 2:37pm:


Doesn't he pitch for the White Sox?

August 12, 2009: As we reported here, Sam O'Sullivan (Larry's drum tech) told fans in Zagreb that the band will stay in Vancouver after the 360 Tour ends in October to finish work on Songs of Ascent. He says the album should be out in December or early 2010. There are also other reports that Songs of Ascent will be the first (or one of the first) albums released on a new digital album format being created by the four major record labels.

Joey wrote on Aug 20^th, 2009 at 11:04am:

jb hates macca with every fiber of his being.

Joey, they are still trying to clean up the park after that pricks concert!

" jb hates macca with every fiber of his being "


!!!!!

" they are still trying to clean up the park after that pricks concert ! "


!!!!!!

" green concert my ass  "

!!!!!

" they are still trying to clean up the park after that pricks concert ! "


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