by AIMEE MARCOS

abs-cbnNEWS.com

U2 has been hailed and regaled as the world’s greatest band by most, and annoyingly preachy by others.  They are comprised of Bono, the magnanimous front man, The Edge the guitarist, Adam Clayton the bassist, and the one who started it all, Larry Mullen Jr.

Throughout the years, they have made their indelible mark on the face of music, moving from strength to strength and challenging most conventions in the industry.  It is seemingly impossible for their songs to be forgotten, with their catchy melodies, striking basslines and simplistic, almost military like beats.

Everyone almost anywhere knows what “With or Without You” sounds like at the very least.  If not through that, it could be through the movement that Bono has started by making charity cool, trying to change the world one mind and one country at a time.

A formidable task indeed, but then again, in the world of band breakups based on the favorite excuse of “artistic differences” (the music world’s version of “irreconcilable differences”), they have ranked up there with the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith for band longevity and if Mick and Keith can do it, Bono and the Edge sure as hell can. 

U2's 3D movie

Avid fans, like myself, of the Irish band U2 has been treated this year with a feast for the eyes.  They are the first musical act to come out with a highly anticipated 3D movie.  It was directed by first time director, Catherine Owens, and co-written by Mark Pellington which has resulted in the first film almost exclusively shot, produced and screened entirely in 3D technology and digital cinema.

They followed the band around the “Vertigo Tour” through 9 shows and using as many as 18 cameras at one any given time.  This resulted in the final film, which is 85 minutes long boasting 14 songs. 

The whole project was taken on as an experiment on the new advances in 3D film technology done by 3ality Digital Company in 2005.  The band themselves have said that they didn’t make this film just as a profit making venture, but rather to be able to share this technology with a vast audience.

The virtual concert

As a fan, what does this mean?  It means a sensory extravaganza and a carnival for sight and sound.  Watching the movie is in and of itself an experience like no other.

When the opening song of “Vertigo” and you hear the opening line of “Hello hello!” it’s hard not to get giddy.  The music is loud enough, for example, but it’s not as loud as when you are in a live concert. 

It’s the level that you can still groove to, enjoy the music in, but since this is all taking place in a movie theater, it seems a little weird to sing (scream) out loud.  Though I still did.

U2 classics, almost-live

This was followed by "Beautiful Day", a classic "New Year's Day", and "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own". When "Love and Peace" came on, the song revolved around Larry Mullen Jr., who left his drum kit to play on a floor tom drum and a cymbal at one of the ‘runways’, and Bono sang that song at the opposite end, literally singing to him.

Bono himself then finishes the song, and lets Larry go back to the kit.  They also don’t disappoint with the classics.  As mentioned, there was “New Year’s Day” and then there was the foot pounding “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, as well as “Pride” and “Where the Streets Have No Name”, and “With or Without You”, the performance of which can bring anyone to tears, and which is the evidence of why they are as good as they are.  The totality of the sound was amazing.

Larger than life performance

Even if you aren’t a fan of the band, the experience takes watching concerts to a completely different level.  For one thing, it is a bit surreal to someone who goes to gigs and concerts regularly because the reality is a little skewed.

You see these larger than life figures (or as it was in my head “THE U2”), watch them play their instruments and yet, there is none of the physical connection to the artist, or even the other members of the audience, which in some way, and maybe to some people, it’s a good thing.

One of the best things about it (at least for me) was that you could see the concert from different angles: as a band member, as a roadie, as a fan.  At first, I must admit that this was a little disconcerting but once you get used to it, the concert becomes a whole different way of looking at things.

Not quite a concert

The blood, the sweat or the tears are there, but can’t be physically felt.  There were fantastic times when Bono’s hand would be right there and it would seem like he was about to touch you in the face….and yet, as one of their songs says, it was “far away, so close”.

I can only imagine what may or may not happen when other international and hopefully, local, artists will start taking this format on.  It would be interesting to see how far artists can take this technology, and if, like most digital inventions, this will be the new way to see a concert.

It was a different kind of watching experience, and in a way you got the best of both worlds by it being both passive and interactive at the same time.  It wasn’t just a movie, but it wasn’t quite a concert.  But it was as satisfying as if you watched a great version of both.

It was as exhilarating as a concert, with all the passion and fun, and as clean and almost detached.  I suppose it’ll take a while before people warm up to this new technology in film, but hey, at least I got to watch U2 at Php360.

That was the cheapest U2 concert I’ll ever get to see, and I hope that they encourage more artists to put shows on this technology.