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U2 Shuts Down Town, Holds 1,000-Seat Concert

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — U2 shook a small city, and riled up a core of rabid fans, when it gave a private concert in a venue a tiny fraction of the size of the stadiums it plans to fill later this year. The Irish rock band played the 1,000-seat Somerville Theatre in Davis Square on Wednesday night as fans swarmed the area, looking for a way into the show or for just a glimpse of the musicians. The group played five songs, four from its new album, "No Line on the Horizon." U2 started off the set with the new song "Get on Your Boots." It also played "Vertigo." U2 was big in the Boston area before it was big everywhere, and played the Paradise club in Boston in 1980 during its first North American tour. "This is where it all began for us, Boston, Mass.," said lead singer Bono, who along with the rest of the band, took written questions from the audience after the performance. There were several days of rumors and speculation before the location for the concert was revealed. Tickets were long gone by showtime, many through local radio stations. Socrates Cruz, 24, a musician from Cambridge, said he spent almost the entire day calling radio stations trying to win tickets. He didn't succeed, but decided to go to the scene anyway. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't come," he said. Elena Viveiros, 45, of Somerville, said she had "zero hope" of getting into the show but wanted to experience the energy outside the theater. She carried a radio on her hip so she could hear a live broadcast of the concert. Some fans were luckier. JoAnn and Steve Lagasse, of Haverhill, said they'd seen the band all around the country. When they learned that tickets were going to be available on the radio for the Somerville concert, they each picked a station and started dialing. "I bawled, I started crying, in fact I couldn't even speak for a while when (Steve) told me we won," JoAnn Lagasse said. The theater is one of the small venues U2 is playing as it promotes it

Published: 2009-03-12 Provider: Huffington Post

Kenny Chesney, George Strait Win Big At CMA

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kenny Chesney won his fourth entertainer of the year award and George Straight became the most-honored artist in CMA Awards history at Wednesday's ceremony, a show highlighted by a lavish performance by Taylor Swift, a surprise appearance by rapper Lil Wayne, and the return of one of country's biggest stars, Shania Twain. "You look really good," Chesney remarked to Twain, who wore a sexy, low-cut dress as she presented Chesney with his award. Twain is one of country's best-selling artists, but has spent the last several years out of the spotlight. She hadn't been on the show in four years. After winning the evening's top award, Chesney said: "As much as tonight is about awards, I really believe that being able to stand up here is more about great songs, more about the fans, more about being on stage every night in front of a lot of people that really make it happen for me and the band out there." "This is my fourth time standing up here, and I'm really humbled and I really appreciate it," added Chesney. The award _ his third straight win in the category _ helped Chesney avoid a shutout. He was the night's lead nominee with seven but did not pick up a trophy in the other categories. George Strait won single and album of the year. The wins made him the act with the most awards in the history of the Country Music Association Awards, with 22 total. Strait thanked the songwriters for "letting me sing such a beautiful song" after the poignant "I Saw God Today" won single of the year. He later won album of the year for "Troubadour." "Everybody says they've got the greatest fans. Well, I've really got the greatest fans," Strait said in accepting the album award. Also winning two awards was Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. Sugarland won the award for duo of the year, and earlier, Nettles won song of the year for Sugarland's hit "Stay." "It's just been a gift from the beginning and been a gift to write and I hope it's been a gift and touched yo

Published: 2008-11-13 Provider: Huffington Post