pageeleven AROUNDTOWN U2’s concert is out of this world Bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry asking them during wwNaomi Prale Mullen amped up dance beats. It is apt to say “With or Without you” Sports Editor that the rhythm section ruled on this evening. to use their cell phones U2’s new hit, “I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go to “turn this place U2’s much anticipated 360 Degrees tour Crazy Tonight” got a new arrangement that into the Milky Way,” kicked off with a bang on September 12-13 at allowed it to transcend the rather pedestrian with which the crowd Soldier Field as 60,000+ fans filled the lakefront studio version. gleefully complied, stadium. As might be expected from one of rock’s turning the stadium into The band emerged amid fog on a circular more activist bands, the concert also had a outer space as thousands “spaceship” stage planted on the field— political side to it as it as Bono dedicated songs of fans whipped out their appropriate considering that critics of the to oppressed leaders and countries across the cell phones and swayed stadium have suggested that the renovated field world. “Walk On” was dedicated to jailed to the music. The soft looks like an alien craft were set atop its aging Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. melody made this a true- façade. During the song around 50 people walked onto crowd pleaser as the Opening up with the song “Breathe” off their the circular stage around the main stage holding venue fell quiet as fans most recent album No Line on the Horizon, the up masks with phots of Kyi to their faces. listened intently. Before the performance of “One,” a video of The band finished with band continued with three more songs from All in all, the only downside to the night was that album, using an incredible sound system Archbishop Desmond Tutu played, in which “Moment of Surrender,” the South African icon talked about sending one of the better songs from No Line on the the inevitable, intense, bottleneck traffic coming that allowed this reviewer to hear each nuance out of the stadium, a downside of Soldier Field clearly even from her nosebleed seats. aid to Africa. These weren’t the only political Horizon, and surrender the audience did to the moments of the evening, and rather than take entrancing guitar work of the Edge. that Bears fans know all too well. U2 was interactive with the audience as the Stadium concerts tend to fall short due to band encouraged fans to sing along and chant away from music, the political additions made Opening act Snow Patrol held its own with the songs seem more meaningful. the headliners in a 40-minute set that consisted the horrid sounds and nosebleed seats, but this lyrics to hit songs such as “Beautiful Day” and wasn’t the case. U2 truly provided an over- “Elevation.” Yet the band was subtle because The “spaceship” motif that towered above of songs from various albums: “Chocolate,” the main stage like Godzilla looked like a giant “Chasing Cars” and “Eyes Open” were the-top concert, one that has brought back the it asked the audience to sing along while not stadium concert with a vengeance. breaking the beat and tone of the music. claw that appeared to have lights along the particular gems that the crowd cheered, as each The highlights of the evening were the side that provided even more of an outer space song appeared more well put together than revivals of classics such as “Where the Streets theme. The spectacular setting thoroughly the last, improving in harmony, volume, and U2 Have No Name” and “City of Blinding Lights” enhanced the music that filled the air. heartfelt emotion. The band closed with “Hands that sounded refreshed and would have raised The band played a total of 23 songs for about Open,” making the crowd go wild at the lyrics two hours, and near the end of the show again that say, “Chicago bursts to life and your sweet the roof if Soldier Field had a roof to raise. Soldier Field became very interactive with the audience, smile remembers you.” Herz’s page turner places reader in Harlem story follows the narrator’s navigation of his care about now is money and girls, unlike the transports the reader to Harlem and allows him/ wwSarah Espinosa marriage and the neighborhood in more politically oriented DJs of his her to experience the famous and sometimes Photo Editor which he lives. His wife Namuna youth. infamous neighborhood like a resident. is the light and love of his life. Each chapter in The Last Block in The Last Block in Harlem is a great read He believes she is an amazing, Harlem tells a heartfelt story of its one that this reviewer hopes will be successful intelligent woman who helps guide own. It has its own unique plot and enough that Herz will be able to end his daily him and always carries advice. In adds or subtracts a character each sidewalk salesmanship. the book the two face some struggles time. Herz has a knack for keeping The book is available through Herz’s own but they can handle anything, and the reader interested in a way that publishing house, Canal Publishing, at www. In novels, films and television programs, the love they share helps to keep this not many writers can, making him/ canalpublishing.com. New York often is portrayed as a glamorous book going. her want to continue the book for a city, filled with high fashion, hip cocktail The novel is full of charming variety of reasons. The Last Block in Harlem lounges and beautiful architecture. nuances, such as when Herz writes Equally adept at storytelling, What one might not see in Woody Allen’s about how different things are from diction, syntax and dialogue, love letters to the Big Apple or the glitzy world when the narrator was a kid. He talks about Herz never lets the reader lose attention for a of Sex and the City is the other side of New how hip hop has changed and how all rappers moment, and the realistic tone of the novel Christpher Herz York, the grittier underbelly. In The Last Block in Harlem, by Christopher Herz, the author tells the tale of his life in one of Manhattan’s historically tough neighborhoods Animal Crackers’ humor steals show and how one man took steps toward changing center of the stage. This was a very interesting second act. his direction and environment. ww Hillary Lindwall arrangement because musicians are usually Slotnick stole the show, mimicking Groucho The book has reader flipping page after page Managing Editor positioned in the orchestra pit. At times the Marx, as he broke down the fourth wall, at all hours trying to get to the next passage. With musicians were even part of the show. Ravelli, speaking directly to the audience. Some of the deep description and detail, one can visualize In 1928, the comedy team the Marx Brothers who was supposed to be a musician who was funniest jokes were told this way. every scene that chronicles the struggles and starred in a Broadway musical called Animal to provide music for the party, even took over Overall, the play was entertaining, boasting obstacles Herz’s first person protagonist comes Crackers. Because of the musical’s success, the piano and sung songs while he played. The funny jokes and (mostly) good songs and dance across to build his writing career. it was brought to the silver screen in 1930, center of the stage rotated, making it easy for numbers. Animal Crackers is a fun, amusing The narrator first starts a job in advertising; becoming one of the Marx Brothers’ most Ravelli to become the center of attention during musical that anyone could enjoy, whether (s)he he grew up watching his mother stretch a dollar beloved films. his solos. is familiar with the Marx Brothers or not. as far as she could and did not want to live that Opening on Sept. 18, Animal Crackers was In addition to the 1930s music, life. Herz writes that although anyone on the once again converted to a stage musical, playing the show featured an impressive array outside looking in would think the protagonist at the Goodman Theater in downtown Chicago. of vaudeville-style dances, soft-tap had “made it,” that is not the way he felt. Directed by Paul Kalina, the story begins at tap dances and swing dances. The The connections between author and a party at the home of Mrs. Rittenhouse (Ora dancers were all very talented, making protagonist suggest that the novel hits close to Jones) for Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding (Joey these sections of the show enjoyable. home. According to Publisher’s Weekly, “Herz Slotnick, reprising the Groucho Marx role), who Furthermore, the show opens with quit his advertising job to walk the streets of had just returned from an African exhibition. a vaudeville-style song and dance Manhattan literally selling copies of The Last During the party, a valuable painting is stolen overture, which is not part of the story, Block in Harlem. by members of the party who attempt to replace but which sets the tone for the show. Act Herz printed about 1,100 copies which he and it with another painting. Other characters II also starts this way. his wife carried up to their fourth-story walkup include The Professor (a silent Molly Brennan in While most of the play was in what Herz describes as the last neighborhood the old Harpo Marx role) and Emanuel Ravelli entertaining and funny, there were a in Harlem untouched by gentrification.