popular thinking

LIVE 8, 24 HOURS LATER: Curious to note that none of the major metros attempted to blog Live 8. USA Today had something resembling a blog from multiple venues, but upon further reflection, their coverage appeared to be as much AP-filled as USA Today-filled. So that all makes me feel better for having done something different. Anyhoo...

Thinking back on the actual performances, I'm struck by how solid the London show was, from top to bottom, compared to all the other sites. In Philadelphia, only the Linkin Park-Jay Z set, the Kaiser Chiefs intro and Kanye West still hold as memorable. In Toronto, only Neil Young's re-emergence from severe health issues for a poignant two songs near the end remain worth noting. In Berlin, Green Day pulled off one of the great sets anywhere, while Audioslave and Brian Wilson were at least amusing, if nothing else. In Rome, eh. In Paris, Muse won me over again (The Cure were alright, too). But in London, Pink Floyd's reunion, the Killers one song, Razorlight, Stereophonics, Robbie Williams and his ego, U2, Snoop Dogg, Scissor Sisters, Snow Patrol (and that's not counting Keane, Coldplay, Joss Stone and others who were solid) -- there was so much good stuff, that not even Madonna's silliness and Mariah Carey's diva routine could spoil it. Although I wish Sir Paul McCartney could come up with a different close than "Hey Jude." Seen it too many times before for it to hold special meaning anymore.