ann arbor's quiet pre-thanksgiving

Sorry for the lack of updates, folks. Been a busy weekend with so many shows to attend and papers to write. Now that it's all over, rest assured Autumnattic will be at home, awaiting the X-Mas season eagerly, and bringing you the worthless pop culture fixin' you don't want to hear about. Anyways, here's a bit of a quasi-weekend-review of my favorite stories:

Irish arena fancy-boys U2 got their groove on in a free concert yesterday in Brooklyn. Word has it 30,000 people showed up--coincidentally this was the day before "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb," the highly-anticipated follow up album to 2002's All That You Can't Leave Behind. My question is, how many of those people that showed up for the free gig will buy the album? Didn't they already have the pirated copy floating around weeks ago? Here is the setlist from the strangely intimate yet mega-sized super event [via productshopnyc]:

U2
Ferry State Park, Dumbo, Brooklyn
November 22, 2004

Vertigo (Take one)
All Because Of You
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can’t…
City Of Blinding Lights
Original Of The Species
She’s A Mystery To Me
Beautiful Day
I Will Follow
———-
Out Of Control
Vertigo (Take two)

In a post-election era of declaring Canadian residency, the gentle n"eh"bors have gone all anti-pop-icon on us. Some guy threatened to KILL Michael Jackson [via e-mail], but was sentenced to a year of cleaning Canadian mounty's horses for it. I'm sorry, Jacko, perhaps you could have a SLUMBER PARTY! YAY!

Word has it "Alexander " is a fucking major-cinema flop. Will this reflect in box office numbers? Or will American audiences be dumbed down by another Troy like adventure with men in dresses and women that would clearly not be that beautiful so many years ago?

Thanks to Uncle Grambo, we have a very peculiar picture of NBA-con Ron Artest on the Today Show. Why is he so happy? You are not getting paid for nearly a year, buddy! Though I side with him in the conflict over the fans, he is still a majorly sour, unapologetic JERK. Aside from that, I'd love to hear his rap album when it is finally released.

Bright Eyes has announced a dual-date tour for their dual-release albums 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning' and 'Digital Ash in a Digital Urn.' The first tour, which will support the 'Awake' album, runs through ANN ARBOR on 1/18/2005. The Faint will be opening, as well as backing Conor up in the headlining spot. Wait, it's the same night as Scissor Sisters? SCUFFLE! I'll be in Ann Arbor, rest assured.

The Killers have filmed their new video for "Mr. Brightside" with Julia Robert's brother.This song is soon to be FLOODING alternative radio (and perhaps top 40?) near you, so get your jealously fixes in before it's too late. Oh who am I kidding, you can't get sick of that fucking gem.

Pixies rocked the State theater last night for the third and final night in Detroit. It was a treat to see the reunited members joking around so nonchalantly on stage. They opened with Neil Young's "Winterlong" and kept those in attendance (incl. Jamie, Jaki, Lacey, myself) writhing weirdly to high quirky dark-pop all night long. The "Gigantic" closer topped it off perfectly, with Kim Deal stealing the spotlight with her oddly angelic voice.

It's the time of year when all of the busybodies of Ann Arbor take their long-booked flights home, two full days before classes really end. This irks me, because as a resident of Michigan, I stay here until the end and revel in the ridiculous quietness of the streets. More on Thanksgiving later in the week.