U2. Courtesy. U2 will produce not one, but two concert specials from their ongoing iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE world tour. Both will be produced by HBO. On Nov. 7, HBO will debut a  a behind-the-scenes documentary about the band and the team that worked with them to conceptualize and create…

If it’s not as good as Achtung Baby or The Joshua Tree, U2 have failed. That’s one prevalent barometer to judging a new U2 album. That’s a flawed way to judge, because those two albums are flawless. It doesn’t mean U2 can’t create another masterpiece, though. Is Songs of…

Lykke Li, courtesy. I couldn’t believe it when U2 released a complete album yesterday. I didn’t think they had the guts to “pull a Beyonce.” Yeah, there were rumors, but still. I figured we’d get an Apple ad and maybe a new song. As the shock was wearing off,…

Daniel Lanois, photo: Roman Gokhman. I’ve interviewed producer-musician Daniel Lanois three times, now, and have been able to meet up with him a couple of times. In fact, you should check out one my previous stories. He’s very thoughtful in conversation, and a great guy to get to know…

Outside Lands Music Festival. He won’t reveal whom, but Another Planet Entertainment Executive Vice President Allen Scott is already working to book the headliners for the 2014 Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. At this time last year, the gears were already in motion to bring Paul McCartney and…

U2 360 Tour production in progress in June 2011. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. OAKLAND – It’s the largest touring concert stage ever built – but the claw rising above Overstock.com Coliseum this week for the U2 concert Tuesday is just one of three…

Moonalice, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. San Francisco psychedelic rock and blues jam band Moonalice can appear as a contradiction. On one hand, its members made their biggest contributions to music in the ‘60s and ’70s. On the other, the band is technologically ahead of…

Daniel Lanois, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. You may not recognize the name Daniel Lanois, but you have almost certainly listened to his work. DANIEL LANOIS’ BLACK DUB 7:30 p.m., Jan. 27 The Independent Tickets: Sold out. The 59-year-old Canadian multi-Grammy Award recipient has produced…

Moonalice, courtesy. This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. It turns out that fronting a rock band is similar to running an investment firm. Just ask 54-year-old Moonalice frontman and businessman Roger McNamee, a founding partner — along with U2’s Bono — of the venture capital firm Elevation…

This story originally appeared in the Oakland Tribune. You’re bummed. You had tickets to tonight’s (June 16) U2 concert at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, and then Bono had to go and injure his back. So now you’re sitting in front of the television and wondering how you’re going to spend…