Jars of Clay Mentioned By Bono On Stage At U2 Concert In Nashville
Christian rock band Jars of Clay were mentioned on stage during U2's 360 Tour concert at the Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville on Saturday, 2nd July 2011. Irish rock giants U2 were making their first performance in the city for 30 years, in a concert that was also the 100th show of the band's 360 Tour, which became the highest-grossing concert tour in history earlier this year.
Lead singer Bono paid tribute to a number of campaigning politicians and musicians for their charity work in the fight against HIV/AIDS, something Bono's own ONE Campaign also works toward. Bono mentioned by name Jars of Clay and renowned producer Charlie Peacock, who produced over fifty Christian albums in the nineties alone. The high profile thanks from Bono was also mentioned on U2.com, which wrote in it's review of the show: "On the occasion of the 100th 360 show, shout-outs to campaigning politicians and country music folk and special mention of a visit to Nashville in 2002 when Bono hooked up with Charlie Peacock and Jars of Clay - credit to the USA for the role it is playing in fighting HIV/AIDS in the poorest countries."
Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine, who was in the stadium for the show, wrote on his Twitter page: "Honored by Bono for the kind word from stage. Brilliant night! Thanks to ONECampaign for great hospitality!"
Haseltine and Bono first met in Nashville in 2002, while Bono was on a speaking tour for DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade in Africa). They talked about needs in the country of Malawi, where Haseltine was headed for his first trip to Africa. Jars of Clay now run the Blood:Water Mission that fights HIV/AIDS and water crises in sub-Saharan Africa by providing clean water resources. Bono invited the band to be part of the Live 8 benefit concerts in 2005 and Haseltine and his bandmates attended the U2 concert at the weekend as guests of Bono's ONE Campaign. Other Christian artists in attendance at the show, including Michael W Smith, Bart Millard (MercyMe), Seth Mosley (Me In Motion) and Stu G (One Sonic Society, Delirious?), also took to Twitter to praise U2 for the exceptional show.
Jars of Clay band member Charlie Lowell recently revealed that the band is about to start writing songs for their next album. "Right now, we're doing just a handful of tour dates in the next month, but primarily starting to write for the next project, whatever that may be! We really have no idea what is on the horizon until we get in the habit of gathering, turning our chairs toward one another, and seeing what is waiting for us. It's an odd combination of scary and exciting!"
