Ulman, Rawlings-Blake to join plebes at U2 show; O'Malley, shockingly, missing out
Expect to see some familiar faces among the seventy five thousand or gazillion people who’ll be at U2 tonight.
Just from the number of politicians going, you’d think we were entering a second week of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Howard County executive and Katy Perry fan Ken Ulman doesn’t go to many shows outside of the music venue in his county, Merriweather Post Pavilion.
But he’s a big fan of the composers of “Spider Man: Turn off the Dark.”
“My wife and I are going. It’s pretty exciting for Baltimore and the region,” he said.
Ulman, who last saw U2 live at RFK stadium some years ago, is getting a mid-afternoon presentation on how the tour organizers mitigate the carbon footprint on a show this big. Though he’s campaigned on green issues, Ulman said he still doesn’t know how he got invited.
“I’m supposed to be there at 4 p.m. or something,” he said. “Then im going to enjoy the show like a fan.” You can rest assured, he said, the kids are staying home for this one.
Shockingly, Martin O’Malley, a self-confessed U2 mega-dork, won’t be going, said spokeswoman Raquel Guillory over e-mail.
“I know, I know...impossible to believe, isn't it? He's fishing with his boys.” Katie O'Malley, Guillory said, might be in the audience, but she isn't sure yet. No word on whether the other guys in O'Malley's March are attending.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who announced the band would be coming to Baltimore back in November, will also be at the show, spokesman Ryan O’Doherty said without elaborating. Funny, we always took her for a Phish fan.
Not going are Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Kevin Kamenetz. Said Kamenetz’ spokesman Don Mohler, “Sounds like he may be the only one in the metro area who won't be there.”
Photo: O'Malley rocking out at his second inauguration (Photo: Kenneth Lam/Baltimore Sun)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
