Love took a doodie in the sky
Yeaaaa but I think that's more of a song problem than a backing track problem.Ah - I think that comment clarified in my head what I find to be different between earlier U2 songs and the SOE tracks. Bad, One, WOWY, Streets, and many others have backing tracks that are important to the live experience, but Edge still has an important part. The thing I'm less excited about with those two SOE tracks in particular is that Edge could fall off the stage without derailing the song. That ought not to be.
So you're right, backing tracks playing as strong a role as they did in 2018 isn't what's new. What's new is Edge not having meaningful to contribute.
He's playing chords. You'll see in the Paris concert they've edited the solo out and there's Edge lazily playing the rhythm chordsHe's not playing the guitar solo live?? What else would he be doing instead?
I'd say the worst offender for backing tracks live is Invisible... the kick drum, keyboard bass, guitar solo, xylophone, maybe even those 4-note riffs at the intro and after the first chorus....
He's not playing the guitar solo live?? What else would he be doing instead?
He's playing chords. You'll see in the Paris concert they've edited the solo out and there's Edge lazily playing the rhythm chords
The xylophone, etc. doesn't bother me - that's pretty par for the course for them. They don't whip an organ out before streets (although Amp's been known to amirite???).He played the solo for the first 10-20 or so shows with the chords over playback, and then swapped so he played the chords and the solo was playback.
That's...unfortunate.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but I'm glad I skipped the last tour. You can close your eyes and ignore some of the little issues, but when compiled all together it just makes the whole thing less appealing.
And I don't think this is a hole the band will be able to dig themselves out of, no pun intended. Hell, even on the last album, where Bono wasn't able to play guitar, instead of Edge laying down more tracks, they bring in all these randoms to play additional guitar. Why?
Maybe they should bring in a mole to produce the next album or somethin'
Here’s my question... would anybody object to U2 having a 5th member onstage? I know they have Terry playing keyboards. But what about another guy actively playing rhythm guitar, some additional keyboards and some backing vocals. I would welcome it. I think a song like ABOY, for example, really sounds weak when Edge stops playing the riff or chords to play the lead fills instead. There are several other instances where a rhythm guitarist would beef up the sound.
And the backing vocals thing too. When you have a song like “Beautiful Day”, with an obvious sea of backing vocals, it’s obvious that it’s not just Edges voice doing all that. I think it’d be more believable if anything to have another backup singer. Larry sometimes rises to the occasion, sometimes not... seems to be no rhyme or reason to how they utilize his singing.
you would prefer that they quit playing altogether and retire, than have the guy that's already playing keys underneath the stage just be playing next to larry in the back instead, really?
Yes. But I'm saying this in 2019. I may have felt differently 10 years ago. I don't want to see them getting more and more frail and looking even more foolish as they try to appear young/hip/relevant etc. I'd rather they quit while they'reaheadslightly behind.
People like us who are big fans are aware there's some slight of hand going on to create the illusion of magic. But once the general public starts seeing that kind of on-stage support, they're going to look like one of those bands: the dinosaur acts who are too old to do it all themselves.
But I seem to be fighting a losing war when it comes to this evaluation of their legacy and reputation, as so many here think it's perfectly fine that they did a Joshua Tree tour...and another one 2 years later.
They didn't even seem like they were truly sold on the idea themselves when I was watching the 2 shows I saw in 2017.
Was there something in particular you observed, or just a vibe you picked up on during the shows?
It was a very scripted show, with the same banter between songs.
It was a very scripted show, with the same banter between songs.
It was a very scripted show, with the same banter between songs.
It was a very scripted show, with the same banter between songs.
It was a very scripted show, with the same banter between songs.
It was a very scripted show, with the same banter between songs.
It was a very scripted show, with the same banter between songs.
It was a very scripted show, with the same banter between songs.
My son got a hold of my phone and posted a bunch of emojis here... edited
The biggest distinction for me is that this is a band that usually plays 7-8 songs from whatever new album they’re touring, and are for the most part able to convey the excitement of sharing these songs in the live setting for the first time.
Kunstmuseum
It was a 100% real show, with setlist partiers losing their shit between songs