Shuttlecock XXI: Laz is Bigger Than Anyone in His Way

[kabigon]

Quick quack

 

[gvox]

I will say, however, that I don't regret going to these shows. I thought that most of the new songs sounded great live and I have a new appreciation for them.

Plus, we got to say hello again. #winning

 

[gvox]

To answer gump's question: They did not have the giant US flag backdrop in Montreal for that song; instead there was a Canadian flag on the screen, I believe.

They briefly showed a Canadian flag on the long screen at the start but nothing behind the band like in the US.

 

[lazarus]

At least this is good news on the U2 vinyl collecting/listening front: u2songs | Three New U2 Vinyl Releases July 27 |

Isn't it odd to release the Best Of? A greatest hits is kind of a sampler album, and if you're collecting vinyl you presumably are already into the artist you're buying?

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

lol I NARC'd on the people starting the GA line and posted on Facebook and they're getting all pissy.

GA LINE HASNT STARTED!!!

Yea bro, I'm looking right at you.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

 

[BoMac]

Plus, we got to say hello again. #winning

I tried to forget about that. [emoji6]

 

[lazarus]

Not all heroes wear capes.

 

[Hewson]

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Just so dumb.

Don't pretend to be about the fan community and fairness and all, and then go and start up your GA list in private and organize onsite before alerting everyone else in the Facebook group.

 

[david]

Isn't it odd to release the Best Of? A greatest hits is kind of a sampler album, and if you're collecting vinyl you presumably are already into the artist you're buying?

True. Now if the original b-sides disc from the first best of was pressed on vinyl.. that would be sweet.

 

[Popmartijn]

Isn't it odd to release the Best Of? A greatest hits is kind of a sampler album, and if you're collecting vinyl you presumably are already into the artist you're buying?

I think that nowadays people are also into collecting vinyl, period. So they still seek out greatest hits sets. Plus, U2 fans who want their collection complete on vinyl are also interested.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

So I pull off the band aid tonight and finally get to see Bono-Man: Turn Off The Dark Live

 

[Hewson]

Say hi to Nate.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Say hi to Nate.

[emoji176]

 

[david]

Is it just me, or has U2gigs.com not been updated in a while?

 

[BoMac]

Honestly, it doesn't really need to be updated. Ax could just cut and paste the set from every show.

 

[Axver]

I'm travelling. I have no idea what the fuck the others are up to, especially as I thought I'd made sufficient arrangements for my absence.

(I can't cover any shows for the rest of this leg, for which I'm honestly grateful given how dull and unchanging - two separate criticisms - this setlist is.)

 

[cobl04]

Fucking lol.

 

[LuckyNumber7]

Hardy har harrrrrr

 

[LuckyNumber7]

I’m taking the opportunity during Elevation to display my laughter.

 

[david]

So they’re literally only down to switching 1 song out each night for the 5th song slot?

 

[PhilsFan]

fuck off bitch, going to need a lot more than this. who the hell do you think you are.

Spoiler

I mean, you all could guess what I would say. Most of it has already been said. They're squandering a cool stage setup by playing a static show with most of the song choices being totally uninteresting.

It's pretty easy to understand why the show doesn't change after the intermission when you see the show. They're very into what they've got going on with the graphics and the themes.

The biggest issues:

1. Feeling obligated to connect the show to the first tour, which means The Ocean > Iris > Cedarwood Road > Sunday Bloody Sunday is a staple sequence. The only modifications to that section from the first tour is removing the pre-chorus from Iris, adding The Ocean to transition from the start of the show, and cutting out Raised by Wolves, which was probably the highlight of that part anyway. That version of Sunday Bloody Sunday sucks shit, and is when I went to grab a beer the first night. The second night, I got a beer during The Ocean.

2. Putting the only interesting throwbacks into the rotational slot. Gloria/The Electric Co. would be better nightly than trotting out I Will Follow again, as fun as the latter always is.

3. Having All Because of You in the show.

4. Misjudging the best of the last two albums. The open of the show is the best part of incorporating the new material. It seems to me a good, meaningful way to address Bono's health issue (which I suspect was a stroke based on the content of the show). But then they've got seven staple songs through the rest of the show from the new albums:

Iris
Cedarwood Road
Best Thing
Get Out
American Soul
Love Is Bigger
13

Only Love Is Bigger of any of those songs has earned that sort of slot. How do you decide "we have ten songs from the last pair of albums" and then decide on that batch? Where's Little Things? Where's Red Flag Day? Where's The Troubles or Raised by Wolves (which you've fucking played!)? These guys are fucking idiots. Their single selection sucked ass, again.

5. Playing City of Blinding Lights to end the main set because they get to put up those lights is so fucking uninspiring. Play Streets, or anything interesting.

Anyway, enough of me bitching. The thing I found most impressive, other than how they've incorporated Acrobat into the show? The pairing of Staring at the Sun and Pride. It makes no sense on paper, but the way they are doing it fucking works. I did not see it coming. The screen transition from the videos of the Charlottesville rioters into MLK leading protests is genuinely affecting.

 

[joyfulgirl]

Well, I had a blast at the DC show last night. Started out right with meeting up with Irvine511 and LuckyNumber7 before the show. I thought at first it lacked energy and parts seemed awkward but it kept getting better and then like at every U2 show I felt waves of emotion at unexpected moments. I had a douchebag seat so I could see the visuals, and tonight looking forward to GA.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I thought the show was very good, but I'll wait on a full assessment until after I go again tonight and see if I get bored seeing the exact same thing.

It definitely needs a little more oomph at the end of the main set, but the ending worked better than I thought it would.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

The stage is a sight to behold, even in an empty arena

 

[joyfulgirl]

It definitely needs a little more oomph at the end of the main set, but the ending worked better than I thought it would.

Agree. I mean, it was definitely my least favorite U2 show ever and I couldn’t figure out why

Spoiler

the Irish section was so boring compared with how much I loved it in 2015

but whatever, I still enjoyed the highs and decided to focus on that instead of the lows.

The people around me seemed very confused by the ending, reluctant to leave because they weren’t sure whether it was over or not.

I still had a great time at my least favorite U2 show but am a little concerned about my friend making the effort tonight to get there from Baltimore to see them for the first time.

 

[martha]

Well, I had a blast at the DC show last night. Started out right with meeting up with Irvine511 and LuckyNumber7 before the show.

Jealous.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Spoiler

has the video of the kids getting on the school bus and going to class wearing the War album style helmets been used the entire tour or is this new?

I thought that was an incredibly powerful image, and terrific repurposing of classic U2 imagery as well

 

[joyfulgirl]

Spoiler

I thought that was an incredibly powerful image, and terrific repurposing of classic U2 imagery as well

Spoiler

There was a lot of powerful imagery. The white nationalists bit made Pride genuinely moving again. But I wanted even more, like children in cages and being torn away from mothers’ breasts.