ShellBeThere said:
no seriously, what's wrong with this setlist palacehero?
Got some boysongs, interesting ordering...sure, they keep the war and the africa sections, and the dreaded vertigoX2 (don't go into that please)...but just to remind me, what is bad for you here? (i.e., are you unpleased that there's no pop, or want lovetown stuff or what?)
cheers!
The length is great but for a last hometown gig I think it isn't a top effort. And anyway it is just a has of redulars and adding almost all the rotated songs.
I want to see less basic, overdone songs. In this list I'd include Elevation, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet and Pride. Whilst I appreciate all but Bullet are crowd pleasers, I think at this stage in the band's career playing 'pleasers' reguarly is taking the easy route. If they could make some of their back catalogue into classics, THAT is the sign of a great band.
Make Please the new Sunday Bloody Sunday, make Exit the new Bullet. I appreciat Elevation is only 2 tours old and has a new arrangement so if concessions were made like I describe, it is a fine inclusion.
Pride has to go, atleast from it's current position. I like the song alot and think it is a top traditional set closer. This brings me to the Africa theme. It is a noble exercise but it is shoving things in the faces of people and I don't think the effect is great enough to warrant it. Bono does enough preaching on his own away from the band anyway. when it comes to doing it in concert, well the sycophants like Jamila are hooked regardless, and whilst you might get the odd sort's head turned and a few names pledged to the one campaign, I don't think they are making any waves. And for an aging band on perhaps their last tour of such an awesome spectacle they are wasting the chance of giving people like me and the many other younger generations, or new fans the sacred experience of the Streets preceeder-Transition-Streets-Pride, which I think is a perfect formula that hasn't ever lost effect.
Like I say I appreciat them trying something new but it isn't working and it should have been realised no later than the conclusion of the first leg.
I think With or Without You is boring, I have heard Vertigo tour recordings but don't like them, I find them too close to Elevation and PopMart versions. Personally I loved the PopMart version (I'm pretty much alone on this) as it harnessed Bono's weaker voice well and had a great groove after IYWTVD. But it has just been lazy since.
I want bad more often, but that is beacuse it is my favourite song ever. I can accept Bono can't hammer it out often.
The pacing of new songs is poor. As someone who likes but doesn't love alot of new songs, to have them grouped causes a lull in the set. It needs peppering a-la PopMart, throughout the set. I also think it is a crime Crumbs hasn't been introduced, it is dying to be played live and for me was great on the Hut Dab DVD.
Bono's guitar (sound, not playing), Larry's drumming and Edge's piano melody on Running to Stand Still does not do the song justice. Again though I can accept this as it puts a different spin on the song and fits Bono's wayward dedication.
Finally, the awful Vertigo x2. I admit it is a great closer but it cannot be played at the end as a single performance. But overdoing the double performance has taken away all the novelty. If it was reserved for when the occasion merited it like on the first leg it did for a while that would be great. But playing it reguarly at the end of a set is a waste of energy for all involved.
Again I am sure anyone at the show has no problem enjoing the shows and I would too. I would enjoy every moment of the bad points I mentioned because I love this band (except for Adam). But my problem is that whilst this is all true, I think there is more there for the band to achieve then they currently are. And for a band which has based it's entire existence on striving for the best I feel let down.
Enjoy your Vertigo tour, I will lament on the fact there could be so much for instead for you.