OK –
Well, I have tried to gather my thoughts about what went down in New York City over the past week, and I would love to as much as I possible could say that U2 had a triumphant week, with an astounding series of concerts at MSG. The unfortunate thing is that I cannot say that.
Did they sell the place out every night? – yes (well, pretty much.)
Did they present a high-tech show? – yes.
Did they sound really really good onstage? – yes.
What then is my problem? Have I been reading the internet too much? Did I go to too many shows (May 21, Oct 7, 14)? Do I expect too much from the band I love?
Probably all three.
So to say that U2 was anything less than stellar probably is inaccurate, but I have come to the point as a fan where I kind of expect a lot, but wish moreso to get much more than I expect. Forgetting the huge amount of money I invested for this entertainment (yes – totally my choice), the thing I look for in a concert, no matter who the act is, is energy, excitement, hell even some surprise. After seeing these shows, from various seats in the arena, some excellent, some shitty, I did not find much of a difference.
Pertaining immediately to the past week (to stay on topic) I was totally bewildered that there were only two places in the concert that were ever considered for a song change. The whole ‘old song section’ at the beginning of the show, and the encore (see my thread “Does the Show Start With the Encore?”)
I guess that is just U2’s thing.
The highlights for any of the shows I went to were the songs that were ‘swithced up’ in these two areas of the setlist. Now I guess we have come to be aware that U2 in their history has always played the same thing throughout the tour, but I do not think that I am the only one who wishes, to the point that they are in their seat in the arena, that they would. Hell, one of the best moments for me from the 14th was watching the techs scramble about onstage before the show as someone had a setlist change. This actually happened during the show as well. They kept updating the setlists taped to the stage. I am wholly convinced that the end of that concert did not go off as planned. There were other songs meant to be played, but as Bono caught the attention of one guy up front Party Girl happened (barely) then Verigox2.
The fact that Bono did not know the words to party Girl, and the fact that Larry could not get the beat going after 4 tries was a bit upsetting, but hey – the fan knew all the words, and the major fuck-up did add surprise and something different to the show. For that I was happy.
What I was not happy about was the body of the show, which I have commented on over and over again, I just do not know why it is never massaged.
Maybe I do.
My theory (which goes against all my design interests) is that the technology is driving the show, and not the other way around. I truly wonder what would happen if Adam came in one day and said, “You know what guys, fuck all that flag shit – it makes me dizzy, let’s just go out there and start the show with Streets under a couple of red lights.” It would never happen. The songs are so choreographed to the lights, that there is no space for movement. This, I think is a shame. The high tech wizardry behind the show was created to push then envelope. I fear it has had the adverse effect.
I almost lost my shit when Bono actually called out to Bruce Ramus to ‘turn some lights on’ so he could see the fans sing. I have not seen him do that on this tour, and hey – it was pretty cool. On the subject of lights, I have an opinion that so many of the cues are preset, that there is actually a lot of stuff not even being used anymore. The whole infra-red camera thing - gone. Many of the graphics – gone. This I attribute to the departure of Willie – nothing we can do – just too bad - just a thought.
While I am on a roll here, I have read through this thread about bringing girls onstage to dance. I have to say that my opinion lies with the folks who do not like it. On the 14th a girl was brought up during Fast Cars, and was kept there through WOWY. I just do not get it. I do not know this girl, it was distracting, I am not so anamoured by Bono dancing with anyone, so why do I care that she is up there? I think that it was a very very special moment. For ONE person. The girl there. Now I know all the arguments on both sides, and yes, for the women close to the stage it has to be cool to be brought up on stage to be made a spectacle of, but at this point in their career – it is just beyond me why they do it. The girl gets some limelight for some brief seconds, but beyond that – why is it interesting?
Would I rather hear the “shines like the stars” line, or would I rather see some girl bellydancing onstage and have Bono miss that rare live line? The choice is clear. For her – great you touched Bono, looked silly, and danced onstage, for the other 19,999 people, it means nothing.
For Bono to tell the same speech night in and night out before Miracle Drug, well – cool for those who have not heard it, but shitty for those of us who have especially when Bono screws the story up during one of the shows.
I sound very bitter.
I do not want to sound bitter.
I just remember growing up and reading the newspaper stories about how a band or a Springsteen would do the rare thing of selling out the Garden on multiple nights and how they would just bring the house down. It would be monumental. I do not think the 5 shows in NY were monumental – if only for the possibilities that the band had during the stint.
For everyone else going to the shows, I truly hope you have an amazing time. It is almost hard not to – I mean hell, it is a U2 show. I hope these comments are read in context with the fact that the band did just play 5 nights in this city to over 100,000 people.
Let’s see what happens in four years.
I'm tired of that kind of dismissive attitude is all.
