U2 shouldn't just be considered a rock band but a group of artists too. They've had their hands in so many different creative avenues, including broadening the spectrum for live shows. To say the live show was not necessary and enhanced by the creativity of U2's tours is completely rediculous. Whether the stage was as simple as the JT tour, the bombarding nature of media and television for ZooTV, the giant canvas that was the POPMart screen and gaudy oversized props, the soul and simplicity of the heart-shaped Elevation stage, the encompassing and target-symbolism of the Bomb tour, each and every tour's setup fully reflected the band's approach and thesis to the corresponding album.
U2 loves to thematically brand its tours, and I hope it continues, not simply them on a stage without other artistic emphasis. The last two tours have seemed to be focused on themselves being approachable individuals, with the ramps dipping into the crowds and see-through backdrops. Basic lighting techniques definitely help dramatize the performance, ala the flood lights coming on during UTEOTW, NYD or Streets. But I hope, and believe a theme will come along with this album much like the heartache and anguish of dissolved relationships seemed to accompany Achtung Baby. Maybe not the same theme, but something so passionate, focused and tangiable, unlike the collection of songs that ATYCLB and Bomb were. With that, I hope drama will be played up with minimal interference from props. For example, I think one of my favorite live sequences of songs were from ZooTV, Satellite of Love>Dirty Day>Bullet the Blue Sky. Between Bono singing to Lou Reed in the sky, the sheer unbridled force of Dirty Day (there's a pun in there-think of horses), then right into Bullet's rage. Eventhough zootv was based on sensory overload, it didnt dominate those performances; if anything it complimented them and the visuals deepen a meaning the songs were originally written and recorded with.
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