From what I have read, heard and seen (i.e. not in any way comparable to being there):
1. Need to remove the space-chat segment because it kills the momentum/mood
2. Breathe isn't the best opener, so perhaps Magnificent would be better (or even GOYB?)
3. Tutu segment prior to Streets is a momentum killer. Streets is better with another track seguing into it (Bad, RTSS, AIWIY, Please)
4. Moment of Surrender is a song I am ambivalent about but hoped it could be the Love is Blindness of this tour. Unfortunately the crowd seemed disinterested.
5. Add a couple of all-out rockers (Electric Co, UTEOTW, The Fly, Gone, Electrical Storm, New York, Dirty Day, Wire, Exit etc. etc.)
6. The masks need to go. I admire the sentiment but the song is tribute enough - the masks are tacky, awkward and a bit weird.
7. Claw & screens seem under-utilised for songs like GOYB & Vertigo...
Having been there, a few remarks:
1. The Space Chat isn't part of the show anymore
2. Breathe is an excellent opener, NLOTH a very good second song. I wasn't sure about it but now I believe they're doing it right
3. The Tutu speech is very lovely, well done, funny, not lecturing, not in any way a "momentum killer". The only thing I find weird about it is that it says ONE in the end, so that many people who don't know the setlist believe that One is the next song.
4. Moment of Surrender is a beautiful closer, Bono's voice is in great form, even though the song seems to take a lot out of him. The crowd isn't "desinterested", many of them just don't know this song. I only wish Bono wouldn't insist on all the Oh oh ohs, the song could work without the forced crowd participation. Not every songs needs to have the audience jumping or singing, some songs just need to be heard, and this is one of them.
5. Agree about the rockers, but Amsterdam II and Dublin I have been the best setlists that I've seen before, with the exception of One, which should be in the second part of the show, not in the first - just my opinion.
6. Bono shouldn't insist on the audience wearing the masks, but otherwise I don't mind the masks, I don't think it's a horrible idea to have the people come up on the catwalk, but I thought it was awful seeing people making fun of the masks, trampling upon them and so on. I also think the mask-drama is exaggerated on this board.
7. Main problem for the Claw is the daylight in the first half of the show, otherwise it's great, light show is perfect if you see it from the stands, not GA. The screen isn't there for effects, but serves mostly as a video screen. I like the effects on Magnificent, the NLOTH ones aren't so great, because you don't see them properly. The expanded screen is amazing, but only if you're a little farther in the back. If you're directly underneath it, it doesn't do much for you (except over-straining your neck muscles).
I'm fine with this set. U2 will NEVER be able to satisfy everyone, and we all know some people will always find something to complain about.
I would like them to bring back Electrical Storm, even if they feel it doesn't work out 100 %, just keep on trying.
Generally I notice less "speech time" for Bono and no more typical One speeches; the speeches I've heard personally or on bootlegs have been very decent so far, so there shouldn't be much to complain about here.
I guess that's not suuuper high energy but it's one of my favourites)
Great post.
