This is NOT what we wanted

[miryclayu2]

Originally Posted by U2FanPeter

SBS was fine both nights I saw it in 201. I just think the entire opening has a "I guess this will do" vibe beyond the work needed for ASOH. They tried another opener the week before the Vancouver show.

EVERYTHING about this tour is thrown together. Merch/vidoes/lighting/setlist etc... They didn't even know about it until after x-mas. Corbijn filmed one of the screen videos in the BC Place parking lot 36 hours before opening night.

There's no "story" I can see beyond playing the songs in loose chronological order. Pride/Streets seems to be the only transition that stand outs to me. I still dont' know why the tour exist beyond some vague "more relevant than ever" PR quote fluff and some live nation arm twisting.

All of the narratives post zoo and pop have been questionable and dubious.

[BVS]

Originally Posted by miryclayu2

All of the narratives post zoo and pop have been questionable and dubious.

This really makes no sense to me. What were the narratives pre zoo?

I think iE was one of the most solid narratives they've ever had.

[miryclayu2]

Originally Posted by BVS

This really makes no sense to me. What were the narratives pre zoo?

I think iE was one of the most solid narratives they've ever had.

The abuse and harrassment continues from BVS. Could it be that you accept general ill-fitting narratives that don't really apply to songs in a coherent manner? Indeed, nothing makes sense anyone.

[Hewson]

Originally Posted by BVS

This really makes no sense to me. What were the narratives pre zoo?

I think iE was one of the most solid narratives they've ever had.

Originally Posted by miryclayu2

The abuse and harrassment continues from BVS. .

Seriously, where is there "abuse and harassment" in BVS' post?
Clearly you have an issue with him from whatever your former screen name was.

[BVS]

Originally Posted by miryclayu2

The abuse and harrassment continues from BVS. Could it be that you accept general ill-fitting narratives that don't really apply to songs in a coherent manner? Indeed, nothing makes sense anyone.

Stop playing victim. There was no harassment.

Dumbass, idiot; these are words of harassment. Guess who has used those? Not me.

I just said it doesn't make sense to me, if you'd like to explain further, please feel free and actually engage, but stop with this bs.

[BVS]

My whole point about "narratives" is that yes it's U2 and they often try and build a narrative, most of the time it's a very loose one, others it's just odd(I'm looking at you spaceship), but iE and JT have been some of the strongest they've done.

But it's odd isn't it, how many bands just tour to play songs?! So I found Peter's criticism very strange. Nothing feels slapped together, the setlist may not be perfect but the second night was solid, filming visuals during the tour is not anything new, so the whole thing felt like a stretch.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Originally Posted by BWU2Buffs

I think Ax's comments about SBS' stature are spot on -- it IS a huge, iconic U2 song.

For me this is partially why it seems odd as an opener. Don't think I've ever seen a concert by anyone open with one of their biggest, well known hits right out of the gate.

I've seen Springsteen play Badlands as the apex of the first set, and I've seen him open the show with it.

I've never once thought "aww shit the song has lost something being this early."

I know U2 fans are conditioned to expecting a very theatrically set up entrance for Streets at the peak of the show, but honestly it isn't that big a deal. Acts that play rotating setlists do this all the time.

[Anu]

I am pretty happy with the song selection other than *some* of the encore, and I agree with the "where's the Rattle & Hum" camp.

There seems to be a respect for the iconic and enduring motives for the show, social and spiritual. Bands digging back catalog and playing whole albums has become "a thing," and I am hoping this thing gets better with more shows.

But then there is the fear that this is a cynical, Live-Nation-driven late-career grab. I agree with the band's creative commitment to the values that brought us JT & our need for them now.

But tucked in the complaint about SBS opening was the remark about Bono's voice. His range sounds clipped in the video clips, & I miss the soaring. He seems a little stuck with a little
grit in his singing. Right now that is my biggest worry with this show. I hope he takes care of himself!

That & the synthy switch to the Sort Of Homecoming opening, which is a song I am still itching to hear live!!!

[U2FanPeter]

Originally Posted by BVS

Visually speaking you can tell it was very slapped together

Visuals for the opening songs have a "this will do" vibe to them.

Sight lines for every GA ticket are wonky no matter where you stand. Most of the sight lines from the stands have little to clearly see band wise without binoculars. My neck is still a bit sore from Seattle.

8k on a 200 foot screen may be nifty, but it doesn't change the fact it's just a half dozen Corbijn screen savers you payed hundreds to see. Do 90% of the audience know why grannies are holding candles? The crew just pressed the pause button on the grannies when Bono did stage banter in Vancouver.

Willie does pre production on U2 tours years before opening night. This tour didn't exist until a couple weeks before tickets dropped.

I face palm when I see Lena Dunham's face next to Maya Angelou, Melinda Gates....etc.

[BVS]

Originally Posted by U2FanPeter

Visuals for the opening songs have a "this will do" vibe to them.



Sight lines for every GA ticket are wonky no matter where you stand. Most of the sight lines from the stands have little to clearly see band wise without binoculars. My neck is still a bit sore from Seattle.



8k on a 200 foot screen may be nifty, but it doesn't change the fact it's just a half dozen Corbijn screen savers you payed hundreds to see. Do 90% of the audience know why grannies are holding candles? The crew just pressed the pause button on the grannies when Bono did stage banter in Vancouver.



Willie does pre production on U2 tours years before opening night. This tour didn't exist until a couple weeks before tickets dropped.



I face palm when I see Lena Dunham's face next to Maya Angelou, Melinda Gates....etc.

You could say this about any u2 stadium tour; you could reduce it down to just screensavers, did the audience know why the ladies faces were censored and rotating, sightlines , nothing you're saying is unique to this show. It reads like you're just bitching to bitch.

[Iggy Fizz]

Originally Posted by U2FanPeter

Visuals for the opening songs have a "this will do" vibe to them.

Sight lines for every GA ticket are wonky no matter where you stand. Most of the sight lines from the stands have little to clearly see band wise without binoculars. My neck is still a bit sore from Seattle.

8k on a 200 foot screen may be nifty, but it doesn't change the fact it's just a half dozen Corbijn screen savers you payed hundreds to see. Do 90% of the audience know why grannies are holding candles? The crew just pressed the pause button on the grannies when Bono did stage banter in Vancouver.

Willie does pre production on U2 tours years before opening night. This tour didn't exist until a couple weeks before tickets dropped.

I face palm when I see Lena Dunham's face next to Maya Angelou, Melinda Gates....etc.

Is Lena also married to a billionaire who can give a swift kick to Bono's charities? That would help explain that one.

I face palmed the Melinda call out.

[Northside]

Originally Posted by U2FanPeter

Willie does pre production on U2 tours years before opening night. This tour didn't exist until a couple weeks before tickets dropped.

When conceiving a show from scratch, he needs lots of time. In this case, they had the original tour's aesthetic as a starting point. I dig it.

[U2FanPeter]

Originally Posted by BVS

You could say this about any u2 stadium tour; you could reduce it down to just screensavers, did the audience know why the ladies faces were censored and rotating, sightlines , nothing you're saying is unique to this show. It reads like you're just bitching to bitch.

Worlds biggest tv screen in Seattle and not a single frame of real time colour video was seen by the crowd. Mumford or U2.

90% of the GA floor have no sightline at all for the b-stage.

There's at least 3 band interviews saying a couple JT shows known at Christmas turned into a full stadium tour. 5 month turn around including working on a new album and then April when band members were on different continents. I still don't know why THEY are doing this tour.

Corbijn is an acquired taste and IMO only has an artistic success rate 40% of the time. All of JT visuals were basically handed over to him.

[U2FanPeter]

Originally Posted by Northside

When conceiving a show from scratch, he needs lots of time. In this case, they had the original tour's aesthetic as a starting point. I dig it.

They handed Willie/Anton a dusty vinyl copy of JT and asked them to do an hour of video like that?

Maybe 12-15 of the JT shows in 1987 had screens. I think all were colour.

[DeVaul]

Originally Posted by U2FanPeter

Worlds biggest tv screen in Seattle and not a single frame of real time colour video was seen by the crowd. Mumford or U2.



90% of the GA floor have no sightline at all for the b-stage.

Nosebleeds and $300 seats alike get no video close-ups. GA gets limited sightlines. Red Zone gets a camera crane in the way.

Guy Oseary gets a boat.