Yeah nah. First, none of this changes the fact this is a very static nightly setlist, more static than any arena tour since the first two legs of ZooTV in 1992.
Second, the fact they're playing Acrobat doesn't make up for the fact the second half of the main set and the encore have some really big problems with pacing, structure, and song selection.
Third, as far as warhorses go, their top three most performed songs - now all with 900+ performances to their name - are all in the setlist. But I do take your point on this to some extent, since they are only doing five of their ten most-played songs (and one of those, NYD, has only been done once). That is indeed remarkable.
And, speaking personally, the set blows (I absolutely do not want to hear a show where half the set is SOI/SOE, and I doubt many people do) and right now, if I had tickets to multiple shows, I would probably sell them and just try to go to the one show most likely to get Gloria.
Precisely.
As it stands, I have tickets to Boston 2. Knowing myself and my family/friends- we are a long line of U2 fans going back to 1980- I will find a way in to Boston 1 and Mohegan Sun. However, this set list has put to bed any ideas I had about travelling to multiple cities to catch shows like I've done on 360, I&E and JT 30. I was in NYC twice, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, San Diego and Montreal.
The fact that it's static has helped me make the decision- it is highly unlikely to change after 3 2 night stands in the same city are in the books. Chicago almost always gets something special/rare. Or at least better than average rotation.
The set they are doing now has 4 main problems:
1) Way too many SOI/SOE songs for the money they're charging. I love both albums- but neither have hits or are known by the general public. Anyone who thinks people are paying $350 to hear these songs is kidding themselves.
They are also emphasizing the wrong new songs. Raised by Wolves always kicks ass live? That's ok, boot it but leave the clipped version of Iris in. Need some innocence songs that would go well with the experience theme? Keep wishing, we're not getting the Troubles. Get out of your own way is the definition of unremarkable and a waste of space. I don't do bathroom breaks, but this may be a reason to start. Little Things and Showman, two songs that are central to the experience narrative, haven't been touched. Red Flag Day only sporadically played. All while Get out and a practically canned version of Lights of home have starring roles.
2) No rotation whatsoever. Desire is great- much better than the neutered crap version they were doing from Elevation to 360. Elevation brings the house down. Awesome. This was true on I&E as well and they were still rotated in and out. I'm happy Staring at the sun is back, but it doesn't need to be tied so strongly to its political theme and made a non negotiable staple. I have no problem with politics-if you do, you're into the wrong band, but rather with somehow finding a way to put every song in this set in concrete.
3) Performances/arrangements. I am not a fan of lip sync Love is all, canned strings Lights of home and acoustic Best thing. In the first two cases, it takes away from the live experience and doesn't establish the right energy level for the start of the show. In the case of the best thing, it strips the song of any interesting musical elements.
4) It gets shorter every night.
