redhill
Refugee
OK, apart from the fact that Bono is simply too old to not be getting some decent sleep on a regular basis (and perhaps doing back-to-back gigs), there's an overlooked reason that some are attributing to low energy from the band.
Historically, by and large, this band performs material in the most inspired way when first touring it (on the back of a new album).
There are exceptions such as Ultraviolet and HMTMKMKM during the 360 tour and, of course, times when there is an occasion to rise to.
It's been this way for decades.
While I appreciate that the band (Bono, in particular) appear to have gone back and listened to the studio versions (something I have long wished Bono would do more regularly), it's just not in their DNA to perform older materially as energetically as newer material.
Exhibit A (there is no B):
Watch 3:34 forward. To me (apart from perhaps Exit), this is the only time on this tour I've seen such passion.
For the record, I'm stating this in defense of the band. I don't think they're phoning the older songs in per se, they're just (almost always) unable to play the older songs in a way that's as energetic / inspired as they did when right after it was originally recorded.
Beyond that, Bono has had some many vocal styles over the years (which varied more between albums in the 80's and 90's) that there's just no way he can sing them consistently (if at all) the way he did during the era they were recorded.
It's just not going to happen.
On the upside, to me, Bono's vocals sound great in a lot of places...even if I can see that he's pacing himself more than he used to.
That might be another reality we all have to live with.
He just has to remember when to hit the big notes (as in ASOH - smokescreen all AR-RAH-AH-OUND). It's when he forgets such "little" (read: BIG) moments that can also attributed to what can be perceived as low energy. I'm a little surprised sometimes (during this tour that he's doing that) as he's certainly remembering the screams in NYD...
The real problem is that they're performing a setlist of all older songs (save one sometimes).
Historically, by and large, this band performs material in the most inspired way when first touring it (on the back of a new album).
There are exceptions such as Ultraviolet and HMTMKMKM during the 360 tour and, of course, times when there is an occasion to rise to.
It's been this way for decades.
While I appreciate that the band (Bono, in particular) appear to have gone back and listened to the studio versions (something I have long wished Bono would do more regularly), it's just not in their DNA to perform older materially as energetically as newer material.
Exhibit A (there is no B):
Watch 3:34 forward. To me (apart from perhaps Exit), this is the only time on this tour I've seen such passion.
For the record, I'm stating this in defense of the band. I don't think they're phoning the older songs in per se, they're just (almost always) unable to play the older songs in a way that's as energetic / inspired as they did when right after it was originally recorded.
Beyond that, Bono has had some many vocal styles over the years (which varied more between albums in the 80's and 90's) that there's just no way he can sing them consistently (if at all) the way he did during the era they were recorded.
It's just not going to happen.
On the upside, to me, Bono's vocals sound great in a lot of places...even if I can see that he's pacing himself more than he used to.
That might be another reality we all have to live with.
He just has to remember when to hit the big notes (as in ASOH - smokescreen all AR-RAH-AH-OUND). It's when he forgets such "little" (read: BIG) moments that can also attributed to what can be perceived as low energy. I'm a little surprised sometimes (during this tour that he's doing that) as he's certainly remembering the screams in NYD...
The real problem is that they're performing a setlist of all older songs (save one sometimes).
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