I attended the November 1 show with my Mom, aunt and uncle. I've seen every tour since Vertigo and they've all seen every tour since the original JT. We all had our minds completely blown!!
Of course, the Sphere has been discussed to no end. I just can't emphasize enough what I suspect most of us here already know. This venue is a game changer and its potential limitless. However, the idea (mostly from U2 haters) that Phish or (fill in the blank) act could play this venue and be "so much better than boring U2" or whatever is absolutely absurd!!
Anyone playing here has to be on their game- thoughtful in how they present visuals and integrate them into the show, etc, etc. Who else has a Willie Williams or the reasonable equivalent? I think something on this scale would take a creative director who specializes in this and knows the act intimately from years of working with them.
I also think U2 is one of the only if not the only act that could resist the temptation to go all out the whole show in this venue. You have to be able to strip it back and deliver moments of genuine intimacy and spontaniety.
Which brings me to what really stood out to me among many other U2 shows I've seen. Even though I saw the most common, static turntable set (All I want is you, Desire, Angel, Love rescue me), it was loose, fun and interactive. I'm seeing a Bono I noticed during the Surrender tour continue and I love it. He's managing to come off as the genuine, likable, caring person he is without some of the stuff that makes people perceive him as an ego maniac! I can't put my finger on it, but he just seems like a burden has been lifted off of him.
I have long since changed my mindset on setlist complaining. Of course, I was a little disappointed to have missed the War set by a day. Always been my third favorite U2 album. The old me would've actually been pissed. No more. I realize we're lucky to have them period, never mind still playing at the level they are. And pushing boundaries as they do it!
I also would've said you were crazy if you told me, say, on the first leg of 360 when ATYCLB and NLOTH were taking up 12 of 24 songs in the show, that by 2023, I'd have heard all of JT and AB live in addition to the Glorias, Electric cos, Dirty Days, Octobers, etc, etc that have reappeared over the years!
I tried to put myself back where I was all those years ago first discovering All I Want Is You. I mean, I knew about 15-20 songs and had no idea one of their greatest songs even existed. Enjoyed the stories, snippets and interactions between band members during Desire and Angel. Always loved Love Rescue Me.
AB was unreal! Visuals and performances were top notch. Just like JT, they clearly went back and listened extensively to how they recorded and played these songs 30 years ago! One was gorgeous- sung properly again. Hitting the falsetto in EBTTRT. MW didn't have the slide solo but had an extended outro with Edge really on! I could go on, but it's what everyone else here has already said. Bram injects some energy and life, too.
The encore was as expected and I have to laugh at anyone who wasn't expecting it! You can't play a whole album in a casuals atmosphere and not run through the must-do hits afterwards.
You knew you were getting Atomic City, they told us as much! Anyone reasonable knew we were getting Streets , WOWY and Beautiful Day. And no one reasonable should've been surprised at Elevation or Vertigo.
I have my wishes like anyone else! Aside from the turntable set, the encore is something I think could easily be added to. Say, COBL before Elevation or I Will Follow after Beautiful Day. You know IWF is going somewhere to keep up the streak- whether it's semi-acoustic turntable style (Zoo Tv call back) or in the encore.
There's things that can and likely will change. For all the talk of the same exact show every night, we've seen different songs played (SBS, Pride, Still haven't found, Seconds, Two Hearts, When love comes to town) with some regularity.
Even if nothing changes, I can't bring myself to complain about a set that includes all of Achtung Baby. Especially when it's played the way they are playing it. And most especially when they're doing it as the first act in a ground breaking venue and getting, by far, their best press in 20 years for it!!
This is such a WIN for U2 and I am SO proud of them! Larry especially as I'm sure someone in the group was apprehensive about doing this and had to be reassured by him!
Logistics and money are obstacles, but I will be doing EVERYTHING I CAN to get to another show or maybe even two of them!!