Last night was better than night 1, performance-wise. Bono was certainly much more loquacious than he was last night. The band had more energy, for sure. I snagged a great spot about 10 or so metres back from the b-stage. It’s probably the closest I have been to U2 in the six shows I’ve seen. I kind of love SBS as an opener, it rules. Aside from the fact that every single fucking cunt took out their phone the second Larry walked down and I couldn’t see shit. I really don’t get this. I only took one pic night 1 and took a few more last night but I found it hard to do so, I really just don’t get the whole filming thing. Anyway. Pride was better last night. Nearly everything was better last night.
When Streets started I didn’t cry last night. It was nice. I spoke with Ashley afterwards and we were clearly both in the same place - night 1 was all the emotional investment and last night it was just about enjoying it. So I didn’t cry, I was just fucking smiling really broadly. I don’t know if the band did the whole standing together thing during the intro last night, we were too far back, but it was really lovely, and getting a great vantage point where you could see the band clearly. It was really lovely.
Still Haven’t Found I thought was pretty sensational last night. There was less adlibby, Bono-losing-his-way moments, and just a really solid performance of a warhorse. Best I’ve ever seen ISHFWILF, for sure. WOWY was better than night 1 but would still benefit from Bono re-finding his passion for it. Kinda like what Martha said about Ultraviolet, his vocals in the studio version and early live versions just bring you along… and it’s just not like that these days. But was definitely great. The whole shine like stars thing shouldn’t count in my view, he literally spoke the two lines and didn’t repeat them, it was a concession to Ashley and everyone holding signs… but then, I’ve never really thought that Shine Like Stars was all that great anyway to be perfectly honest.
Bullet ruled again. Maybe 1% not quite as savage as last night but who cares. RTSS I cried again. Only the one cry last night. U2 are the best band ever.
Red Hill, again was great. I mean I’d one million times prefer the guitar over the piano, and the album version destroys it, but Bono does such a great job belting out the choruses, so it’s fine. Super lovely.
In God’s Country is not quite as fast it could be I feel, but it still rules. Solo rules. Trip I felt was not quite as good last night as it was night 1, but I will genuinely punch Axver in the dick if he doesn’t enjoy it. It’s so much fucking fun, and legitimately a genuine highlight. One Tree Hill was fucking great, up until Bono’s stupidarse ad-libs ruined things again, but overall it was better than night 1, for sure.
Exit didn’t seem to quite have as much punch as night 1, I reckon one of the sound elements dropped out after the first crescendo, cos it wasn’t quite as wild as last night was. The song still ruled but it just didn’t hit quite as hard, in my opinion. Still motherfucking ruled from that point onwards. That guitar is phenomenal and they just rule.
Mothers is great, and a lot better live than the studio version. The only weird thing I have with it is that the woman on the screen furthest right, she’s wearing glasses, so when she holds her candle etc it reflect on her glasses, and makes her look the like the devil hahaha.
I thought the way they restructured the encore was really good. It worked a lot better and smoother than night 1. Miss Sarajevo REALLY struggles not having Bono sing the Pavarotti part, it really fucking sucks if you ask me. The live version is actually so faithful to the original, I didn’t realise last night that it’s all guitar. But any rate, it was better than night 1, but it really, really fucking sucks not having Bono sing the opera part. As I said yesterday there’s 50 songs I’d rather hear if he’s not gonna sing that live part; I love Miss Sarajevo and I love hearing it as is, but it’s just not the same.
Bad was INCREDIBLE, and even better than it was night 1. It was a minute or two longer as well. The highlight of the show, really. Again, even though I was completely sober, I still ended up jumping around and splaying water around like it was nothing. The two performances of Bad I’ve seen the last two nights make me think that there’s no need to bring up more. It’s just so fucking lovely. The pinnacle of live performance for sure, it transports you somewhere else.
Last night when they played Ultraviolet I focusing entirely on Bono on the b-stage and it was a lot more powerful. He is really getting into it, and those lyrics are so powerful. He really loves that ‘I remember’ verse, really leans into it. But people are right, the visuals swallow up the song. Huge cheers for Hillary and Michelle, and then they put Lena fucking Dunham in there. Ugh. So just focusing on Bono made it really special for me, even though I agree with others that it’s missing something and agree with Martha that it’s the desperation.
One was absolutely tremendous, this is an incredible song, and the best performance of it I have seen. Bono doesn’t labour the social-conscious point, it’s not a two-minute long set up/intro, it’s played on its own rather than as part of a segue, which helps remind you of its power. I was also in a much better spot last night, and got a great pic of Bono and Adam looking at each other as the buffalos were on the screen behind them. And then to hear Do You Hear Us Coming, after I’ve waited 11 years to hear it, was just incredible. The greatest ad-lib in herstory. This is such an amazing song and I think I love it now more than I ever have. Wow.
The new song is fucking great. Bono said the delay was Edge’s fault… I thought he meant in getting the song ready, but Ashley reckons he was talking about the album. At any rate, I loved it and hope it sees the light of day soon. The crowd enjoyed it, a lot of people filming and a lot of cheers when Edge started shredding.
It was heartbreaking that they finished 10 minutes before curfew, and devastating that I didn’t get ASOH, but all in all, it was a tremendous show and I was very happy to have seen it.
