U2 to Perform First Concerts at MSG Sphere in Las Vegas

[wolfwill23]

Yes please

https://www.billboard.com/pro/u2-msg-sphere-las-vegas/

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Fuck. Yes.

Need dates pronto

[MrsSpringsteen]

Sounds like quite a venue. They're actually doing the Vegas residency thing, that would replace a tour I assume.

[MrsSpringsteen]

[prbiker15]

I’m glad I have friends living in Vegas now, this is very tempting.

[cobl04]

Interesting. Maybe I should fly over, tie it in with the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Originally Posted by MrsSpringsteen

Sounds like quite a venue. They're actually doing the Vegas residency thing, that would replace a tour I assume.

Sounds like it would be in conjunction with a tour, but who knows. More to come

[DeVaul]

If you thought people were complaining about static setlists before…

[BigMacPhisto]

Originally Posted by DeVaul

If you thought people were complaining about static setlists before…

Completely disagree. They would save so much extra time and physical toil being in the same place that it would give them a lot of extra ability to mix it up every night. Literally all they would have to do once they’re settled in is show up every night which means plenty of time during the day to workshop other songs. I think they would likely hone 40 or so classics (each with visuals and lighting) plus new material before they open and then be able to do whatever they wanted night to night.

Casual audience isn’t going to complain as long as half the songs are ones they really want to hear. SOI tour was totally stretching it though and I’ve come across a fair amount of people that were disappointed they spent big money for tickets and got…THAT. That tour starting with mostly SOI/SOE songs was frankly a slap in the face to practically everyone who isn’t a sycophant.

Oh, and peeps should probably be warned that it’s become pretty customary for arenas to have a much smaller “pit” (if any) and put everyone else on the floor in seats that are then priced accordingly (and, of course, still got to stand the entire time). Probably gonna be a lot of annoyed fans if they go through with that (which basically everyone is because $$$) as floor capacity for the proper “pit” will be far far less than it used to be.

Also gonna be major issues when we’re talking about a million hardcore fans around the planet used to getting good seats or floor tickets all competing for the same residency of however many dates. Could be a big crunch in particular for the early shows. Millions of fans competing for 20,000 tickets, and, well you catch my drift. On the plus side, audience more full of hardcore fans rather than people showing up thirty minutes late dropping hot dogs on my feet (for real). I’m not sure anyone who was still a top tier touring act has ever done a Vegas Residency - there’s a slight has-been factor in the past. So demand has never been as high as it would be for U2.

Really is the future for touring for huge names. If a band like U2 can get the sound and visuals they want with no real cost of their own to plunk down AND no massive touring costs and time sucks and physical grueling of travel, then why ever tour again? It’s a better deal for all provided the fans are willing to get out to Vegas.

[DeVaul]

That’s not how Vegas shows are, and with this one so tightly (completely?) tied to the tech presentation, expect zero flexibility. The best you might get is an A show/B show configuration with the same handful of swaps.

[lazarus]

Imagine thinking the band would seize an opportunity to vary their setlists. If they didn't do it on previous, more stripped-down tours, they certainly aren't going to do it on one with such a specific audio-visual presentation.

My god, the delusion.

[BigMacPhisto]

They can just play the fucking songs and then have a light show behind them. It doesn’t need to be goddamn choreography. 360 was a good example of basically just songs being played with an added light/visual spectacle. Yes, they’ve been stubborn in the past but that’s in part BECAUSE so much time is wasted going from one city to the next and setting up and getting to your hotel room yada yada. This is an opportunity to utilize a lot of extra time. Maybe they’ll do the right thing for a change but I certainly agree they’ve had nothing but awful ideas and music for quite some time now.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I mean the setlists for 360 we're fairly static so not sure whee you're going there.

I'd probably end up divorced if U2 ever went to a rotating setlist skin to Springsteen or Pearl Jam because I'd spend all my time and money following them around.

Alas, I think I'm safe on that one.

[cobl04]

Originally Posted by lazarus

Imagine thinking the band would seize an opportunity to vary their setlists. If they didn't do it on previous, more stripped-down tours, they certainly aren't going to do it on one with such a specific audio-visual presentation.

My god, the delusion.

Ha, my thoughts exactly. This is U2 we're talking about.

[BigMacPhisto]

Originally Posted by Headache in a Suitcase

I mean the setlists for 360 we're fairly static so not sure whee you're going there.

Referring to the general stage setup. Not reliant on video screens or choreography like I&E, etc. Will point out that the setlists near the end of that tour were undoubtedly the most career encompassing, Greatest Hits-y ever and probably what both the casuals and diehards most want.

[dan_smee]

Originally Posted by BigMacPhisto

Completely disagree. They would save so much extra time and physical toil being in the same place that it would give them a lot of extra ability to mix it up every night. Literally all they would have to do once they’re settled in is show up every night which means plenty of time during the day to workshop other songs. I think they would likely hone 40 or so classics (each with visuals and lighting) plus new material before they open and then be able to do whatever they wanted night to night.

Casual audience isn’t going to complain as long as half the songs are ones they really want to hear. SOI tour was totally stretching it though and I’ve come across a fair amount of people that were disappointed they spent big money for tickets and got…THAT. That tour starting with mostly SOI/SOE songs was frankly a slap in the face to practically everyone who isn’t a sycophant.

Oh, and peeps should probably be warned that it’s become pretty customary for arenas to have a much smaller “pit” (if any) and put everyone else on the floor in seats that are then priced accordingly (and, of course, still got to stand the entire time). Probably gonna be a lot of annoyed fans if they go through with that (which basically everyone is because $$$) as floor capacity for the proper “pit” will be far far less than it used to be.

Also gonna be major issues when we’re talking about a million hardcore fans around the planet used to getting good seats or floor tickets all competing for the same residency of however many dates. Could be a big crunch in particular for the early shows. Millions of fans competing for 20,000 tickets, and, well you catch my drift. On the plus side, audience more full of hardcore fans rather than people showing up thirty minutes late dropping hot dogs on my feet (for real). I’m not sure anyone who was still a top tier touring act has ever done a Vegas Residency - there’s a slight has-been factor in the past. So demand has never been as high as it would be for U2.

Really is the future for touring for huge names. If a band like U2 can get the sound and visuals they want with no real cost of their own to plunk down AND no massive touring costs and time sucks and physical grueling of travel, then why ever tour again? It’s a better deal for all provided the fans are willing to get out to Vegas.

I+E your had some of the most varied set lists of their career, at least in terms of songs played across a tour with the rotating slots, and if you think any band touring a new album aren’t going to, you know, play it, then your disappointment is on you, not the band. You’ve come in hot today, haven’t you big boi?

[BigMacPhisto]

I+E was static sets with the aforementioned rotational segments allowing them to hit a lot of songs. But otherwise it was the same 19 songs you had sit through every night which was anything but ideal if going to multiple shows.

I agree they’ll want to play the new record and it will be as lacking in hooks or interesting guitar work as everything else they’ve been doing for years. But cool 3D vids in the background!

[dan_smee]

Well don’t go?

[BigMacPhisto]

Originally Posted by dan_smee

Well don’t go?

Setlist will certainly impact my decision, that’s for sure. Pointless to go in blind and have to sit through all that mediocrity.

Kind of bizarre that No Line was full of bangers and the new songs got cut down to almost nothing by the end of the tour yet these guys insisted on playing so many songs from the albums nobody asked for, night in and night out. Perhaps stadiums vs arenas was the issue (yet, Miss Sarajevo…)

[dan_smee]

Originally Posted by BigMacPhisto

Setlist will certainly impact my decision, that’s for sure. Pointless to go in blind and have to sit through all that mediocrity.



Kind of bizarre that No Line was full of bangers and the new songs got cut down to almost nothing by the end of the tour yet these guys insisted on playing so many songs from the albums nobody asked for, night in and night out. Perhaps stadiums vs arenas was the issue (yet, Miss Sarajevo…)

No line full of bangers but innocence and experience tours were bad? I think you’ve unfortunately revealed yourself to be a troll, sir. No Line was impotent dross.