New Album Discussion 1 - Songs of..... - Unreasonable guitar album

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Originally Posted by DeVaul

Same. And it didn’t need to be that way.

It's still baffling as to why they thought bringing "act 1" back was a good idea.

The whole very idea of the albums being companions went out the window with Bono's original elbow. So trying the tours together with such a gap was a bad idea.

What it eventually morphed into in Europe? Better idea. Still kinda lazy, just going back to the ZooTV suite they broke out when 360 was delayed. Alas

[DeVaul]

…

They’re Lazy

[TinKnight]

E&I was so half-assed. I don't know who signed off on 1/2 the show being almost the same, and then the last half being a half-hearted attempt at....something.

[dan_smee]

I think where E&i evolved to was a great show. People can say what they like about the quality of the new music, but the pacing, story, theming etc of the tour as it was released from Berlin was quite breathtaking.

I can absolutely understand people who saw the show in the US being jaded about the setlists. As mentioned - it was moronic to think act 1 returning was a good idea when the concept of sister shows died 3 years and 2 tours earlier.

When I think about Boston/MSG and Paris for I/e, then Berlin for e/I, there was some real magic there and I can’t help but think of if what those shows became was the basis for the original concept. Take out any duplication and add in some of the non/lesser played songs from the new albums (Reach Around, Troubles, Little Things, RFD) and some Pop for E/I maybe a rarity or two in the rotating slots, and run them as 4 shows per city, alternating nights in pairs, option of selling slightly discounted tickets to a pair of shows promising an entirely different experience - it could have been their defining moment as a band.

[Gonna Run 2 U]

I know we all want the rare songs in the set list but they absolutely kill the flow of concerts. There’s just not enough for hard fans to warrant deep cuts and I can’t blame the band for not playing them.

[DeVaul]

Originally Posted by Gonna Run 2 U

I know we all want the rare songs in the set list but they absolutely kill the flow of concerts. There’s just not enough for hard fans to warrant deep cuts and I can’t blame the band for not playing them.

Exit and Acrobat were the highlights of the last two tours, hardly momentum killers

[bobbvis]

Acrobat should have been a regular on every tour. perfectly worthy of being the opener on zootv and an encore song on any tour since. Instead, I've seen Miss Sarajevo 3 times out of 7 shows in my life.

[ascender_RS]

Originally Posted by bobbvis

Acrobat should have been a regular on every tour. perfectly worthy of being the opener on zootv and an encore song on any tour since. Instead, I've seen Miss Sarajevo 3 times out of 7 shows in my life.

Acrobat on the original Zoo TV indoor shows or even outdoor legs would have been incredible to see them playing at that age, on those shows where they are at the absolute top of their game. The indoor ones also had a rawness and anger about them on certain songs which has naturally dulled with age.

[phanan]

From someone who saw them on that tour, it would have been awesome. But no way it should have been the opener.

[Hewson]

They picked the correct opener with Zoo Station, no question.

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I honestly don't know where Acrobat fits in the ZooTV set. Maybe before Bullet. But that would have cut out Bad, and later Dirty Day. But I think that's the most logical place without making mass changes to the set

[dan_smee]

Originally Posted by Headache in a Suitcase

I honestly don't know where Acrobat fits in the ZooTV set. Maybe before Bullet. But that would have cut out Bad, and later Dirty Day. But I think that's the most logical place without making mass changes to the set

I think it may be best keeping it paired with Love is Blindness. It’s late on AB because it’s darker - the Bono “drop of acid” thing. The encore wouldn’t suffer too much - main issue is pacing Ultraviolet > WOWY > Acrobat > LIB. I kind of love it thematically, and if they did some dramatic lighting stuff and segue into it it’s the perfect set up for LIB to close.

[ascender_RS]

Zoo Station in to The Fly will never be beaten as a live show opener.

Although Pop Muzik into Mofo comes a very close second.

[dan_smee]

Originally Posted by ascender_RS

Zoo Station in to The Fly will never be beaten as a live show opener.

Although Pop Muzik into Mofo comes a very close second.

Both great - I think COBL into Vertigo and Elevation in BD are also great.

[JWR1992]

I’m very curious to see if they end up playing AB from beginning to end in one run or spreading the songs throughout the entire set list. It would be perfect if they closed with Love Is Blindness into Can’t Helping Fall In Love.

[PopFly]

Playing JT live in order didn't really work, but in theory AB might work in order because the album has a bit more a natural flow. Plus, it has a couple of the bigger hits (Fly, Mysterious Ways) later on the track listing whereas JT's biggest hits were all frontloaded.

[dan_smee]

Originally Posted by PopFly

Playing JT live in order didn't really work, but in theory AB might work in order because the album has a bit more a natural flow. Plus, it has a couple of the bigger hits (Fly, Mysterious Ways) later on the track listing whereas JT's biggest hits were all frontloaded.

Yeah I agree with this. I also think it lends itself to just starting from Zoo Station. No lead in, just get to the fucking monkey.

That said - a re-order reflecting more of the Zootv sequencing could also work - not that I want an SOS set, but we may end up with something like:

Zoo Station
The Fly
EBTTRT
Mysterious Ways
One
UTEOTW
NYD
TTTYAATW
Stay
Satellite of Love
Bad
Bullet
RTSS
Streets
Pride

Then an act 2

Daddy’s Gonna Pay
Macchiato schtick > Lemon
- SOS set -
BD
Vertigo
I Will Follow
Sunday Bloody Sunday
COBL
Lights of Home
- back to AB -
So Cruel
Ultraviolet
WOWY
Acrobat
LIB
Can’t Help Falling in Love

[Headache in a Suitcase]

There's about as much of a chance of U2 playing 30 songs as there is of me hitting the million dollar progressive before one of the shows

[dan_smee]

Originally Posted by Headache in a Suitcase

There's about as much of a chance of U2 playing 30 songs as there is of me hitting the million dollar progressive before one of the shows

Yeah I didn’t explain my thinking well - I meant 3 of the 6 rotating for the SOS set

[Headache in a Suitcase]

My guess is 22 to 25 songs tops. Show is started by 8:30 at the latest, over by 10:30... maaaaybe 11.