New York V Setlist Watch and Party Part 3

[JOFO]

it's kind of sad that someone who went to a show can't come back and give an honest review without fear of being ridiculed

oh yeah? watch me.

let me start by saying I don't give a rat's ass what anyone here says about this post. everyone who defended u2 and their setlist said "yeah, but when you're THERE, it's totally different.

WRONG.

dude, I've seen U2 12 times, starting on JT, ZooTV, Popmart, Elevation, and now Vertigo.

Here are the strong points:
The band was tight; not a mistake I heard. Then again, when you play the same songs for 7 months and call yourselves the best band in the world, I don't expect any less.

Bono's voice was right on; way stronger than the last 2 tours. I don't know what happened, but it's a blessing.

Keane was really good; I was surprised.

Now then:

ok, I expected the main setlist to be what it was, and you know what? this was acutally the best part of the show; band was on, crowd was into it. I was having a great time.

then the encores started.

I was really hoping for zoo station, the fly...because I'm way realistic to even hope for crumbs or uttotw, which I can asure you, would have brought the house down.

everyone in my section grew restless during the acoustic encores. I looked around, because I knew I'd be writing about this, and I wanted to make sure I was seeing what thought. most people were sitting. most people were talking. no one CARED because the songs (first time, stuck) brought the energy DOWN. in fact, they flushed them down the toilet. it was like 2 different concerts.
then, they do vertigo x2. ok, now this is where I began to really check out the crowd; of course everyone in the elipse in going nuts, but around me....people (not me) are saying : "didn't they play this already?", "whay are they doing this again?"
I'm dead serious.

the crowd reaction when leaving the building?

no chants of "howwwww lonnnnggggg....to sing this song"
like every other show I went to. people just slowly filed out, as though they were tired. probably u2 tried to end with a "rockin" encore, but what a fiasco instead.

I'm sorry u2, I still love you guys and will always buy the albums and go to the shows, but your encore for that last of FIVE nights at msg.... sucked. and not because you didn't play "wire" or some other some such.

 

[U2Man]

So can I.
But I choose not to.
I highly doubt anyone is interested in what I have to say about it anyway.
So my post will likely be ignored.

No, I'd like to hear what you have to say. You must have a purpose of posting this?

 

[U2Man]

everyone in my section grew restless during the acoustic encores. I looked around, because I knew I'd be writing about this, and I wanted to make sure I was seeing what thought. most people were sitting. most people were talking. no one CARED because the songs (first time, stuck) brought the energy DOWN. in fact, they flushed them down the toilet. it was like 2 different concerts.
then, they do vertigo x2. ok, now this is where I began to really check out the crowd; of course everyone in the elipse in going nuts, but around me....people (not me) are saying : "didn't they play this already?", "whay are they doing this again?"
I'm dead serious.

the crowd reaction when leaving the building?

no chants of "howwwww lonnnnggggg....to sing this song"
like every other show I went to. people just slowly filed out, as though they were tired. probably u2 tried to end with a "rockin" encore, but what a fiasco instead.

I'm sorry u2, I still love you guys and will always buy the albums and go to the shows, but your encore for that last of FIVE nights at msg.... sucked. and not because you didn't play "wire" or some other some such.

Thanks for that review, JOFO. If the thing about the encores is true, then this is even worse than I imagined.

 

[Diane L]

My main complaint about last night's show?

They didn't play "Crumbs", which I wanted very much to hear. They did "Yahweh," though, which I like a lot live. And it was sweet that Bono changed the last line to say "Take New York's heart/And keep it safe."

And maybe I'm crazy, but to me it seemed to fit that they ended the week of New York shows of the "Vertigo" show with "Vertigo" again. Like I said last night...actually, early this morning...I laughed when I heard it because I KNEW that people here would be complaining about it!

I'm sorry, I love this band so much, I can't be objective about setlists and audience reaction and all of that. When I see U2 in concert, I am deliriously happy, and I never want the show to end...my idea of paradise would be watching them overandoverandoverandoverand...you get the idea. I love this band, and I will continue to love this band unless they give me a damn good reason not to do so. And playing "Vertigo" twice is not that reason!

 

[GibsonGirl]

Disappointing to hear that some people didn't like the encores. But oh well, hopefully they'll mix it up again for the next MSG shows!

 

[JOFO]

I'm sorry, I love this band so much, I can't be objective about setlists and audience reaction and all of that. When I see U2 in concert, I am deliriously happy, and I never want the show to end...my idea of paradise would be watching them overandoverandoverandoverand...you get the idea. I love this band, and I will continue to love this band unless they give me a damn good reason not to do so. And playing "Vertigo" twice is not that reason!

good for you diane; I'm sure the show was the time of your life.
you seem like a very, very devoted fan.

 

[JOFO]

Disappointing to hear that some people didn't like the encores. But oh well, hopefully they'll mix it up again for the next MSG shows!

ummm.......yeah.

 

[Diane L]

good for you diane; I'm sure the show was the time of your life.
you seem like a very, very devoted fan.

And another disappointment is that I didn't get to meet you, Ruffian and other fans I knew were at this show.

This has been a difficult week to get through because of the monsoon rainstorms. I got thoroughly drenched walking from 25th St. to Penn Station yesterday afternoon!

But now the Sun is out, and thank God for that!!!!




*U2 must have left town!*

 

[Miringeltje]

No, I'd like to hear what you have to say. You must have a purpose of posting this?

Thanks U2Man.
Maybe later.
I'm heading out to work now.

 

[KUEFC09U2]

arent people missing quite a huge point here, why are you calling it "the last night", when there are 2 more shows next month?

 

[JOFO]

arent people missing quite a huge point here, why are you calling it "the last night", when there are 2 more shows next month?

umm, because it was the last of 5 shows in one week, then in a month (after they play more shows somewhere else) they will come back for 2 more.

 

[GibsonGirl]

ummm.......yeah.

I think I probably should have rephrased my statement a little more clearly - I'm disappointed for those of you who didn't like the encores, not disappointed with you. I wouldn't have been thrilled with Stuck or Vertigo x2 either.

 

[KUEFC09U2]

umm, because it was the last of 5 shows in one week, then in a month (after they play more shows somewhere else) they will come back for 2 more.

but if they are going to mix it up, surley to god they would save it for the actual LAST shows in that city?

 

[JOFO]

but if they are going to mix it up, surley to god they would save it for the actual LAST shows in that city?

ok maybe.

 

[pookybear]

My main complaint about last night's show?

They didn't play "Crumbs", which I wanted very much to hear. They did "Yahweh," though, which I like a lot live. And it was sweet that Bono changed the last line to say "Take New York's heart/And keep it safe."

And maybe I'm crazy, but to me it seemed to fit that they ended the week of New York shows of the "Vertigo" show with "Vertigo" again. Like I said last night...actually, early this morning...I laughed when I heard it because I KNEW that people here would be complaining about it!

I'm sorry, I love this band so much, I can't be objective about setlists and audience reaction and all of that. When I see U2 in concert, I am deliriously happy, and I never want the show to end...my idea of paradise would be watching them overandoverandoverandoverand...you get the idea. I love this band, and I will continue to love this band unless they give me a damn good reason not to do so. And playing "Vertigo" twice is not that reason!

I was a little disappointed at the encores. I would've LOVED LOVED LOVED to hear Crumbs and Walk On a la the original setlist. But the energy was definitely off the roof last night, and my seat was amazing and gave me a perfect view of everything... so I shouldn't be complaining.
And there's always the Nov. shows. Crumbs on 11/21!!

 

[U2Man]

but if they are going to mix it up, surley to god they would save it for the actual LAST shows in that city?

Ehhh, wouldn't it be just as natural to mix it up at the fifth show in a row? And the last one in this round?

 

[KUEFC09U2]

Ehhh, wouldn't it be just as natural to mix it up at the fifth show in a row? And the last one in this round?

why? as StlElevation pointed out they have played bad, crumbs, fast cars, gloria, zoo station, the fly, stuck in a moment, the first time, wild horses and vertigo x2. all i want is you came out of the blue, i will follow came back, on different time throughout the 5 night stand, and surley to god they would save the "big mix up" for the date when they are leaving the city for the final time on the tour?

 

[HelloAngel]

I was having a great time.

then the encores started.

I was really hoping for zoo station, the fly...because I'm way realistic to even hope for crumbs or uttotw, which I can asure you, would have brought the house down.

everyone in my section grew restless during the acoustic encores. I looked around, because I knew I'd be writing about this, and I wanted to make sure I was seeing what thought. most people were sitting. most people were talking. no one CARED because the songs (first time, stuck) brought the energy DOWN. in fact, they flushed them down the toilet. it was like 2 different concerts.
then, they do vertigo x2. ok, now this is where I began to really check out the crowd; of course everyone in the elipse in going nuts, but around me....people (not me) are saying : "didn't they play this already?", "whay are they doing this again?"
I'm dead serious.

the crowd reaction when leaving the building?

no chants of "howwwww lonnnnggggg....to sing this song"
like every other show I went to. people just slowly filed out, as though they were tired. probably u2 tried to end with a "rockin" encore, but what a fiasco instead.

I'm sorry u2, I still love you guys and will always buy the albums and go to the shows, but your encore for that last of FIVE nights at msg.... sucked. and not because you didn't play "wire" or some other some such.

This was exactly my experience at the show too.

Make no mistake, I was having a fantastic time. So once the encores started after "One" - the show never picked up in energy again. The upper levels sat down. I could hear people loudly bitching.

I don't buy the fact that U2 aren't playing songs for the more diehard fans - that's what Gloria, Out of Control, Fast Cars and Party Girl are for. What I'm not understanding is why they chose to end an amazing week long engagement at MSG on such a flat note. It just felt odd.

The band was tight. Edge was seriously on fire last night. Bono's voice was shredding the paint of the walls.

But, it was just an odd, seemingly quiet way to end such a great week. (And I attended 3 of those shows this week.)

And yes, I do fear being ridiculed for having these opinions, because I don't feel that a "how dare you?!" mentalilty is fair for those of us just trying to be honest. The crowd on the floor and the lower level was rocking out. But the rest of the place, in my observance was not. I even saw throngs of people leaving after "One."

 

[ramblin rose]

I even saw throngs of people leaving after "One."

This seems to be a big problem at MSG. I'm attributing part of it to the commuting problem. I witnessed the same thing the previous Friday night. I was lucky enough to be ignorant to the fact that NJ transit ends their service at around 11PM for a lot of their routes on weekdays, so I didn't leave. Luckily MTEdge was able to give us a ride back to Summit or we might have had to spend the night at Penn Station since my last train had left about 45 minutes before the show ended..

I'm not saying this is why everyone left your show, but it could have been a reason for some of those people.

 

[bigwali]

Of course, I could be wrong, but I'm thinking this might be the setlist that u2 sent out to u2.com, before the show started.

Do the people that work at u2.com go to every single concert?
I doubt it.
So is it wrong for them to assume that u2 will play the setlist they emailed to them?
I don't think so.

Miringeltje - Yeah, it is sad and unforuntate but true. It is common for people here to slam u2.com for any erroneous information. People expect them to be the authority site and take glee when they post incorrect information. Because of it there is no love lost between the 2 sites.

 

[U2girl]

Some of the mistakes on U2.com come from the fact that the band has changed the encores at the last minute a few times this leg.

Speaking of the much-hated acoustic set did anyone consider this? From atu2.com's blog:

"Thanks to U2Rob for getting one of the best photos yet of the "space-aged technology" that is currently found on the right arm of Larry Mullen. As Matt pointed out in this week's OTR column, it has been quite noticeable that Larry's taking one for the team and playing through whatever pain he's in so that the show can go on. It's not like this is anything new for Larry, though. He has been suffering from tendonitis since the early 80s, seeing the same specialist that Max Weinberg has seen. Larry uses ergonomic drumsticks, which is partially why it's rare when he gives those out to members of the audience because they're specially designed for him.

As the tour has progressed, the setlist's transformation has made me stop and think - has the encore change to more acoustic, less drum-heavy songs been to help alleviate the amount of drumming Larry needs to do? The "softer-side" of the set has changed the mood completely of the show, and fans are debating if it's a good change or not. Regardless of what the fans might think, the health of Larry takes priority and for that, the band needs to do whatever they can.

It was quite a surprise during the 10/4 Boston show when the band was getting ready for Original of the Species when Larry broke into 40 - a song not on the setlist, not on Bono's monitor, and a song that the techs were not prepared for...let alone Bono, Edge and Adam. After the other three band members saw Larry's signal from behind the drumkit, they all took their usual stage places for 40. Needless to say, there was some scurrying around the soundboard and lighting desk with that change too."

How dare they right?

 

[Chizip]

im sorry u2girl but thats just not true, blue room said so

 

[ramblin rose]

im sorry u2girl but thats just not true, blue room said so

 

[U2Man]

im sorry u2girl but thats just not true, blue room said so

Yes, exactly. And U2girl, you've already been told once not to believe anything you see on the net. That's how bullshit rumours on the net get started.

 

[U2girl]

So you're calling that article a lie?

Good for you.

(when was I told not to believe anything on the internet? what are you talking about?)

 

[U2Man]

^
http://forum.interference.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=142559&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

Remember?

 

[U2girl]

LOL, Blue Room has just as much proof for his claims as anyone else.

Believe what you want, as will others I'm sure.

 

[U2Man]

LOL, Blue Room has just as much proof for his claims as anyone else.

Believe what you want, as will others I'm sure.

(Did you read the thread and my comments? Because I seriously don't understand this response.)

 

[Diane L]

This seems to be a big problem at MSG. I'm attributing part of it to the commuting problem. I witnessed the same thing the previous Friday night. I was lucky enough to be ignorant to the fact that NJ transit ends their service at around 11PM for a lot of their routes on weekdays, so I didn't leave. Luckily MTEdge was able to give us a ride back to Summit or we might have had to spend the night at Penn Station since my last train had left about 45 minutes before the show ended..

I'm not saying this is why everyone left your show, but it could have been a reason for some of those people.

YES! The train schedules are very unkind to many of us, including Long Island fans. My line (Huntington) had an 11:42 pm train and a 1:04 am train. I got to Penn Station at approximately 12:12 am, and had to wait around about 50 minutes. I got home about 2:30 am--and had to be at work at 9:30 am!

I am very, very grumpy today!!! But, as I've been telling people around here today, there was no way I was going to leave Bono a second earlier than necessary!!!

 

[Miroslava]

Ok, this thing stopped being a party a loooooooooooooong time ago...

There are a few other topics already started that can be used to continue the conversation. Civility is of course appreciated. There is of course the Show Reviews section and Fan Experiences and Photos too...

Party over. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!