The_acrobat
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
Some people bitch about hearing too many of the greatest hits at a concert. I have been one of them. "Pride", "One" and "With or without you" all seem tired to me. I'd love to hear "Ultraviolet", "Acrobat", "Mofo", "Surrender" or any other rarity live. I'd love U2 to do an entire set of rarities without ANY hits. However, I was recently able to see it from the other side of the fence.
A few weeks ago, I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Columbus. I would call myself a casual fan. I have Stadium Arcadium and By the way, and I'm aware of the popular singles they've had on previous albums. However, there were a lot of their popular songs that they didn't play. "Otherside", "Around the world", "Zephyr Song", "Universally Speaking" and "UNDER THE BRIDGE" were all not played. They played a lot of deep cuts from the albums that I had no idea what they were, and a couple of covers. The show was still good (highlights included "Charlie", "Parallel Universe" and "By the way"), but I just thought "Man, if people were paying me $60 I'd play them the songs they want to hear".
Then it hit me... there's a reason U2 play their big hits. It's to please casual fans like that. I'm sure that when the Chili Peppers played some of those album cuts, the diehards thought it was great. But I was bored and confused, just like how some of the casuals must have felt during "An Cat Dubh" last year. I think U2 does a great job of playing sets that please diehards, newbies and the casuals at the same time. So don't bitch when you hear "Pride"... just remember, it might be making somebody else's night.
A few weeks ago, I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Columbus. I would call myself a casual fan. I have Stadium Arcadium and By the way, and I'm aware of the popular singles they've had on previous albums. However, there were a lot of their popular songs that they didn't play. "Otherside", "Around the world", "Zephyr Song", "Universally Speaking" and "UNDER THE BRIDGE" were all not played. They played a lot of deep cuts from the albums that I had no idea what they were, and a couple of covers. The show was still good (highlights included "Charlie", "Parallel Universe" and "By the way"), but I just thought "Man, if people were paying me $60 I'd play them the songs they want to hear".
Then it hit me... there's a reason U2 play their big hits. It's to please casual fans like that. I'm sure that when the Chili Peppers played some of those album cuts, the diehards thought it was great. But I was bored and confused, just like how some of the casuals must have felt during "An Cat Dubh" last year. I think U2 does a great job of playing sets that please diehards, newbies and the casuals at the same time. So don't bitch when you hear "Pride"... just remember, it might be making somebody else's night.