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  1. In this series we will be regularly interviewing fans during the tour to ask them about their personal experiences. Today we have an interview with our friend Macphistfly, who attended the 1st and 2nd Los Angeles shows.


    "There needs to be an old rarity or favourite in the second part of the set a la Ultraviolet 360."

    You attended both Los Angeles 1 and 2 shows; which was better in your opinion?
    You can't compare them.
    Night one was the first night in a city, the second was the death of a family member. On night two, you could really see them struggle.
    Honestly, this tour has given them so much baggage already and it's only just begun. I hope that its smooth sailing from here on in.
    Night one, was a celebration. Night two, was a wake. Totally different vibes.

    Where were you standing or seating in the venue? How was your spot regarding the visuals and sound?
    Standing night one. Seated night two.
    My opinion on queueing is entirely dedicated to the locale in which you are in line.
    If its warm, come prepared. Water. Umbrella. Book. iPad. Whatever.
    The reason, I came to conclude, that California crowds are less obviously enthused than others -- is the heat. The sound is as mind-blowing as they say.

    Were you trying to be spoiler-free or already knew some (or all) details of the show? Did you regret or enjoy your approach, whatever it was?
    I pretty much knew the architecture of the setlist, I don't regret it.
    'Cedarwood Road' really does prove itself as a song. It belongs in a live setting.

    Did they play a song you didn't expect to hear? And did you expect any song that didn't get played?
    I wasn't really expecting 'Even Better Than The Real Thing' as such a constant but its really kicking ass. I wanted to hear The Troubles, and I'm pretty pissed that I didn't get to hear it. Also, I've never been an advocate of the live version of 'Pride' but the song blew me away emotionally this time. Unfortunately, it all feels very predictable already.
    I am yearning for original idea behind the tour.

    Are there any ways in which you think the band could improve their current setlist?
    Yes. Swap out IWF and OOC for Twilight and A Day Without Me. I think there's a certain kinship between SOI and War and SOI and Pop.
    Pop deserves its day in the sun again, and my intuition tells me, that it'll get that next summer.

    There needs to be an old rarity or favourite in the second part of the set a la Ultraviolet 360.
    None of that 'Global Citizen' bollocks with Stephen Hawking at the beginning of the encore. It's far too preachy, and everyone around me on both nights did not appreciate it.

    Bono used to say he wanted to cut back on the politics and just 'focus on the songs'. I think now is the time to do that.
    He can let the imagery speak for itself on everything from Africa, to America. He doesn't need to do it anymore. At least not as much as he's doing.
    The songs, both old and new, are strong enough.

    Are you planning to go to more shows or not? Have you changed your mind either way after seeing this one?
    Yes, I think I'm going to try to go to New York but I want to see more variation in the setlist first.


    ---

    Thanks for this interview Cal!
  2. Heartfully agree about the rarity on the 2nd half like Ultraviolet. There should be a fan favourite rarity prior to Streets, maybe Gloria or Twilight, something like that.
  3. Couldn't agree more with Cal's opinions here.
  4. 1. Full band EBW
    2. Replace JT/UF songs with War and Pop songs. (It will work.)
    3. Remove COBL and replace with a beloved classic/rarity.
  5. Originally posted by Macphistfly:1. Full band EBW
    2. Replace JT/UF songs with War and Pop songs. (It will work.)
    3. Remove COBL and replace with a beloved classic/rarity.
    Would any NLOTH songs work? Or is that album pretty much done for this tour, do you think?
  6. Cal, may I ask where your seat was? Like, at which part of the stage did you sit, regarding the view etc?
    (Trying to judge whether my own seat choices are good or not)
  7. Originally posted by Macphistfly:1. Full band EBW
    2. Replace JT/UF songs with War and Pop songs. (It will work.)
    3. Remove COBL and replace with a beloved classic/rarity.
    1. I'm cool with this...I think. I still want to hear the acoustic.
    2. I'm on the fence. Obviously keep Streets but I'm all for Pop.
    3. What would you consider a "beloved classic/rarity"? I'm interested to know.
  8. TUF/JT songs with potential subs...

    Pride -- Sub for Two Hearts Beat As One
    Bad -- KEEP
    Streets -- KEEP
    Still -- Sub For Mofo
    WOWY - Sub For Gone/LNOE rotation
    BTBS -- KEEP (surprising myself on that opinion)
  9. Over and done with.
  10. Originally posted by kris_smith87:[..]
    1. I'm cool with this...I think. I still want to hear the acoustic.
    2. I'm on the fence. Obviously keep Streets but I'm all for Pop.
    3. What would you consider a "beloved classic/rarity"? I'm interested to know.
    1. To each their own.
    2. Obviously, a U2 show without Streets isn't a real U2 show.
    3. It needs something with the power of Ultraviolet. Something that people will pour their hearts into. So, all of its 'will they won't they' baggage aside - Acrobat is the perfect choice. However, ASOH or MOFO would work wonderfully too.
  11. Originally posted by MacStripey:Cal, may I ask where your seat was? Like, at which part of the stage did you sit, regarding the view etc?
    (Trying to judge whether my own seat choices are good or not)
    Behind the E-stage, and it was a ton of fun.
  12. Love the interview! Definitely agree with many points, including the one about the band coming into the tour with a ton of baggage. I kinda agree with you about preachy Bono, but I also really like preachy Bono and I don't think a show feels quite right without it. It actually feels like there is the perfect amount of preaching this tour. The Hawking video is just fine and actually connects well with COBL. The speech before Mother and Child Reunion/Streets is 100% necessary, I feel. Without it, the song is not nearly as powerful.

    I also had seats behind the E-stage and was pleasantly surprised by how fun it was to be there.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.