EXP
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Experience and Innocence tour
 Legs (3): Promo tour, Leg 1: North America, Leg 2: Europe
Shows: 75
  1. Originally posted by MoFoNYR15:I know u2 will never be a live act with variation like PJ or a few others. I don’t expect them to. I think a perfect number for a band like u2 with huge production is 5-6 songs. I think the early stages of the innocence tour had that perfect balance.
    I'd prefer that too. I really do.

    But apparently they don't. And that's fine. They made a conscious decision, and the show is as good as if they had rotation.

    Rotation or variation is just an element, like playing piano songs, or acoustic songs:
    They could play more or less acoustic, more or less piano, but it's not really important.
    Rotation or variation is not really important, neither.
  2. Originally posted by deanallison:[..]
    I’m starting to accept what the band are doing and I’ve enjoyed the setlists from the start just was initially baffled when they started reducing the number but I do feel like there is room to rotate things in the Setlist if they wanted to that wouldn’t compromise the story being told. Elevation and vertigo could easily be replaced with zoo station and the Fly and nobody would be watching or listening to a different story being told. Gloria and RFD are already being rotated and if they brought the set back up to 25 songs ABOY and NYD (two songs already played on the tour) could be rotated. Don’t take this is a criticism of the band or of the show in general, which I’m enjoying, but I just don’t buy into the idea that they ‘cant’ rotate songs because of the narrative.
    It's not that they can't, it's that they don't see the need to do it.

    Like, I could change my avatar for a pic of Larry, it would look nice, it would be better for the forum users that love Larry, it wouldn't cost me a thing, I actually like Larry... but... why? I'm ok with my avatar.

    They're ok with their show. There's no need to make those changes (even if all of us wanted them).

    They could change a song here and there... but why would they?
    not everybody put so much weight (or any weight) on variation, certainly they don't.
  3. Originally posted by Bloodraven:[..]
    It's not that they can't, it's that they don't see the need to do it.

    Like, I could change my avatar for a pic of Larry, it would look nice, it would be better for the forum users that love Larry, it wouldn't cost me a thing, I actually like Larry... but... why? I'm ok with my avatar.

    They're ok with their show. There's no need to make those changes (even if all of us wanted them).

    They could change a song here and there... but why would they?
    not everybody put so much weight (or any weight) on variation, certainly they don't.
    Yeah I understand what you’re saying, my point was specifically to point out that if the band did want to change things up they could do without effecting the narrative. It had previously been suggested that they can’t rotate more than a couple of songs since they are telling a story, that’s the point I disagree with.
  4. Originally posted by deanallison:[..]
    I’m starting to accept what the band are doing and I’ve enjoyed the setlists from the start just was initially baffled when they started reducing the number but I do feel like there is room to rotate things in the Setlist if they wanted to that wouldn’t compromise the story being told. Elevation and vertigo could easily be replaced with zoo station and the Fly and nobody would be watching or listening to a different story being told. Gloria and RFD are already being rotated and if they brought the set back up to 25 songs ABOY and NYD (two songs already played on the tour) could be rotated. Don’t take this is a criticism of the band or of the show in general, which I’m enjoying, but I just don’t buy into the idea that they ‘cant’ rotate songs because of the narrative.


    I agree, I think they will change a few things/add/subtract once they get more comfortable with it. I think they are getting there. I still think there will be a few more changes but not a lot.
  5. Originally posted by MoFoNYR15:[..]
    No but let me spare you the point you’re gonna make. I’m happy you enjoyed your shows. For every positive review I read, it excites me about my upcoming shows. I don’t need to see the show in person to know there’s a better setlist to be put forward. This is a concert. Not a concept album. What works on an album doesn’t always work in person. Those are my feelings and I hope I absolutely love my upcoming shows.


    I hope you do, too. It's sometimes tough to enjoy when you're already going in expecting to not enjoy it.

    Unfortunately a "better" setlist is in the eye of the beholder. My better setlist is probably completely different from yours. We're never gonna get our perfect setlist. And while yes, I'd always love to see something from my personal setlist in there, it didn't put a damper on this show at all... even the vertigo/elevation portion was great for me... and thats usually when i hit the beer line.

    we can argue until the cows come home. wu2 is not pearl jam. they will never be. they don't just put on a show, they put on a spectacle. been that way since 1992, so it's not a huge surprise. The technology is a huge part of the show and it is what it is... I truly hope you try and let accept it and let loose and enjoy yourself, because if you go in just ready to rock and party with U2, you're gonna have an awesome time.

    And P.S.- Trust me, this shit works live and in person. If it doesn't for you, sell your tickets to your 2nd show...
  6. BTW - One thing I noticed in Atlanta... Everyone was singing along to the SOE songs, so maybe, just maybe the album is resonating. And if the reason is because everyone who bought a ticket got the CD, well... that just proves that it was a brilliant idea, no?
  7. Originally posted by Bloodraven:[..]
    I'd prefer that too. I really do.

    But apparently they don't. And that's fine. They made a conscious decision, and the show is as good as if they had rotation.

    Rotation or variation is just an element, like playing piano songs, or acoustic songs:
    They could play more or less acoustic, more or less piano, but it's not really important.
    Rotation or variation is not really important, neither.
    The fact is, everybody is not Pear Jam or Springsteen.

    And the fact is also, that 90% (and I'll say that is even low) of the crowd is only seeing that show and is not joining our setlist or mixlr parties every night, so they have no idea there is no rotation... so, in effect, everybody gets the same show...
    It's not like U2 invented the wheel on this concept.
  8. Originally posted by Blue_Room:[..]


    I agree, I think they will change a few things/add/subtract once they get more comfortable with it. I think they are getting there. I still think there will be a few more changes but not a lot.
    I thought they wouldn't change a think in the i+e from USA to Europe, and they did mix it a bit. (Like adding Zooropa or bringing Streets back into the main set).

    So I still think they'll have a e+i v.2, but I prefer not to be expecting it.
  9. They have a week off now. Adam mentioned they still would like to work The Showman and Landlady into the set. Maybe they work on them and start throwing it in by Montreal.

    Sad thing is, if they keep or drop songs based on fan reaction, they shoulda debuted one in Atlanta... that crowd woulda went nuts if they played EPIA... sure way to keep the song alive...
  10. Originally posted by blueeyedboy:BTW - One thing I noticed in Atlanta... Everyone was singing along to the SOE songs, so maybe, just maybe the album is resonating. And if the reason is because everyone who bought a ticket got the CD, well... that just proves that it was a brilliant idea, no?
    I was wondering the other day about how had it worked the "free CD" thing...
    ...great to see it wasn't just a boost sells gimmick, and that it actually worked as intended.

    And now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense:
    "Oh, you're coming to the show? well, here's the album, check it out, otherwise you'll probably feel a bit lost if you come here expecting the Joshua Tree..."
  11. Originally posted by blueeyedboy:They have a week off now. Adam mentioned they still would like to work The Showman and Landlady into the set. Maybe they work on them and start throwing it in by Montreal.

    Sad thing is, if they keep or drop songs based on fan reaction, they shoulda debuted one in Atlanta... that crowd woulda went nuts if they played EPIA... sure way to keep the song alive...
    Bono was mentioning in Nashville that as soon as the Atlanta gig was over he was going to be with Ali, so I think it's safe to assume all 4 of them are in different corners of the world until showtime.
  12. Originally posted by Bloodraven:[..]
    I was wondering the other day about how had it worked the "free CD" thing...
    ...great to see it wasn't just a boost sells gimmick, and that it actually worked as intended.

    And now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense:
    "Oh, you're coming to the show? well, here's the album, check it out, otherwise you'll probably feel a bit lost if you come here expecting the Joshua Tree..."
    It's actually a good concept. For what you pay for the ticket, it's a good bonus. And while it does boost sales, it also delivers the record to your door... makes the casual fan more likely to listen (and from what I witnessed... like!)
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.