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  1. Sorry folks, I've had some technical issues which have prevented me from accessing the bootleg. I'll definitely be reviewing before the extended Sunday deadline though
  2. Performance:

    MOFO! And how refreshing it is to hear it too. Larry uncharacteristically kicks us off rather than the synths, and I must say this is an extremely energetic performance. The interchange between Mofo and I Will Follow in the early stages of this tour was delicate at best, but they nail it here. I love PopMart versions of this song and there is no disappointment here. Do they make mistakes with EBTTRT anymore? No? Well there are none to see here. The next song is a bit of a hen's tooth in the PopMart repertoire. I really can’t see why it was dropped. This particular performance is a little flat if I’m totally honest, with Bono frequently dropping off key, but I love it nonetheless. The bells of Pride ring and we all know what time it is. Did it sound good? Yes, if a little generic. Next song please. There is a special something about bringing the gospel hits of the 80s back in their raw form to this show of big money and bright lights. It really works and I love to hear it. This performance is executed perfectly and is especially heartwarming.

    Gone gets off to a great start with a fantastic and possibly unplanned intro. It’s a fairly strong performance throughout, although we get a sign near the end that Edge’s voice might be giving way a little on this show. Last Night on Earth, and both Bono and Edge sound like they’ve got a cold. Maybe it’s the recording, or maybe it’s my ear, but it sounds a little off. I like this song, but I couldn’t wait for this version to end. Next! Oh, that familiar sound. We all know it. It’s Until the End of the World. Never liked it much on this tour. The ‘popification’ (copyright Ross) of songs on this tour worked for some, but not for others. However! This version actually sounds somewhat stripped back. I like it. I like it alot. Here comes another song I really don’t like all that much. Always seemed a little hollow to me. This version sounds hollow and flat. I don’t know, I’ll leave it for people with a better opinion of the song to judge the performance. Staring at the Sun up next, and oh my God, my ears! Seriously, what is this rabble? This song going acoustic was the best thing to happen since Bono got a haircut, and that’s all I have to say on the matter.

    Anyone else got a soft spot for Edge karaoke? Not really much to say here, other than I love to hear it. Miami *busts out in laughter* What even is this song? I stand by my statement that this is a terrible song, but here comes the car chase surprise, I actually liked it. A Lot. Bono has some trouble with the mic in the first verse, but otherwise I love this version as well. Here comes yet another seamless transition as we move into Bullet. Like most of this show, Bono’s vocals are a little flat, but that’s okay, Edge is here to save the day with his solo. Does not disappoint. Bono then comes back to ruin again with his awful snippets, but they’re over before you know it.

    Please was shaky, flat, and generally unimpressive. Perhaps that’s a little harsh. I still enjoyed it, but either Bono’s voice, the recording, or something was letting it down. The Sunday Bloody Sunday snippet was unexpected, and executed rather poorly if I’m honest. STREETS, and it’s such a breath of fresh air in this otherwise stifled portion of the set. It sounds a little forced, and Bono is rather flat. You can sense the bands effort to make this one work, though, and it really shines for it. Solid performance throughout.

    Encore time. Discothèque is sounding by far and away the best it has at any show up until this point. Minimal mistakes, and a generally great sounding rendition. No velvet Dress? Okay then... Adam’s bass signals With or Without you, and it’s sounding a little loose and sloppy actually, but it soon picks up towards the main body of the song. I enjoyed it. Made me smile, that performance did. HMTMKMKM is good. Solid. Not much more to say. Mysterious Ways on the PopMart tour is an all time favourite of mine. This particular performance is probably the highlight of the show. Expertly held together. Is it just me or did the audio just get better? Bono and Edge sound so much better here. The solo is just fantastic. Every bit as good as you would expect. One closes us off, and it does so admirably. Beautiful.

    Overall, I think they played well. Still finding their feet with the new songs, but it’s really coming together. 4 stars.

    Audience:

    I heard them, and that's about it.

    Sound:

    Very listenable, but it's a bit flat.

    Overall:

    Don't let the sound get you down. This is a great boot, and definitely worth listening to if you're interested in early PopMart.

    Highlights:
    EBTTRT
    Still Haven't Found
    Gone
    UTEOTW
    Discotheque
    Mysterious Ways
  3. Performance

    First up we have Mofo, Larry kicks us off and really drives the song throughout. Bono doesn't sound too good tonight, somewhat lazy. I like how he deliver "sooth me sister..." though. I Will Follow immediately continues, a little breakdown in the middle for a little interchange with the crowd and whilst difficult to hear them, they do sing along. Even Better Than The Real Thing follows on and it's bang on. Perfect. Pop throws in it's second song of the night in Do You Feel Loved. I don't want to criticise it too much because I love the album version, but unlike most of U2's catalogue, it struggles to match or better itself live. It has its plus points for sure but it's struggling early on compared to the show opener. Pride brings us back to a high level of performance and it sounds very tight. The pace is slowed a little now for the classic and crowd favourite, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. I don't think there's anything to pick fault with here, the crowd are certainly enjoying it. Bono delivers some excellent additional vocals at the end that is worth hearing.

    Gone picks up the pace again and is a thoroughly solid performance throughout. Next up is a personal favourite of mine, Last Night On Earth, so take my comments with a pinch of salt. First off it's apparent that Bono isn't too comfortable of the lyrics that he wrote. How hard is it to remember your own work? Ok, it's not that good, but it is early in the tour. A familiar face makes an appearance now as Until The End Of The World enters the stadium. There's a few mistakes throughout the song which is unusual for such a much played song, still, it doesn't take away any of the enjoyment. Another Pop song now - If God Will Send His Angels. Just like Do You Feel Loved, it fails to match or better itself in front of a live audience. It's far too one dimensional with The Edge playing the same thing over and over. A rework of this would work so much better. Staring At The Sun is a song that they've really struggled with so far and tonight it falls far too short of the mark again. It's very empty. It's actually quite boring. The Edge brings proceedings to an end with a thoroughly enjoyable rendition of Daydream Believer. Go The Edge!

    Miami really is a tale of two halves. The first half is terrible, Bono is distant and the song just mumbles along until half way through, it suddenly picks up and becomes somewhat decent. Miami segues into Bullet The Blue Sky and the band deliver a very solid performance. Please puts in a challenge for best performed Pop song of the night, excellent. Sunday Bloody Sunday makes a brief appearance, if only musically. That interruption makes for a poor transition into Streets, a song that is known for it's partnership with the song prior to itself. If Im honest, I wasn't bowled over by Streets too much. It just never seemed to get going.

    You can reach...well maybe you can't. The best part of the song, ruined! I joke of course. Very energetic, extremely enjoyable and a perfect way to kick the encore off. With Or Without You follows and it's very well done. There's better, but it's by no means a poor performance. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me is next and it's a very solid performance, setting us up nicely for the final couple of songs. The first of those is Mysterious Ways and the band nail it. There's little more to add, they really do give it everything. One closes off the show and it's the perfect ending. After some rocky moments, we finally get there in one piece.

    Rating: 3 out of 5

    Sound
    I think the sound is quite good. The band don't sound particularly muffled or distant. Everything comes through quite clearly. There's a few skips here and there between some songs and at the beginning the sound briefly pans hard right followed by hard left. Other than that, no major issues.

    Rating: 4 out of 5

    Audience
    Well, there's a crowd in. When the time is right, you can hear them having a good sing along and they offer up their appreciative applause throughout.

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5

    Overall
    Still very early in the tour here and you can tell that the band are lacking rehearsal with the new songs. Gone, Please, Mofo, and Discotheque are finding their feet quickly, whilst Do You Feel Loved, Staring At The Sun, If God Will Send His Angels, and Miami are still falling short of the required standard.

    Highlights:
    Even Better Than The Real Thing
    I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
    Please
    Mysterious Ways

    Lowlights:
    If God Will Send His Angels
    Staring At The Sun

    Rating: 3 out of 5
  4. Well, at least two of us made it. Excellent review, Tim.
  5. Yep, a little late but you know what they say. I see we agree on some points (Mysterious Ways, Even Better, Still Haven't Found). I didn't make reference to it in my overall paragraph, but it was a very lacklustre middle section. Aside from UTEOTW, there's little to shout about from Gone through to Bullet. Staring At The Sun would never have worked full band but I'm so glad that they had faith in it and adapted it to the brilliant acoustic working we know today. Do You Feel Loved had the potential but the lack of a single release probably prompted them to shelve it unfortunately. The strong encore goes some way to making up for the poor run in the middle though.
  6. Soooo... What's next then?
  7. I believe it is my choice, so I'll post something up today (12th) and PM you all

    PS Where is Pato?
  8. Excellent, excellent.

    Ehhh... I don't know. I like to think Pato spends his free time playing 2* Elevation tour bootlegs to his new child, but that's my imagination.
  9. I'm sure you wouldn't be too far from the truth.

    I remember him once telling us about how his bootleg collection is burnt to CD with little notes written for each show to help him remember why it was good/bad. I find that incredible. Not sure what his wife would think of it though - "Come on honey, make some space in your shoe cupboard for the new tour"
  10. I have no better words than simply incredible. As fans we can all relate to that mentality, but on a practical level, he outshines us all. A truly extraordinary one.
  11. jeez i completely missed this one .. sorry boys
  12. - Current Show -

    1987-11-26 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Assembly Center

    Audio: 3* Audience Recording
    Downloads: 299
    Chosen by: iTim
    Download by: 17th February 2013 - Review by: 24th February 2013

    Setlist
    1. Where The Streets Have No Name
    2. I Will Follow
    3. Trip Through Your Wires
    4. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Exodus (snippet)
    5. MLK
    6. The Unforgettable Fire
    7. Gloria
    8. Sunday Bloody Sunday
    9. Exit
    10. Silver And Gold
    11. In God's Country
    12. Help
    13. Bad / Sympathy For The Devil (snippet)
    14. October
    15. New Year's Day
    16. Pride (In The Name Of Love) / All You Need Is Love (snippet)

    encore(s):
    17. Bullet The Blue Sky
    18. Running To Stand Still
    19. With Or Without You
    20. People Get Ready
    21. 40

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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.