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  1. Haha, oh god please don't bring that up again! I quite liked it to be honest, but that said I haven't watched it in months. I liked the black'n'white shiz but as a whole I have such stuff on in the background so it's all about the music for me.
  2. So, I'm gonna throw in a few random thoughts i guess.
    This is the 5th tour I witness and I've been to 5 gigs in 3 different countries this time. All shows of this european leg had one thing in common: A band that clearly enjoys what they do.
    With all the choreographed moves, speeches, pre-recorded loops, instruments and vocals, they still managed to create some sort of special feeling and some space for spontaneous things.
    Especially during Vertigo, I was under the impression, that U2 was a company with the 4 guys doing their job, 360 seemed to be more fun for everyone.
    Damn, it was the first U2 gigs that gave me goosebumps since Paris 2001. Imagine what the shows could be like if they'd just take a step back from the technical gigantomania...

    I'm not gonna say much about the setlists, as this is another topic and I commented about it elsewhere, but, as usual, there always is something they can optimize in their set.
    For example, I for one will never understand why they keep bringing back Stuck or why they decided to "play" Crazy tonight - but that's just me - could be heaven for someone else.
    I was surprised about Pride and Sunday, though. I was sooo tired of those before the tour started but for some reason, I quite enjoyed them this time.
    I guess this has something to do with the way, they use these songs nowadays. They're still the vehicle for political messages. But now there isn't Reverend Bono saving the world every night.
    They let the songs do the talking and the visuals to transport the message.
    Even the shortened speech for Aung San Suu Kyi is touching me and makes me angry every night. (Okay, MLK is a step back to VT, but that's Bono...).
    It also helped that Bono didn't try to put 50 snippets in Sunday - shame that he changed that lately.

    So, technically this might be the worst tour so far, as I can't recall Bono and Edge fucking up so many songs - but I think the energy and the fun they show and transport make this up twice.

    For me, this tour can't beat ZooTV or Popmart, those were different times and different (to me: better) setlists and concepts but it beats Elevation and Vertigo in my book.

    If I'd have to single out a few special moments it would be:
    - the whole concert build up in Barcelona (remember?, Space oddity was just a Pre-show song back then)
    - the first lines of Ultra Violet in Barcelona (didn't have a clue they'd play it)
    - the crowd reaction in Berlin when Gary Lightbody moved towards the people behind the stage for the first time.
    - the little chats with Paul McG and Dallas Schoo in A'dam and Gelsenkirchen (remember me when A day without me gets played next time)
    - Bono's "Dickes B an der Spree" several times in Berlin

    Best gig I've been to: Berlin. Never had expected that, but that show even topped some Popmart gigs.

    I'll have to add more things later ( didn't mention the bad things yet )...






  3. great houghts Yeah
  4. Originally posted by yeah:So, I'm gonna throw in a few random thoughts i guess.
    This is the 5th tour I witness and I've been to 5 gigs in 3 different countries this time. All shows of this european leg had one thing in common: A band that clearly enjoys what they do.
    With all the choreographed moves, speeches, pre-recorded loops, instruments and vocals, they still managed to create some sort of special feeling and some space for spontaneous things.
    Especially during Vertigo, I was under the impression, that U2 was a company with the 4 guys doing their job, 360 seemed to be more fun for everyone.
    Damn, it was the first U2 gigs that gave me goosebumps since Paris 2001. Imagine what the shows could be like if they'd just take a step back from the technical gigantomania...

    I'm not gonna say much about the setlists, as this is another topic and I commented about it elsewhere, but, as usual, there always is something they can optimize in their set.
    For example, I for one will never understand why they keep bringing back Stuck or why they decided to "play" Crazy tonight - but that's just me - could be heaven for someone else.
    I was surprised about Pride and Sunday, though. I was sooo tired of those before the tour started but for some reason, I quite enjoyed them this time.
    I guess this has something to do with the way, they use these songs nowadays. They're still the vehicle for political messages. But now there isn't Reverend Bono saving the world every night.
    They let the songs do the talking and the visuals to transport the message.
    Even the shortened speech for Aung San Suu Kyi is touching me and makes me angry every night. (Okay, MLK is a step back to VT, but that's Bono...).
    It also helped that Bono didn't try to put 50 snippets in Sunday - shame that he changed that lately.

    So, technically this might be the worst tour so far, as I can't recall Bono and Edge fucking up so many songs - but I think the energy and the fun they show and transport make this up twice.

    For me, this tour can't beat ZooTV or Popmart, those were different times and different (to me: better) setlists and concepts but it beats Elevation and Vertigo in my book.

    If I'd have to single out a few special moments it would be:
    - the whole concert build up in Barcelona (remember?, Space oddity was just a Pre-show song back then)
    - the first lines of Ultra Violet in Barcelona (didn't have a clue they'd play it)
    - the crowd reaction in Berlin when Gary Lightbody moved towards the people behind the stage for the first time.
    - the little chats with Paul McG and Dallas Schoo in A'dam and Gelsenkirchen (remember me when A day without me gets played next time)
    - Bono's "Dickes B an der Spree" several times in Berlin

    Best gig I've been to: Berlin. Never had expected that, but that show even topped some Popmart gigs.

    I'll have to add more things later ( didn't mention the bad things yet )...

    Great review yeah glad to hear you've been able to enjoy yourself during the tour

    I have to say, I wonder how much more I might have enjoyed, say, Wembley 1 had I gone into the show completely unaware of what the band might throw up - I'd imagine even more, but seeing as I had the most mental night of my life up to that point on the pitch, that would be quiet something! The surprise I felt when Edge starting playing MW gave me some idea, but even so I enjoyed every second I was there, aswell as at Sheffield for different reasons.
  5. Well well well....there are many positive things I can say. Even though this is the first tour I witness (I've been a fan since 2004, but wasn't aware of Vertigo Tour at all - back then I'd listen only to ATYCLB, HTDAAB, and The Best of 1980-1990 Those were the only albums I had until the summer of 2006 when my father got me the complete discography), but I can say that it tops Elevation and Vertigo tours. The stage comes from the outter space and it seriously is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. The lightshow is something spectacular and I think I'd wetted my pants if the screen had fully worked on the second Zagreb night. U2 seem to be enjoying every moment of the gigs and play in top form. Songs from the new album work live very well. I think Breathe is a great opener and I just love the way it all kicks off. Leaving the first 4 spots in the setlist for new songs is a good idea, too. Bono doesn't talk that much but performs instead. His voice has been much better than I thought it would be - he sounded really crap on the promo tour. Some old songs have been brought back to life - One, Pride and Sunday Bloody Sunday, which I enjoyed a lot because the band play them well again and Bono does not use them for his political message (as yeah said, let the screen and the songs themselves do the work) - and stuff like The Unforgettable Fire and especially Ultraviolet, the recent version of which I absolutely adore and can't get enough of.
    As for me, I enjoyed the second Zagreb night a lot, but I was left a little disappointed - in myself. U2 were brilliant. I sang every word of every song, spent the whole gig on my feet, but something didn't work inside me. My heart still starts beating faster when I think of the band entering the stage, but generally, I wasn't blown away. That's why I'm definitely going for GA next year when U2 play in Vienna, and I'm gonna take my close friend who is a fan, too, with me. Really, my brother was a wanker that night. Everyone was standing, singing and clapping, but he would sit all the time and wouldn't clap even once. I guess I couldn't enjoy myself that much mainly because of him - I felt ashamed by the fact the atmosphere-spoiling idiot was my brother.
    So, next year when U2 play Vienna, I'll be right at the stage with die-hard fans and I'm sure I'll be blown away. The atmosphere in GA is bound to be better and it is something I feel I must experience. Can't wait to be wasted after the show
  6. Best Shows, setlist wise:

    Amsterdam II
    London II
  7. Still thinking very little shows matched the energy and freshness of the opening nights and Milan. Everything seemed more alive in Barcelona and thankfully less polished. The 360 element felt like part of the show rather than just a way to cram more people in.

    Theres just something missing from the shows now (with the possible exception of Berlin and Dublin 1, which I think I only rate due to the Irishness in the air that night). Could just be me getting used to the tour as such but things do seem to have settled down a little after the first few shows (Barca and Milan specifically)

    PS : I attended 5 shows and listened to all bootlegs apart from Wembley 1.
  8. Originally posted by germcevoy:Still thinking very little shows matched the energy and freshness of the opening nights and Milan. Everything seemed more alive in Barcelona and thankfully less polished. The 360 element felt like part of the show rather than just a way to cram more people in.

    Theres just something missing from the shows now (with the possible exception of Berlin and Dublin 1, which I think I only rate due to the Irishness in the air that night). Could just be me getting used to the tour as such but things do seem to have settled down a little after the first few shows (Barca and Milan specifically)

    PS : I attended 5 shows and listened to all bootlegs apart from Wembley 1.



    I see your point. I have to add the Amsterdam II show because the band sounded very fresh and alive playing UTEOTW, Bad and Elevation for the first time at 360 degrees (but it's probably just me as it was my first U2-gig). They seem to have polished their shows and at that point tastes differ.

    I'd like to add something about Electrical Storm (cause I'm listening to the Barcelona II version now). I like it the way they play it now, it's still a live rarity. It shouldn't be a regular. Hopefully they decided not to ditch it after Gothenburg..

  9. Originally posted by yuri31:e. Really, my brother was a wanker that night. Everyone was standing, singing and clapping, but he would sit all the time and wouldn't clap even once. I guess I couldn't enjoy myself that much mainly because of him - I felt ashamed by the fact the atmosphere-spoiling idiot was my brother.


    I know a bit how it feels. Mine was with me in Amsterdam. Although he clapped sometimes and even stood up when everyone did...it felt a bit strange. I was standing all show long, singing my heart out, jumping etc.. and he mainly just sat there. I could see on his face that he was really impressed by the show though...
  10. Originally posted by germcevoy:Still thinking very little shows matched the energy and freshness of the opening nights and Milan. Everything seemed more alive in Barcelona and thankfully less polished. The 360 element felt like part of the show rather than just a way to cram more people in.

    Theres just something missing from the shows now (with the possible exception of Berlin and Dublin 1, which I think I only rate due to the Irishness in the air that night). Could just be me getting used to the tour as such but things do seem to have settled down a little after the first few shows (Barca and Milan specifically)

    PS : I attended 5 shows and listened to all bootlegs apart from Wembley 1.



    It's interesting you say that though because I thought the first few shows were under-rehearsed and slower paced than the middle shows. Great concerts as you expect but I think the band slowed it down to much in that interchangeable slot of songs 6-9. Only 3/4 songs but makes the difference. I've been to several other gigs before where the artists have slowed it down too much for the fans to quickly react with (ie they become too comfortable in the seats).

    My own opinion is that they don't compare to Zoo TV, for which the European legs were well prepared for, the song quality high and the performances out of the park. This tour is definitely the best since then; the balance of songs in particular is especially nice. While people praise PopMart I don't think the band knew what they wanted for most of the tour. Mexico and the latter parts are good but the early shows were truly lacking in something, possibly just comfort.
  11. As someone who experienced this leg from the other side of the world, I have to say it sounded like a perfect start to what looks to be a monster tour again for the lads.

    Great vibe, great crowds, great atmoshere, great sounds and an unbelievable stage!

    Lucky Europeans.

    But how brilliant would a Moroccan show have been!
  12. Originally posted by aussiemofo:As someone who experienced this leg from the other side of the world, I have to say it sounded like a perfect start to what looks to be a monster tour again for the lads.

    Great vibe, great crowds, great atmoshere, great sounds and an unbelievable stage!

    Lucky Europeans.

    But how brilliant would a Moroccan show have been!


    from what i've been reading (and i hope im wrong) it seems like the tour climaxed in the begining and has gone downhill after dublin 3. -_- I hope im wrong but everyone mentions everything prior to the dublin shows. (amsterdam, barcelona, milan). Zagreb and Wembley being very important.

    I hope that there is more to come from the guys (setlists, debuts, stage lighting) in september. Should be a good tour. (not sure it beats Elevation, but better than the vertigo tours, [except leg 4 and 5]).
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