Not for me, my litttle sister who turned 18 - conveniently for late-night, on a Saturday. My birthday was two months back and I don't remember what I did. North Star is a nice little song, heard it on some IEM and it sounded quite nice, if a little unfinished. Yeah, it'll probably be some new song, or at least something vintage which will be great. Looking forward to the 2011 shows to see what's best - have a great time!!!
We did one party in the morning for friends and family, then the later party (where about 60 people turned up) had all her friends from uni and work, so that went really well. Plenty of drink, good music, lots of food, a good time had by all and still getting messages and phone calls about how good it was.
Ah at Melbourne I was gonna meet up with Sonia from here and Andrew_C (as he'd come from Adelaide where I am as well) and a possible few others but it unfortunately didn't work out, but maybe next time. Met a security guard who posted stuff on here later at the gates. I wish I could go another show but oh well.
It's weird to think that when I became a U2 fan, I had to wait 4 years to finally see them live for the first time and it felt like an eternity. Now that after Tuesday, that time is rolling around again...I mean I guess it's almost sad. The past two years of my life wouldn't have been the same if it weren't for them on tour, it gave me something to always look forward to, which really helps on the not-so-sunny days, if you know what I mean. There was always a setlist party or always a good setlist conversation on U2Start. Looking forward to being on here without a tour going, but it's something I'm definitely going to seriously miss. First U2 tour I've ever experienced as a fan.
Yeah 2005 to 2009 is a long time, but hey at least it's happening again! It's great fun here even without a tour - with U2, you always got something happening, small or large. I can still remember so many things going on and being one of the first to be here (well, 180th anyway).
With any band you like, that's always something to be pumped about that they've got new music and tours coming and it sure does help you through the days you think suck. Pop was the first tour I remember, but Elevation I missed but in a way I experienced it because we heard all about it over here. And when Vertigo came, well that was it.
So many cool things have gone on since the site started.
True story. I think the U2 "history" that I've gained knowledge of since the tour started has been incredibly vast, even the notion of the ability to predict trends...for instance, I'm calling the shot now that their next tour will be in theaters and be much more exclusive material. Since the venues will be, at times, 20x smaller than even arenas, I think they could do some residencies...one week in each of their 10 favorite cities to play in the US, same thing for Europe. Rest of the world would be difficult though, as they obviously couldn't do a full week in every city in the world.
The 'Hold Me Thrill Me - Ultra Violet' swap is pretty predictable. But I know I'd not have seen Out Of Control coming right after MoS at Glasto, I honestly didn't expect that and right after that too.
You really think the next tour is to be more intimate, like doing the clubs again? I know I'd go to that in a heartbeat (seeing a good few pub shows has made me want to see more of that) but who knows with U2. I didn't think they could do much better (and bigger!) than the Vertigo stage but apparently they did. That'd be a great tour though but hopefully it won't be their last - I can see them going until they're in their mid-60s. What else would they do? They've been doing this since the mid-70s and they're not likely to give it up just like that.
I doubt they'll ever give it up, but I think that they're always going to be looking for new things to do. I can't see them going back to arenas unless they COMPLETELY strip their show and play something like the Joshua Tree tour. No catwalks, no b-stages, no ellipses, no fancy technology- just a f*cking rock n' roll tour. And that would be completely okay with me as well, nothing but the music to blow you away.
That's what it should be about. Forget the fancy crap, just play a 2-hour kick-arse rock and roll show, and that would be recieved so well. Go back to where it all began back in 1978, the clubs and the pubs. 200 people a night....I just can't picture them, after always getting 10 000 - 100 000 people in a show, to going to a smaller venue for an entire tour. It'd be great but I wouldn't expect it.
That's what I go to a show for. To hear the music, to mix with the crowds, to sing along, to drink a shitload, to see the people, live and raw. Even taking it back to how they did it in the early days, further than JT and Lovetown.
Like this:
And this:
Then:
Look how simple that is. U2 need to watch that and see how to take it back.
Theaters all over the US have the capacity to house up to 4,000 people, I'm not really talking about club gigs. But now that we're talking about it, I think a stripped rock show would actually be the best thing they could possibly do. Show all the nay-sayers that they don't NEED a screen that extends to the floor in the middle of the show, or the stage that actually doubles as its' own venue, or the lights that are actually curtains that they can walk through, or the stage that lets them walk through practically the whole arena. All they need are 3 chords and the truth
I could picture it now: ''U2: The Australian Pub Tour 2015''. Playing pubs all across Tasmania, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. Then: ''U2: The American Bar And Grill Tour 2016''. Shows right across Texas and Chicago.
Yep, strip it back so far that they don't even need loops. Rock the house out.
I am absolutely sure that they will do it sooner or later. They obviously won't be able to overcome (in size and gross) the 360 Tour so they have to definitely abandon the 'biggest band' title and just play music. Good music that your fans enjoy. I'm sure they'll stop playing big stadiums soon, and filling 3 or 4 arenas per city. 12.000 people x 4 nights = 50.000 people, just like an stadium. And you have the obvious advantages of the arenas
version of All I Want Is You, last night in Tennesse... OMG. 
