2015-06-12 - Montreal
Tour: Innocence and Experience tour
Songs played: 25
Audio recordings: 1
  1. Lucifer's Hands <3 <3 <3
  2. Originally posted by INCA:Random songs would not be a huge step toward mediocrity. That shows initiative and guts...or balls. Mediocrity is a predictable setlist that hardly changes over 4 to 8 nights in the same city.

    'Kite' at Elevation San Jose I was ballsy. They were going to drop that song if the San Jose II crowd did not feel it.

    POPmart opening night at Sam Boyd Stadium was really bad by U2 standards but at least they attempted to try out most of the new album in one go. That was ballsy.
    It's easy to grab a bunch of pieces and throw them into a bag. But it's hard to take those pieces and turn them into a masterpiece.


    99% of the bands that aren't U2 have a formulaic set when they go on tour. They throw in 60-80% of their new album and fill the rest with hits. Most of them don't care about whether or not the songs actually make sense together. In fact, most albums consist of songs that don't really feel like they belong with each other. I mean, what other show do you go to and see a band play out several long narratives? None. The reason for this is not because it's balsy. It's because it's easy and lazy. If you want U2 to be lazy and take the easy route, go right ahead, but be prepared to be disappointed.


    Also, I don't know what you're saying to think that all the SOI songs will be dropped. The album songs have been sounding even stronger than the classics. And I do believe you are a joke if you think the Achtung Babies are doing more justice to the new songs than the originals.
  3. Also, a 3 hour show? You have got to be joking me if you're saying that was a serious discussion.
  4. Originally posted by ahn1991:[..]
    It's easy to grab a bunch of pieces and throw them into a bag. But it's hard to take those pieces and turn them into a masterpiece.


    99% of the bands that aren't U2 have a formulaic set when they go on tour. They throw in 60-80% of their new album and fill the rest with hits. Most of them don't care about whether or not the songs actually make sense together. In fact, most albums consist of songs that don't really feel like they belong with each other. I mean, what other show do you go to and see a band play out several long narratives? None. The reason for this is not because it's balsy. It's because it's easy and lazy. If you want U2 to be lazy and take the easy route, go right ahead, but be prepared to be disappointed.


    Also, I don't know what you're saying to think that all the SOI songs will be dropped. The album songs have been sounding even stronger than the classics. And I do believe you are a joke if you think the Achtung Babies are doing more justice to the new songs than the originals.
    You have to take into account that all fans might not have your devotion for everything the band does and might be there just to hear some great music (even better if they haven't heard it before - aka unplayed songs)
  5. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    You have to take into account that all fans might not have your devotion for everything the band does and might be there just to hear some great music (even better if they haven't heard it before - aka unplayed songs)
    Most fans would be happy with hearing Mysterious Ways, Elevation, Stuck In A Moment, and I Still Haven't Found every night. Anyone who's been to a show will know exactly how the crowd responds to the opening riff of Mysterious Ways even though it's been the exact same for years.
  6. The point is that about 95% of the fans don't really care about setlist variation. It's just the 5% hardcore fans, many of which reside on sites like this. I'm probably a minority of the subset that doesn't care about setlist variation if it means the show consists of songs that flow well with each other to tell a cohesive narrative.
  7. Originally posted by ahn1991:The point is that about 95% of the fans don't really care about setlist variation. It's just the 5% hardcore fans, many of which reside on sites like this. I'm probably a minority of the subset that doesn't care about setlist variation if it means the show consists of songs that flow well with each other to tell a cohesive narrative.
    And you have to point it out every five seconds... i think that everybody gets it by now...
  8. Every time somebody talks about setlist variation (or the lack thereof) I shall point out this fact.

    Technically, both arguments are pretty obvious since no matter how many songs get swapped we will always want more variation.
  9. Originally posted by ahn1991:[..]
    Every time somebody talks about setlist variation (or the lack thereof) I shall point out this fact.

    Technically, both arguments are pretty obvious since no matter how many songs get swapped we will always want more variation.
    Technically, your brought it up today without anybody saying anything XD
  10. It was a continuation of the setlist variation discussion before the show started (the one with the table).
  11. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    yeah, 1 song different from Los Angeles 2......... Long live setlist variation


    (just want to argument becuase I'm working and drunk)(
    ^ hey.
  12. I guess you are still working and still drunk?



    But moving back on topic, Lucifer's Hands had a fantastic debut today. It sounded really solid and gave almost the exact feeling it had on the album version. This comment may seem like a criticism, but I personally think Lucifer's Hands is a song that is intended to have a very simple and straightforward sound that presents some of the more complex lyrics I've seen from Bono. Unlike Volcano, which I think deserves dedicated visuals, I think Lucifer's Hands works very well on the e-stage with minimal visuals. With this song, the only new songs left from SOI and extras are This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now, Sleep Like A Baby Tonight, and The Crystal Ballroom. Bono has verbally confirmed The Crystal Ballroom during several different shows, so I think we'll have a good chance to see it eventually. This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now fits very well thematically in the SBS/Raised By Wolves narrative, but they would have to either add it or swap it if they want to put it there. I don't know where they would put Sleep Like A Baby Tonight though... It might fit between BD and WOWY, where Bad or The Troubles would normally be.