And yes, they were amazing again this time.
BUT... totally unexpected to me, because I wasn't paying attention to it, it turns out they had another band opening for them on this tour, so when I got there I found out that I'd get for the same ticket to watch a U2 tribute band as well!
So I got GSQ/DSR AND Zen Garden.
When we entered the theatre Patti Smith was already on the PA, so it was a very exciting and weird feeling (specially because I felt like no one around me had any idea of many things like that about U2, since they weren't really a U2 crowd).
Anyway.
The band was good enough. First U2 tribute band I've seen live.
There were a couple of misplaced falsettos that felt a bit weird, so that makes you think "that's NOT Bono", but then there were a few times when the singer mixed some verses/lyrics in the songs and so that makes you think "THAT is Bono!"
In the lows I'll say there's Streets, they kind of dragged too much the intro without actually "kicking it" (the Edge's delay never led to that moment when the song really kicks in, you know which one, when the white lights and the crowd finally explodes). Also using yellow/purple lights instead of the traditional red didn't help either.
The singer is still "holding on". He has the mannerisms and the voice, but he lacks the confidence and showmanship of Bono; yeah, well, that's not for sale on the store, I know that, but yet he still has that vibe of being an imitator, an actor playing -not very convincingly- a character. That is more noticeable when you compare him against the frontman of the main show: DSR's Freddy really plays the part and has made the mannerisms and character his own, he doesn't feel like faking it.
Finally, I really got a weird vibe at SBS. I've seen opinions about it in other places too, and I thought it didn't really matter, but seeing them live it does mattered to me. They're not irish. They haven't experienced the struggles. They don't get to be screaming "No More!" and singing angrily this song. As fans, sure, you get to scream and to be irate; but performing? I didn't enjoyed it too much, and I did feel like it trivializes U2's position on this issue.
But anyway, the show is pretty good. The "lows" shouldn't stop you from enjoying the show.
I (We?) got "Shine like Stars" and "Hear Us Coming Lord" which was awesome.
Here's the full setlist:
People Have the Power -Patti Smith -PA
1. The Miracle
2. Streets
3. WOWY/Shine like Stars
4. Vertigo
5. Beautiful Day
6. NYD
7. SBS
8. The Fly (Daddy's Gonna Pay Intro)
9. Desire (Hollywood Remix)
10. Pride
11. ISHF
12. one.org video/One/Hear Us Coming
