Today, U2 performed in their hometown Dublin, the first of a four-night run at the 3Arena. This run of shows replicates the amount that they played at the same venue in 2015.

We owe you a summary of the past month of U2's performances. Life, work, travel, and other things interrupted our coverage, for which I apologise. But first, today's overview.

The band soundchecked Dirty Day, as they have before other gigs recently. It was in a printed setlist before Zoo Station that circulated online before the show, but in the end it was not performed. It appears the band decided just before showtime not to attempt it, and new setlists without it were distributed.

The rotational slot early in the main set featured Gloria, back after missing one gig.

In the speech before Zoo Station, Bono referred to one of the band's early gigs where they were excited to have some record executives in the audience, hoping that they would be impressed enough to give the band a deal. Instead the executives drank at the bar and went home early to watch The Specials play on The Old Grey Whistle Test. The gig in question was 2 October 1979 at the Baggot Inn.

During Pride, Bono noted that the US is going to the polls in its midterm elections. As the crowd chanted the song, he urged them to sing it loud enough so that they can "hear us across the Atlantic". He then said that "we wish for America better things than some Americans seem to wish for themselves".

Bono also spoke about political issues closer to home. Before One, he referred to the possible effects of Brexit for Ireland, telling the audience that "whether there is a hard border, or a soft border, or no border at all, we need more than ever to trust each other on this little island we share".

There were rumours online during the show that the band would play a song after 13. If this happened, it would have been the first time a show this tour ended with a song other than 13. These rumours rested on a simple mistake when the information was passed on: the source saw a string of text in large print after 13 and shared that something was printed below the song. When this was disseminated it was mentioned that it could be a song, and the rumours went from there. The text was actually stage instructions printed extra large, as the modifications necessary to fit the stage into the 3Arena meant the band needed to leave from a different point to usual.

The full setlist was:

1. The Blackout
2. Lights Of Home
3. I Will Follow
4. Gloria / Van Morrison's Gloria (snippet) / Patti Smith's Gloria (snippet)
5. Beautiful Day
6. Zoo Station
7. The Fly
8. Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
9. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
(Intermission - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me)
10. Elevation
11. Vertigo / Rebel Rebel (snippet)
12. Even Better Than The Real Thing Fish Out of Water Mix
13. Hall of Mirrors (snippet) / Acrobat
14. The Showman (Little More Better) (snippet) / You're The Best Thing About Me Full band acoustic
15. Summer Of Love Bono and Edge
16. Pride (In the Name of Love)
17. Get Out Of Your Own Way / The Boys are Back in Town (snippet)
18. New Year's Day
19. City of Blinding Lights

encore(s):

20. Women of the World (snippet) / One / Invisible (snippet)
21. Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way
22. 13 (There Is A Light)

All details for this show including reviews, videos and photos can be found here.

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Posted on November 05, 2018 by Axver