Joshua Tree Tour 2019
Legs (1): New Zealand, Australia and Asia
Shows: 15
  1. lol

    ADWMA Day Without Me would be a dream come true for me. It's creeped in into their Top20 for me in recent times - it's such a brilliant song both melodically and lirically.
  2. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]

    ASOH in 2001 was a very different issue as they had not resurrected it and played it several times prior to that performance. It was improptu and, yes, a debacle. But it was quite nice in 2017, and having the song resurrected I know I'm not the only one who was just hoping to hear it in Dublin. It seemed so obvious. And it was a big, big disappointment - not only for me, I know at least a dozen of other fans that were pissed about it as well.


    Ummm, did you see the other posts and my own about ASOH? It has literally no attachment to Ireland and never has. To "expect" it was not from a rational perspective. If they played 2 nights, yes, probably but only because that is how the setlist rotation was working at that time. I think "fans" have attached it for no reason other than it has "Homecoming" in the title. To be pissed they didn't play it (or any other song) for that matter is ridiculous. Disappointed? a little bummed? maybe. But pissed? Or a big disappointment? Wow. Based on what in U2's history shows it is a song for Ireland? I know you didn't enjoy the Croke show, but I think you lost a tad of perspective on it. You were seeing one of the greatest bands ever play Dublin and you are pissed. I have been a fan for 35 years and have never had the opportunity to even go to Ireland, that alone get to see U2 play there. Sorry, but I think it is ridiculous that you are pissed or even majorly disappointed about it.
  3. Originally posted by Blue_Room:[..]


    Ummm, did you see the other posts and my own about ASOH? It has literally no attachment to Ireland and never has. To "expect" it was not from a rational perspective. If they played 2 nights, yes, probably but only because that is how the setlist rotation was working at that time. I think "fans" have attached it for no reason other than it has "Homecoming" in the title. To be pissed they didn't play it (or any other song) for that matter is ridiculous. Disappointed? a little bummed? maybe. But pissed? Or a big disappointment? Wow. Based on what in U2's history shows it is a song for Ireland? I know you didn't enjoy the Croke show, but I think you lost a tad of perspective on it. You were seeing one of the greatest bands ever play Dublin and you are pissed. I have been a fan for 35 years and have never had the opportunity to even go to Ireland, that alone get to see U2 play there. Sorry, but I think it is ridiculous that you are pissed or even majorly disappointed about it.
    This is the band of my life. When I praise them I do it passionally... And when I criticise them I'm equally passionate - if not more, because I'm angry that they don't fulfill my expectations 100%.

    You are probably very right telling me off for my opinion(s) over the Croke gig. I am very much aware that I might sound ungrateful, bitter or even childish about it, but I was expecting much more from that gig considering it was the first time since... well, ever? that the band played only one show at their home country in a given tour. We/I hoped for it to be the gig of the leg, but objectively it was just another gig with a band that seemed to go through the motions (in a tour that was uninspired in the first place, of course). Not playing ASOH was just the straw that broke the camel's back, but there was much more to it than that. Maybe if they had played I Will Follow at the end, the disappointment of not getting ASOH would have washed out a bit.
  4. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    This is the band of my life. When I praise them I do it passionally... And when I criticise them I'm equally passionate - if not more, because I'm angry that they don't fulfill my expectations 100%.

    You are probably very right telling me off for my opinion(s) over the Croke gig. I am very much aware that I might sound ungrateful, bitter or even childish about it, but I was expecting much more from that gig considering it was the first time since... well, ever? that the band played only one show at their home country in a given tour. We/I hoped for it to be the gig of the leg, but objectively it was just another gig with a band that seemed to go through the motions (in a tour that was uninspired in the first place, of course). Not playing ASOH was just the straw that broke the camel's back, but there was much more to it than that. Maybe if they had played I Will Follow at the end, the disappointment of not getting ASOH would have washed out a bit.
    While I did criticize being critical over them not playing one particular song, I can definitely agree with the sentiment that U2 should do a little more for their hometown gigs, it is odd that they don't. Hell, they played I Will Follow at the end of the show in Toronto because the crowd was so good - why wouldn't they do that in Ireland of all places?

    I went to a hometown gig of a well-known Canadian band, Arkells last year, and it was fucking phenomenal. Not only did they play an extended set, a hometown song for their sports team, and a few other things - but the show itself was just dialed up to 11 compared to all of the other shows I've seen by them. They had free merch for everyone to mark the occasion, they had show-specific merch for that show, etc.Not only that, but they spent the day hanging with people around town, recommended food spots and other places to check out on their social media, even had a cycling parade to the gig lol.

    It was obvious they were playing their hometown, and if nothing else, that should be expected from U2. That being said, I also don't think people should buy tickets expecting that, if that makes sense. Part of U2's ethos in performance is playing the best show they can to everyone, no matter where - so playing the same show they played everywhere else is sort of in-line with that thinking. I guess what I mean is, it's unsurprising that they don't do it, even if they should - especially if they're doing it elsewhere (i.e. I Will Follow in Toronto but not Croke, etc.).
  5. Maybe the bands way of putting on a special hometown show is just putting more effort into the songs they do play rather than increasing the length of the Setlist. They did play the same number of songs at Croke as most venues,Seattle got more but even Toronto which was mentioned above still only got 22 songs it was just I will follow instead of little Things. I can kind of understand all the points of view though but I think there’s so much about JT17 that gets overlooked. If they had just called it a greatest hits tour then played TJT in full fans would have been praising them for it but because it was in the script people took it for granted a bit, playing the album in full particularly they final 7 songs that have been less common in more recent years was one of the best things they’ve ever done Setlist wise. Bad and ASOH as rotations as well is up there with the best rotations the band have ever done. And the inclusion of Little Things occasionally was excellent too. The main thing though as I touched upon was the surprise element being taken away from TJT section and I think that made people not appreciate it as much as they normally would hearing certain songs. Personally the only thing that disappointed me about the tour was only getting to see it once which I’ll be happy to put right in a few months.
  6. Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]
    While I did criticize being critical over them not playing one particular song, I can definitely agree with the sentiment that U2 should do a little more for their hometown gigs, it is odd that they don't. Hell, they played I Will Follow at the end of the show in Toronto because the crowd was so good - why wouldn't they do that in Ireland of all places?

    I went to a hometown gig of a well-known Canadian band, Arkells last year, and it was fucking phenomenal. Not only did they play an extended set, a hometown song for their sports team, and a few other things - but the show itself was just dialed up to 11 compared to all of the other shows I've seen by them. They had free merch for everyone to mark the occasion, they had show-specific merch for that show, etc.Not only that, but they spent the day hanging with people around town, recommended food spots and other places to check out on their social media, even had a cycling parade to the gig lol.

    It was obvious they were playing their hometown, and if nothing else, that should be expected from U2. That being said, I also don't think people should buy tickets expecting that, if that makes sense. Part of U2's ethos in performance is playing the best show they can to everyone, no matter where - so playing the same show they played everywhere else is sort of in-line with that thinking. I guess what I mean is, it's unsurprising that they don't do it, even if they should - especially if they're doing it elsewhere (i.e. I Will Follow in Toronto but not Croke, etc.).
    Didn't know there was a fellow Golden Horseshoe representation here! Not a lot of U2 presence in Grimsby But being closed to The Hammer, we do have the Danial Lanois bragging rights! Yes, the Arkells are fantastic! I've personally not seen them, though I work with a couple that goes to see them every chance they can. I'm pretty sure they were at the show you are alluding to at Ivor Wynne Tim Horton's Field . And yes, every hometown show should be the best. I too was surprised that there was only 1 Croke Gig. And yes, the energy at JT2017 at Skydome Rogers Centre was unreal. I remember bawling all the way through 'Bad', and yes I will concede that IWF was outstanding.
  7. Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
    This is the band of my life. When I praise them I do it passionally... And when I criticise them I'm equally passionate - if not more, because I'm angry that they don't fulfill my expectations 100%.

    I fully agree with you on this Sergio. We defend U2 to great lengths to their critics, and we also have high expectations on them. Which I think is not coincidental that the band also hold themselves to a high standard. Also, I'll chime in on the ASOH chatter; perhaps it has a reference to Ireland / Dublin, perhaps it doesn't. If you listen back to some of the TUF gigs, and the intro that Bono gives to the song, it certainly does lend itself to feeling like you're at home (i.e the end lyric "for tonight at last I am coming home"). I think the home feeling is secondary to whether it's Dublin.
  8. Originally posted by mattfromcanada:[..]

    I fully agree with you on this Sergio. We defend U2 to great lengths to their critics, and we also have high expectations on them. Which I think is not coincidental that the band also hold themselves to a high standard. Also, I'll chime in on the ASOH chatter; perhaps it has a reference to Ireland / Dublin, perhaps it doesn't. If you listen back to some of the TUF gigs, and the intro that Bono gives to the song, it certainly does lend itself to feeling like you're at home (i.e the end lyric "for tonight at last I am coming home"). I think the home feeling is secondary to whether it's Dublin.
    Yes, he does that at just about every Unf. Fire show. BUT, U2's history live does not suggest the song has an Ireland connection or at least not much of one. The only time it was played where this could be argued they did IMO was the first Slane show in 2001. Otherwise, it was part of a normal setlist rotation or simply has not been done in Ireland. The band clearly do not appear to feel there is much of a connection to the song and playing Ireland based on their live history. OR they think it is cliche' to play it specifically because they are in Ireland. THAT is my point. They played it especially for Ireland just once in their live history. Those are not good odds for expecting the song IMO.
    Its not like I pointed out before. Whenever U2 plays New Zealand for example, I would probably expect One Tree Hill previously (obviously will be done in 2019 anyway). Even Spanish Eyes, a B side, is more likely to be done in Spain or Mexico over ASOH in Ireland based on their live history. But I still would not "expect" the song in those countries. Just more likely to happen there. Unlike ASOH in Ireland.
  9. Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]
    While I did criticize being critical over them not playing one particular song, I can definitely agree with the sentiment that U2 should do a little more for their hometown gigs, it is odd that they don't. Hell, they played I Will Follow at the end of the show in Toronto because the crowd was so good - why wouldn't they do that in Ireland of all places?

    I went to a hometown gig of a well-known Canadian band, Arkells last year, and it was fucking phenomenal. Not only did they play an extended set, a hometown song for their sports team, and a few other things - but the show itself was just dialed up to 11 compared to all of the other shows I've seen by them. They had free merch for everyone to mark the occasion, they had show-specific merch for that show, etc.Not only that, but they spent the day hanging with people around town, recommended food spots and other places to check out on their social media, even had a cycling parade to the gig lol.

    It was obvious they were playing their hometown, and if nothing else, that should be expected from U2. That being said, I also don't think people should buy tickets expecting that, if that makes sense. Part of U2's ethos in performance is playing the best show they can to everyone, no matter where - so playing the same show they played everywhere else is sort of in-line with that thinking. I guess what I mean is, it's unsurprising that they don't do it, even if they should - especially if they're doing it elsewhere (i.e. I Will Follow in Toronto but not Croke, etc.).
    Oskee Wee Wee!
  10. Originally posted by mattfromcanada:[..]
    Didn't know there was a fellow Golden Horseshoe representation here! Not a lot of U2 presence in Grimsby But being closed to The Hammer, we do have the Danial Lanois bragging rights! Yes, the Arkells are fantastic! I've personally not seen them, though I work with a couple that goes to see them every chance they can. I'm pretty sure they were at the show you are alluding to at Ivor Wynne Tim Horton's Field . And yes, every hometown show should be the best. I too was surprised that there was only 1 Croke Gig. And yes, the energy at JT2017 at Skydome Rogers Centre was unreal. I remember bawling all the way through 'Bad', and yes I will concede that IWF was outstanding.
    Tigers eat em Raw!
  11. Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
  12. I know this won't happen but would be cool if they did, If they played the album version of Streets... actually while on the subject, have they ever played it like the album version?