by Keith U.

ok. i've had enough of all the 'newbie' fans acting like they saw God at the Tampa show. i'm also tired of reading about all of the "hardcore" fans making comments like "...did anyone notice that Adam and the Edge switched places during '40'?"...uh, that's the only way "40" has ever been played, and if you're not sure, just check the 'Red Rocks' video (from 1983!). how can some of you claim to have seen them every tour since 1982 and not know these things. forget 'noticing', you should KNOW these things.

also, i've seen U2 7 times (starting with The Joshua Tree tour in 1987), and this was, by far, the weakest, safest, cookie-cutter, "greatest hits", non-album cut setlist of all time. all of you "hardcore" fans should feel cheated like i do.

they stated from the beginning of the tour that this was their 25th anniversary on American shores after the release of "Boy" and would be bringing back older songs (ie: The Electric Co., The Ocean, An Cat Dubh, Into the Heart, etc.) and successfully including some of these songs up until the week of the Tampa show. (note: you can even watch the special features on the new Live in Chicago DVD where Adam states they are 'revisiting' old songs). where were they?

i also have a major problem w/ people claiming they are old-school hardcore fans and go crazy when they play songs like "Mysterious Ways" or "Original of the Species" - 2 good songs, but they hardly qualify as 'moving' and shouldn't envoke any type of a frenzy. i usually get the "goose bumps" factor during a song like "Bad", but, oh, wait, that's right... they didn't play it.

Bono only came out on the runway a handful of times, unlike the 2001 tour when he spent most if his time there.

maybe i'm jaded, but i don't want to hear (live, that is) "With or Without You", "One", "Pride..." ever again. give me something fresh (ie: "A Sort of Homecoming", "One Tree Hill", "Ultraviolet", "Love is Blindess", "Two Hearts Beat as One", etc. etc., or has everyone forgotten how incredible intense, beautiful and moving these songs are.

i'm not pouting because they didn't play any old songs or more album cuts, i'm bothered in general and amazed with people. U2 were great, they played great, they looked great, the stage show was great... but, why wouldn't people realise that
the show was staged and almost scripted, nothing spontaneous or spiritual about it.

i was on the floor and people were around me were going crazy when they came out for their "surprise" 2nd encore. i guess they failed to see the entire set-list (including both encores and spaces indicating stopping points) which was in clear view next to Larry. it was right there in the huge video screen all night. one guy next to me was shouting they he couldn't believe that they were coming out again, i told him they would be playing "All Because of You, Yahweh and 40". he looked surprised and i pointed at the monitor...
real spontaneous U2 (slight hint of sarcasm).

oh, well. i'm glad i saw my "boys". i liken it to a family get together that you don't really want to go to, but you know you should and you're glad you went, no matter how uncomfortable you feel. You set your expectations high and tell yourself it'll be better than last year and then your uncle offers you a drink after you've told him at every family gathering for the past 5 years that you don't drink. you get it?

this was the first tour i didn't buy a shirt. TAKE THAT, U2!

that'll show 'em.

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