SPOILER: Official Gilette Stadium, Boston, Set-List, 21st September 2009

[Utwoed]

I'd like to know why it is they don't play their old songs off the first 3, hell 4, albums.  I don't mean just SBS or I Will Follow (though I always love hearing it).  All those great early songs.  I don't think they know how to play them anymore and Edge has said he can't even remember the chords.  I'd give anything for a show that was just all those great songs from their earliest albums.  Hell, Springsteen just performed his BTR album in it's entirety here in Chicago last night. 

Did you forget that "Electric Co" and "The Ocean" and "An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart" were all played last tour?

I think it's a bit of What Have You Done For Me Lately for some people.

They've done a lot for me lately so I don't know what you're talking about. 

[Dream Out Loud]

...that being said, I did post something on here somewhere a few months ago showing that Bruce had played EVERY song from his first 2 albums (the two before Born to Run) at least once in the past 10 or 15 years (i forget the specifics).  in fact, i think all but one track from his debut album made it on the last tour.  He does not ignore his older stuff.  It seems U2 is much more reluctant to dig out the really deep cuts.

[Vervefloyd]

so does breathe get dropped or one of the 3 in the encore?

[JoshuaTree94]

I think they should just extend the set by another encore three songs, so they can keep Ultraviolet in a similar role, and still have Breathe doing the pounding intro, lights come on thing.

[Dream Out Loud]

so does breathe get dropped or one of the 3 in the encore?

i still maintain it should open the encore.

[Vervefloyd]

...that being said, I did post something on here somewhere a few months ago showing that Bruce had played EVERY song from his first 2 albums (the two before Born to Run) at least once in the past 10 or 15 years (i forget the specifics).  in fact, i think all but one track from his debut album made it on the last tour.  He does not ignore his older stuff.  It seems U2 is much more reluctant to dig out the really deep cuts.

Only The Angel hasnt been played since the E Street band has been back together.  A good chunk of both those albums get played randomly on each tour.  There's always a chance any night you can get one.

[Vervefloyd]

so does breathe get dropped or one of the 3 in the encore?

i still maintain it should open the encore.

I'm with you on that.  Breathe/Ultraviolet/Moment would be great.

[Dream Out Loud]

fake tweet from @U2: 21 - Mercy

[Dream Out Loud]

...that being said, I did post something on here somewhere a few months ago showing that Bruce had played EVERY song from his first 2 albums (the two before Born to Run) at least once in the past 10 or 15 years (i forget the specifics).  in fact, i think all but one track from his debut album made it on the last tour.  He does not ignore his older stuff.  It seems U2 is much more reluctant to dig out the really deep cuts.

Only The Angel hasnt been played since the E Street band has been back together.  A good chunk of both those albums get played randomly on each tour.  There's always a chance any night you can get one.

and that song isn't very good.  You should find my post somewhere on this forum where I discuss seeing Bruce last August in Richmond Virgina and the entire CRUSH ON YOU experience.  incredibly cool

[Dream Out Loud]

oh well.

ENCORE

21.  Ultraviolet (Light My Way)

[1985]

I'd like to know why it is they don't play their old songs off the first 3, hell 4, albums.  I don't mean just SBS or I Will Follow (though I always love hearing it).  All those great early songs.  I don't think they know how to play them anymore and Edge has said he can't even remember the chords.  I'd give anything for a show that was just all those great songs from their earliest albums.  Hell, Springsteen just performed his BTR album in it's entirety here in Chicago last night.  

I think you answer your own question, in a way. As much as I respect the totality of Springsteen's career, his third album was his masterpiece. It's to his credit that he doesn't play BTR and Darkness every night he performs.

Not so for U2. There was terrific stuff in the first three albums, but numbers four through eight truly contain the band's genius.

[Utwoed]

...that being said, I did post something on here somewhere a few months ago showing that Bruce had played EVERY song from his first 2 albums (the two before Born to Run) at least once in the past 10 or 15 years (i forget the specifics).  in fact, i think all but one track from his debut album made it on the last tour.  He does not ignore his older stuff.  It seems U2 is much more reluctant to dig out the really deep cuts.

I wonder what their reluctance is.  Bands should never be reluctant to play the old songs that made people get into them in the first place.  Oh yes, Bruce has always played his old stuff from the first 2 albums, especially the last 10 years.  Quite a few of them he's kept in rotation forever.  He's even perfomed them when he does solo tours. Those are the little gems people are hoping to hear at shows and why thousands of fanatics follow him around the world when he's on tour.  I know quite a few of those people.  I was unfortunate enough to even get Mary Queen of Arkansas at a show on the Rising tour, pfft.

[Vervefloyd]

...that being said, I did post something on here somewhere a few months ago showing that Bruce had played EVERY song from his first 2 albums (the two before Born to Run) at least once in the past 10 or 15 years (i forget the specifics).  in fact, i think all but one track from his debut album made it on the last tour.  He does not ignore his older stuff.  It seems U2 is much more reluctant to dig out the really deep cuts.

Only The Angel hasnt been played since the E Street band has been back together.  A good chunk of both those albums get played randomly on each tour.  There's always a chance any night you can get one.

and that song isn't very good.  You should find my post somewhere on this forum where I discuss seeing Bruce last August in Richmond Virgina and the entire CRUSH ON YOU experience.  incredibly cool

I just moved back to richmond in march so i missed it.  I saw him here back on the rising tour.  got a wonderful solo piano For You.  I happen to love The Angel.  I love the whole first album its actually my second favorite album ever to Achtung Baby and the most influential album for me in my own writing style.

[JoshuaTree94]

I'm wondering if Breathe won't be in the set at all? Maybe switch With or Without You for something else?

[Dream Out Loud]

i'm feeling BAD tonight. i don't know why other than it's Boston.