36 thoughts on “Jolly Good Show

  1. One thing struck me about seeing R.E.M. live. They’re a great band, they’re probably better musicians than U2, they’ve got an almost equally charismatic frontman (though on a completely different plane) and they know their repertoire inside out. It’s great hearing completely different sets each night.

    But you don’t see people *en masse* go off their heads on the vibe of it. People enjoy it, they listen, they connect, but there’s no communal ecstasy like there is at U2 gigs. It’s a completely different experience. There’s no build up in the show and you can complain what you want about U2’s lack of variety in setlists, but it’s that tension and release they create with their carefully selected material that makes ‘god’ be in the house.

    This is how U2 deserve the title of greatest live act, I think.

  2. One thing struck me about seeing R.E.M. live. They’re a great band, they’re probably better musicians than U2, they’ve got an almost equally charismatic frontman (though on a completely different plane) and they know their repertoire inside out. It’s great hearing completely different sets each night.

    But you don’t see people *en masse* go off their heads on the vibe of it. People enjoy it, they listen, they connect, but there’s no communal ecstasy like there is at U2 gigs. It’s a completely different experience. There’s no build up in the show and you can complain what you want about U2’s lack of variety in setlists, but it’s that tension and release they create with their carefully selected material that makes ‘god’ be in the house.

    This is how U2 deserve the title of greatest live act, I think.

  3. well put vonb… although I just tried to get in on the REM presale for the dc gig and the presale sold out in less than 3 minutes! so people are still all about rem, with or without a new album. that said, I think only the average age of rolling stone readers prevented bruce springsteen and the e street band from being in the top ten… I have seen about half the acts on the list and only Bruce comes close to touching U2. actually I’d argue that they are neck and neck for getting people to “go off their heads”… but the e street band shakes up their setlists considerably. ahh, bruuuuuce. 🙂

  4. well put vonb… although I just tried to get in on the REM presale for the dc gig and the presale sold out in less than 3 minutes! so people are still all about rem, with or without a new album. that said, I think only the average age of rolling stone readers prevented bruce springsteen and the e street band from being in the top ten… I have seen about half the acts on the list and only Bruce comes close to touching U2. actually I’d argue that they are neck and neck for getting people to “go off their heads”… but the e street band shakes up their setlists considerably. ahh, bruuuuuce. 🙂

  5. As much as I’d like to see U2 shake up the setlist every night, I’d rather see a show that sounds good, as opposed to a bunch of stuff that sounds only so-so. I think that’s one reason the band usually only makes small changes, if any: they’d rather give fans the best possible show.

  6. As much as I’d like to see U2 shake up the setlist every night, I’d rather see a show that sounds good, as opposed to a bunch of stuff that sounds only so-so. I think that’s one reason the band usually only makes small changes, if any: they’d rather give fans the best possible show.

  7. I agree that “Under A Blood Red Sky” is one of the best live albums ever. But some of the U2 bootleg concerts from those early years make “Blood Red Sky” sound tame. Does any fan know how I can get my hands on some good early ’80s U2 live on CD? Maybe a good show from the “WAR” tour?

  8. I agree that “Under A Blood Red Sky” is one of the best live albums ever. But some of the U2 bootleg concerts from those early years make “Blood Red Sky” sound tame. Does any fan know how I can get my hands on some good early ’80s U2 live on CD? Maybe a good show from the “WAR” tour?

  9. good to see the boys on top. too bad the magazine is no longer relevant when it comes to covering music.

  10. good to see the boys on top. too bad the magazine is no longer relevant when it comes to covering music.

  11. I totally agree Vonb..I’ve seen a few REM gigs and the shows can vary massively in ‘greatness’. At Cardiff Arms Park in 95 is was a summer carnival feel, then at Earl’s Court a few years later we were still having a beer out the back when then got onto stage, there was no build up at all and the show had no momentum. On the other hand, U2 are pretty consistent, and let’s be fair if anybody is going to critisize their performances it’s going to be us lot. For all our obsessive fandom, I think U2 fans have VERY high expectations of their band.

  12. I totally agree Vonb..I’ve seen a few REM gigs and the shows can vary massively in ‘greatness’. At Cardiff Arms Park in 95 is was a summer carnival feel, then at Earl’s Court a few years later we were still having a beer out the back when then got onto stage, there was no build up at all and the show had no momentum. On the other hand, U2 are pretty consistent, and let’s be fair if anybody is going to critisize their performances it’s going to be us lot. For all our obsessive fandom, I think U2 fans have VERY high expectations of their band.

  13. ….oh and under a blood red sky is fantastic. I wonder if the quality of that record lies alot in the recording. I’ve rarely heard live albums that have that energy. I used to listen to Simple Minds ‘Live in the city of light’ for the same reason. A recent find is Thin Lizzy ‘Live & Dangerous’ which sounds magnificant.

  14. ….oh and under a blood red sky is fantastic. I wonder if the quality of that record lies alot in the recording. I’ve rarely heard live albums that have that energy. I used to listen to Simple Minds ‘Live in the city of light’ for the same reason. A recent find is Thin Lizzy ‘Live & Dangerous’ which sounds magnificant.

  15. Jim, I too stumbled upon Thin Lizzy live (on Usenet, of all places) and was quite pleasantly surprised.

  16. Jim, I too stumbled upon Thin Lizzy live (on Usenet, of all places) and was quite pleasantly surprised.

  17. No offense at all to PJ, but PJ Harvey makes this RS list and Morrissey doesn’t? His live shows are truly awesome. Though, not as awesome as U2, of course.

  18. No offense at all to PJ, but PJ Harvey makes this RS list and Morrissey doesn’t? His live shows are truly awesome. Though, not as awesome as U2, of course.

  19. I couldn’t agree more with this poll! Way to go boys! There is no doubt that when it comes to live concerts U2 takes you to another place not of this planet. Being moved by their music and leaving a different person says it all.
    As Bono says: “take it to the church” and that’s exactly what if feels like!

  20. I couldn’t agree more with this poll! Way to go boys! There is no doubt that when it comes to live concerts U2 takes you to another place not of this planet. Being moved by their music and leaving a different person says it all.
    As Bono says: “take it to the church” and that’s exactly what if feels like!

  21. U2 are my favorite band, but Jesus Christ, no Led Zeppelin in the top twenty?! Kids these days!

  22. U2 are my favorite band, but Jesus Christ, no Led Zeppelin in the top twenty?! Kids these days!

  23. the proof in my pudding that u2 were/are a great live band and not just in my estimation, came when i convinced some otherwise indifferent friends to fork out for popmart tix, where they sat a few rows away from us near the front. the show starts, they are sitting down; the show ends, they are standing on their chairs, stomping and whooping and looking at me like “where have we been all our lives?” conversion accomplished in one easy step.

  24. the proof in my pudding that u2 were/are a great live band and not just in my estimation, came when i convinced some otherwise indifferent friends to fork out for popmart tix, where they sat a few rows away from us near the front. the show starts, they are sitting down; the show ends, they are standing on their chairs, stomping and whooping and looking at me like “where have we been all our lives?” conversion accomplished in one easy step.

  25. Since I live in Australia, I would have to unfortunately disagree with this list. I have seen u2 three times on 3 different tours – Rattle n’ Hum, Zoomerang and Popmart. The Rattle n’ Hum concert was great, however both the Zoomerang and Popmart tours lacked something (maybe because they were near the end of their tour). With both concerts, I knew what song whas coming up next before they played it because they stuck with the same setlists each night. Perhaps if Australia had U2 more often I would change my mind.

    My top five:

    – Radiohead (Ok Computer tour)
    – Jeff Buckley (saw him 3 times)
    – Beck (Sea Change – brilliant artist)
    – Ben Harper (Burn to Sine tour)
    – REM (Monster Tour – great musicians)

  26. Since I live in Australia, I would have to unfortunately disagree with this list. I have seen u2 three times on 3 different tours – Rattle n’ Hum, Zoomerang and Popmart. The Rattle n’ Hum concert was great, however both the Zoomerang and Popmart tours lacked something (maybe because they were near the end of their tour). With both concerts, I knew what song whas coming up next before they played it because they stuck with the same setlists each night. Perhaps if Australia had U2 more often I would change my mind.

    My top five:

    – Radiohead (Ok Computer tour)
    – Jeff Buckley (saw him 3 times)
    – Beck (Sea Change – brilliant artist)
    – Ben Harper (Burn to Sine tour)
    – REM (Monster Tour – great musicians)

  27. if you want to see U2 not stick to the set list go see them in a city where they are playing more than two shows. I saw them in chicago in May 2001 on the 3rd and 4th nights. Quite like what R.E.M are doing with retro mini shows (four censecutive songs from Pagent or Fables) U2 did five consecutive songs from AB it was like ZOO T.V. night. The fourth gig they played 11 O’clock… and Out of Control (these were not part of the set list at the time but became a part because of the great reaction). Other than that you will notice R.E.M. have very similar beginnings middle and ends. The cut for the encore almost always happens at the same spot. All in all though they are more adventurous. The once played Murmur (their first album) from beginning to end at a gig in Athens seven years after the release of said album. Imagine U2 doing that to Boy!!!

  28. if you want to see U2 not stick to the set list go see them in a city where they are playing more than two shows. I saw them in chicago in May 2001 on the 3rd and 4th nights. Quite like what R.E.M are doing with retro mini shows (four censecutive songs from Pagent or Fables) U2 did five consecutive songs from AB it was like ZOO T.V. night. The fourth gig they played 11 O’clock… and Out of Control (these were not part of the set list at the time but became a part because of the great reaction). Other than that you will notice R.E.M. have very similar beginnings middle and ends. The cut for the encore almost always happens at the same spot. All in all though they are more adventurous. The once played Murmur (their first album) from beginning to end at a gig in Athens seven years after the release of said album. Imagine U2 doing that to Boy!!!

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