Originally posted by MattG:I watched an acoustic WGRYWH from the Vertigo Tour (Minneapolis, I think) and the crowd reaction when Bono sings "You're dangerous..." was thunderous. I think U2 has pandered a little more toward the "casual concertgoer" with the IE/JT tours, and I think the pendulum swings both ways...they pander, so the "casuals" come out. I doubt it would get as big of a reaction on this tour, but I hope we'll see.
On the flipside, I then watched the ZooTV Rotterdam performance, and the completely immersive, wall-of-sound coming from The Edge throughout the verses is just stunning. As always, I will enjoy every moment of the shows I see on EI, but I can't help but think they're missing a huge opportunity if they play it acoustic.
Just because people aren't as familiar with the song doesn't mean that if you do it true and right, people wouldn't still be blown away by it. Some of the best concert memories for me have been songs I didn't previously know, that I was Googling lyrics of, or searching the setlist for, just to obsess over the song for the rest of my life.
But if it's just a drab acoustic number in the middle, people will take it as a piss break and the reaction will temper.
Please U2, don't phone this one in! Such a big opportunity!
