My disappointment with U2 is not only about a bad concert (which I think was very much due to the weather), but more about three bad albums. I’ve been a U2 fan since about 1988/1989 and I know a album might grow on you – October is such an album to me, it is close to a favourite to me now, it wasn’t when I bought it – but HTDAAB, ATYCLB and NLOTH are all in the ”I don’t care if they will grow or not” category. The reason is that there is a spark that is missing, a fire that has gone out. I can accept that a band evolve, and I expect them to do so – any band that doesn’t evolve dies out, there are thousands of examples if you look for it. I tried to capture some of my feelings in two previous posts, please read them if you want to know better why I feel so disappointed:

1. Why I will move away from U2 — and already has
2. Putting the finger on what I am missing?

I will agree with you that over the years U2 has become far less militant and have definitely adopted a more pop vibe to their music. These are different times though. The music industry is a lot more fluffy. There just aren’t many bands that are successful and meaningful at the same time now. That being said, U2′s act in 2010 is still so far above any of the competition as far as depth and spirituality is concerned its ridiculous. I still listen to them and want to go out and change the world. I can’t even think of another band I respect more. These are 50 year old fathers now and they’re millionaires. There are no more Sunday Bloody Sunday fight songs in them to write. They have never relented and given up on adding the message that this world must change. When How To Dismantle… came out I will agree that from the 1st until maybe the 10th listen I was sort of let down and put it away altogether but for some reason it ended up back on my playlist and it eventually has become one of my favorites. When I actually gave it a REAL listen and then went to see the concert I felt what I thought was missing.

I have seen U2 360 in the US and I enjoyed it. The stage and the grand production of this show can actually set fans up for disappointment – it’s a lot to live up to for them to deserve a stage like that. People are expecting U2-topia. I won’t say it was my favorite but I definitely would and was going to go again before Bono’s recent surgery stopped the 2nd leg. I am not the biggest fan of outdoor arena shows (I like the intimacy of a smaller venue) but that stage was amazing and they still rock. You have to admit that. Their evolved sound may not be your cup of tea but the fact that they can stagger their old stuff right in with the new and not miss a beat is pretty darn cool. The youngsters will learn eventually that U2 have been together long before Beautiful Day and when they hear the classics in concert if they’re smart they’ll catch on. It is still a beautiful experience for me and I respect that after so long they can sell out arenas, spare no expense for production without charging Madonna ticket prices. You can still see the tremendous spirit they carry and joy they have for the job. Sounds like you just ended up with a weak crowd…the excitement in Vegas was awesome.

I am not a blogger and have NEVER sent a comment of this length before but this posting made me sad. I am sad that the love you had for them didn’t make it to 2010. What they gave us in the 80′s I still carry with me and for that and for who they’ve become I will always be a fan, never miss a tour and buy every album even if I may be thinking how October or War is far superior every time. Speaking of God, Aids, poverty and human suffering is not popular in pop music but they have disregarded that and that never has changed. I wish you could take that into account plus consider that a band that’s been around 25 yrs must evolve. The sound has changed but you and I both know the message it there and that its genuine. Make that count for something.