U2 returned to Scotland for the first time since August 2009 as part of a ‘mini tour’ of North America and Europe entitled ‘Innocence and Experience’. This tour coincides with their first album in 6 years ‘Songs of Innocence’ released earlier this year. Normally U2 concerts over the past 20 years have been somewhat predictable in terms of venues (normally large outdoor sports stadiums), this tour differed in a number of ways, notably an intention of the band to focus on smaller/more intimate indoor venues with only very limited shows in the UK - two in the Hydro Glasgow preceded with six at London's O2 arena. Needless to say the cost of the show apart from the standing area wasn’t cheap for the majority of fans from both UK and around the world due to these reasons. That did not deter fans and these series of shows were sold within a few hours.

To understand some elements of this show it's useful to understand the theme of ‘Songs of Innocence’ which in itself was met with mixed reviews, but the band attempted to strip back the music and show to a more basic level, somewhat similar to the bands early releases in the early 80’s. The common theme being centred around the bands teenage years in Dublin in the mid-late 70’s with themes of love, regret and the passing away of Bono’s mother when aged 14. The album also pays tribute to the bands early musical influences (including the Ramones, The Clash and The Jam to name a few).

Whilst all music is personal taste, U2 fall plain and squarely into the category of classic rock. For their many millions of loyal fans throughout the world nothing much comes better, but equally many people dislike them for a number of reasons be it the music or the somewhat perceived pretentious and celebrity nature of lead singer Bono.

The show was very much one of ‘two halves’; the early part started quite basic with very few visual effects, the set largely containing material from the new album (Miracle of Joey Ramone, Iris, Cedarwood Grove) combined with some very old releases from the early 80’s (I Will Follow, Gloria, Sunday Bloody Sunday) before gradually progressing into a broad 'Greatest Hits' tour of songs from the past 30 years from virtually everyone of their 13 albums to date which included U2 Classics: 'Vertigo', 'Beautiful Day', 'Pride (in the name of love)', 'Bullet The Blue Sky', 'Where the Streets Have No Name' and 'One' to name a few).

A well received part of the show was the largely ‘unplugged acoustic set’ on a small mini stage in the centre of the standing area where an audience member (coincidently on both nights an attractive female!) was invited on stage to dance to the song ‘mysterious ways’ and then for the next song film the band with a hand held camera for an internet based live broadcast combined with live feeds and ‘tweets’. Songs in this section included 'Angel of Harlem', 'Desire' and 'October'.

As the show progressed, so did the visual effects with a quite magnificent sound and light show with the centre focus being a huge video screen that dropped from the ceiling of the venue and ran virtually the length of the ‘run off’ part of the main stage which stretched approximately 100 metres. At various times, the screen acted as a mural for some powerful images, be it the bands early years in Dublin, the victims of the Irish troubles or humanitarian relief in Africa and recent troubles in the Middle East. As with any U2 concert, politics is never far from the surface noting in no way is the show partial to any political persuasion, the band take their humanitarian work and social responsibilities seriously at both an international and local level.

Like most U2 shows and not always noted, the most powerful and slower songs are left to the end and these two shows were no different with the last several songs including 'Beautiful Day', 'City of Blinding Lights', 'With or Without You', 'Bad', & '40'.

For the genuine fans, this concert did mark a return where the music was a definite priority over everything else (unlike the last '360' tour in 2009) where each band member really stepped up to the mark and the balance of ‘innocence and experience’ worked exceptionally well. The good balance of songs, great visual effects and general all round atmosphere were excellent. It was also clear that the band enjoyed this show as much as the fans and the subsequent shows in Belfast and particularly Dublin were almost certain to go down as some of the best the band will probably play. The recent postponed shows in Paris when re-scheduled, will be very powerful for musicians and fans alike.

So, what next for the band? It's hard to predict, but rest assured they won't be putting their feet up for too long and more shows are likely in 2016 which no doubt will be met with much enthusiasm by fans worldwide. Lets hope the music quality and intimacy of these recent shows can be maintained, or at least transferred to larger venues. For the genuine fans, this is a must see tour.

Setlist from Friday November 5th Courtesy of U2 gigs.com

The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
The Electric Co. / Send In The Clowns (snippet) / I Can See For Miles (snippet) / The Saints Are Coming (snippet)
Vertigo / God Save The Queen (Sex Pistols) (snippet)
I Will Follow
Iris (Hold Me Close) / Hold Me Close (snippet)
Cedarwood Road
Song For Someone
Sunday Bloody Sunday / When Johnny Comes Marching Home (snippet)
Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet)
Until The End Of The World / Words (snippet)
(Intermission - The Fly with live vocals)
Invisible
Even Better Than The Real Thing
Mysterious Ways / Burning Down The House (snippet)
Elevation
Sweetest Thing
Every Breaking Wave
October
Bullet The Blue Sky / Ode To Joy (snippet) / 19 (snippet)
Zooropa
Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
With Or Without You

encore(s):

City Of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / One / Invisible (snippet)

Set list Sat Nov 6 Courtesy of U2gig.com

Setlist:

The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone)
Gloria / Van Morrison's Gloria (snippet)
Vertigo
I Will Follow
Iris (Hold Me Close) / Hold Me Close (snippet)
Cedarwood Road
Song For Someone
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Raised By Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet)
Until The End Of The World / Love And Peace Or Else (snippet) / Words (snippet)
(Intermission - The Fly with live vocals)
Invisible
Even Better Than The Real Thing
Mysterious Ways / Burning Down The House (snippet)
Desire / 1969 (snippet) / Love Me Do (snippet)
Angel Of Harlem
Every Breaking Wave
October
Bullet The Blue Sky / Ode To Joy (snippet) / 19 (snippet)
Zooropa
Where The Streets Have No Name / California (There Is No End To Love) (snippet)
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
With Or Without You / Love Will Tear Us Apart (snippet) / Shine Like Stars (snippet)

encore(s):

City Of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Mother And Child Reunion (snippet) / Bad / 40 (snippet)
40

Words by Paul O' Rourke

Photography by Andrew Brearley