U2 played Tulsa last night to open its ‘Experience + Innocence tour. As with every new U2 road trip,, the band unveiled some surprises as it ranged deeply through its vast catalog.

The first set began the way I would have sequenced the new album "Songs of Experience" with “Love is All We have Left" stating the theme of the night and the dark and metallic “Blackout” following to get down to business and rock the house. “The Ocean,” a song of youthful questioning from the first album neatly set up “Iris,” the homage to Bono’s mother from the last release, "Songs of Innocence." “The members dug into “Achtung! Baby” for the song "Acrobat," which has never been a part of a U2 set and "Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses," also from "Achtung! Baby" made a welcome return.

“Staring at the Sun” from the much-maligned “Pop” album is better in the stripped down acoustic manner Bono and Edge performed it and likewise, the band played its rhythmic 2017 single “You’re the Best Thing About Me” in a similar ‘unplugged’ form. Glad to see one of my favorites, “City of Blinding Lights” retained in the show, now used as second set closer.