... you knew the setlist in advance?

All the Smashing Pumpkins reviews recently have gotten me thinking ... people seem to be pissed that their set consists primarily of stuff from the most recent album (call it the Pumpkins 'Chinese Democracy' is you want since it's basically a Corgan solo album). If the fans knew in advance that the set would be 80% new material with just 3 or 4 "greatest hits" tossed in, would all the shows be selling out? People wouldn't have the right to complain after the show if they knew the setlist in advance. Of course, that would also remove some element of surprise.

Jimmy Eat World announced a 10-date tour in February in which they'll be playing (in my opinion) their best album, Clarity, start to finish to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of it's release. I own all their stuff but found the most recent album to be disappointing. If I'm going to go see them, I'd like to hear older stuff. If the Clarity-revisited tour was hitting anywhere in Ohio, I'd go without hesitation.

The Toadies came through town recently. I am not terribly familiar with their older stuff but the stuff I've heard didn't totally blow me away the way the new stuff does. I was really bummed I had to miss their show but I heard that they only did 2 or 3 new songs so I'm sure I would have been upset had I been able to make it.

Last example ... I love Superchunk's 'Foolish'. Love it - think it's one of the best albums of the mid-80s alt/indie rock world. I don't really know the rest of their stuff all that well though I do own maybe 2 or 3 other CDs. I saw them do a reunion show at SXSW a few years back and really only recognized one songs from 'Foolish' and felt a bit disappointed that I had spent an hour watching them just to hear one song when I could have probably seen a dozen other bands during that same time slot that would have left me feeling more satisfied.

So, I ask, would knowing the setlist in advance of bands that play venues like the Newport or bigger (because I imagine bands doing tours in venues like this have pre-determined setlists rather than making stuff up on the spot or tossing something in should it strike their fancy if they are playing at Ravari Room or The Summit) help you make a decision on whether or not you'd go see a band? And, if your favorite band was playing a set of all new stuff when you only really wanted to see their old stuff, would you skip the show?

I think it just depends on the band and the way the person feels about their music over time. Some bands I would go see regardless of the setlist (i'm really looking forward to NIN on monday even thought the setlist is heavy on my least favorite NIN stuff). I haven't seen tim easton in ages because I don't really care for his newer stuff but if you told me he was doing all older stuff I'd make a hell of a road trip to see it.

That could go the opposite way too. I have been annoyed many times by not hearing the "Hit" at a show or any songs off the record or whatever. Remember when Flock of Seagulls refused to play I RAN??

only if they will be playing an album in full, wish more bands did that. Other then that, dont care what songs they pick, its fun to be surprised. Would not want to always know I wont hear the song I really want to.

I guess I never went to see bands because I like "this song" or "that album", but because either someone I trusted told me I had to see this band live, or because I already respect their body of work. I know that puts me in the minority when it comes to mid-level to big time bands fan base.

I guess I just don't see why I would want to see a band go through the motions to play a song just because "the fans want it". Great, so I get a half-assed version of "Creep" at a Radiohead show? What a waste of time. Even if it was my favorite song, I don't want them to play it if THEY don't want to play it. I want to see great music being played live by people who are happy to be playing it.

I go to see bands because I like what they do in general, and if they only have one album or song that I like I'm not going to waste my money to see them maybe play a few tunes I enjoy.

I try not to look at set lists at all if possible, but sometimes I can't help it.

Hell no. Element of surprise.

These are the songs the Toadies played at Webster Hall in NYC on Nov 6th. This is not the set list. I broke the songs up into the albums they where from. Yes most of the songs are from their Platinum selling album Rubberneck, but they did play a fair amount of songs from the new one. As far as I know they have been playing six (6) songs from No Deliverance, the other song being Flower. At my show they played five (5) songs. Your source is mistaken.


Send You To Heaven. The song I would give my right nut to see them play live.


Rubberneck
Mexican Hairless
Backslider
Happy Face
I Burn
Quitter
Away
Possum Kingdom
Mister Love
I Come From the Water
Tyler

HB/SA
Little Sin
Sweetness
Pressed Against the Sky
Plane Crash
Push the Hand
Dollskin

No Deliverance
So Long Lovey Eyes
No Deliverance
Song I Hate
Man of Stone
Hell in High Water

Like the $40+ element of surprise the Smashing Pumpkins unleashed?

I mean, I get it, I like to be surprised. I don't think I'm siding one way or the other, but I think - if melikecheese mentioned - if a band said "We're doing this album cover to cover tonight", I might be more inclined to go see them than if they are going to play stuff from an album that I don't like. In most cases, it's really not that big of a deal. If I'm going to see a band, I like most of their stuff anyway. I guess the Pumpkins are just the big example I'm thinking of. I paid $50 to see them last year and barely recognized any of the songs. I'm not familiar with - and really don't care about - the new stuff.

Iron Maiden did two consecutive "oldies" tours, one featuring tunes from the first 4 albums, and the next tour was basically from the following 4 albums. Everyone knew it in advance, and it was really something to get excited about (assuming you like old Iron Maiden). It was great for me as I am their worst nightmare as far as new material goes…hearing them play stuff from '83 makes me feel like a 7th grader again, but hearing their new material just makes me feel old…as I would not really be into that stuff now.

In between those tours, Maiden toured behind their latest studio album and played it all the way through, then played five older songs to finish it off. I wouldn't mind hearing a couple of songs off it, but I still want to hear some of the older stuff.

As for other artists, sometimes I want to know what they are going to be playing before I decide to go, sometimes I just go. When Neil Young comes through the area, I always check the setlists to see what kind of show I will get (acoustic, the "hits," Crazy Horse, the entire new record, etc...), before I decide to go. On the other hand, if Cheap Trick plays here, even as an opening act, I will go no matter what they play.

So, I feel like the real question is......what is more important to a listener, the band and performance, or the particular music within any one show. For me, definitely the band and performance. I continue to catch Two Cow quite often, but I have to admit disappointment that I'm rarely hearing any of the earlier material. I can imagine several reasons why that is, but it doesn't matter. I see it as their choice for the moment. I'm not interested in live music at a level where a band's intent is to craft and deliver whatever they think the audience wants to hear (I think that this tends to be roughly analogous with venue size, but not completely). I think that's the difference between musical art and musical entertainment. A movie is pre-constructed. I can enjoy it for the story it delivers, and/or how it's delivered. But it's the exact same package for everyone else that sees the same movie, no matter when or where. I love the spontaneity potential live music performance offers, and that each one is unique (or at least has the potential; you don't know until it goes down). Some will be better, some worse. If Micah, or whoever, is playing what they want, I have to think the delivery will be more authentic, and in turn reflect however they are feeling at the time (and reacting to the audience at the time). I'd rather have the authentic show with material I was less jizzed about than my favorite tracks lined up all nice like.

Specifically, if a set list was available ahead of time, I just wouldn't look. But amongst the kinds of bands I see, I don't see that happening anyway.

truest thing on the innernets today . . .

I'm still kinda cranky about that show on Nationwide Plaza getting rained out!

Also, Clarity is also the only JEW record that I really loved...

And in terms of Album shows, I've seen quite a few of these. Primus did that a couple of years back, they did the album as one set and some fan favorites as the other set. I really enjoyed that setting. BUT that was a 2+ hour show. But honestly if you shell out $40 for a show it ought to be a two hour set from the headliner... of course I haven't paid for a show in like 5 years...

I've actually always been a bit intrigued by the whole "fans pick the set" thing. I saw somebody who did that and I can't remember who now. That way you know you'll hear the hits and the only one who can complain about the setlist then is the band... then again it would be their fault for having written the songs. So theoretically nobody can bitch.

But I can say this, I have never and will never look at setlists from prior dates on a tour before the show. I do like some surprises.

Mike

you?!?!?
hell, that was my fucking birthday, and i stood in the rain for hours for a show that never happened . . .

I think they should have come out and played just to apologize for that opening band! ugh.

If I was a true fan of the band and I loved all of their music, then yeah... I still would. But it is definitely more fun to not know what song is coming up next.

I saw Sonic Youth do Daydream Nation and it was absolutely fantastic, though I do admit it did lack a certain amount of anticipation and payoff compared to not knowing what was coming.

I guess for $40 I'd like to have a general idea of what a band is going to do.