... 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

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.

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.

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.