Setlist spoiler alert...

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I've often wondered why neither of those songs have been performed live.

"Think About Me" WAS played for about the 2nd half of the Tusk tour. "I Don't Want To Know" is still the only Rumours song to not be played in concert (by Fleetwood Mac, that is)

[mtkad]

Originally Posted by chiliD

"Think About Me" WAS played for about the 2nd half of the Tusk tour. "I Don't Want To Know" is still the only Rumours song to not be played in concert (by Fleetwood Mac, that is)

It was performed live by Buckingham Nicks. Maybe it would have to be altered too much to fit Stevie's voice?

[Andy Man]

While I agree with everything being posted, I think we have to be very realistic with Fleetwood Mac at this stage in their career.

The band has the mixed blessing of being a band that, in their prime (75-87) was a very commercial band. It is hard to think of another rock band during that period that could rival Fleetwood Mac's success on the singles charts (obviously there were other popular and single-successful groups, but very few that could top FM). Thankfully, FM made intelligent pop music and therefore their hits actually have some 'meat' to them and are not throw-away pop. Nonetheless, FM has the burden of massively successful commercial singles that most audience members would expect to hear. I remember very much leaving the O2 last year (the last night with Christine on 'Don't Stop') and some of those people around where I was sitting with my group complaining that the band did not play songs like 'Everywhere', 'Say You Love Me', 'Little Lies', etc. When you are a band with that many singles that most people in attendance want (and expect) to hear, you have to give in to the majority.

Think of any other band that you only know the singles of. I bet that if you went to one of their shows you would primarily be interested in hearing the popular stuff, the songs you know. It is the same with Fleetwood Mac. While I am very grateful that the band has thrown in songs like 'Storms', 'Sisters Of The Moon', 'Not That Funny', and 'Say Goodbye' on the previous two tours, a set which featured a lot of rarer material would leave the majority of the audience dazed and confused.

As a more recent fan in my twenties, I do believe that we 'young' FM fans would be open to the band playing less-known material (both pre-Rumours and after); there are many younger FM fans that have a great appreciation for music. However, at the rate that FM is charging for tickets, FM would probably not want to risk mixing the set too much; people have payed a lot of money to hear the classic songs they all know.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by Andy Man

While I agree with everything being posted, I think we have to be very realistic with Fleetwood Mac at this stage in their career.

The band has the mixed blessing of being a band that, in their prime (75-87) was a very commercial band. It is hard to think of another rock band during that period that could rival Fleetwood Mac's success on the singles charts (obviously there were other popular and single-successful groups, but very few that could top FM). Thankfully, FM made intelligent pop music and therefore their hits actually have some 'meat' to them and are not throw-away pop. Nonetheless, FM has the burden of massively successful commercial singles that most audience members would expect to hear. I remember very much leaving the O2 last year (the last night with Christine on 'Don't Stop') and some of those people around where I was sitting with my group complaining that the band did not play songs like 'Everywhere', 'Say You Love Me', 'Little Lies', etc. When you are a band with that many singles that most people in attendance want (and expect) to hear, you have to give in to the majority.

Think of any other band that you only know the singles of. I bet that if you went to one of their shows you would primarily be interested in hearing the popular stuff, the songs you know. It is the same with Fleetwood Mac. While I am very grateful that the band has thrown in songs like 'Storms', 'Sisters Of The Moon', 'Not That Funny', and 'Say Goodbye' on the previous two tours, a set which featured a lot of rarer material would leave the majority of the audience dazed and confused.

As a more recent fan in my twenties, I do believe that we 'young' FM fans would be open to the band playing less-known material (both pre-Rumours and after); there are many younger FM fans that have a great appreciation for music. However, at the rate that FM is charging for tickets, FM would probably not want to risk mixing the set too much; people have payed a lot of money to hear the classic songs they all know.

That's been their fatal mistake of creativity...caving in to the middle ground and grinding off the edge of their material. There've been plenty of bands & artists who SHUN the "hits" and still have rabid concert following (Pink Floyd & Neil Young immediately come to mind). There's is absolutely NOTHING wrong WITH leaving the audience "dazed & confused". That's what ART is all about. Shaking the comfort level of the audience. You're not guaranteed to hear "Layla" when you see Clapton (and if you do, it might not be how you EXPECT to hear it)...you're not guaranteed to hear ANYTHING you know of Bob Dylan when you see him in concert. You can never predict what you'll hear from David Bowie, either on record or in concert. Bands like the Allman Brothers (or their younger spin-offs, the Tedeschi Trucks Band or Gov't Mule ) never play the same song the same way twice.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by chiliD

That's been their fatal mistake of creativity...caving in to the middle ground and grinding off the edge of their material. There've been plenty of bands & artists who SHUN the "hits" and still have rabid concert following (Pink Floyd & Neil Young immediately come to mind). There's is absolutely NOTHING wrong WITH leaving the audience "dazed & confused". That's what ART is all about. Shaking the comfort level of the audience. You're not guaranteed to hear "Layla" when you see Clapton (and if you do, it might not be how you EXPECT to hear it)...you're not guaranteed to hear ANYTHING you know of Bob Dylan when you see him in concert. You can never predict what you'll hear from David Bowie, either on record or in concert. Bands like the Allman Brothers (or their younger spin-offs, the Tedeschi Trucks Band or Gov't Mule ) never play the same song the same way twice.

I wonder how much the addition of the backing musicians who were brought on starting with the Dance tour had to do with this stagnation? If you look back at the '75-early '90s era of Fleetwood Mac, songs like Gold Dust Woman in particular varied from tour to tour, even night to night. There was so much more emotion to live Mac performances before the glut of backing musicians. Now the shows seem more like a Broadway rendition of Fleetwood Mac.

The Rumours incarnation of the band has never really mixed up their setlists, though. I think solo artists like Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, etc can get away with nightly changes & such because they're just that- solo artists. They don't have to run changes by the committee that is a band. I know Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac kept things loose & flexible, but that's a byproduct of performing the blues. Like Richard Dashut said- blues comes from the heart; pop music is much more forcefully & deliberately created.

[ViscountViktor]

I know this has caused a lot of debate, but personally I'm not reading anything into this.
Any in-the-know fan could have put this together: take last years setlist, add some Chris songs, swap a couple of others.
On With The Show is the name of the tour and we know is a new track, they could have pretended they practised it.
Most of all, this setlist seems unmac like! Don't Stop before Gyow? No Standback or Sara? Not for me thx...
And people who say cut Dreams - which band would cut their only us no1 and one of their most recognizable songs?

[mottabam]

Track #4 on Rumours Don't Stop #5 GYOW

Track #7 The Chain #8 YMLF

Following the tracklisting of Rumours I guess?

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Stand Back finds it's way back in by the second or third show, right after the acoustic set to get things rocking again. I'd prefer solo stuff left out considering the amount of songs we would much prefer to hear from the band.

Does seem odd that On with the Show wouldn't be played since it is the name of the tour. Nice to hear new music, Sad Angel was well received last year.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I wonder how much the addition of the backing musicians who were brought on starting with the Dance tour had to do with this stagnation? If you look back at the '75-early '90s era of Fleetwood Mac, songs like Gold Dust Woman in particular varied from tour to tour, even night to night. There was so much more emotion to live Mac performances before the glut of backing musicians. Now the shows seem more like a Broadway rendition of Fleetwood Mac.

The Rumours incarnation of the band has never really mixed up their setlists, though. I think solo artists like Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, etc can get away with nightly changes & such because they're just that- solo artists. They don't have to run changes by the committee that is a band. I know Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac kept things loose & flexible, but that's a byproduct of performing the blues. Like Richard Dashut said- blues comes from the heart; pop music is much more forcefully & deliberately created.

Good point, hadn't thought about that. BUT, we've seen & heard Lindsey be spontaneous with his own band, which is comprised of half the Fleetwood Mac extended band. It wouldn't be any stretch to spontaneously rip into "Seeds We Sow" or "End Of Time" or "Trouble" instead of "Big Love" or "Turn It On" instead of "Second Hand News" one night in Sheboygan or Tierra Del Fuego, or wherever. I'm sure that Brett & Neale could pull it off & they could rehearse it during soundcheck to get Mick, John & Christine up to speed. Stevie & The Girls would probably be off stage during a costume change at that point anyway. Bring the "small machine" attitude to the "big machine" venue. That's CREATIVITY!! That's being an ARTIST!!!

[elle]

Originally Posted by chiliD

That's been their fatal mistake of creativity...caving in to the middle ground and grinding off the edge of their material. There've been plenty of bands & artists who SHUN the "hits" and still have rabid concert following (Pink Floyd & Neil Young immediately come to mind). There's is absolutely NOTHING wrong WITH leaving the audience "dazed & confused". That's what ART is all about. Shaking the comfort level of the audience. You're not guaranteed to hear "Layla" when you see Clapton (and if you do, it might not be how you EXPECT to hear it)...you're not guaranteed to hear ANYTHING you know of Bob Dylan when you see him in concert. You can never predict what you'll hear from David Bowie, either on record or in concert. Bands like the Allman Brothers (or their younger spin-offs, the Tedeschi Trucks Band or Gov't Mule ) never play the same song the same way twice.

thank you! the voice of reason. reading everybody else's posts i can't help but wonder whether these people see only FM live... or if not, who do they see? because for sure it ain't Stones, or Dylan, or Clapton, or Pearl Jam, or Bowie, or Bruce, or Prince, or Steely Dan, or NIN, or Jackson Browne... the list goes on and on.

when i saw Bowie years ago, he played only 2 of his hits. same with Dylan couple of years ago. Jackson Browne didn't do Stay. Lindsey solo never does Holiday Road.

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

The Rumours incarnation of the band has never really mixed up their setlists, though. I think solo artists like Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, etc can get away with nightly changes & such because they're just that- solo artists.

see above. Stones are not solo artists, nor Steely Dan, nor NIN, nor Pearl Jam, and many others. yet they change setlists, from tour to tour and date to date, some of them a lot some of them a few songs or a sequence. Steely Dan had two completely different sets alternating between the dates last year. some of these bands are much older than FM, others are much younger but old enough to be considered classic rock.

[jkmaletic]

Stating the obvious here, but this (supposed) set list is no shocker.
Being that they usually drop 1 or 2 songs as the tour progresses, wondering which those will be is something to ponder.

Jamie

[UnwindedDreams]

Fleetwood Mac's setlist is different from the 2013 tour. According to the set from tumblr, 7 songs this tour were not played in 2013.

From 2012-2014, The Rolling Stones may not have performed the same set every night but they always play 16 warhorse songs every night and 3 change every night. If you're a hard core fan...you can guess the 3 other songs they're going to play because they're not surprises.

I like the set on tumblr. I just wish Hold Me and Over My Head were going to be performed.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by elle

t Lindsey solo never does Holiday Road.

He sure as hail did when I saw him "come on, bark like a dawwwg"

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by chiliD

That's been their fatal mistake of creativity...caving in to the middle ground and grinding off the edge of their material. There've been plenty of bands & artists who SHUN the "hits" and still have rabid concert following (Pink Floyd & Neil Young immediately come to mind). There's is absolutely NOTHING wrong WITH leaving the audience "dazed & confused". That's what ART is all about. Shaking the comfort level of the audience.

Perfectly stated!

Unfortunately, many don't understand the beauty of that. " I paid a lot of money, so I expect to hear these songs!"
When it comes to Fleetwood Mac, if you're a true fan, you wouldn't have such stringent expectations. And, as a causal fan, even if you don't hear all the songs you're familiar with, you should still be able to be entertained, and appreciate/enjoy the show because it's being performed by an exceptional band.

I've been to many shows where I might know little to nothing about the artist or the songs (accompanying friends who are fans), but I can still appreciate and enjoy the performance. If Fleetwood feels that 90% of their show has to be the familiar well-worn road material, at least they can be a little bit more adventurous with song sequence. Open with something other than The Chain. Push Dreams near the end of the set. The band gets so set in their ways. Yet it's so perplexing to see that some fans seem to want it that way. "They have to open with The Chain, followed by Dreams." I don't understand that. I rather be surprised and challenged, expecting the unsuspected.

Elvis Costello once did a tour where he had this big wheel with dozens of songs on it; he'd spin it and perform whatever song it landed on. Pretty cool, huh? Every show was unique.