My rant about concert setlists

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

Well I think you are making an assumption that it's a blatant lack of respect...For instance when I got to a concert of a band that I like, but am not as into as say FM I don't want to hear songs I've never heard...sorry..call it what you want. Had Aerosmith hardly played many hits and a bunch of rarities at the show in 03 when I saw them, I would have been disappointed. The MAJORITY of people at the shows want familiarity...

Once again, as always, this is never an all-or-nothing proposition. It's entirely possible for band to play a concert that includes both a hefty portion of familiar hits and a number of more obscure tracks.

And it does demonstrate a lack of respect to longtime fans for a band to gear its setlists so strongly toward pleasing just the casual fans. It's the die-hards who buy all the albums and keep coming back year after year; showing those fans that you appreciate their support by offering something different is an important gesture.

I happen to have enjoyed the set lists of the FWM and Stevie tours recently...over and over again..show by show...I agree it doesn't hurt to change it up...but you have to realize that probably over half of the paying audience at a Fleetwood Mac show only know the hits.

It's not going to kill them to hear some songs they don't know. A good rock band that puts on good rock concert should be able to play anything at all and energize the crowd through their performance and passion for the music, whether or not the song is a well-known radio hit.

Fleetwood Mac have a lot of hits to choose from. There's no need for them to play all of them every single night. I doubt there are many casual fans who, if they went to a concert that featured "Rhiannon," "Go Your Own Way," "Gypsy" and "The Chain," would feel especially disappointed that they didn't get to hear "Dreams," "Don't Stop," and "Tusk." Lots of folks may be mindless sheep, but most aren't that mindless, and most are able to appreciate a good rock concert that doesn't completely pander to them.

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

Well I think you are making an assumption that it's a blatant lack of respect...For instance when I got to a concert of a band that I like, but am not as into as say FM I don't want to hear songs I've never heard...sorry..call it what you want. Had Aerosmith hardly played many hits and a bunch of rarities at the show in 03 when I saw them, I would have been disappointed. The MAJORITY of people at the shows want familiarity...
I happen to have enjoyed the set lists of the FWM and Stevie tours recently...over and over again..show by show...I agree it doesn't hurt to change it up...but you have to realize that probably over half of the paying audience at a Fleetwood Mac show only know the hits.

With regard to Stevie and Fleetwood Mac......

It's all their own fault. Their tour style created the whole situation that they live with now. Other artists have started from the get go playing set lists that always mix it up. They set their fan base based on those expectations. Case in point- The Indigo Girls. Since the beginning, they've always changed their set list every night. Granted, they always play "Closer to Fine", but otherwise their set list changes for every performance. Everyone who goes to an IG concert knows they're going to get something different, so they don't expect to HEAR the same old thing.

Just think how vibrant and wonderful it would have been if FM/Stevie had decided to rehearse a group of 40/50 songs and then wrote the set list each night? It's not that difficult. When my band was still performing, we "knew" about 80 songs and created the set list for each show.

When I saw Page and Plant at the Hollywood Bowl some years back they played all kinds of stuff and didn't do "Stairway to Heaven". The whole place was sold out and I didn't see anyone complaining. This whole "gotta play the hits" thing is completely created by FM/Stevie. If she didn't do "Dreams" no one would notice. Especially if a great rarity took its place.

[chiliD]

Which is why I've stopped going to multiple Fleetwood Mac shows per tour. I figure I've seen 'em once, I'm gonna see the same show if I go again, so why drop the cash?

I'd rather go see bands/artists like Little Feat, Allman Bros Band, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Santana...even the Rolling Stones...they change their set on a nightly basis. In Little Feat & Allman Bros Band's cases, they don't just switch a song here & there, but play a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT set night to night...they MIGHT play one or two of the same songs on consecutive nights, but rarely.

[David]

Originally Posted by chiliD

I'd rather go see bands/artists like Little Feat, Allman Bros Band, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Santana...even the Rolling Stones...they change their set on a nightly basis. In Little Feat & Allman Bros Band's cases, they don't just switch a song here & there, but play a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT set night to night...they MIGHT play one or two of the same songs on consecutive nights, but rarely.

Are you going to the Opera Pacific production of "Tosca" at OCPAC? It will be the same set list as before, but we should go! It'll be fun! We can hum along to Vissi d'arte!

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by Nicks Fan

Just the other day I bought tickets to see bon jovi in concert at about 135.00 canadian. It got me thinking about how expensive it is getting to see my favorite people in concert. What is infuriating me is how people like Bon Jovi Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac show a blatant lack of respect for the fans by playing the same songs tour after tour with no attempt to play rare or unrelased songs. I fee like it is "going through the motions" for them. I understand that they have to play some hits or chances are the tours would not be successful. But tthey could still perform som lesser known songs. I have had the pleasure of seeing Melissa Etheridge perform over two nights and the difference in the set lsits was nine songs between both nights. If only more artsists would take chances with their set lists considering how high the prces are getting.

Just something I wanted to get of my chest.

Matt

You have a really good point. And you said it well without coming across as an ass. good job.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by dontlookdown

I'm not sure this conversation is even worth continuing if Bon Jovi is part of it.
Let's keep this about serious music and talented songwriters.

HEY HEY HEY, I AM A MEMBER OF THE HAIR BAND POLICE, AND I AM HEREBY ISSUING A "WARRANT" FOR YOUR ARREST!!!!!!

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by ShangriLaTroubl

Well I think you are making an assumption that it's a blatant lack of respect...For instance when I got to a concert of a band that I like, but am not as into as say FM I don't want to hear songs I've never heard...sorry..call it what you want. Had Aerosmith hardly played many hits and a bunch of rarities at the show in 03 when I saw them, I would have been disappointed. The MAJORITY of people at the shows want familiarity...
I happen to have enjoyed the set lists of the FWM and Stevie tours recently...over and over again..show by show...I agree it doesn't hurt to change it up...but you have to realize that probably over half of the paying audience at a Fleetwood Mac show only know the hits.

Very well said by you also. I feel the same way you do, but it certainly wouldnt offend me at all if there were new songs played

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by Mageboy25

If Fleetwood Mac opens with the unplugged Chain next year that goes into dreams im gonna fuccking barf!

You better carry a paper bag with you wherever you are.

[AliceLover]

well I was listening to the radio the other day and they were talking about Bruce Springsteen. Apparantly he has performed 122 different songs on his current tour. I bowed my head in shame when I heard that......

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by AliceLover

well I was listening to the radio the other day and they were talking about Bruce Springsteen. Apparantly he has performed 122 different songs on his current tour. I bowed my head in shame when I heard that......

124, actually, but who's counting, really?

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by Mageboy25

If Fleetwood Mac opens with the unplugged Chain next year that goes into dreams im gonna fuccking barf!

I want them to.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I want them to.

Why, do you have a vomit fetish?

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Why, do you have a vomit fetish?

I think the Chain is a great opener.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I think the Chain is a great opener.

It sure is. And we've got both The Dance and Live in Boston to prove it.

Next, please!

[dissention]

They need to take a cue from Blondie on how to construct a show that shows respect for the die-hard fans. They played rarity after rarity after rarity last night. Rifle Range, Will Anything Happen, Under the Gun, 11:59, Die Young Stay Pretty, Detroit 442, etc, and even threw in some covers of Roxy Music and Mott the Hoople. AND - *gasp* - played plenty of their hits like The Tide Is High, Maria, Heart of Glass, Dreaming, and Rapture.