My rant about concert setlists

[dissention]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I think the Chain is a great opener.

It stopped being a good opener after the chain was broken. Retire that song, please.

[snowman]

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

Playing the same sets is conservative. It appeals to the masses, not the die hard fan. It's like "classic rock" radio- all they play are the standard icon hits from all these artists- (Creedance-Proud Mary; Clapton-Layla; Rolling Stones-Satisfaction, etc, etc). These bands had great albums- tons of songs, but all we hear are the meat and potatoes. It's conservative, banile and appeals to the masses (and advertisers).

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

It stopped being a good opener after the chain was broken. Retire that song, please.

Whoa. Thank God they won't. I'd love to part with a bunch of their songs in favor of new ones, but I would still die if I didn't hear the Chain. They don't have to open with it (although I think it's a great, great, opener). But they shouldn't drop it, it still sounds outstanding - even more outstanding really. Seriously, I think I'd die if I didn't hear the Chain. DIE!
And, wait - is that why you don't want it to open, because "the chain was broken" once? Is the song a lie to you now? A horribly perpetrated sham? Do the words just ring hollow in your ears, because they broke up for awhile? awww.....

and, wait, you just saw blondie?!

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

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

Next, please!

PLEASE PLAY SOME NEW SONGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! QUIT BEATING A DEAD HORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If they'd add
Green Manalishi
Oh Well
Rattlesnake Shake
Hypnotized

I'd pay to see them.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by amber

And, wait - is that why you don't want it to open, because "the chain was broken" once? Is the song a lie to you now? A horribly perpetrated sham? Do the words just ring hollow in your ears, because they broke up for awhile? awww.....

Most definitely. It's all one giant lie. I won't pay to have lies sung to me by lying liars.

Originally Posted by amber

and, wait, you just saw blondie?!

Last night in Jersey. I drove all night to get home and I can't fall asleep, even though I'm tired as hell. My awful review is on my LJ. Debs looked fecking hot in tight black pants and a black leather jacket, and the set was remarkable.

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

Most definitely. It's all one giant lie. I won't pay to have lies sung to me by lying liars.

Originally Posted by dissention

Last night in Jersey. I drove all night to get home and I can't fall asleep, even though I'm tired as hell. My awful review is on my LJ. Debs looked fecking hot in tight black pants and a black leather jacket, and the set was remarkable.

Wow. It seems like you see them all the time. Which I hope is true.
Do they play on the East Coast much more than here? She lives in NY doesn't she? Anyway, It seems like I rarely hear about shows out here.
Very cool, I'll go read review. I probably won't know a lot of those songs, but it still rocks that she did them. And, lets be honest - Even I have definitely heard the hits enough.

[David]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

PLEASE PLAY SOME NEW SONGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! QUIT BEATING A DEAD HORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If they'd add
Green Manalishi
Oh Well
Rattlesnake Shake
Hypnotized

I'd pay to see them.

You would?! Why would you want to hear Lindsey Buckingham, who can't play the guitar, & Stevie Nicks, who can't sing, perform Rattlesnake Shake or Hypnotized?

[dissention]

Originally Posted by amber

Wow. It seems like you see them all the time. Which I hope is true.

I wish it were true.

Originally Posted by amber

Do they play on the East Coast much more than here? She lives in NY doesn't she? Anyway, It seems like I rarely hear about shows out here.

Yeah, they do more shows over here. This show was a warm-up to their big UK tour. And she does Jazz Passengers stuff in New York, which I'd love to go to sometime since I haven't seen them in years.

Originally Posted by amber

Very cool, I'll go read review. I probably won't know a lot of those songs, but it still rocks that she did them. And, lets be honest - Even I have definitely heard the hits enough.

Their show last night just proved that the ****ty "hits" argument that's always being argued in defense of the Mac is ridiculous. A band can play the hits while still going out of their way to satisfy the die-hard fans.

[David]

Originally Posted by amber

I'd love to part with a bunch of their songs in favor of new ones, but I would still die if I didn't hear the Chain. They don't have to open with it (although I think it's a great, great, opener). But they shouldn't drop it, it still sounds outstanding - even more outstanding really. Seriously, I think I'd die if I didn't hear the Chain. DIE!

I never liked it as an opener. I never thought it was exciting in the opening slot. I always preferred the upbeat, rollicking numbers like Monday Morning & Second Hand News in the opening slot. Once when they opened with Second Hand News, it actually cured my migraine.

Plus, I don't like the way they play Chain any more. Quelle surprise, right?!

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

I wish it were true.



Yeah, they do more shows over here. This show was a warm-up to their big UK tour. And she does Jazz Passengers stuff in New York, which I'd love to go to sometime since I haven't seen them in years.



Their show last night just proved that the ****ty "hits" argument that's always being argued in defense of the Mac is ridiculous. A band can play the hits while still going out of their way to satisfy the die-hard fans.

Yeah, your review brought home that they did really rare songs, and also listened to their fan suggestions, which is immensely cool. I mean, if FM just once took their fan suggestions, played a few of the most requested that they don't usually do (like at least three or four) - the whole show would be a much revived animal.
I think the Mac hits parade is tired, and especially Stevie's solo, but I also think that FM and their fans are a very different animal then Blondie and their fans, and that Stevie's voice and possibilities also play a factor.
So, I would not directly compare what is possible for Blondie to what is possible for FM.
However, I would still say that so much more is possible with FM.
Actually, **** on what I just said, I just plainly agree with you. (but Stevie really wouldn't be able to perform some songs - but she could still do other rare ones, I'm sure.)
Anyway, nice review.

[amber]

Originally Posted by David

I never liked it as an opener. I never thought it was exciting in the opening slot. I always preferred the upbeat, rollicking numbers like Monday Morning & Second Hand News in the opening slot. Once when they opened with Second Hand News, it actually cured my migraine.

Plus, I don't like the way they play Chain any more. Quelle surprise, right?!

Quelle not suprised.
I think those that you mentioned are good openers, too, I wouldn't be averse. But the Chain is very exciting for me, and I love the way they play it now - it sounds more dramatic and full (which it is, I'm sure, what with all the extra instruments). I mean, I really get a huge rush when those drums start. But then, The Chain is so epic and wonderful and strange and dramatic and musically interesting to me, I never get tired of hearing it, I always feel the same sense of excitement and wonder when I do hear it - and I mean, at home, on the radio, in a department store, whatever - that I'm not really even a remotely unbiased commentator.
The songs you mentioned are very rollicking. I love rollicking, but I love the big dramatic boom as an opener even more. The big exclamation point that the Chain is. Okay, I think i'll stop.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by dissention

Their show last night just proved that the ****ty "hits" argument that's always being argued in defense of the Mac is ridiculous. A band can play the hits while still going out of their way to satisfy the die-hard fans.

I get the feeling that the people who continue to defend the Mac hit parade simply aren't big fans of any bands who put that kind of kind of effort into this concert. I don't think they have any idea how wonderful a concert like that can be, when half the songs are a surprise and you get to experience tunes you didn't know you'd ever hear, because they've never been to anything like that. I think if Fleetwood Mac suddenly decided to mix things up and put on an interesting concert, these folks would just **** themselves and pass out from the shock.

[Lindsey Jr.]

You guys complain about the same setlists, I complain about the following:

I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM LIVE YET *cries*

but I must agree... some "long forgotten" songs are welcome, even some of the Peter Green era.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

I get the feeling that the people who continue to defend the Mac hit parade simply aren't big fans of any bands who put that kind of kind of effort into this concert. I don't think they have any idea how wonderful a concert like that can be, when half the songs are a surprise and you get to experience tunes you didn't know you'd ever hear, because they've never been to anything like that. I think if Fleetwood Mac suddenly decided to mix things up and put on an interesting concert, these folks would just **** themselves and pass out from the shock.

That could very well be true.

Fleetwood Mac's problems are quite severe when it comes to their live shows. Not only do they construct set lists that are boring, but they use the very same set list night...after night...after night. They don't change a thing. Nor do they change their speeches or movements. Everything is the same. Constantly. Why? Unfortunately, they've had those problems for as long as I can remember. Even in 1979, they were performing the same goddamned set night after night.

What prevents them from being a truly great live band is that they don't take risks and they don't seem to have much respect for the art of performing, especially nowadays. Once you do the exact same thing every night for months, the performances become stale, routine, and make it appear as if you're phoning everything in without much effort. Are the concerts fun? Yep. But for a fan like myself, it leaves a sour taste in my mouth afterwards knowing that what I just saw was in no way unique and that the schlubs in the next state over are going to be treated to a carbon copy of the show I just saw. Nothing beats the excitement of seeing a live show where everything is unique to that particular show. If other bands can do it, why can't they? I suspect it's because they just want the money.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by Lindsey Jr.

You guys complain about the same setlists, I complain about the following:

I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM LIVE YET *cries*

I complain about Fleetwood Mac's setlists because their setlists are stagnant and rote, not because I've seen them hundreds of times and am bored. I've been to one Fleetwood Mac concert ever.