Give me the damn setlist

[Mojooo]

I like to go and see a lot of tribute bands.

Sometimes I will want to try something new and won't know a lot of the songs before I go. I may know 1 or 2 but the original artist may well have 15 albums. So I really like to listen to some songs beforehand that I know will be played.

So I will often message the bands via Facebook asking whether they can provide a rough list of the songs they will play (bearing in mind I am fairly sure 99% of the time the vast majority of songs are going to be the same).

Out of maybe 10 attempts I've not yet got an actual answer - I think I have had 8 resposnes but they just go along the lines of its not yet decided or we play greatest hits etc

Now these are bands which will often only sell 100-200 tickets in a 600 capacity venue - so one would think they would be bothered to spend 2 minutes providing a setlist to encourage potential customers.

Or is it really that big a secret?

What gives?

[Mothersruin]

You're weird?

[elster]

They may well have an idea of what they are going to play, but if they are a good artist they should be performing to the crowd and as such the actual tracks will depend on the audience.

The reality with it being a tribute is they will probably decide about 5 minutes before starting.

[Tom_C76]

We play covers, and on a good organised week we decide the setlist at lunchtime on the day of the gig. On a very disorganised week we wing it as we go depending on reaction from the crowd.

[paul789]

Mojooo said:

I like to go and see a lot of tribute bands.

Sometimes I will want to try something new and won't know a lot of the songs before I go. I may know 1 or 2 but the original artist may well have 15 albums. So I really like to listen to some songs beforehand that I know will be played.

So I will often message the bands via Facebook asking whether they can provide a rough list of the songs they will play (bearing in mind I am fairly sure 99% of the time the vast majority of songs are going to be the same).

Out of maybe 10 attempts I've not yet got an actual answer - I think I have had 8 resposnes but they just go along the lines of its not yet decided or we play greatest hits etc

Now these are bands which will often only sell 100-200 tickets in a 600 capacity venue - so one would think they would be bothered to spend 2 minutes providing a setlist to encourage potential customers.

Or is it really that big a secret?

What gives?

With the greatest respect - there's more than a hint of irony here - "Sometimes I will want to try something new."

[Mojooo]

Not really, I will listen to the songs beforehand and then go to the gig - that is trying something new.

I just don't like listening to stuff live for the first time, I find it better for me when I know the song on a recording first.

[Blayney]

I kinda get what you want, but on the other hand some of my favourite live moments are going "what the fk did I just hear!?" and getting to listen to it recorded later on.

I can't help you for tribute acts, but for most artists these days who generally stick to the same 90% of a setlist all tour long I use setlist.fm

[Mojooo]

Yea, I went to see David Gilmour the other day and he played all but the same song from the previous gig I think so I knew every song.

That said, even then I had some WTF moments as many of the songs were much better than on the album. But I find it helps to have a grounding.

[davepoth]

One of the joys of playing a small venue is that you can go into a gig with only a few songs written down - start with a particular one, do a few in the middle, finish with a certain one too - because you don't need to worry about things like lighting cues.

That's handy since it means you can adjust the set as you go to take account of the room. More headbangers? Do the heavier stuff. Room full of couples? dig out the acoustic guitar.

If you're a pro covers band covering a band with a big back catalogue you may well have upwards of a hundred songs you could conceivably play.

[Mojooo]

davepoth said:

One of the joys of playing a small venue is that you can go into a gig with only a few songs written down - start with a particular one, do a few in the middle, finish with a certain one too - because you don't need to worry about things like lighting cues.

That's handy since it means you can adjust the set as you go to take account of the room. More headbangers? Do the heavier stuff. Room full of couples? dig out the acoustic guitar.

If you're a pro covers band covering a band with a big back catalogue you may well have upwards of a hundred songs you could conceivably play.

I accept that is possible and the odd song will change here and there but i think most tribute bands will generally have a core majority of songs for each tour they are on. Certainly the case for the 15 or so I have seen more than once.

Only artist I have seen that literally will change it up big time like you suggest is Bruce Springsteen on his current tour.

[briang9]

Mothersruin said:

You're weird?

This.. never really understand the love for "Tribute Bands" and the need to go and see them. They are never going to be as good as the original are they?

[Philplop]

I've been to see quite a few tribute bands recently. It's good to hear all the greatest hits, or the songs from their heyday without enduring all of the new guff off their latest album now they're old and have lost their voice.

Can also go and see them in a small local venue for a few quid rather than trekking to a big stadium and paying a fortune.

And of course, some bands aren't around any more so a tribute is the closest you'll get.

[Mojooo]

briang9 said:

This.. never really understand the love for "Tribute Bands" and the need to go and see them. They are never going to be as good as the original are they?

Only a muppet would think they are ever going to be as good as the original.

If you go to a good venue, with a good band and an open mind then you can have a very good experience.

I've seen loads of tributes, some good some not so good - the very good ones can put on shows and create a buzz better than a lot of original bands.

I saw Fleetwood Bac and Fleetwood Mac on the same week a few years back and I will tell you that Fleetwood Bac in a small venue as compared to Fleetwood Mac at Wembley Arena was a tight run - they were both good but in different ways - the smaller gig had a better impact but the real band had more of a buzz in the audience.

Fleetwood Mac clinched it of course but the enjoyment levels at both was high - especially given the tribute was like £12 and the real thing £70.

[Blayney]

Saw a Bon Jovi one with the mrs a few years ago. Classic really. There were just 2 other couples in the audience when they started... still came out with "GOOOOOOD EVENING SWANSEAAAAA!!!!!", belted out the numbers, sang from on top of the table, got us singing into the mic with him, sang from behind the bar with the staff, sang into the street to get more people in (which worked... got another 5 or so people haha) and even had a costume change and encore!

We got hammered and had a great time.

[marcosgt]

One gig I really enjoyed was Glenn Tillbrook (from Squeeze) at Aldershot's West End Centre (a tiny venue).

He played a few songs and then asked what people wanted - People shouted songs out and he mostly played them, except for the odd one where he said "No, I hate that song" or something similar

M