Vie’s Verses – Why Don’t Bands Mix It Up More?
Inspired by the recent Rockitt Rant about Poison releasing yet another greatest hits album and most likely performing the same set list (again), I’ve given some thought to why bands don’t mix up their live sets anymore. What’s the matter with these rockers? Don’t they connect with their fans? Why won’t they perform some deep cuts?
Kiss is a classic example of this. Sure, they played some new songs from Sonic Boom on their last tour, but when’s the last time the band really reached into their catalog to pull out the deep tracks like “I,” “Saint and Sinner,” or “Sweet Pain?” Hell, even “Shandi” played anywhere except Australia would be a treat. These bands have to know that the fans love to hear deep tracks, and if you’re worried about casual fans not knowing the songs, or complaining about not hearing the hits, then only play one or two deep cuts. Or maybe, just maybe, the band could mix it up and perform a different set every night? Aerosmith always does. Springsteen always does. It’s one way to sell multiple tickets to area shows.
Poison is another perfect example. They’ve been touring the amphitheaters since 1999 and they’ve played the same greatest hits set since then too. Although songs like “Sexual Thing” and “Lay Your Body Down” have been out in the public since the late 90s, they’ve never performed these songs live. There are also 5 great songs on Power To The People that they could perform, and while “I Hate Every Bone In Your Body But Mine” was played on one (or two) tours, they have since forgotten about these songs. I would love to hear “Strange,” or “Can’t Bring Me Down,” or anything from Crack A Smile, but the band won’t do it.
Motley Crue needs to mix it up as well. Wouldn’t it be nice to see the Crue pull out songs like “All I Need,” or “Too Fast For Love?” Other Crue tracks that would sound great live are songs like “Afraid,” “Misunderstood” (I know Vince didn’t sing this one, but so what? Play it anyway. Vince is only going to sing every third word regardless), or “Hell On High Heels.” That would be spectacular!
Bands need to reach deeper into their catalog to entertain the masses. While Kix does a great job of mixing it up, I would cream my pants if they would play “Luv-A-Holic” just once in concert. We know that you have to play “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and “Cold Blood,” but there are other great songs in your repertoire that would sound great in concert. Buckcherry — is there any chance that you could perform “For The Movies” or “Borderline?” Papa Roach, why not play “Infest?” The die-hard fans would go nuts!
Iron Maiden is a superb example of a band that gets it right. Sure, some fans mocked their decision to play A Matter Of Life And Death in its entirety, and other fans were disappointed when the band toured last year only playing newer material, but all of their concerts sold out. On other tours, Maiden gave the fans only the hits from back in the day. Every Iron Maiden tour is a new experience and that’s why I will continue to pay for their tickets. If Poison mixed it up like that, I would make it a point to see them every summer.
Pearl Jam is another band that really gets it. Not only do they perform different sets tour after tour, they perform different sets night after night. When Pearl Jam plays three nights at Madison Square Garden, all three nights sell out. A big part of that is due to repeat customers. Fans know that every Pearl Jam concert is going to be a different experience, so they purchase tickets for all three nights, not just one. Could Poison or Kiss sell out multiple nights at the Garden? They’re having enough trouble selling out one night at an amphitheater.
Bands need to realize that the cost of tickets has skyrocketed in recent years, and if they expect fans to part with $100 to see a show, then they really need to work hard. Not just on stage, but they need to scrutinize their set list and dust off some classics. Don’t be lazy! Re-learn some of your older material and bring the deeper cuts to the concert. That would make every show worthwhile and it’s almost guaranteed that fans would come back year after year. I know I’d shell out my money. Would you?
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i agree things should be kept fresh this demands practice try getting a band full of guys with family and other business together to tighten up all their material of course they should but the point is try getting them to put the time in also old standard stuff is safe risk taking risks failure and negetive feedback so help em out and dont settle for less than fresh and fresh is what youll get mostly.
Jeremiah, count me as a part of the minority who refuse to pay ridiculous ticket prices. I haven’t gone to a big ticket show in years!
Ryo, another band who totally gets it is Cheap Trick. sure, you’ll always hear Surrender, dream Police, and I Want You to want Me, but beyond that, they always draw from their massive catalog when they play live. for years, when I lived back in jersey, I used to see cheap Trick every Summer at Great Adventure. they were hugely popular at that time, and even then, they’d always pull out a different set list every year. Not long ago, they were on the PBS TV show Austin City Limits, and even on that show, they played only a couple hits. they did tracks mostly from their latest record. those guys are awsome!
KISS “Unmasked” was a huge seller in Australia and “Shandi” was a single that took off there way back in the day… it’s an “attachment” song between KISS and Australia. I gather “Shandi” wasn’t the “hit” it was meant to be here in the U.S., although it is a hit for me too. (My thoughts are from everything I’ve read through the years, hopefully it’s accurate). :o
I’ll just continue to see bands in a small club, rather than doll out $100 or more to see one band with an opening act in an arena. Festivals are different, I’ll gladly pay the money to see several or a dozen of cool bands. Keep Rockin’ Ryo! :)
Buckcherry does for the movies all the time…and two years ago they did borderline at every show…and now they are doing songs like slammin’
i’m fully on your side and would go see these bands again (i stopped going to big shows years ago cuz of this exact thing…and stupid ticket prices).
however, we all know the answer is the bands know they’ll pretty much always get our $. i think i’m in the minority of those who stopped going. i have friends who bitch about the set lists, but still go. so the problem never gets addressed or fixed.
these bands do not care about OUR money, because they know its easy to get. they care about the ladies i work with who only go to the ‘big shows’ if its sunny and 75. they attempt to keep the casual fans happy, rather than the die-hards…because they’re die hards.
no genre has beat the shit out of their fans like 80s metal. these bands dont respect our time or loyalty whatsoever.