Why did they do 2 Sets?

[Unedited]

It’s been nearly a decade since this band ventured out and did shows that were an acoustic set and electric set. The decision to do so always boggled me because it was longer than just one tour, but died after two. So why?


To be clear, I really enjoyed the 2 set tours.

[OK_Ant]

Experimentation. Also, maybe to give themselves a break.

I liked 2Sets, even though the acoustic sets weren't as creative as they could've been, and the Lovely Ladies made the electric sets somewhat stale. Like the Caravans, DMB should consider doing them again, maybe as a combo thing?

[dancheatham]

Could have (at least in part) also been a way to cut opening acts out of tours without lowering ticket prices or giving people less music.

[scollie41]

Originally Posted by dancheatham

Could have (at least in part) also been a way to cut opening acts out of tours without lowering ticket prices or giving people less music.

Wonder why they cut openers? More revenue share?

[gandelfstormcro]

You know I was thinking about this the other day. And I was thinking wouldn't it be really cool if dave and tim came out and did an acoustic opener. And then a full band set so we would get a little of both..? How cool would that be? ��

[bmt322]

Originally Posted by gandelfstormcro

You know I was thinking about this the other day. And I was thinking wouldn't it be really cool if dave and tim came out and did an acoustic opener. And then a full band set so we would get a little of both..? How cool would that be? ��

Subscribe.

[Alpine416]

Don't know why they did it but would love if they did it again.

Always seems to be some strange outlooks on two sets that people liked them and what they were doing with them mostly but then simultaneously say they didn't like 2 sets and don't want to see them do it again. More music in varied formats for the same price of admission = to me

[Monkeysmoke]

I liked the idea of 2 sets but the acoustic sets weren’t too terribly different than the electric. For them to play an acoustic set and for it to be chill, Carter would need to be more subtle than he was and we would need the crowd to shut the fuck up, which we know won’t happen. I mean how hard is it to listen and keep your mouth shut.

[OutofDarkness]

Originally Posted by Alpine416

Don't know why they did it but would love if they did it again.

Always seems to be some strange outlooks on two sets that people liked them and what they were doing with them mostly but then simultaneously say they didn't like 2 sets and don't want to see them do it again. More music in varied formats for the same price of admission = to me

I think the general consensus is that the acoustic performances were very good, but there wasn't enough variety. With a few exceptions (Minarets, Two Step, maybe a few others,) a given song was either exclusively in the acoustic set or exclusively in the electric set, so things got real repetitive real fast.

It would be cool if they brought acoustic sets back, provided they mixed them up more. Acoustic Two Step was the best that song has sounded in probably 15 years.

[Dodo36]

Originally Posted by scollie41

Wonder why they cut openers? More revenue share?

Most likely a logistics thing. Many bands love touring, but book multiple opening acts is a pain. Having one opening act for the duration is a mixed bag, especially if there ends up being friction between anyone in the camps. It's also less work for the promoter, which sadly drives a lot of choices at a venue, good and bad. The promoter is a lost art that most currently either suck at or have been in the game so long, they just don't care anymore.

More opening act level bands are happy doing club shows and festivals these days, though. I'm sure many would jump at opening for a band like DMB, but there's also the fact that concert-goers as a whole rarely pay attention to the opening acts anymore (comparatively, and that's saying a lot).

[DKX147992]

I misses this “era” went to no shows from 2014-2015.

That said, I love many of the 2014 sets but not so much the 2015 ones.

Couple reasons taking a step back on the pros and cons:


If you prefer a song one way or the other, hope its played the way you dig it. Example - i prefer full bnd bartender. Screwed
Liberations - they seemed to be down during those years, covers were UP, but very repetitious.

Split up combo songs. Certain songs tend to be in the same set and back to back this was muted duting the two yrs

Encores - weak comp to these last 10 yrs since

That said, we got a lot of TMTT, RW, TNATDD, etc. songs (aside from rw on 2022 tour) we never have heard much again since

I wish I had experienced… one thing is I often go with a few ants and more non ants who dont like dave like we do. The set break wouldve made them
Happier

[DaveCrave41]

Personally, I didn't like the flow of 2 sets. To have Dave and basically everyone come on stage, leave, then come back out again had a strange energy that I didn't really enjoy. It wasn't my favorite DMB experience, by far.

The anticipation energy builds then is satisfied as they come on stage. When they come out and play a few songs, then leave for half an hour or so, then come back on stage... I don't know. It just didn't work well for my experience. I'd much prefer for a show to be either full DMB electric or acoustic, though I always felt I was in the minority with this.

[BTBaboon]

Originally Posted by DaveCrave41

Personally, I didn't like the flow of 2 sets. To have Dave and basically everyone come on stage, leave, then come back out again had a strange energy that I didn't really enjoy.

I mean, DMB used to play 2 set shows as a standard in their early days. It's pretty common in the jam band scene.

It works well for most. I think the acoustic sets were the best the band has sounded at any point post-Roi (and probably the best they have sounded post Stand Up).

As always, though, the song choices weren't always great and that did knock these shows down a bit (particularly in 2014).

[OneSweetMonkey]

They wanted to try something new. I don't think it's any more complicated than that.

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by DaveCrave41

Personally, I didn't like the flow of 2 sets. To have Dave and basically everyone come on stage, leave, then come back out again had a strange energy that I didn't really enjoy. It wasn't my favorite DMB experience, by far.

The anticipation energy builds then is satisfied as they come on stage. When they come out and play a few songs, then leave for half an hour or so, then come back on stage... I don't know. It just didn't work well for my experience. I'd much prefer for a show to be either full DMB electric or acoustic, though I always felt I was in the minority with this.

I agree for all of the same reasons

[TwoStep51901]

Originally Posted by OneSweetMonkey

They wanted to try something new. I don't think it's any more complicated than that.

seems pretty simple to me

[Greykitkat41]

Originally Posted by Unedited

It’s been nearly a decade since this band ventured out and did shows that were an acoustic set and electric set. The decision to do so always boggled me because it was longer than just one tour, but died after two. So why?


To be clear, I really enjoyed the 2 set tours.

They've talked about it in interviews...they were playing overseas or in South America I think, and they hung out in the bars around there and saw bands doing acoustic based sets and they thought it'd be cool if they tried it.

The problem for me is that it didn't work in big amphitheaters or outdoor summer shows. It would have been much better suited to arenas or smaller theater tour. It was bascially just Dave doing the same solo songs and then the band playing the songs as normal but quieter. They didn't rearrange songs in any interesting ways nor did they mix up the song spots enough. It was really cool idea but was executed terribly.

[crashintonickdm]

2014 acoustic sets were the best the band has sounded post Leroi

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by Greykitkat41

They've talked about it in interviews...they were playing overseas or in South America I think, and they hung out in the bars around there and saw bands doing acoustic based sets and they thought it'd be cool if they tried it.

The problem for me is that it didn't work in big amphitheaters or outdoor summer shows. It would have been much better suited to arenas or smaller theater tour. It was bascially just Dave doing the same solo songs and then the band playing the songs as normal but quieter. They didn't rearrange songs in any interesting ways nor did they mix up the song spots enough. It was really cool idea but was executed terribly.

Two Step jam was completely different, not sure about others


I think the '14 acoustic sets sound great on video with good headphones, actually being there didn't pop as much for me and the comments about the flow as mentioned earlier

[dmb2much40]

WWYS was a huge highlight of the acoustic sets.

But yeah, overall seems like it should’ve been better than it was.

[trent2302]

I remember not being into it as much because a LOT of people were still coming in when the acoustic set started, so just a lot of crowd noise. They opened with Slip Slidin' Away. Way too gentle a tune to get anyone's attention.

[Gunz]

Typical case of a good thing being ruined by chompers.

[WhereYouGoin]

Why didn't they do what John Mayer did in 2019??
Set 1: Full Band.
Intermission
Set 2: Acoustic for a few songs and then full band the rest of the show.

[TerrapinMonkey]

Originally Posted by WhereYouGoin

Why didn't they do what John Mayer did in 2019??
Set 1: Full Band.
Intermission
Set 2: Acoustic for a few songs and then full band the rest of the show.

Why didn't he do what DMB did? Just different approaches.

I'm still not sure why they did it 2 years in a row. It ran out of gas at the end of 2014.

[TerrapinMonkey]

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

Two Step jam was completely different, not sure about others


I think the '14 acoustic sets sound great on video with good headphones, actually being there didn't pop as much for me and the comments about the flow as mentioned earlier

I wouldn't say completely different. RR added some interesting horn parts to the end of it. Which he had already been doing on many songs prior to 2014, like cornbread was getting different horn lines for awhile depending on the night.

[jwrice5]

The 2 sets had potential to be awesome. However, it became repetitive too quick, and I agree with the comment about so many people still coming in and talking during the start of the acoustic set.

I would rather just have a full acoustic show than the “2 sets” approach… I feel like they viewed the different sets/arrangements/personnel and having to modify it each night (however small those modifications were) as extra work. Perhaps they just burned out on it. If the whole show was just acoustic then the approach would be like that of a normal show.

I think I’d rather have a full acoustic show now vs the current sound. Or, like many others have pined for, just have Tim on acoustic instead of playing so loud over everything else.


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[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by Greykitkat41

It was bascially just Dave doing the same solo songs and then the band playing the songs as normal but quieter. They didn't rearrange songs in any interesting ways nor did they mix up the song spots enough. It was really cool idea but was executed terribly.

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

Two Step jam was completely different, not sure about others

Originally Posted by TerrapinMonkey

I wouldn't say completely different. RR added some interesting horn parts to the end of it. Which he had already been doing on many songs prior to 2014, like cornbread was getting different horn lines for awhile depending on the night.

2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QfEVZRMG9Q


2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q9e1AGe0Ck


The arrangement of the jam is different, the feel is different, the lines are different, and it isn't the band doing the same thing but quieter

[8675309_]

To give Boyd a break from his arthritis and for marketing purposes. The sets were great and I wish they did them again. Have a guest pop up to start the second set would be legit.

[TerrapinMonkey]

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QfEVZRMG9Q


2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q9e1AGe0Ck


The arrangement of the jam is different, the feel is different, the lines are different, and it isn't the band doing the same thing but quieter

It's not THAT different is all I'm saying. And that was 1 song that they sort of kind of changed up and the difference was 2 minutes at the end of the song.

[briansnyder]

Originally Posted by OK_Ant

Experimentation. Also, maybe to give themselves a break.

I liked 2Sets, even though the acoustic sets weren't as creative as they could've been, and the Lovely Ladies made the electric sets somewhat stale. Like the Caravans, DMB should consider doing them again, maybe as a combo thing?

A reimagined Caravan focusing on different "formats" would be so fun. While the circumstances of the "alternate format" Gorge shows were far from ideal, they did produce some interesting and unique tunes. Plus, Dave and Friends could make a comeback in various incarnations at a Caravan. Imagine the different possibilities with all the people they've played with or have been friends with over the years. I'd probably travel to multiple Caravan venues.

Caravan could also get out of the Live Nation / Ticketmaster traps... do non-Live Nation venues, sell tickets direct via MusicToday (hell even Taylor Swift is using the ancient MusicToday platform now right?) and just print money. Throw in many multiple levels of tickets like the Innings Festival and liberate thousands of dollars from the pockets of old heads like me.