I almost never comment, mostly a lurker, etc. I haven't seen the band since 2001 but was a die hard from 98 - 2003. Always kept up with the band, bought the new records. Got off the ride with Stand Up. Found it very confusing at the time. Now I mostly like it!
Heard "Sweet" on NPR. Bought AFTW. Liked it!
First song I heard from CT was "Come On, Come On." Loved it! Still do!
Favorite album is BTCS. Favorite song is "Pig."
I would say I'm a bit more casual than most of you folks, and yet here I am on a DMB forum in 2021. Okay - there's some of my pedigree.
I think a factor not often explored in these discussions about setlist variation is how much Dave enjoys/feels comfortable (or
doesn't enjoy/feel comfortable) playing certain songs live. Maybe it's because he doesn't feel connected to the material. Maybe it's because it's challenging to sing or play. Maybe it's because he's the one who has to sit and watch most of the crowd look bored while he plays a treat for the die hards ("#34" in 2018, "Let You Down" in 2015, etc.).
I chose some insanely rare songs for effect, but the logic applies.
As a touring musician myself (eye roll, I get it), sometimes songs just don't work live from tour to tour or even from night to night. And sometimes a song can become stigmatized, (for a variety of reasons - band, fans, weather, flubs, personal shit) disappear and never get the chance it deserves to feature heavily on a tour. [Quick aside about Metallica (this will make sense in a bit) - In 1997 they released Reload. They performed "The Unforgiven II" at an awards show on national television and Kirk massively fucked up the intro. They almost never played the song again (only 6 times in 24 years). It was a HIT SINGLE.]
Conversely, some songs just effortlessly
work. For some reason, a lot of the songs from BW seem to work for Dave. Personally, I'll take "Squirm" and "LITHOG" at any show I go to (which aren't many, unfortunately, due to my job). I more or less tolerate "Shake Me" and "Why I Am."
I think considering these factors, the variety in the setlist for DMB fans is amazing. A huge catalog (first three albums almost entirely classic), new material that's good (despite the general opinion here it seems), a die hard (one could argue entitled and/or needy) fanbase, plenty of casuals to fill sheds every year and Dave's own cooky artistic intuitions which is why we fell in love with him in the first place but seems to be one of the main sources of disappointment these days (I've seen it said here often that Dave doesn't know which of his songs are any good. REALLY?). All of that in the DMB 4.0 stew and yet we STILL get tour debut setlists that include:
Granny, Minarets, Grey Street (3rd verse), LLD, WWYS, Seek Up, SUAD, YNK, Squirm, Raven, and some new songs that are pretty damn good!
You guys are spoiled as shit!
Another one of my favorite bands is Metallica. I host an all Metallica podcast (another eye roll and, again, I get it) called Metal Up Your Podcast. Try being a fan while those dudes tour! Basically the same set with a handful of "rotating slots" that each have 1 - 4 options. For about four years! It's apples and oranges and I'm sure many of you can't stand Metallica. No big deal.
But I will say this. When I saw the setlists for these last two DMB shows I felt emotional. When I saw the video of the 3rd verse of Grey Street and heard the crowd's response I teared up! I excitedly texted a friend of mine (really the only friend in real life I know who I can talk to about DMB shit) and we were like kids again talking about the setlists.
It wasn't until I came here and saw that, for some people, the setlists sucked! I wasn't planning on going to any shows (scheduling conflicts) but now I'm bending over backwards to make some shows work. I saw some people saying they are NO LONGER planning on seeing this tour.
I guess it really is just a matter of perspective.
Anyway, this concludes my one post every 3 years. I appreciate all of your opinions and enjoy lurking!