General Discussion on Setlists as a Whole This Year

[Antiramie]

Jenn/Todd, any thoughts on 2021?

[KevinTH]

This could go two ways, as I see it. The band is so excited to play again and comes out swinging with new songs, rarities, and sound tighter than they have in years.....
Or, they’re excited to tour but stick with the same sets they had before 2020 and the excuse is “they haven’t played together in two years, so give them a break”...

I think it could be some version of the first scenario. Dave seemed to step up in the last year and dig deep. His voice sounds better than it has in years and he seems to be in a loose creative space. That could breed a great tour.

[paulg83]

Originally Posted by KevinTH

This could go two ways, as I see it. The band is so excited to play again and comes out swinging with new songs, rarities, and sound tighter than they have in years.....
Or, they’re excited to tour but stick with the same sets they had before 2020 and the excuse is “they haven’t played together in two years, so give them a break”...

I think it could be some version of the first scenario. Dave seemed to step up in the last year and dig deep. His voice sounds better than it has in years and he seems to be in a loose creative space. That could breed a great tour.

To be honest, it seemed like things were going to go in the direction of Scenario A even before the pandemic hit. The Feb 2020 show in Vegas was kind of wild. http://dmbalmanac.com/TourShowSet.as...162&where=2020

Opening with Granny, and a set including The Riff, Stolen Away, Beach Ball, Sweet Up & Down, What You Are, Lying In the Hands of God, plus new Jimi Thing outro into Tell Me Something Good, and a first time cover of Long Train Runnin'.

Even if you don't like much of the above, you have to admit this was not a same ol' set.

I have to believe this unplanned long break has done nothing but reinforce the frame of mind Dave was in when he wrote that setlist.

[Cptn. Monkeyman]

I’m going into this pretty optimistically. I think they will be itching to bust out their classic tunes, plus it’s their 30th anniversary. I’m hoping for sets full of classic songs with a few rairities as well as just a few newer tunes (big whiskey +) sprinkled in each set.

[ToySoldier#34]

I'm expecting a bunch of random songs to be played when they come back that people are excited to see, have that become the standard group of songs played, fans get frustrated it's always a variation of the same mix, Dave's voice goes downhill as the tour goes on and he pushes too hard. So ... just like most years.


I'm very excited to have it all back in general and see them play, was very happy with the direction of their sound and looking forward to getting more of it!

[Bearclaw_]

I’m very optimistic for 2021 and looking forward to it. Have 8 shows planned as of right now. I think the tour opening run will be very exciting.

[Antiramie]

Given how early in the tour this is for Tampa compared to normal, I'm really considering not checking out the setlists before my show. Normally I know I can't go 30 shows without my curiosity getting the best of me, so I just setlist watch from the get go.

On the flip side, there should still be plenty of tour debuts after only 3 shows in and it's not a small enough sample size to get an idea of any patterns and regularities, so it's not like I'm really spoiling anything if I check.

Hmmmm....

[Antiramie]

Originally Posted by ToySoldier#34

I'm expecting a bunch of random songs to be played when they come back that people are excited to see, have that become the standard group of songs played, fans get frustrated it's always a variation of the same mix, Dave's voice goes downhill as the tour goes on and he pushes too hard. So ... just like most years.


I'm very excited to have it all back in general and see them play, was very happy with the direction of their sound and looking forward to getting more of it!

Yea, if taking 2017 off didn't really change Dave's mentality toward writing sets, I don't think this break will either. He might play a few rarities we haven't seen in awhile to start off the tour, but I expect them to fade away as the tour progresses like usual. I think sets are going to be as formulaic as they were in 2018 and 2019.

Just excited to have something to look forward to. Matters way more than what they play at this point.

[ToySoldier#34]

Originally Posted by Antiramie

Yea, if taking 2017 off didn't really change Dave's mentality toward writing sets, I don't think this break will either. He might play a few rarities we haven't seen in awhile to start off the tour, but I expect them to fade away as the tour progresses like usual. I think sets are going to be as formulaic as they were in 2018 and 2019.

Just excited to have something to look forward to. Matters way more than what they play at this point.

Yep, past year has been hell, play whatever and I'll have a blast

[HonestDenver1]

Originally Posted by paulg83

To be honest, it seemed like things were going to go in the direction of Scenario A even before the pandemic hit. The Feb 2020 show in Vegas was kind of wild. http://dmbalmanac.com/TourShowSet.as...162&where=2020

Opening with Granny, and a set including The Riff, Stolen Away, Beach Ball, Sweet Up & Down, What You Are, Lying In the Hands of God, plus new Jimi Thing outro into Tell Me Something Good, and a first time cover of Long Train Runnin'.

Even if you don't like much of the above, you have to admit this was not a same ol' set.

I have to believe this unplanned long break has done nothing but reinforce the frame of mind Dave was in when he wrote that setlist.

Agreed! And I hope the live by request shows really showed him the DMB fans like the deep tracks too. I mean if the last one alone is any indication there’s a lot of love for songs that don’t get a ton of set time.. I think Dave had wrongly assumed that fans want to hear the hits and play 1 or 2 deep tracks every few shows.. I hope that has changed. We want more variety and less of the radio hits..

[HonestDenver1]

Originally Posted by Antiramie

Yea, if taking 2017 off didn't really change Dave's mentality toward writing sets, I don't think this break will either. He might play a few rarities we haven't seen in awhile to start off the tour, but I expect them to fade away as the tour progresses like usual. I think sets are going to be as formulaic as they were in 2018 and 2019.

Just excited to have something to look forward to. Matters way more than what they play at this point.

Totally different.. they lost a core member and added a new one with a new album..

[DMBstandUP1984]

Is Butch back?