Set List critique
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SusyLuvsPaul wrote:
He might feel like certain songs aren't "big enough" to fill an arena or stadium, even "Despite Repeated Warnings" which starts out slow, and "I Don't Know." Concert goers who are into Egypt Station would certainly be thrilled, though. They're delighted with anything from ES being played. "Back in Brazil" would be a big treat and transporting. "Fuh You" strikes me as insanely catchy; it should rock the joint. Caesar Rock is a primal howl from his id..."Who Cares" rocks, is catchy. It should keep the momentum going, the high energy, and he did play it in Montreal (first time in concert?). Couldn't horns come in at some point in "Come On To Me"? Paul sounds so sassy on that, it's provocative. I fancy "Fuh You" a bit more. I love the heavenly choir in the first station and the ending station, on ES.
He explained recently he and the band need to rehearse more songs from ES before playing them live; don't you get it, more rehearsal time is needed. So much bitching. He explained why. All this complaining about the setlist must aggravate him at times.
Paul has all the time in the world. He scheduled the album release and the tour. Has nothing else to do. It's a lame excuse.
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We don't know what all he has to do; we aren't privy to his schedule. He has a lot of family, for one thing. He has a big business to keep going with many different aspects; he even has an office building in London with five stories, to give an idea of how extensive his music business is. No doubt he's busier than you think. He also requires and deserves some relaxation time to recharge his batteries. He needs mini-vacations from it all. The Beatles took a lot of vacations, needing to after all the constant demands made on them 24/7.
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SusyLuvsPaul wrote:
We don't know what all he has to do; we aren't privy to his schedule. He has a lot of family, for one thing. He has a big business to keep going with many different aspects; he even has an office building in London with five stories, to give an idea of how extensive his music business is. No doubt he's busier than you think. He also requires and deserves some relaxation time to recharge his batteries. He needs mini-vacations from it all. The Beatles took a lot of vacations, needing to after all the constant demands made on them 24/7.
Take a song like “Michelle.” He bothered to practice it and he’s only playing it in territories that have French ties.
The fact is that so far this tour has fewer new/different songs than previous ones, and it is a very noticeable difference.
Unlike his Beatles time, Paul is in control of his schedule. If he decides to tour, he can’t claim no time to learn songs. It’s just not credible.
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Look, I’ve always defended his “ratio” of songs. I get why it is so Beatle/Wings heavy. I’ve been to enough concerts to know that by and large his instincts on what the crowd in front of him wants is correct.
What I don’t agree with is his static setlists and his massive holes in his solo catalogue. Once you except that the 6-7 pure solo songs are only for the diehards- you should give those diehards a treat. Give them Take it Away. Or Alligator. Make their day by dusting off Beautiful Night.
I want the Paul that boldly played Temporary Secretary more often.
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It feels like we have the same discussion every tour (and the same converstation happens over on Steve Hoffman's board, too), but what the hell...
As Suzy has mentioned, Paul's said they hadn't had time to rehearse more than 3 new songs, but are working on more. I guess that's possible, but he played Confidante at Abbey Road and didn't do it in either Canada show, so I dunno. I do understand the reluctance to play I Don't Know, which IMHO is a beautiful song but one that seems to take folks a few listenings to warm up to. In concert, artists tend to go for songs that are more instantly appealing if the audience doesn't already know them. In this case, I'd say Dominoes and People Want Peace would fit that bill. And I'd personally love to see him put Confidante into the set list.
If he wants to keep the Beatles-heavy set list, which he clearly does, the easy thing is to drop In Spite of All the Danger and Four Five Second. I seriously doubt anyone's clamoring to hear those. But I'm glad he's keeping Queenie Eye and My Valentine. Paul's usual routine is to drop the new songs as soon as he's done promoting a particular album, and I'm glad he's moving at least slightly away from the file-'em-and-forget-'em habit.
But if it were up to me, he'd drop half the Beatles tunes and play Silly Love Songs, Old Siam Sir, Wanderlust, Somebody Who Cares, The World Tonight, Run Devil Run, Friends To Go, The End of the End and That Was Me, plus a couple more Egypt Station songs.
Hell will freeze over first.
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Bruce M. wrote:
It feels like we have the same discussion every tour (and the same converstation happens over on Steve Hoffman's board, too), but what the hell...
As Suzy has mentioned, Paul's said they hadn't had time to rehearse more than 3 new songs, but are working on more. I guess that's possible, but he played Confidante at Abbey Road and didn't do it in either Canada show, so I dunno. I do understand the reluctance to play I Don't Know, which IMHO is a beautiful song but one that seems to take folks a few listenings to warm up to. In concert, artists tend to go for songs that are more instantly appealing if the audience doesn't already know them. In this case, I'd say Dominoes and People Want Peace would fit that bill. And I'd personally love to see him put Confidante into the set list.
If he wants to keep the Beatles-heavy set list, which he clearly does, the easy thing is to drop In Spite of All the Danger and Four Five Second. I seriously doubt anyone's clamoring to hear those. But I'm glad he's keeping Queenie Eye and My Valentine. Paul's usual routine is to drop the new songs as soon as he's done promoting a particular album, and I'm glad he's moving at least slightly away from the file-'em-and-forget-'em habit.
But if it were up to me, he'd drop half the Beatles tunes and play Silly Love Songs, Old Siam Sir, Wanderlust, Somebody Who Cares, The World Tonight, Run Devil Run, Friends To Go, The End of the End and That Was Me, plus a couple more Egypt Station songs.
Hell will freeze over first.
Seriously Bruce, how much time do you think it would take a rock legend like McCartney and his touring band for over 15 years to learn more than three songs from Egypt Station well enough to play live. Especially since the band did record the songs with him so it is not like they are totally clueless on how to play them. Yes, the same discussion happens every tour because some of his fans are frustrated by lack of songs in the set list past 1981 if they are not his current album. Funny, how he could learn to play 6 songs from FITD on his 1989 tour right away and that band was brand new. We all get having to play the hits which is around 25 songs, it is the remaining songs some of us wish he would be more willing to get creative. I think BJ brings up a great point that he would rather play a "B" side Beatle song (In Spite of Danger, I Wanna Be Your Man) than some of his excellent solo songs. I agree with your wish list but like you said Hell will freeze over first - lol.
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Put yourself in Paul's position. He has a band that tours every year and in most cases sells out tickets the day they go on sale! Why fix something that's not broken??
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If he can keep doing My Valentine, then surely I Dont Know can get a go..
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DrivinFan wrote:
Put yourself in Paul's position. He has a band that tours every year and in most cases sells out tickets the day they go on sale! Why fix something that's not broken??
It is not that he needs to fix something, just happens that a bunch of people really like his solo music and current #1 album and would love to hear more of it live.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
DrivinFan wrote:
Put yourself in Paul's position. He has a band that tours every year and in most cases sells out tickets the day they go on sale! Why fix something that's not broken??
It is not that he needs to fix something, just happens that a bunch of people really like his solo music and current #1 album and would love to hear more of it live.
That.
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Nancy R wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
DrivinFan wrote:
Put yourself in Paul's position. He has a band that tours every year and in most cases sells out tickets the day they go on sale! Why fix something that's not broken??
It is not that he needs to fix something, just happens that a bunch of people really like his solo music and current #1 album and would love to hear more of it live.
That.
Exactly!
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
DrivinFan wrote:
Put yourself in Paul's position. He has a band that tours every year and in most cases sells out tickets the day they go on sale! Why fix something that's not broken??
It is not that he needs to fix something, just happens that a bunch of people really like his solo music and current #1 album and would love to hear more of it live.
And I agree...I would love to hear something I haven't heard live before when I see him...but I was just throwing out a different view.
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After the canadian gigs the tour will stop for 1 month, so I hope Paul and his band will rehearse and add others songs.
Maybe other 2 from Egypt (Ceaser rock and back in Brazil, my guess) but I would to hear "Hand in hand" and "Dominoes".
Silly love songs and Honey pie (My guess) but I hope "Martha my dear" and "Rocky Raccoon".
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corchians wrote:
After the canadian gigs the tour will stop for 1 month, so I hope Paul and his band will rehearse and add others songs.
Maybe other 2 from Egypt (Ceaser rock and back in Brazil, my guess) but I would to hear "Hand in hand" and "Dominoes".
Silly love songs and Honey pie (My guess) but I hope "Martha my dear" and "Rocky Raccoon".
If he did any of those last 4 songs, I would eat my hat!
He always said the piano in MMD is really difficult, so highly doubt he’d want to put the time in to re-learn that.
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If the piano part is too hard for him, Paul can play the bass and Wix the piano, with the real brass section to complete the arrangment.
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corchians wrote:
If the piano part is too hard for him, Paul can play the bass and Wix the piano, with the real brass section to complete the arrangment.
That would be wonderful, but I don’t see it happening.
️
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Nancy R wrote:
corchians wrote:
After the canadian gigs the tour will stop for 1 month, so I hope Paul and his band will rehearse and add others songs.
Maybe other 2 from Egypt (Ceaser rock and back in Brazil, my guess) but I would to hear "Hand in hand" and "Dominoes".
Silly love songs and Honey pie (My guess) but I hope "Martha my dear" and "Rocky Raccoon".
If he did any of those last 4 songs, I would eat my hat!
He always said the piano in MMD is really difficult, so highly doubt he’d want to put the time in to re-learn that.
I doubt he will do the songs mentioned above also but if he really did one of those Beatle songs, I think it would be "Rocky Racoon" which would be fairly easy for him to sing even now and fit in during acoustic part of show.
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Thoughts after seeing him for the first time since Out There 2014 at ACL last night.
- AHDN works very well as an opener, but nothing beats Magical Mystery Tour in my opinion
- Hi, Hi, Hi works very well in the 2nd spots
- the horns bring so much energy to the show, not that any was lacking
- My Valentine is still a down point
- the audience sat through the Egypt Station songs he played (Come On To Me, Fuh You),but he could've curated better ES picks for the crowd (Happy With You or Confidante? Who Cares could've worked too)
- the acoustic set works well, In Spite of All The Danger isn't my favorite choice (would rather have You Won't See Me).
- Lady Madonna rocked more than it ever has with the live horns
- Mr Kite was very cool with the visuals
- Ob-La-Di went over very well with the crowd and the singalong
- Live and Let Die was very cool with the horns
- Encore was great length for the fest
Overall, I had a great time at the show. Wonder if he'll change it up for next weekend
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FlowersOnTheRun wrote:
Thoughts after seeing him for the first time since Out There 2014 at ACL last night.
- AHDN works very well as an opener, but nothing beats Magical Mystery Tour in my opinion
- Hi, Hi, Hi works very well in the 2nd spots
- the horns bring so much energy to the show, not that any was lacking
- My Valentine is still a down point
- the audience sat through the Egypt Station songs he played (Come On To Me, Fuh You),but he could've curated better ES picks for the crowd (Happy With You or Confidante? Who Cares could've worked too)
- the acoustic set works well, In Spite of All The Danger isn't my favorite choice (would rather have You Won't See Me).
- Lady Madonna rocked more than it ever has with the live horns
- Mr Kite was very cool with the visuals
- Ob-La-Di went over very well with the crowd and the singalong
- Live and Let Die was very cool with the horns
- Encore was great length for the fest
Overall, I had a great time at the show. Wonder if he'll change it up for next weekend
"My Valentine" will never leave the setlist and we all know why, wish he would do another song for his wife Nancy. As for "Egypt Station" songs, "Who Cares" should definitely be in the set list IMO. Songs rocks and it is about timely subject. I am glad he has horn section with him this tour, it really does add something and I believe he has not had one since 1976. I know I am beating the subject to death but really wish he would replace a B side Beatle song like "In Spite Of Danger" with one of his many wonderful solo songs. I think "Little Willow" woud be excellent song in his acoustic part of the show.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
FlowersOnTheRun wrote:
Thoughts after seeing him for the first time since Out There 2014 at ACL last night.
- AHDN works very well as an opener, but nothing beats Magical Mystery Tour in my opinion
- Hi, Hi, Hi works very well in the 2nd spots
- the horns bring so much energy to the show, not that any was lacking
- My Valentine is still a down point
- the audience sat through the Egypt Station songs he played (Come On To Me, Fuh You),but he could've curated better ES picks for the crowd (Happy With You or Confidante? Who Cares could've worked too)
- the acoustic set works well, In Spite of All The Danger isn't my favorite choice (would rather have You Won't See Me).
- Lady Madonna rocked more than it ever has with the live horns
- Mr Kite was very cool with the visuals
- Ob-La-Di went over very well with the crowd and the singalong
- Live and Let Die was very cool with the horns
- Encore was great length for the fest
Overall, I had a great time at the show. Wonder if he'll change it up for next weekend
"My Valentine" will never leave the setlist and we all know why, wish he would do another song for his wife Nancy. As for "Egypt Station" songs, "Who Cares" should definitely be in the set list IMO. Songs rocks and it is about timely subject. I am glad he has horn section with him this tour, it really does add something and I believe he has not had one since 1976. I know I am beating the subject to death but really wish he would replace a B side Beatle song like "In Spite Of Danger" with one of his many wonderful solo songs. I think "Little Willow" woud be excellent song in his acoustic part of the show.
Yankeefan,
According to the Setlist I saw from Austin TX, he's now down to 2 ES songs. Just blows my mind with a #1 album. For the life of me I can't understand why he doesn't do:
Happy With You - great little new acoustic song as a tribute to Nancy
Who Cares - why would he drop this ES song...better than the 2 ES songs he is playing in my opinion and way better than a few of the "tired" Beatle and Wings' songs still in his setlist.
People Want Peace - another great ES song and again very timely to a young crowd.
Confidante - another great little acoustic song...want to hear this live and we might even get a better vocal than the studio release
Dominoes - great new mid tempo song
I could go on and on. The band had plenty of time to rehearse well before the tour so they could play 6-8 songs from this great album. I'll never understand!