The 30+ song set lists done for good?

Flavafraz

Everyone realize they are playing 37 shows this year after not playing for how long if Ed’s voice goes people will cry if they cancel shows and there really only removing covers which I’m ok with except sonic reducer. So that’s ok with me as long as song sound this good and well paced 

vant0037

Cut the covers, cut the fluff from BS and LB.  Boom.  Tighter set, albeit shorter.  Will only catch one show this tour but I am fine with that.

ForceofNature101

I think one thing to keep in mind - I highly doubt the band are doing this just to get back to their hotels earlier or anything like that.  What decision was made here, it was done I firmly believe for the long-term sustainability of the quality of performances the band wants to be known for

So for me, if a band is making decisions that for them enables them to deliver the best live shows they can do, how can I possibly be mad at that?

PJammin'

3days said:

I keep trying to find the magic in Seven O' Clock, and I come up empty. I like several songs on Gigaton, but that one feels underwhelming. 

The song is too wordy and some lyrics don’t flow properly or as they should. 

PJammin'

mcg.j.sean said:

heartofadog said:

mcg.j.sean said:

heartofadog said:

OceansJenny said:

Poking around the PJ stats ap, avg # of songs per show:

1992: 11
1993: 16
1994: 20
1995: 23
1996: 23
1998: 23
2000: 26
2003: 26
2005: 26
2006: 26
2008: 26
2009: 28
2010: 25
2011: 28

2012: 26
2013: 32
2014: 29
2015: 30
2016: 30
2018: 28

'96 and '98 shows are some of my favorites. I've said this in other threads but the setlist length, whether it be number of songs or time on stage, is not that big a deal to me personally as long as the band is tight and the show is good. Two hours and twenty-four minutes is still a great set length. And again, at the risk of repeating myself, I'm a little bummed that Gigaton is so much of the set but it's the new record, and the tour behind the new record, so I get it. I'm sure the songs *sound* great live but my issue with the record (and my issue with Earthling) is that Ed's writing is pretty weak compared even to the stuff on Backspacer or Lightning Bolt. Some outliers on both Gigaton and Earthling for sure but by and large the writing is just... not great, in my opinion. Seven O'Clock and The Haves, respectively, are two of the worst things, lyrically, that have made their way onto official PJ/EV releases, maybe ever.

Everyone has an opinion but holy smokes this is not right. Seven o’clock is a top 5 Pearl jam song for me. Lyrically, musically, the singing, Ed’s delivery … it’s perfect. Lightning bolt and backspacer are two of their weakest records IMO. Seven o’clock is miles ahead of anything on those albums. Like have you read the lyrics to let the records play? Lol 

I do agree with you the haves though. That one is pretty bad. 

We just disagree on Seven, I guess. To me the writing — like much of Ed's writing when he tries to be direct about political/social issues — is clunky. When his writing is even a bit more esoteric but still political (Rats, WME, DTE) it works a lot better for me. Quick Escape rips but the "to find a place Trump hadn't fucked up yet" immediately dates the song and makes it so specific to an individual moment/person rather than the root cause(s) of the problem(s) Ed is writing about. 

From the new one DOC, Wolf Moon, Retrograde and River Cross are all pretty good. The writing is what it needs to be for those songs. Maybe not his greatest writing, but befitting the material. I just don't feel the same about Seven, Who Ever Said, Escape and the other tracks. 

Yes agree to disagree! Haha

But honest question. One lyric and that ruins a song or makes you think the writing is weak? Seems like you have pretty high standards! 😉

I agree with him about the Trump line. Dates the song. Not a fan of him doing that. 

iOnlyownMymind

PJammin' said:

3days said:

I keep trying to find the magic in Seven O' Clock, and I come up empty. I like several songs on Gigaton, but that one feels underwhelming. 

The song is too wordy and some lyrics don’t flow properly or as they should. 

"moved on from my despondency...."  comes to mind. I still remember that one from my first initial listen. I like a lot of things about the song, but yes, some of the works just don't quite work imo. 

PJammin'

steven87 said:

OceansJenny said:

I love a slow first encore. Bring out the stools let’s gooooo with some All or None.

Here’s my ideal first encore- Around the bend, All or none, fatal, parting ways, light years, hard to imagine, in my tree, present tense, breath, RVM. We can all dream

Yeah, that won’t happen. 

HesCalledDyer

I’m fine with the shorter setlists. I just hate having to sit thru an opening band that I’m never going to listen to. 

SVRDhand13

vant0037 said:

Cut the covers, cut the fluff from BS and LB.  Boom.  Tighter set, albeit shorter.  Will only catch one show this tour but I am fine with that.

Same here. I would love to somehow get a couple of new tunes, but that’s unlikely outside Gigaton, and even that might not happen. 

Weston1283

4 shows in - 1 total song from Binaural, Riot Act and Avocado combined 

Rarest song so far is Leash or Wash

The shows have been great, don’t get me wrong, but the days of chasing multiple arenas to get a white whale are over, at least for now

OceansJenny

Weston1283 said:

4 shows in - 1 total song from Binaural, Riot Act and Avocado combined 

Rarest song so far is Leash or Wash

The shows have been great, don’t get me wrong, but the days of chasing multiple arenas to get a white whale are over, at least for now

This really can’t be impacting the majority of people. This is a small subset of people. 

Spoonman110

Weston1283 said:

4 shows in - 1 total song from Binaural, Riot Act and Avocado combined 

Rarest song so far is Leash or Wash

The shows have been great, don’t get me wrong, but the days of chasing multiple arenas to get a white whale are over, at least for now

Yup, and I am guilty of doing so. I love seeing 3 or 4 shows on a tour and seeing how many "new to me" songs I can hear. The portion of the fanbase who do the same might feel a little bummed. I know I am leading up to the Oakland shows. 

CantKeepmedown

You just have to accept it for what it is. It is still worth seeing them on back to back nights in the same town, because they still play a lot of different songs night to night. And who knows, there is still a chance that someone will hear that one song they they are hoping for.  Just not as good odds as there used to be due to playing 8-10 less songs. 

Every show my wife goes to, she hopes to hear at least one of Come Back, Present Tense, or Crazy Mary.  Anything else is gravy. Odds were always good that she'd get one of those over the course of 2-3 shows.

I'm still really looking forward to seeing them in September. Other than Gigaton, I've seen them play everything I want to hear. I don't need Sweet Lew or Bugs or anything like that. 

100 Pacer

Weston1283 said:

4 shows in - 1 total song from Binaural, Riot Act and Avocado combined 

Rarest song so far is Leash or Wash

The shows have been great, don’t get me wrong, but the days of chasing multiple arenas to get a white whale are over, at least for now

Wes you’re not wrong but if I can get Strangest Tribe on this run I’m feeling fortunate.

SVRDhand13

Weston1283 said:

4 shows in - 1 total song from Binaural, Riot Act and Avocado combined 

Rarest song so far is Leash or Wash

The shows have been great, don’t get me wrong, but the days of chasing multiple arenas to get a white whale are over, at least for now

It’s actually making me want new Gigaton songs even more. Because they might be dropped quickly off future set lists. 

Merkin Baller

The band has built a reputation for playing marathon shows. 

That they aren't playing 30+ songs sets anymore is ok, and completely understandable, all things considered. 

That fans are talking about this fact is also ok. 

PB11041

SVRDhand13 said:

Weston1283 said:

4 shows in - 1 total song from Binaural, Riot Act and Avocado combined 

Rarest song so far is Leash or Wash

The shows have been great, don’t get me wrong, but the days of chasing multiple arenas to get a white whale are over, at least for now

It’s actually making me want new Gigaton songs even more. Because they might be dropped quickly off future set lists. 

This more than anything. Play the damn new songs.  Night one in San Diego seemed a good sign.  Last night comparaby, not so much.  The obsession with playing certain "classics" every night is pretty meh.

JojoRice

Now approaching the halfway point for this May leg.  Lets what they pull out next over the Oakland shows. 

mfc2006

This has been a long time coming, in my opinion. I'm just happy that they're still playing live at all, to be honest.

JimmyV

Now that's it here and happening I'm realizing how short these two U.S. legs are. 2-3 weeks and that's it. I'm more disappointed by that than I am the length of the setlist.