Shorter sets....and why it's the best thing ever!

stuckinline

drakeheuer14 said:

bazfromoz said:

If short sets are the new normal then reintroduce support acts (not just Josh) 

No way… no openers at all please. No matter how short the setlist gets

I second no openers.

bmurray06

I'm in total agreement with the OP. Obviously I don't have the exact number but I'm sure the vast majority of folks complaining about the setlists lately haven't been to these shows. All the reviews I've read on the shows have been glowing. Yeah, there are some staples that are always going to be played. ie Even Flow, Porch, DTE, etc. There are still a bunch of fans going to these shows that don't post on this board and don't have any album past Vitalogy. Compared to PJ peers, even 2-2.5 hours is pretty amazing. RHCP and Metallica play the same setlist pretty much every night and won't even change the order. 
One possible reason with them keeping it shorter and the shows more spaced out day to day is the health and wellbeing of the members, not only Eddie. The friendship between Matt Cameron and Taylor Hawkins is well documented. With the untimely passing of Hawkins and his heart to heart conversations with Cameron about the touring schedule having potentially a negative effect had to have made a decision in PJ's touring process. Speaking for myself, I'm grateful there still touring and still creating music. It's a rare thing to have a rock band with this longevity and creativeness.

Ledbetterman10

I don’t think I’ll mind a shorter set at Camden. But one setlist-related thing that I hate is the amount of slow-tempo songs at the top. I trace the start of this awful trend back to about 2013. They haven’t done it at every single show since then. But they sure do it a lot compared to pre-2013. 

Here’s the start of the set in Quebec a few days ago for example…..

01. Daughter
02. Footsteps
03. Buckle Up
04. Other Side
05. Off He Goes

For me personally, this is the absolute worst way a PJ concert can begin. And it’s nothing against these particular songs or songs with similar tempos (Sometimes, Release, Long Road, fucking Low Light). It’s just too many to start the show with. The day of the show comes, you’re all excited, anticipation builds through the day, the band comes out….and plays a couple lullabies that sucks the excitement out of the room. I’d prefer a little more “Pearl JAM” at the top of the shows, and a little less “Pearl Adult Contemporary.”

bootlegger10

Completely agree that the one slow opener is amazing, but 2-3 just drains the energy.

I would love the 3 hour show to come back.  I think I would leave at 2.5 hours and skip the predictable last encore. Perfect for me!    Unfortunately, now the predictable last encore starts with Porch in the 17 slot about 1.5 hours in.  

Abe Froman

It is definitely not the best thing ever. It is a drastic change in format from what fans are accustomed too. Six to ten less songs per show and less variety in sets is a very different experience. Don’t get me wrong I am still super excited about seeing two shows coming up and still think pj is the best live band in the world. But I am trying to lower my expectations of what I have seen the past 20 years. 

Ledbetterman10

bootlegger10 said:

Completely agree that the one slow opener is amazing, but 2-3 just drains the energy.

Yeah opening with something like Release or Sometimes and then going into something like Animal or Why Go is great. 

pjhawks

RHCP played Citizens Bank Park in Philly last night and did only 20 songs.  Would love 30 for PJ again but 23 isn’t bad 

bootlegger10

Remember, they have 9 shows left on this leg not counting Apollo.  And they've only played 2 so far.  We must be thankful for whatever scraps they are willing to leave for us at this point.

josevolution

SPEEDY MCCREADY said:

Nobody will ever convince me that less music makes for a better concert. 

🤣🤣🤣🤣

OceansJenny

igotid88 said:

Well people had fun at the Rage concerts and they play even less and the same set

Those Rage shows were 🤯. It’s all about level of energy, not length of set.

drfox

I’m happy with 22 songs though would prefer if they cut the 9minute versions of Even Flow, Porch, Daughter etc and did sharper 4-5min versions like the albums and added back a few songs. They could easily do 27-28 songs in the same time.

NDJeff7

I've seen them on almost every tour, starting with the Vs tour in 1994. I was at Ottawa last night and had last been at the 2 Fenway shows in 2018. The performance last night was so much better than the Fenway shows, and it wasn't even close. The tempo, guitar tones, and Ed's voice is all the best I've heard in a long time. The show was 2 1/2 hours and felt like the perfect amount of time. 

Discopij

I care far more about how many songs they play vs how long the show is.  Telling me a show is 2.5 hours but only 23 songs means they need to replace 15 minutes of jamming and stale audience participation with 4-5 more songs

nicknyr15

igotid88 said:

Well people had fun at the Rage concerts and they play even less and the same set

Like they’ve done their whole short career. We know what  to expect. With Pj it’s been a DRASTIC change. Not complaining I just don’t understand people getting butthurt whenever someone brings it up. 

mookeywrench

Some advice to the rocket surgeons who don't want an opener....

Arrive to the show after the opener.

Discopij

mookeywrench said:

Some advice to the rocket surgeons who don't want an opener....

Arrive to the show after the opener.

They can also show up late or leave early if they are bothered by shows that are "too long"

on2legs

I think the preference for no opener is based on the idea that it will leave more time for Pearl Jam to play if there’s only one band on the bill.  

RiotAct10

Ledbetterman10 said:

I don’t think I’ll mind a shorter set at Camden. But one setlist-related thing that I hate is the amount of slow-tempo songs at the top. I trace the start of this awful trend back to about 2013. They haven’t done it at every single show since then. But they sure do it a lot compared to pre-2013. 

Here’s the start of the set in Quebec a few days ago for example…..

01. Daughter
02. Footsteps
03. Buckle Up
04. Other Side
05. Off He Goes

For me personally, this is the absolute worst way a PJ concert can begin. And it’s nothing against these particular songs or songs with similar tempos (Sometimes, Release, Long Road, fucking Low Light). It’s just too many to start the show with. The day of the show comes, you’re all excited, anticipation builds through the day, the band comes out….and plays a couple lullabies that sucks the excitement out of the room. I’d prefer a little more “Pearl JAM” at the top of the shows, and a little less “Pearl Adult Contemporary.”

Everybody's different and we are all entitled to our opinions. I am a bigger fan of the slow songs and would love a start like that. 

pdalowsky

Was sceptical also about the shorter sets but they blew my mind in europe. The band were on fire, and the change is doing them the world of good. Yes id love the extra hour, Id love that first encore of acoustic rarities back, and yes I could do without 9 minute even flow and porch versions,. but i will always take a 9 minute RVM. So that tells me its all subjective, theres probably hundreds of folk who love the porch jam (not to mention it gives Ed time to pause and rest a little). 

However the shows were just wonderful, and cannot wait for the next tour to come along. 

gotthebottle

drfox said:

I’m happy with 22 songs though would prefer if they cut the 9minute versions of Even Flow, Porch, Daughter etc and did sharper 4-5min versions like the albums and added back a few songs. They could easily do 27-28 songs in the same time.

So... you're NOT really happy with 22 songs if you're offering a way to make it 27 songs....??