the dissappearance of Yellow Ledbetter

hrd2imgn · November 2013

It seems this song is starting to become a little more rare, days of the standard Ledbetter close are long gone I understand, but this tour it seems to be more scarce. Am I imagining it? Seems like Indifference is being played as much now.

looking at set lists I know it is there more than I think, it just seems to be much less than before

SS9981 · November 2013

And, unfortunately, the set-list's are becoming very similar.

RiotZact · November 2013

For sure, I became a fan in 2009 and I've seen them 5 times since then, Ledbetter was only played at 1 of those 5. Once was Indifference and three times RITFW.

liljoey90 · November 2013

I'm prob gonna get killed for this, but I'm actually kinda happy. I was never a huge fan of the song, and I really don't like it closing shows at all.

jethrojam420 · November 2013

It has been like that since 2010 too. That's why i picked it for the fantasy league. figured it would definitely get played but not as much as it used to be. sort of a guaranteed 20 points.

kramer73 · November 2013

SS9981 wrote:

And, unfortunately, the set-list's are becoming very similar.

this will always happen in an album year.

Wilds · November 2013

SS9981 wrote:

And, unfortunately, the set-list's are becoming very similar.

:shock:

Yeah... just like a Rolling Stones show. :fp:

Bant · November 2013

liljoey90 wrote:

I'm prob gonna get killed for this, but I'm actually kinda happy. I was never a huge fan of the song, and I really don't like it closing shows at all.

I'm with you. I've been lucky to avoid it in my last 5 shows, going back to 2006.

RiotAct10 · November 2013

Wilds wrote:

SS9981 wrote:

And, unfortunately, the set-list's are becoming very similar.

:shock:

Yeah... just like a Rolling Stones show. :fp:

Seriously. Do people even understand what most bands do with set lists? As someone said, its an album year. Other than opening with Pendulum, playing Lighting Bolt and MYM early in the main set, and opening the second encore with Yellow Moon, the setlists are still as varied as ever. Every show has some deep album cuts, every show has some b-sides. Every show has some hits. Same formula as ever. Just as they did with the Backspacer tour when they played Just Breathe to start the encore, yes, there are some Lighting Bolt tracks that have become mainstays, for this tour only, but at the end of the day, they are mixing it up as much anyone else out there.

smanchac1 · November 2013

14 shows, played 5 times this tour...

That is a low number vs precious years!

Veddernarian · November 2013

YL is like Labor Day. It is great but depressing. You know the concert is over. Like with Labor Day, summer being over.

I like YL though and hope it comes back. It is RITFW and Baba O'Reilly I wish would disappear or if not disappear, go on a very long hiatus.

Empty Glass · November 2013

SS9981 wrote:

And, unfortunately, the set-list's are becoming very similar.

I agree with you. Not similar in same tunes every show, but the same pattern. Porch every night though, with the swinging. Someone up front getting wine every show....

Daron Oshay · November 2013

SS9981 wrote:

And, unfortunately, the set-list's are becoming very similar.

Huh?

smanchac1 · November 2013

Veddernarian wrote:

YL is like Labor Day. It is great but depressing. You know the concert is over. Like with Labor Day, summer being over.

I like YL though and hope it comes back. It is RITFW and Baba O'Reilly I wish would disappear or if not disappear, go on a very long hiatus.

It is what it is. The traditional closing song. It's a bittersweet song because you know it's the end.

I like that its becoming the closer less and less.

In Hartford Ed was talking about Neil young after alive, and we assumed it would be rocking into yellow, and were happily suprised to hear fuckin up into indifference instead!

Spiritual_Chaos · November 2013

Im more worried about how often they play crown of thorns.

tcadd94 · November 2013

Spiritual_Chaos wrote:

Im more worried about how often they play crown of thorns.

I was thinking the same thing!!!!!

brianlux · November 2013

A good argument could be made for the idea that ending with YL could get old for both the band and the audience but I'm glad they've done it as often as they have. To begin with, it's a great tribute to fellow Seattlite Jimi Hendrix- the structure of the piece is very Hendrixian and Mike often quotes Hendrix passages in his solo. The whole flavor of the number works well as a coda for a show. The other great thing about this piece is that lends itself well to almost endless variation. Every version is different and has something to add to the oeuvre of Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter.

Wilds · November 2013

Empty Glass wrote:

SS9981 wrote:

And, unfortunately, the set-list's are becoming very similar.

I agree with you. Not similar in same tunes every show, but the same pattern. Porch every night though, with the swinging. Someone up front getting wine every show....

Agreed there is a loose pattern, but the setlists are not similar by any normal concert experience.

Even for a Pearl Jam show, they are pretty much as varied as they always have been. In fact I prefer these much more than the shows in the past where they played many more of the same songs every night.

We can all agree that any and all Lightning Bolt tracks have a good chance of being played every single night without exception, and to make that as evidence that the band is playing some type of canned set is ridiculous.

Even then only 5 tracks have been played at more than half the shows:

Mind Your Manners (16)
Lightning Bolt (16)
Sirens (15)
Pendulum (12)
Yellow Moon (11)

Yes they have a stage set up that comes down and they do some type of slower set in the encore, but even then it is varied.

There have been 20 shows this year thus far. With an average of 29 songs played each night.

These 13 songs are the only other songs that have been played more than 1/2 the time and if you look at the history of the shows these songs ARE ALWAYS PLAYED TO DEATH. So it's not a new thing on this tour.
Alive (18)
Do The Evolution (17)
Porch (16)
Given To Fly (16)
Corduroy (14)
Even Flow (14)
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter (14)
Unthought Known (13)
Rearviewmirror (12)
Got Some (11)
Daughter (11)
Black (11)
Better Man (11)

2013 with 20 shows has had 130 songs played.
2012 with 18 shows had 120 songs played.
2011 with 24 shows had 144 songs played.
2010 with 28 shows had 146 songs played.
2009 with 32 shows had 157 songs played.
2008 with 14 shows had 113 songs played.
2007 with 14 shows had 97 songs played.
2006 with 83 shows had 164 songs played.

On average according to the last 8 years Pearl Jam plays 133 songs per year. So 2013 is right in line with the average and only going to improve as more songs are played for the first time.

Now as for set placement. I guess you could say that, but nothing to get concerned about.

Aside from Phish we still have the best most unpredictable set lists in the world.

I for one can't wait for my next four shows, as I know I will be getting a ton of different songs at each venue.

BN8419 · November 2013

Count the number of songs that have closed the 1st or 2nd set this tour vs previous tours. you will be surprised. and not in a good way

Wilds · November 2013

BN8419 wrote:

Count the number of songs that have closed the 1st or 2nd set this tour vs previous tours. you will be surprised. and not in a good way

RVM
Betterman
Porch

I've followed this tour (going to one show), and following the set list on the others, so I'm not surprised.

I also don't have any issue with this choice.

Eddie does it right in my opinion.

Yieldman · November 2013

Wilds wrote:

Empty Glass wrote:

SS9981 wrote:

And, unfortunately, the set-list's are becoming very similar.

I agree with you. Not similar in same tunes every show, but the same pattern. Porch every night though, with the swinging. Someone up front getting wine every show....

Agreed there is a loose pattern, but the setlists are not similar by any normal concert experience.

Even for a Pearl Jam show, they are pretty much as varied as they always have been. In fact I prefer these much more than the shows in the past where they played many more of the same songs every night.

We can all agree that any and all Lightning Bolt tracks have a good chance of being played every single night without exception, and to make that as evidence that the band is playing some type of canned set is ridiculous.

Even then only 5 tracks have been played at more than half the shows:

Mind Your Manners (16)
Lightning Bolt (16)
Sirens (15)
Pendulum (12)
Yellow Moon (11)

Yes they have a stage set up that comes down and they do some type of slower set in the encore, but even then it is varied.

There have been 20 shows this year thus far. With an average of 29 songs played each night.

These 13 songs are the only other songs that have been played more than 1/2 the time and if you look at the history of the shows these songs ARE ALWAYS PLAYED TO DEATH. So it's not a new thing on this tour.
Alive (18)
Do The Evolution (17)
Porch (16)
Given To Fly (16)
Corduroy (14)
Even Flow (14)
Elderly Woman Behind The Counter (14)
Unthought Known (13)
Rearviewmirror (12)
Got Some (11)
Daughter (11)
Black (11)
Better Man (11)

2013 with 20 shows has had 130 songs played.
2012 with 18 shows had 120 songs played.
2011 with 24 shows had 144 songs played.
2010 with 28 shows had 146 songs played.
2009 with 32 shows had 157 songs played.
2008 with 14 shows had 113 songs played.
2007 with 14 shows had 97 songs played.
2006 with 83 shows had 164 songs played.

On average according to the last 8 years Pearl Jam plays 133 songs per year. So 2013 is right in line with the average and only going to improve as more songs are played for the first time.

Now as for set placement. I guess you could say that, but nothing to get concerned about.

Aside from Phish we still have the best most unpredictable set lists in the world.

I for one can't wait for my next four shows, as I know I will be getting a ton of different songs at each venue.

Well said. Thanks for putting this together! As they say, the numbers never lie...

RFTC · November 2013

liljoey90 wrote:

I'm prob gonna get killed for this, but I'm actually kinda happy. I was never a huge fan of the song, and I really don't like it closing shows at all.

+1

Spiritual_Chaos · November 2013

I don't have a problem with Porch being played at every show...

...but conctructing a special light for Eddie to swing around on during the song... everytime... that is... just not... right...

Yieldman · November 2013

Spiritual_Chaos wrote:

I don't have a problem with Porch being played at every show...

...but conctructing a special light for Eddie to swing around on during the song... everytime... that is... just not... right...

How did you feel when Ed reflected the spotlight into the crowd from his guitar every time they played Porch? I don't have a big problem with these planned events each night but I definitely like seeing more spontaneous surprises.

In 2006 I was fortunate to see 7 consecutive shows and there were several spontaneous moments that occurred just one time. Ed climbing the soft ladder suspended from the light trusses to sing to the crowd behind the stage, Mike smashing his guitar at the end of Watchtower, etc.

grizaham · November 2013

Love the song.
Glad they have semi shelved it recently.
mix it up!

fox_mulderX · November 2013

Good. Quit playing it until they learn to slow it down.

vaggar99 · November 2013

this is a great song that came too predictable as a closer for most shows for several tours. so no complaints here if it gets a little break.

maybe it could be the first set close sometimes? or just stick somewhere in the middle of the set. that would be a nice surprise and it would work. and we could actually experience the song without the house lights on. just my 2 cents

Driftin'Along · November 2013

I've only been to 4 shows and only seen it once so far. I would take this song 10 times out of 10 before RITFW or Baba. And to the guy who posted the tours by numbers: great numbers and thanks for posting but one error I found. Phish is not the only less predictable band out there. Widespread Panic has a rule that they never play a song within 3 shows of itself. With a catalog of over 300 songs (originals & covers) and a typical 20-25 song set this makes for unbelieve variation and unpredictability. Here's a link to see the print out they use to create the setlist each night(just scroll down a bit).
http://www.burnthday.com/
I couldn't find the one out there that is color coded (certain colors eliminate a song from being played that night and colors update after each show for availability of a song for the next night). Pretty cool concept.

liljoey90 · November 2013

You can add umphreys McGee to that list... Pretty much all the jam bands are unbelievable with the set lists. It's different with a band like pearl jam. All these jam bands don't have mainstream fans. They don't have radio songs. They can play whatever the hell they want

CarneviL · November 2013

F*** Up in Hartford was awesome.
Anyone else notice security escorting the guy who was F** up. They stopped to allow him to puke. The song was perfect for him. We saw him laying down on the lobby way after the show. Poor guy.

BN8419 · November 2013

Wilds wrote:

BN8419 wrote:

Count the number of songs that have closed the 1st or 2nd set this tour vs previous tours. you will be surprised. and not in a good way

RVM
Betterman
Porch

I've followed this tour (going to one show), and following the set list on the others, so I'm not surprised.

I also don't have any issue with this choice.

Eddie does it right in my opinion.

Your opinion is wrong. These sets have become quite predictable with a few variations. Yes, they throw in some unique ones each show, but for the most part, you know exactly what you're going to get. It is different for this tour than all previous tours. It had to be a conscious decision.

For example, the 2012 Euro tour had 13 dates. We have had 15 dates since the Pittsburgh opener. As mentioned above, there have only been 3 songs to close the main set or the 1st encore. For the 2012 Euro tour, here is the list:

Porch
Why Go
Rearviewmirror
Better Man
Do The Evolution
Come Back
Jeremy
- 7 in two fewer dates

For the 13 date US 2010 tour-
Why Go
Porch
Do The Evolution
Rearviewmirror
The FIxer
Go
Better Man
Blood
Gonna See My Friend
Once
- 10 in two fewer dates

This tour, 15 shows, only 3

the dissappearance of Yellow Ledbetter

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