If you‘re like me, few things spark memories of an incredible concert experience like an old setlist. One glance at those songs, neatly scribbled on paper or a cocktail napkin, and I‘m transported back to that show. I can practically hear the roar of the crowd again.
Setlists have a strange magic about them. On the surface they‘re just lists of songs. But they provide a backstage pass into an artist‘s creative vision. For devoted music lovers like us, setlists are priceless mementos.
In this guide, we‘ll dive deep into the art and mystique of the setlist. I‘ll share how bands craft and use these little lists. And I‘ll reveal why fans treasure them so much. Let‘s start from the beginning…
What Exactly is a Setlist?
Simply put, a setlist is the carefully ordered list of songs a band or artist will play during one particular show. It serves as a roadmap for that night‘s performance.
Setlists emerged in the 1960s, when rock bands began expanding their capabilities in the studio and on stage. With more albums to choose from, a setlist enabled bands to thoughtfully plan their shows.
Pioneers like the Grateful Dead recognized that they could steer the crowd through different vibes by strategically sequencing songs. The concept of a planned, structured show was born.
As rock bands got more ambitious with light shows and productions in the 1970s, setlists became even more critical. Songs needed to be mapped out to sync with lighting cues and effects.
Fast forward to today – virtually every major tour has setlists determined well in advance. But as we‘ll see, setlists continue to evolve each night.
Why are Setlists So Important for Bands?
For the performers, the setlist is way more than just a list. It‘s a blueprint they can use to create an immersive experience and connect with fans.
It Sets the Right Mood
A thoughtfully constructed setlist establishes the vibe from the opening chord. The energy can fluidly shift from high adrenaline to melancholy and back again. Each song flows into the next surprising, delightful, or even challenging the listener.
My favorite shows seamlessly transition between euphoric highs and poignant lows. That‘s masterful setlist construction at work.
It Provides Variety
Most successful acts today have an extensive back catalog. Setlists enable them to showcase different sounds and styles throughout the performance. Mixing up the pace and feel prevents stagnation. The show stays interesting from start to finish.
A great setlist feels like a musical journey with unexpected twists and turns along the way.
It Allows Flexibility Within a Framework
Musicians need the freedom to improvise and respond to the crowd. Setlists provide loose guide rails rather than strictly defined rules. Artists frequently swap out songs or change the order based on feel. Certain slots are left open for spontaneous covers or jams.
Some bands are renowned for dramatically changing up setlists each night. More on that later…
It Helps Optimize Transitions
Seamless transitions enhance the immersive experience and conserve the band‘s energy. Setlists enable smoother transitions by planning compatible keys and tempos in sequence.
The right setlist choices also allow equipment changeovers to happen quickly behind the scenes – rather than on stage under hot lights!
It Facilitates Rehearsal
With hundreds of songs to potentially choose from, practice time is limited. Setlists enable bands to narrow their focus and rehearse the specific songs played that night.
Meticulous musicians like Bruce Springsteen hold full dress rehearsals with the final setlist before each show. This ensures they can deliver perfection in front of an audience.
Why Do Fans Obsess Over Setlists?
For devoted music lovers like us, setlists provide a personal connection to our favorite artists and shows. Let‘s explore some reasons fans value them so highly:
Peek Into the Artist‘s Priorities
The setlist reveals what songs an act believes are essential to their live performance. You gain insight into which hits you can expect to hear, along with cherished deep cuts.
Looking at Pearl Jam setlists, you‘ll see "Black" appears almost every time. That tells you it‘s core to their identity.
Appreciate Show Structure
Great concerts strike a careful balance between satisfying expectations and delivering surprises. Studying setlists unveils how artists sequence songs to maximize dynamics and build momentum.
You notice most open with a bang before mellowing out mid-set, then crescendo to an epic finale.
Relive Special Nights
Just seeing the list of songs transports you back to that show. You remember how you felt hearing that opener or singing along to the encore. Setlists provide a memento that ignites memories of mesmerizing musical journeys.
I have setlists from my first Tori Amos and David Bowie shows framed on my office wall. Instant time travel!
Compare Shows
Serious fans often attend multiple dates on a tour. Comparing setlists reveals how artists vary the show from night to night. Even on the same tour, no two setlists are identical.
I once saw Pearl Jam seven times over a 2 month period. Seeing how the setlist changed was a game within the game.
Enjoy the Historical Significance
Setlists freeze a specific moment in time. Looking back years later, they offer a window into music history.
Fans covet setlists from seminal gigs like Led Zeppelin‘s 1973 Madison Square Garden shows or Nirvana‘s 1992 Reading Festival set. Those artifacts capture the evolution of rock history.
Foster Connections and Community
Setlists spur great social bonding and storytelling as fans share memories from special shows. Digital setlist archives like Setlist.fm empower these connections within fan communities.
After shows, my friends and I nerd out analyzing the highs and lows of that night‘s setlist. Our own little book club!
How Do Setlists Evolve Over a Tour?
While signature songs stay constant, setlists morph in subtle and dramatic ways over the course of a tour:
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Length expands then contracts – Early tour setlists are marathon-length before tightening up by the finale.
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Song frequency varies – Big hits appear almost every show, rarities only periodically.
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Rotating selections – 3-5 songs per show get swapped out to keep things fresh.
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New covers or obscurities – Songs get trial runs before maybe entering the regular rotation.
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Rearranged sequences – The opening and closing sections stay mostly static as the middle gets reordered each night.
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Venue customization – Special shows may get a unique setlist befitting the location, like the hometown finale.
Studying a full tour‘s setlists reveals striking patterns. You notice how the set evolves each night within the broader architecture.
How Are Setlists Created?
The setlist creation process depends significantly on whether the show is a solo act or full band:
Solo Artists
Big solo performers like Beyoncé have an entire team that collaborates on setlist strategy. However, the artist typically curates the final order and selections.
Some meticulous individuals handpick every song rather than sticking to a preplanned list. This enables them to customize based on the venue vibe and audience.
Full Bands
Band setlists often germinate more organically during rehearsals and soundchecks. Members advocate for certain songs and debate options.
Democratic groups like Pearl Jam take a collaborative approach. However, most bands defer to the founder or main songwriter for final setlist authority.
Either way, the setlist gets refined nightly based on feel. Some groups firmly set the next show‘s list immediately after leaving the stage.
How Far in Advance Are They Created?
This timeline varies dramatically by artist preferences:
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Months before tour – Extreme planners map it all out after rigorous planning sessions. But they leave room for evolution.
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Weeks ahead – Many large bands settle on master lists of options before honing down to specific setlists 1-2 weeks out.
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Day before show – Last minute setlist architects finalize just 24 hours ahead to match the upcoming city‘s energy.
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Day of show – Certain artists decide hours before doors, or even during soundcheck. This enhances flexibility.
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In the moment – Improvisational genres like jazz cobble together sets on the fly based on feel and audience reaction.
As a fan, I love both ends of this spectrum – the meticulous architects and the in-the-moment jammers.
Unique and Legendary Setlists
While most setlists contain familiar hits, some truly stand out. Here are a few of the most novel setlists that entered legend:
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Led Zeppelin – For their famed 1973 MSG run, they had one set with hits and one set with unreleased songs from their next album.
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The Rolling Stones – Their entire 1989 Steel Wheels tour alternated between two completely different setlists each night.
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Paul Simon – His Homeward Bound farewell tour in 2018 featured a fresh setlist every single night.
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Kanye West – His 2016 Saint Pablo Tour setlists evolved constantly, with a nightly 20-40 minute off-the-cuff "rant session" interpolated mid-set.
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Guns N‘ Roses – Their Rock In Rio 2017 setlist was an unexpected all-covers collection with songs by Dylan, Pink Floyd, The Who, and others.
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Bruce Springsteen – His Super Bowl halftime show in 2009 condensed his live experience into a non-stop greatest hits medley.
These mavericks used setlists as their blank canvases to create something novel and iconic.
How Do Bands Release Setlists?
In the pre-internet days, setlists were insider information. But over the last 15 years, bands have taken different approaches:
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Immediate social media release – Some acts now post each setlist in real time for fans. Phish helped pioneer this level of transparency.
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Fan sites like Setlist.fm – Most artists allow fans to share setlists without intervention. This engagement builds community.
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Selective or sporadic release – Groups like Pearl Jam strategically release some setlists but not all to sustain intrigue and surprise.
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No distribution – Certain bands like Tool discourage setlist leaks by never directly releasing them. Super fans obtain them unofficially.
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Next day release – Bands like Springsteen drop the previous show‘s list right before the next gig. This balances transparency and suspense.
There‘s merit to both consistent and selective setlist releases. As a fan, I don‘t need every list but enjoy poring over the occasional nugget.
Setlist Memorabilia Market
For dedicated collectors, vintage setlists can command hefty prices depending on their scarcity:
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Era and act – Setlists from seminal early tours or legendary acts like the Beatles fetch astronomical sums.
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Signature – A setlist signed by band members, especially multiples, exponentially raises value.
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Condition – Minor tears hurt value. Near pristine condition is required for top dollar. Folded sets are less desirable.
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Provenance – Setlists directly obtained from stage rather than venue finds are most prized. Those from band/crew heighten worth.
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Visuals – Unique letterhead, logos, or designs increase value over plain text lists.
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Notoriety – Setlists from key historic concerts or moments skyrocket in value among collectors.
In 2007, an original setlist handwritten by John Lennon for a Beatles Shea Stadium show sold for $30,000 at auction. Now that‘s a coveted artifact!
Superfans and Setlist Archives
A thriving community of setlist collectors exists both independently and via structured databases:
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Setlist.fm – With over 5 million concert setlists, this website is the premier archive for fans to relive and share show memories.
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The SetList Program – Active since the 1980s, this group of dedicated collectors obtain rare setlists directly from bands and crew members.
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Eddie Vedder – The Pearl Jam singer reputedly owns an enormous personal collection of setlists spanning his own shows and rock history.
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Kelly Curtis – Pearl Jam‘s first manager saved every handwritten setlist from their early 1990s tours and later donated them to the Rock Hall of Fame.
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Phishtracks – This site releases recording of Phish shows synced with setlists so fans can relive each moment. The band fully sanctions the archive.
For music nerds like me, these archives provide hours of fascinating exploration!
How Digital Culture Influences Setlists
Modern technology has enabled setlists to become more accessible while altering how bands utilize them:
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Greater access – Setlist leaks were rare once. Now they‘re available moments after shows end. There are also exponentially more images and recordings.
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Data analytics – Digital setlist data allows bands to analyze song and sequence trends using A/B testing methods. Some may optimize setlists based on streaming stats.
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Predictive setlists – Machine learning can now generate speculative setlists for upcoming shows based on past set data. These provide fans some expectations while maintaining surprise.
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Loss of surprise – The same tech enabling real-time setlist sharing means fans can know the exact songs ahead of time rather than in the moment. Certain fans intentionally avoid spoilers to preserve surprise.
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Demand for variation – With setlists more visible than ever, bands feel greater pressure to deliver unique sequences rather than repeating similar sets each night. Thematically linked sets become harder to reuse.
As a digital analyst myself, I‘m endlessly fascinated by technology‘s influence on music and fan engagement. Setlists provide the perfect microcosm.
The Intangible Magic of Setlists
For all the practical functions setlists provide, their greatest power comes from something harder to quantify. At their absolute best, setlists dissolve the barrier between band and fan.
The setlist is the roadmap that guides artist and audience together on a magical, unrepeatable trip. We surrender to the flow of songs, united in experience.
A great setlist erases our notions of past and future. The only moment that matters is this immediate, collective one. In those transitory moments, the mundane fades away.
Sure, a post-show photo with the band is cool. But the emotional connection forged through the setlist is something far more profound.
The next time you‘re tempted to sneak a peek at tonight‘s setlist, maybeexercise a little mystery. Let the sequence unfold as intended in real time. The surprises lying ahead are sweeter than any spoiler.
That‘s the true beauty baked into these humble little lists. In the right hands, they guide us somewhere magical.
