So I saw the White Stripes this weekend at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Sold out, crowded and sweaty, and overall an excellent show. They played a bunch of stuff from all three of their records, but finished the night without having played “Fell in Love with a Girl.”
Now, granted, the White Stripes aren’t hugely famous, but they did get some exposure on the Mtv, specifically at the movie awards, where they performed a medley of “Fell in Love…” and “Dirty Leaves…” (also a cool performance except for the dumbass fake fans in red and white outfits).
Again, it was a fabulous show on Saturday night, but why would they not play the one song that has gotten the most play on radio and Mtv?
Man, that sucks. I saw Primus years ago and they didn’t play “Tommy the Cat.” I was pretty bummed. I wasn’t a huge fan but my buddy assured me they would play it as it was a crowd favorite. As far as why…who knows. I would imagine that Mick and Keith are a little tired of playing “Satisfaction” but as far as other bands go…?
Maybe if I were artistic and cool I would better understand.
BTW, David Spade did a pretty funny bit about this years ago in one of his stand-up routines. Anyone have a link? It was part of the same routine where he goes on about going to the U2 concert and shouting “No More, No More.”
I saw Bruce Springsteen last year (or was it 2000?) Anyway, I swear, I knew 2 or 3 songs he played. It was a tour for his die-hard fans, that’s for sure. Our seats were behind the stage (360 degree show) and those people in the front row knew every word to every song.
I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t sing along, but he still put on one hell of a show.
That’s pretty lame that the White Stripes didn’t play their hit single. It’s not like it’s an epic song or anything-- it’s under two minutes long! I would presume the reasoning is some crap about how their true fans don’t care about the hit single, and they’ve been around for years, etc.
My anecdote: Lisa Loeb played our college spring festival several years ago, when she was popular, and didn’t play “Stay”. Pretty good show despite that, but it’s pretty ballsy to not play your number one single.
I saw Nirvana play a Halloween night show in Akron in 1994, and they didn’t play “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” I kind of dug that they didn’t, since the song’s irony was largely lost on portions of the audience anyway; not playing it made as strong a statement as playing it would have.
Ol’ Gaffer, are you think of the bit where Spade talked about bands opening with their most popular song? He did that on SNL – “I went to see the Eagles, and they opened with ‘Hotel California.’ Pure balls, ladies and gentlemen.”
I’d LOVE to be able to see a Nine Inch Nails concert without having suffer through Head Like a Hole again … If I’m as sick of that song as I can be, I can only imagine how Trent feels.
I suspect the reason is one or a combination of these:
A: They’re sick of playing it. They liked it at first but they’ve played it every night for the past year and now they hate it.
B. They never liked it in the first place. Maybe it’s not even like anything else they play. It was something their label told them to play because it was palatable to a broad audience and would be a hit. They agreed, used it to get famous, and now they refuse to play it.
C. They’re under the impression that anything so popular just can’t be cool, even if they’re the ones who made it popular. Better to play something nobody’s ever heard of.
A corollary is when the singer sticks the mic toward the audience and lets a bunch of drunk teenagers slur the words instead of singing it himself. I think the same motivations apply. Pisses me off because I didn’t pay good money to hear a crowd mumble my favorite song.
Saw Blind Melon back when they had that one big hit (“All I can say…”) and they saved it till the end, then let the audience sing it instead. And the worst was when I went to a Cowboy Mouth concert while they had a major hit with “Jenny Says.” The a-hole lead singer started off the night with a really wierd antagonistic tone. He said, “If any of you came to hear “Jenny Says” then you’re f-ing in the wrong place. We’re not gonna play that sh*t.” They they proceeded with a bunch of stuff that sounded nothing at all like their one hit.
Of course, I have to admit… the other extreme is the Beach Boys singing the same five songs for the rest of their lives.
You know, fuck 'em if they’re sick of playing the song. They can’t bite the bullet for 3 or 4 minutes to please their fans? A lot of the audience does stuff 8-9 hours a day they don’t want to do, and these knob-goblins can’t play a song for a few minutes?
Sorry for the pittish rant, put that really peeves me.
pldennison, I’m not sure. I don’t remember what it was on. I do remember that it started with him telling a story about goint to a U2 concert with thousands of other people, everyone chanting “No War, No War” but he, naturally, misunderstood and was chanting “No More, No More.” Anyways, he followed this bit with a little tirade about how the band should play their most popular songs and, GregAtlanta, they should play them exactly how they’re played on the album. (did I just say album? I must be getting old!!)
Well, I can understand it. I saw Counting Crows at the Niteclub 9:30 years ago right before the release of Recovering the Satellites and they didn’t play Mr Jones. I think they showed some real insight as to which of their songs showed more talent when they played Anna Begins as their encore.
Heck, Rush isn’t playing Closer to the Heart this tour. I can understand the desire to move on. As a compromise they’re opening with Tom Sawyer. They say they’re tired of it and that gets it out of the way.
I think it shows what assholes some bands can be. I have to go with Revtim on this one.
Back, when I was with my band, we closed EVERY SINGLE SHOW with Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. After 1000+ shows it can get just a little weary. But there are fans who come to the show expecting to hear that song and we sure as hell weren’t going to disappoint them.
Tony Bennett has done I Left My Heart In San Francisco at every concert he’s done for the past 40+ years.
I look at it this way, when you go to a concert, the band is sort of the concert-goers employee, and the employer ahs the right to expect certain things for their money.
I remember going to see Guns N’ Roses/Skid Row in the Spring of '91 and being a little pissed 'cause Guns played a bunch of songs that no one knew. Well, they were from Use Your Illusion, but since the record wouldn’t be out for another 5 months it made the conert a bit disappointing.
On the other hand, you have an artist like Springsteen who has enough hits that he could do a 2 1/2 hour show of just hits with no new materail, which while it might be nice, would defeat the purpose of what Springsteen is about as an artist.
I’m reminded of the time David Spade ranted about this on SNL. At the end, he said he was going to a Laura Brannigan concert, and he advised her, “Open and close with ‘Gloria’. And sing it a few more times in the middle.”
I’d agree here… two examples- “Don’t Speak” and “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing.”
Of course, those bands do still play those songs, but they may get quite sick of them. Especially if the lead singer, or even anyone in the band didn’t write it… Gwen Stefani wrote Don’t Speak, but Diane “Un-Break My Heart” Warren wrote IDWMAT. (Ouch.)
Storm the stage. Seriously. If they don’t play it, storm the stage. Not in a jokey way, either. In a Bad News at Donnington, cut the bass-player’s throat kind of a way.
I like jam bands. Jam bands play a different set every night on the road. This is how I can listen to Phish, oh, every day for hours and never hear the same song, and why fans follow along on the tour.
I’m starting to think it’s a whole different culture.
sugaree - Remember the energy of ‘X shows since Darkstar’? 'Member catching wind of it finally blooming at the Warlocks show in VA? Ahhhhhh… Or how ‘bout getting to a show really hoping for something - and having it coalesce out of random strands? GD, Phish, SCI, MMW… none of them ever needed to play a particular song, but when they sprinkle a treat into your ear, there’s nothin’ left to do but smile smile smile…
Rhythmdvl
