What does the modern gig goer expect from his or her favourite artist? Is it a different expectation from that of the casual attendee? Where setlists are concerned, often it can be a bone of contention for both factions.
Neil Young has been sporadically on the road since last year promoting his latest album, Le Noise. He set the benchmark of expectation high by announcing what many saw as controversially inflated ticket prices.
Neil Young's Le Noise Is Creating Negative Soundwaves
But hey, he's Neil Young and has a back catalogue spanning some four decades. So however deep the hole in your pocket, then surely hearing that unexpected long lost masterpiece is gonna be something you dine out on for free for the rest of your life? Wrong!
Neil took it upon himself to see the unfolding tour as a play, with a fixed setlist telling the story he was trying to convey. For this, there was to be no band, no chat, and a run of seven new songs stuck firmly in the middle of the set (some of which didn't even turn up on Le Noise).
Cue forums littered with disappointed punters. It seemed to not matter an iota that the performer was delivering a consistently memorable performance. The majority of concert-goers wanted the hits and no surprises.
Elvis Costello's Wheel Has Got Punters In A Spin
On the other hand Elvis Costello has bowed to the inevitable and kept the venues full by letting those in attendance seemingly chose what they get. He's taken a spinning wheel on the road and invited members of the audience up to land a 'random' choice and then get the option to enter a cage and dance along while their court jester, Elvis, belts out their number.
A quick glance at Mr Costello's setlists for this tour show that the wheel may be no-more than a prop. But hey, the punters are happy and Elvis is quids in. And who can blame him. His latest studio album, National Ransom, was universally loved by the critics, heavily promoted by Elvis, but ignored by the album buying public.
Arcade Fire's Funeral Is Consigned To The Suburbs
Arcade Fire may have no hit singles but now they are three albums down the line and regular festival headliners, audience expectation is high. Their debut album Funeral was one of those generational defining sets that mean many an ex-student is now attending the major festivals wanting to hear tracks from the band's first outing.
At least Arcade Fire have a new bestseller on their hands. The Suburbs topped the Billboard chart this year and subsequently the band can play heavy on these tracks, and leave Funeral numbers until the set's climax .. and everyone leaves happy.
New albums just aren't bringing home the mega bucks anymore. Touring revenue is what keeps the wheels of the bands, trucks, promoters, merchandise et al rolling. So will we see more once creative people going through the performance motions in order to satisfy the setlist demands of their audience? Will artists even bother to release old form new albums anymore?
The blueprint is changing. It is up to us the punters to think outside of the box and help provide a way for our heroes to do what they once did best .. create. How can we do that? By buying their products and listening to their in concert works-in-progress, that's how.
You have more machines than ever to hear the hits of yesterday, now lets get to see in person those self same artists crafting away at the standards of tomorrow.
