NWB - Community Blog

Band: Whatever!
Weapon of choice: Drums
Chosen subject: Set lists

1. We try to set up and sound check with half an hour to spare.
2. Yes. Usually Teenage Kicks.
3. We always start with a strong song.
4. Yes. I get tired lol
5. Most of the time
6. Short as possible, keep the flow going
7. 2 sets
8. Always do an encore, but always leave them wanting more. 2 songs max.
9. Always a clear stop. Introduce last song of set as last song.
10. We like to have a set list in place. The rest is pretty fluid.

1, try for a couple of hours before but always late
2, try for a sound check but more often we are late so have to do it on the fly
3, always start with a couple of strong songs
4 we always intend to go through the first 3 songs without stopping but usually end up stopping between songs for knob twiddling and adjusting things
5, most of them.
6, if people are up dancing then we try and get on with it or they sit down and you have to get them going again, if its an audience of people just stood watching then it dosent matter as much and you can have some crack
7, mostly 2 sets
8, always encore between 2 and 5 songs
9, just a pretend stop and pretend to take guitars off etc
10, we agree a structure and set list then inevitably change it around as we play as members say "bin that one its crap" or " i forgot that one" etc

Hi Deano.

For what it's worth on our account.

1: We have to be there at least three and a half hours before we play our first song to set up lights and pa etc.
2: Always. We use same song everytime to get room ambience, acceptable volume etc.
3: No we start with the same song Genesis did on their last tour. Which for Genesis fans us well known enough. I would start with a bit hit if I wasn't in a tribute band.
4: Again we copy what Genesis did and say nowt until the third song in. One of the best things that most pro bands do is not to announce every song. The song intro is a surprise in itself.
5: See above
6: I would say that a minute between songs is fine. Anything overvthat and unless your frontman is very funny, you will start to lose the audience.
7: Usually two sets as most venues prefer two sets so audience can visit bar between sets.
8: We always do an encore but if you are clearly not going down well then probably best to announce last song and get off. We usually play two songs as an encore.
9: We try to walk off stage when possible but if not I will announce last song. Let the audience cheer for about a minute and you should go back on.
10: We always work to a set list and don't make changes at last minute as you may come a cropper.

Hope it's been a help.

Best wishes

John
9:
6:

nice blog sb! i love it!

1. same as st there really, we normally get there an hour and a half before playing to give us enough time to set and, sit down and have a quick drink before start.
2. generally dont sound check at all, but bigger gigs like marigolds and coolers we use the time to knock a few out.
3. not neccesarilly well known, fast and pacey with plenty of vox from all members for the first few tunes.
4. used to but found its better to get maybe 4 or 5 tunes in then go for an intro!
5. used to but then realised that it sounds pretty crappy
"this songs called""this songs called""this songs called"
"this songs called""this songs called""this songs called"
prefer to split it 50/50 with intros and just banging straight into em
6. not long, we're not interesting enough to hold peoples attention whilst not playing!
7. 2 sets or death!
8. most nights but not always, if its shit we wont do one. but 90% of the time we do. max of two tunes though, however the last one is a medly of three tunes stuck together!
9. tricky one this, we used to leave the stage to people shouting "more more more" but found that if you went off for more than a couple of minutes in most places the shouting tended to stop. so now we kinda just encouraghe to shouting by using a few tired 80's dj lines like "i cant hear you!" =) although steve does the rockstar bit and steams off stage for a few minutes! haha
10. always a setlist, although we are pretty flexible and if theres more young-uns in we'll sub some of the older stuff and visa versa.

hope this helps!

All of the above!

Hi Dean, these are the 45’s answers in brief.

1. We like to have half an hour to spare.
2. Sound check with Johnny B. Goode – not in the set.
3. All of our songs are well known ( singles – 45’s )
4. Used to join two songs but not now – Nikki has a bit of banter before we start.
5. Yes, Nikki introduces every song.
6. 30 secs in between songs unless Nikki gets the nod to chat ( tuning etc )
7. Two sets, sometimes three sets
8. We do 2 or three encores – more if it’s one of them magic nights.
9. Yes we stop, I leave the kit then back on them no longer than a minute.
10. We just follow the set list and do encore / s – sometimes with a lightshow.

Hope that helps matey, now I want to know your answers,

Rick.

And here's the results from Night Train

1)Used to get there and set up 2 hours before the off, and have a wander, but now like to have at least an hour and a half

2)Dont soundcheck at all..have PA on max room will allow and rest of em are experienced enough to judge their own sound.

3) We have an introduction believe it or not, and a bit of a ramble by me on what will follow and a kind of mood setter thing(you gotta be there really)Change the opening numberevery 3 months or so

4)Don't do any talking after intro for three songs (although if band is not ready I'm inclined to go into 'You've lost that loving feelin'

5) Don't really introduce many songs by title, but again, try and ad lib something that sets the mood/tone

6) Try not to have any break in between songs unless I get into some rapport with audience. We want it to be a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end

7)Two sets...finish the first and second sets with same song every time (which happen to be the A and B sides of a famous single

8) Do one encore, a kind of a medley so its as long as 3.Rarely do another as its ciggie time and you should ALWAYS leave em wanting more. Stick ipod on instead

9)Stick ipod on either Stevie Winwoodor James Brown's Night Train

10) Despite popular opinion, its all quite well planned...we just make it look as though we're casual about it. A couple of new members/deps were surprised about this, thinking we just jam...but we don't...but dont tell anybody LOL

There ya go, Night Train's inner secrets revealed

1. How long before you start do you set up your gear?
think its always better to have it up before it gets busy with punters.

2. Do you soundcheck with a song thats in the set?
we tend not to, although it may be an indication of if the crowd may be into your stuff.

3. Do you always start a gig with the most well known songs?
always start on a good 'un.

4. Do you stop after the first song? / or play the first few then your singer speaks to the audience?
whetever, usually a quick hello and get stuck in.

5. Does your singer introduce every song?
depends if he needs to kill time.

6. How long is long enough inbetween songs...drink, wipe down etc keeping auience waiting?
as little as possible

7. Do you mostly do 2 sets or 1 straight through?
2 sets if a pub gig

8. Do you always do an encore? / How many? / When is enough enough?
if the crowd are up for it, we play an extra 2 or 3 songs. leave them wanting more i say.


9. If you do encore how do you make a definte stop between last song of set and encore...leave stage area etc?
we do both, depends on the time restrictions.

10. Should there be a clear agreed routine before gig as to structure or do you make it up as you go along?
set list, so the gigs smooth, but if you wanna chuck in a differenty song, or switch to the big guns if you need to, i say do it

In the spirit of Anarchy-
Fek that, just wing it :0P

Mark

1. How long before you start do you set up your gear?
We are generally done at least an hour before we go on. We ALWAYS soundcheck.

2. Do you soundcheck with a song thats in the set?
Yep, but we mightn't actually play it in the set.

3. Do you always start a gig with the most well known songs?
All our songs are well known. We tend to start with a bang though.

4. Do you stop after the first song? / or play the first few then your singer speaks to the audience?
First 2 or 3 depending on the circumstance

5. Does your singer introduce every song?
Not all of them.

6. How long is long enough inbetween songs...drink, wipe down etc keeping auience waiting?
If they are bantering with us we have the crack back. Not too long though.

7. Do you mostly do 2 sets or 1 straight through?
Depends on the venue.

8. Do you always do an encore? / How many? / When is enough enough?
If we are invited to.

9. If you do encore how do you make a definte stop between last song of set and encore...leave stage area etc?
No as we are not KISS. lol. You get an idea of whether you are wanted to do more as soon as you get the guitar on it's stand....

10. Should there be a clear agreed routine before gig as to structure or do you make it up as you go along?
Half and half with us. We have a pretty flexible set list and like to go with the flow of the punters.