Don't You Get Tired Of Playing The Same Song?

[Ash]

The topic of set lists has been something of a recurring theme around here and I just recently read a blog by David Lowery who is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. He talks about their biggest hit "Low" and if they get tired of playing it. Because Styx chooses to skip some of their biggest hits because they hate playing them, I thought this would serve an interesting insight as to the attitudes of musicians and understanding of their fan expectations.

Sometimes people walk up to us and say, don’t you ever get sick of playing Low? No we don’t. There is a certain zen to playing the same song thousands of times. It involves making yourself play it as if it’s a brand new song. You clear your head of all thoughts. A moment of visualization before you start the song and then you go. It is approached with the same mindset that one approaches a well rehearsed Karate move. This Zen-like approach to the song reveals a deeper more transcendental beauty to the player. Therein lies the secret.

Of course we get fucking tired of playing the song.

Not every night am I in the mood to play this song. However I do understand that there are many people in the audience who know this and only a couple other of our songs. They paid good money to come to see us, so we better play it and we better play it like we mean it or we should get off the stage. There are only a handful of times that Cracker has not performed this song. I’m kind of put off by artists that won’t play their hits. Fuck ‘em they should be shat on by pigeons. If this were a Thomas Pynchon novel at this point there would be a little snippet of song sung by the steno pool girls.

Just thought it was interesting.... especially since some bands have contempt for some of the more popular portions of their musical catalog.

Incidentally, Lowery's blog is a fascinating read for anyone interested in music history or wants a behind the scenes look at one band's world experience.

http://300songs.com/2010/08/10/24-low-c ... s-pigeons/

[Babyblue]

The topic of set lists has been something of a recurring theme around here and I just recently read a blog by David Lowery who is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. He talks about their biggest hit "Low" and if they get tired of playing it. Because Styx chooses to skip some of their biggest hits because they hate playing them, I thought this would serve an interesting insight as to the attitudes of musicians and understanding of their fan expectations.

Sometimes people walk up to us and say, don’t you ever get sick of playing Low? No we don’t. There is a certain zen to playing the same song thousands of times. It involves making yourself play it as if it’s a brand new song. You clear your head of all thoughts. A moment of visualization before you start the song and then you go. It is approached with the same mindset that one approaches a well rehearsed Karate move. This Zen-like approach to the song reveals a deeper more transcendental beauty to the player. Therein lies the secret.

Of course we get fucking tired of playing the song.

Not every night am I in the mood to play this song. However I do understand that there are many people in the audience who know this and only a couple other of our songs. They paid good money to come to see us, so we better play it and we better play it like we mean it or we should get off the stage. There are only a handful of times that Cracker has not performed this song. I’m kind of put off by artists that won’t play their hits. Fuck ‘em they should be shat on by pigeons. If this were a Thomas Pynchon novel at this point there would be a little snippet of song sung by the steno pool girls.

Just thought it was interesting.... especially since some bands have contempt for some of the more popular portions of their musical catalog.

Incidentally, Lowery's blog is a fascinating read for anyone interested in music history or wants a behind the scenes look at one band's world experience.

http://300songs.com/2010/08/10/24-low-c ... s-pigeons/

That was a cool read. I did bookmake as i want to read the blog.Ash thanks!!!