"This is one from the new album"

People at concerts all over the world shutter at those words. I enjoy seeing live music, but sometimes you have to wonder what the artist(s) are thinking. With more and more "retrospect" and "comeback" tours in circulation you are able to catch performers that you had all but forgotten about. Just recently, I took a time machine back to my High School days and saw the triple bill of Iron Maiden, Motorhead and Dio. Dio had no right to be there, but what can you do? Iron Maiden has always one of my favorite bands. Granted, they are a lot older now and all of the stage props don't look as cool as they once did, but they played most of the songs I wanted to hear and musically they were on top of their game.

But what happens when you go to hear the hits and you get a mix of new stuff and songs that sound like Spinal Tap's "Jazz Odyssey?"

Hearing some "new" songs live can sometimes change your mind. I was not a big fan of U2's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" until I heard them play some of these songs in concert. Usually though, when the band launches into the new stuff people make for the bathroom or take a seat. New songs during a concert become like commercials. You know they have to promote the new album so you tolerate it.

I remember seeing The Black Crows at UNH and they did not play any of their hit songs. It was a good show. I will give them credit for having the stones to do that, but just because they did not want to play "Hard to Handle" for the 10,000th time does not mean I did not want to hear it.

On the flip side, my wife recalls a show with Buster Pointdexter (he does not get a free pass just because he was in the New York Dolls, I'm sorry) in which he played "Hot, Hot, Hot" like ten times and then left.

You just have to pick your spots with the set list and know your crowd. If you are playing an outdoor venue and it is a Saturday night, please just stick with the ones everyone knows. Save the new stuff and rare covers for a smaller, more intimate setting.

As a member of the audience, you do not even realize when a set list works. You are simply captured by the songs and allow yourself to be lead by the performer. You may not know all of the words or even like the new songs, but maybe you will hear the one you want during the encore.