One gig, two sets, where should the strongest songs go?

[ozboy]

As a beginner npmy fist thought was to gradually building the pace and quality of the songs and climax on the strongest one.

But with two sets I worry that if we don't play the best ones up front all the people will go home after the first set.

thoughts?

 

[dmatthews]

People are not adverse to starting out slow(ish).
That being said don't be afraid to mix it up and be a bit dynamic. We've done gigs where the dance floor gets packed almost immediately, and some that don't get into it until the second set.
The key is to recognize the audience and act/choose the next song appropriately if need be.
What is the venue, how many people expected?

 

[ozboy]

About 50 people at the balmain rowers club

 

[László]

Open with a strong song, to get people interested and excited. Throw in another one toward the middle of the first set, and a very strong one to end the first set. That should keep people in their seats waiting for the next set.

Rinse and repeat this advice for the second set.

 

[dmatthews]

That's looking like a fun cozy gig site and crowd size!
Les has a great recipe to get you going.
Got a set list already planned? If so, let's see it!

 

[veinbuster]

Open with a strong song, to get people interested and excited. Throw in another one toward the middle of the first set, and a very strong one to end the first set. That should keep people in their seats waiting for the next set.

Rinse and repeat this advice for the second set.

That sounds good to me.
I always favoured opening and closing a set with a couple of good songs. Opening the first set biased towards good to listen to, other times good to dance to - as long as it was a venue that lent itself to that.

 

[vchizzle]

Open with a strong song, to get people interested and excited. Throw in another one toward the middle of the first set, and a very strong one to end the first set. That should keep people in their seats waiting for the next set.

Rinse and repeat this advice for the second set.

Yup.

 

[Huggy Love]

Open with a strong song, to get people interested and excited. Throw in another one toward the middle of the first set, and a very strong one to end the first set. That should keep people in their seats waiting for the next set.

Rinse and repeat this advice for the second set.

Dead on, it's just like winning rounds in boxing. Start out with an impact, bob & weave a little, get in some power shots mid-round, and right before the bell, end with a flurry.
Worked for me when I was a welterweight & in my top40 gigging days.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Open with a strong song, to get people interested and excited. Throw in another one toward the middle of the first set, and a very strong one to end the first set. That should keep people in their seats waiting for the next set.

Rinse and repeat this advice for the second set.

This is exactly what I'd do. I know some professional singers and musicians (I know several rock n rollers, plus I go to a larger church and we have some of the bigger gospel singers etc come to our church for concerts. I'm the sound man, so I always get to know them). Every one that I've ever asked gave that advise almost exactly. One even said that while album flow is important, he always started and ended with the two best songs, so the album started strong and finished strong.

Look at the classic bands, they seemed to usually do the same. Example: Led Zeppelin often starting with "Celebration Day" which, while not a huge hit, is a great song and a great way to start a concert! All the bands I've seen live over the years seemed to do a similar formula. Petrucci even said in an interview one time, that one reason they did their slower songs near the end of a set, was to give both the audience a rest, and to give the band a rest, before they built back up for the end. He mentioned the literally physical challenge of playing some of their music and said that his hands needed a breather much like an athlete would need one.

Their music is so complex at times, I'd think their brains might need a breather too! :adore:

 

[ozboy]

Show went well thanks mainly to wolf mail and Milena Barrett. Set list although not the order we eventually went with.

1 Down by the water G Decemberists Greg Pauline/Janet
2 Devils in the jukebox F Ray lamontagne Greg
3 Hello Mail Milena Wolf
4 Need your love so bad A Fleetwood Mac Milena Wolf
5 Help me G Van Morrison style Peter
6 Stormy Monday A Peter
7 Lay Down Sally A Clapton Greg Pauline/Janet
8 The Letter Am Cocker Milena Pauline/Janet
9 I'm Ready E Freddie King Milena
10 I shot the Sheriff Gm Clapton Milena Pauline/Janet
BREAK
1 Orphan Girl Gillian Welch Janet
2 Kansas City C Albert King Peter
3 Little Wing G Hendrix Milena
4 Watching the river flow G Cocker Milena
5 Who's been talking A Howlin wolf Greg
6 Strange Brew A Cream Milena Pauline/Janet
7 Miss You Gm Stones Greg Pauline/Janet
8 Black Night Em Deep purple Milena
9 Rock and Roll A Zeppelin Milena


And link to 15 sec iPhone video of the sound

https://www.facebook.com/david.leitch.14/posts/1001259423268162

 

[dmatthews]

Great list ozboy, and I'm glad to hear the gig went well. The FB vid isn't available to me but I bet it sounds just fine!