|
Post by tonym132 on Jun 18, 2022 23:27:19 GMT -8
I remember seeing Leppard twice in 2012, and being excited when they played a whopping eight songs from Hysteria, the usual six plus Women and Gods of War, in celebration of its 25 year anniversary. I thought "In five years in 2017 Adrenalize will turn 25, so we'll get to see more songs live from that great album too!" I went to one show in 2017, which was a good show, but included only the usual Let's Get Rocked from Adrenalize. I thought "Well, Hysteria is turning 30 now, 30 is also a big anniversary so that maybe overshadows it. But in five more years in 2022, 35 years (Hysteria) is not a big anniversary, so Adrenalize turning 30 should finally be in the spotlight!"
Instead now in 2022, we lost the album's biggest hit, and we're getting only HYENSSB. I am happy to hear that song (I watched on youtube), but they're playing it in what would have to be called a watered-down version, especially the guitar solo.
For an album which is their only other #1 on Billboard 200 besides Hysteria, and their third highest selling studio album overall, Adrenalize sure doesn't get much respect or attention these days. Some people (not here, but more casual fans) forget how many big songs Adrenalize had: Four legit top 40 hits on the Hot 100, all four of which were also top 10 on the Billboard rock chart. Plus two non-singles which are very popular among the fanbase: White Lightning and Tear It Down. So there are at least six great choices!
I know you all know all that, but I feel it is worth calling to mind anyway. If not this year to play more of that music, when will it ever happen?
Obviously I am disappointed about this, but really I hate to sound negative. I like the setlist otherwise. While I think that four from the new album is probably one or two too many when considering the time constraints and four-major-act environment they have this year, I love that a band of Def Leppard's age continues to be proud enough of its new music to play that much of it live IN that environment. And not just work new songs into the middle of the set, but open the show with two of them! Especially when playing with three other major acts for a mixed crowd, opening with back to back new songs is very bold and impressive. They're continuing that tradition they've had for a while now of (not always but often) opening with at least one new song, and I think it's fabulous.
|
|
seb00
Jr. Member
Posts: 57
|
Post by seb00 on Jun 19, 2022 1:26:06 GMT -8
I think LGR is one that is a bit hit or miss live, as most of the time is seems to be played faster than the record and I think that loses its groove. I despise the version on Mirrorball because of this although I do really like the song.
|
|
|
Post by andylgr on Jun 19, 2022 5:37:38 GMT -8
I have to say that I think in this type of concert setting with a co-headline and maybe even a mixed fanbase of a crowd that the mid-set acoustic section on the thrust is probably one song too long. This is the bathroom break time and I know the acoustic thrust thing worked well in Vegas, with a few thousand of your own fans, but I'm not sure it does here. For me this is the opportunity to rotate in something else with a bit more energy.
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 19, 2022 6:33:43 GMT -8
Some have mentioned the bathroom break in the setlist.
With the catalog DL have got there should never ever be such a thing as a bathroom break time in a 90 min concert. If there is, it's a failure.
Acoustic or electric, they need to cut some ballads and not let covers in again.
|
|
|
Post by tsmith on Jun 19, 2022 6:42:11 GMT -8
Agree. In looking at it, the portion of the set from Love Bites through Two Steps Behibd is definitely where the set loses momentum IMO. Will be interesting to see if they change anything there but I doubt they will. Some have mentioned the bathroom break in the setlist. With the catalog DL have got there should never ever be such a thing as a bathroom break time in a 90 min concert. If there is, it' a failure. Acoustic or electric, they need to cut some ballads and not let covers in again.
|
|
|
Post by kissleppard on Jun 19, 2022 7:04:16 GMT -8
Glad to see Photograph not only still on the list but also still closing out the night! Always been my favorite
|
|
|
Post by DesertSun81 on Jun 19, 2022 8:56:11 GMT -8
I don't mind the acoustic set as is although perhaps it is just a touch too long (haven't timed it but my guess is 12-15 minutes?). I would like it even more if they integrated electric into it with each song like they do with THIS GUITAR. If they really wanted to get creative they could include songs that I think would benefit from an acoustic/electric blend like FOOLIN' and BOTH (which have both gotten that treatment anyway at some point in the past) and freshen up how they approach those songs much like they have done with HYSTERIA.
Another thought would be to turn that segment into a medley of some sort, end with THIS GUITAR (maybe shorten this also), and ultimately shave enough time off to include another electric rocker into the main set. I do think the set would benefit from fitting in another high tempo song somewhere.
|
|
|
Post by edwardcreighton on Jun 19, 2022 14:08:20 GMT -8
Other than Fenway where playing two shows why mix set up? How many people will watch more than one of the concerts? 5%?
Set maybe changed if a song isnt working well in its position.
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 19, 2022 14:15:57 GMT -8
Just to have it here in this thread:
The first setlist:
Take What You Want Fire It Up Animal Foolin’ Armageddon It Kick Love Bites Excitable
This Guitar HYENSSB TSB (shortened)
Rocket BOTH Switch 625 Hysteria PSSOM
ROA Photograph
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 19, 2022 14:22:25 GMT -8
In the middle of the set there's 5 ballads out of 7 songs.
And those 7 songs are surrounded by a new slow/midtempo low register song and an instrumental.
The setlist starts and ends strong (apart from FIU), but I understand why some people think the momentum is lost in between. More or less as usual though.
|
|
|
Post by andylgr on Jun 19, 2022 16:02:47 GMT -8
Love Bites and BOTH aren’t an issue, they never have been, it’s a fair bet that most fans expect to hear those 2 ballads at any Leppard show. The acoustic section is the thing that slows it too far down, throw in little tribute cover versions as well and it just goes on for a bit too long IMO. For arguments sake replace HYENSSB with LGR in that middle section and it lifts the mid-set to a different level. Even Crue only do 1 song, Home Sweet Home, out on the thrust. But that’s just my opinion from afar on that part of the setlist, I would probably feel different if I was at a show, but I’m assuming it’s all going down well at the gigs?
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 19, 2022 22:27:33 GMT -8
Andy, you are right about LB and BOTH, as long as they're not surrounded by other ballads/slow songs or covers.
HYENSSB would be killer electric, but it needs to replace another ballad. Three ballads/slow songs can be ok, but not so much more in 90 minutes.
I've read quite some comments on the internet about bathroom break, lost momentum, low tempo/energy, setlist for old "soccer moms", non-responsive crowd to not think that part of the setlist is an issue for many.
But hey, it's their choice to play those slow/soft songs and aim at a certain group of fans going forward.
|
|
|
Post by tonym132 on Jun 19, 2022 23:10:26 GMT -8
Andy, you are right about LB and BOTH, as long as they're not surrounded by other ballads/slow songs or covers. HYENSSB would be killer electric, but it needs to replace another ballad. Three ballads/slow songs can be ok, but not so much more in 90 minutes. I've read quite some comments on the internet about bathroom break, lost momentum, low tempo/energy, setlist for old "soccer moms", non-responsive crowd to not think that part of the setlist is an issue for many. But hey, it's their choice to play those slow/soft songs and aim at a certain group of fans going forward. From the video of HYENSSB at Atlanta which I saw on youtube, it looked (from far away) like Phil and Joe were playing electric guitars while Vivian played an acoustic. But it sounded closer to acoustic guitars, like the electric guitars were muffled or not amp'd much. I want to hear those beautiful wailing guitars during HYENSSB, but there was no wailing guitar to be heard. I sure agree, it would sound killer done in an electric style similar to the studio version, and would spice up that part of the set. They could (although I doubt they ever would) consider performing Two Steps Behind all electric also, like the later track on Retro Active. Personally I prefer that track to the acoustic single version. Over the years they have liked to take songs which were made famous electric and play them acoustic, why not do one the other way around?
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 19, 2022 23:29:13 GMT -8
From the video of HYENSSB at Atlanta which I saw on youtube, it looked (from far away) like Phil and Joe were playing electric guitars while Vivian played an acoustic. But it sounded closer to acoustic guitars, like the electric guitars were muffled or not amp'd much. I want to hear those beautiful wailing guitars during HYENSSB, but there was no wailing guitar to be heard. I sure agree, it would sound killer done in an electric style similar to the studio version, and would spice up that part of the set. Joe and Phil are playing semi-acoustic guitars, haven't seen them up close but probably a fairly new model from Fender.
|
|
|
Post by Blair on Jun 20, 2022 1:41:57 GMT -8
From the video of HYENSSB at Atlanta which I saw on youtube, it looked (from far away) like Phil and Joe were playing electric guitars while Vivian played an acoustic. But it sounded closer to acoustic guitars, like the electric guitars were muffled or not amp'd much. I want to hear those beautiful wailing guitars during HYENSSB, but there was no wailing guitar to be heard. I sure agree, it would sound killer done in an electric style similar to the studio version, and would spice up that part of the set. Joe and Phil are playing semi-acoustic guitars, haven't seen them up close but probably a fairly new model from Fender. Fender Acoustasonic
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 20, 2022 5:26:07 GMT -8
Def Leppard hit the stage, and the ballsy move of opening with two new songs definitely kept the crowd from immediately going crazy at the start. Animal warmed them back up, and by Foolin' and Armageddon It, the crowd was back in the swing. The acoustic set brought the energy down again, but the final run of hits had the crowd getting more and more active again. I would agree that it was an excellent show but the crowd was much quieter and sitting for most of the set. The reality is for diehards we will love it no matter what. However, they need to adjust the set. 4 new songs just takes away from the energy. I guess DL will soon realize this and change the set a little. Not as much as some of us may think is needed, but a little bit. I'm quite sure about that even if they're not known for changing things too much. Possible songs to take out(?): Fire It Up Excitable This Guitar HYENSSB TSB Most likely songs to put in(?): LGR Promises Let it Go Too Late for Love MLLAM Women Paper Sun Mirror, Mirror
|
|
|
Post by andylgr on Jun 20, 2022 5:49:19 GMT -8
I don’t think they will change that many songs.
There’s a lot of childish stuff all over social media, claiming this band to be more popular than the other. It would be interesting to compare the crowd reaction to motley Crue as the final act after the crowd have been sitting in the sun all day too. On the subject of their set, they are playing only one new(ish) song, (the title track of their film) and they have one ballad smack in the middle of the set. So their show is made up of their standards that have formed the basis of their sets for most of their career. Leps is more tailored to their own fans with 4 new ones and their mid-set acoustic break, so straightaway you can seee why a casual fan going to the show wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about all those tracks.
|
|
|
Post by wabowarrior on Jun 20, 2022 6:02:05 GMT -8
I don’t think they will change that many songs. There’s a lot of childish stuff all over social media, claiming this band to be more popular than the other. It would be interesting to compare the crowd reaction to motley Crue as the final act after the crowd have been sitting in the sun all day too. On the subject of their set, they are playing only one new(ish) song, (the title track of their film) and they have one ballad smack in the middle of the set. So their show is made up of their standards that have formed the basis of their sets for most of their career. Leps is more tailored to their own fans with 4 new ones and their mid-set acoustic break, so straightaway you can seee why a casual fan going to the show wouldn’t be too enthusiastic about all those tracks. I don't think they will change it much at all. If anything, I could see Excitable getting dropped for Let's Get Rocked or Rock! Rock! or Let It Go. When it comes to setlists, the bands have different mentalities. For Poison, it is a greatest hits set in front of a stadium crowd that will show how great they still are live, and will pay off when they go out on their own headlining shows in the future. For Motley, it is a cash grab, play the hits and maybe "retire" again, maybe not. For Def Leppard, they are trying to get over a new album in a genre where most bands don't even bother trying. Replace the four new songs with hits, and yes, the reaction will be different, but that isn't the goal (at least right now). I will say that whatever band closes will have a bit of an uphill battle with crowd energy. 7 hour shows in summer temperature for a crowd that probably skews towards 50 years old is a struggle.
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 20, 2022 6:42:48 GMT -8
I don't think DL has tailor made the setlist for their own fans at all.
They play the hits that the casual fan knows and the new songs that they believe in the most, to market them.
In Vegas DL did more of a fan setlist with some great album tracks and lesser played hits thrown in.
|
|
|
Post by andylgr on Jun 20, 2022 6:48:29 GMT -8
Of course they have, 4 brand new songs that most other fans in there won't know and a mid-set acoustic break that slows it all down and is reminiscent of the Vegas residency. Compare that to Posions and Crues greatest hits sets, they're playing a set designed for a festival crowd. Leps are not.
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 20, 2022 7:00:53 GMT -8
Of course they have, 4 brand new songs that most other fans in there won't know and a mid-set acoustic break that slows it all down and is reminiscent of the Vegas residency. Compare that to Posions and Crues greatest hits sets, they're playing a set designed for a festival crowd. Leps are not. I would say that DL's set is neither for the casual nor the die hard fans.... They've taken out the epics, rockers and also everything electric from between 1987 and 2022. All electric songs except BOTH/625 are from the same three albums. Their performance is top notch. The setlist is not. It could easily be fixed by adding a few songs like Mirror Mirror/Let It Go, DHTH/Billy/TLFL and Promises. And removing a couple of ballads and/or FIU/Excitable.
|
|
|
Post by andylgr on Jun 20, 2022 7:35:23 GMT -8
Of course they have, 4 brand new songs that most other fans in there won't know and a mid-set acoustic break that slows it all down and is reminiscent of the Vegas residency. Compare that to Posions and Crues greatest hits sets, they're playing a set designed for a festival crowd. Leps are not. I would say that DL's set is neither for the casual nor the die hard fans.... They've taken out the epics, rockers and also everything electric from between 1987 and 2022. All electric songs except BOTH/625 are from the same three albums. Their performance is top notch. The setlist is not. It could easily be fixed by adding a few songs like Mirror Mirror or Let It Go, DHTH or Billy and Promises. And removing a couple of ballads and/or FIU/Excitable. I think you’re missing the point. Crue and Poison are filling their set with hits. Leppard are not. They’ve substituted epics and the odd rarity for new ones. It isn’t a setlist aimed at pleasing everyone in the stadium. It’s a setlist that caters for more Leppard fans than it does for the casual Crue and Poison fans in there, who I would imagine are going to know mainly Lep singles from the radio. If it was a set structured like Crue and Poison they would be playing rock on, promises, LGR, TLFL, MLLAM, let it go and women in there instead.
|
|
|
Post by Armageddonit on Jun 20, 2022 7:45:38 GMT -8
I would say that DL's set is neither for the casual nor the die hard fans.... They've taken out the epics, rockers and also everything electric from between 1987 and 2022. All electric songs except BOTH/625 are from the same three albums. Their performance is top notch. The setlist is not. It could easily be fixed by adding a few songs like Mirror Mirror or Let It Go, DHTH or Billy and Promises. And removing a couple of ballads and/or FIU/Excitable. I think you’re missing the point. Crue and Poison are filling their set with hits. Leppard are not. They’ve substituted epics and the odd rarity for new ones. It isn’t a setlist aimed at pleasing everyone in the stadium. It’s a setlist that caters for more Leppard fans than it does for the casual Crue and Poison fans in there, who I would imagine are going to know mainly Lep singles from the radio. If it was a set structured like Crue and Poison they would be playing rock on, promises, LGR, TLFL, MLLAM, let it go and women in there instead. How is Rock On or MLLAM in any way part of a greatest hits Leppard set? While I like This Guitar it feels like it sucks the energy out of the stadium and might be best reserved for a residency, I would love to see it swapped for a "moodier" DHS track like Open Your Eyes or Unbreakable.
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 20, 2022 8:06:08 GMT -8
I understand your point Andy, but I disagree.
To me it's a pure greatest hits set with four new singles/songs, that they want to market, put in.
LGR is out because Joe doesn't like it anymore while Excitable is in because Phil and probably some others in the band too like it.
|
|
|
Post by andylgr on Jun 20, 2022 8:25:56 GMT -8
How is Rock On or MLLAM in any way part of a greatest hits Leppard set? Are you serious? Rock On was the big single off Yeah and played to death by them for years and years and despite being much maligned it still went down well at shows (as well as being a recognisable cover version) and MLLAM was the second single off their 3rd biggest album ever, another song well known. I’ll also add Action to the list of songs that could play if they were just going to throw in another well known single to a festival set full of hits. I understand your point Andy, but I disagree. To me it's a pure greatest hits set with four new singles/songs, that they want to market, put in. LGR is out because Joe doesn't like it anymore while Excitable is in because Phil and probably some others in the band too like it. The band are playing 4 brand new songs, an acoustic version of a single which never go down the same as the proper electric version would and Excitable. That’s 6 more non-standard tracks than they ever do in a normal show outside of somewhere like Vegas. This is my point, there are 6 songs there that will have had nowhere near the radio exposure of the singles I listed earlier, which is why this set is not like Crues and Poisons festival-friendly-every-songs-a-single setlists.
|
|
|
Post by tsmith on Jun 20, 2022 8:45:27 GMT -8
Agree that it's easily fixed but I also don't think they'll change anything as they usually seem to stick to what they're doing. Hopefully they make some adjustments though. I watched a full show on YT this weekend and there's no doubt the show loses steam in that middle stretch. Excitable is just a strange choice to put in this set as it's not very well known for the casuals and I don't really think it "excites" a lot of us die hards either as most of us could come up with a better deeper cut than that. I just think a more well known song like Women, Gods of War, Promises would make more sense there. Or it would probably even be better with Lets Get Rocked there. And the acoustic set just feels a bit of out place. Back in 2012, I loved the acoustic medley and it worked great in that set as a cool crowd moment. But here it's feeling a bit odd. I'm not sure if it's the song choices or what it is. But I'm not fond of This Guitar and half the crowd probably doesn't even know that's a Def Leppard song when they play it. And HYENSSB is really toned down into basically an acoustic and while I like it plenty, I'm not sure it really appeals to a big portion of the crowd at these shows. If it were up to me, I'd be replacing Excitable probably with LGR and then rolling that into Gods of War. I mean, that song is a deeper cut but it's a very well known song and I used to hear it frequently on Hair Nation when I had Sirius. Anyways, after GOW, have it go dark and then walk out for an acoustic break with TSB only. If there's time to kill he could chat with the crowd for a bit or maybe add a snippet of another song but I'd definitely shorten down that acoustic portion as it feels a bit long as it currently is. Then roll back into the rest of the show after TSB. Although, if it were really up to me, I think I'd eliminate the acoustic portion all together and just keep this show rolling along by adding in some other song than TSB. I know I'd much rather see something like Too Late for Love in that spot. Or Wasted lol. But neither of those are probably realistic as they aren't going to cut out the whole acoustic section. Overall though, they look great and sound fantastic. Of course they have, 4 brand new songs that most other fans in there won't know and a mid-set acoustic break that slows it all down and is reminiscent of the Vegas residency. Compare that to Posions and Crues greatest hits sets, they're playing a set designed for a festival crowd. Leps are not. I would say that DL's set is neither for the casual nor the die hard fans.... They've taken out the epics, rockers and also everything electric from between 1987 and 2022. All electric songs except BOTH/625 are from the same three albums. Their performance is top notch. The setlist is not. It could easily be fixed by adding a few songs like Mirror Mirror or Let It Go, DHTH or Billy and Promises. And removing a couple of ballads and/or FIU/Excitable.
|
|
|
Post by wabowarrior on Jun 20, 2022 9:15:01 GMT -8
Acoustic sets in stadiums are tough to pull off. I remember Metallica doing one in 1998 and it just killed the crowd. On the flip side, I saw the Rolling Stones do one about ten years ago and it went over great.
I think the major difference (and this applies to Def Leppard) is the pace of the show. With the Stones, this was a three-song break in a two hour show and there was an opener that did 50 minutes (who, let's be blunt, no one is there to see).
Yesterday, 45 minutes of Joan Jett (with one ballad), an hour of Poison (with one ballad), 90 minutes of Motley Crue (with one ballad) and then halfway into Def Leppard's set (which already had a ballad with Love Bites) they are doing an acoustic set. For a crowd who has been rocking in the heat for 6+ hours, an acoustic set needs to be pretty incredible to have them going nuts, and a new song with a reworking of a hit single that has been pretty much ignored for two decades is not the recipe.
I love the performance, but as I said before, it brings the energy down.
|
|
|
Post by Armageddonit on Jun 20, 2022 9:45:25 GMT -8
How is Rock On or MLLAM in any way part of a greatest hits Leppard set? Are you serious? Rock On was the big single off Yeah and played to death by them for years and years and despite being much maligned it still went down well at shows (as well as being a recognisable cover version) and MLLAM was the second single off their 3rd biggest album ever, another song well known. I’ll also add Action to the list of songs that could play if they were just going to throw in another well known single to a festival set full of hits. I understand your point Andy, but I disagree. To me it's a pure greatest hits set with four new singles/songs, that they want to market, put in. LGR is out because Joe doesn't like it anymore while Excitable is in because Phil and probably some others in the band too like it. The band are playing 4 brand new songs, an acoustic version of a single which never go down the same as the proper electric version would and Excitable. That’s 6 more non-standard tracks than they ever do in a normal show outside of somewhere like Vegas. This is my point, there are 6 songs there that will have had nowhere near the radio exposure of the singles I listed earlier, which is why this set is not like Crues and Poisons festival-friendly-every-songs-a-single setlists. Rock On. "Big" single? Not sure. Recognizable cover...yes. There is no reason a band with a discography like Leppard should play a cover. IMO. Re: MLLAM. Not even the band likes it. A half step above the worst DL song of all time which is All Night. I think the release of that song off of Adrenalize in that climate was hugely detrimental to their career.
|
|
|
Post by treffo on Jun 20, 2022 10:20:23 GMT -8
The band are playing 4 brand new songs, an acoustic version of a single which never go down the same as the proper electric version would and Excitable. That’s 6 more non-standard tracks than they ever do in a normal show outside of somewhere like Vegas. Not sure I follow here. 6 songs can never be 6 more non-standard tracks than usual (outside Vegas) since they most of the time have played new songs, rock songs from the three first albums and an epic or odd song here and there. Or? This is my point, there are 6 songs there that will have had nowhere near the radio exposure of the singles I listed earlier, which is why this set is not like Crues and Poisons festival-friendly-every-songs-a-single setlists. Every song's a single? Isn't that more or less exactly what Def Leppard are doing here? Playing only singles? I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about this being a tailor made set for die hard fans or not. :-)
|
|
|
Post by andylgr on Jun 20, 2022 14:37:31 GMT -8
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about this being a tailor made set for die hard fans or not. :-) There’s the confusion. I’m not talking about die hard fans. I’ve not used that phrase at all. Please let me try and be clearer if I can. A lot of the casual fan criticism we’re seeing on social media is about the Leps playing new songs they don’t know and an acoustic set mid show. By contrast Crue are playing all known songs that they’ve been playing for a long time, (with the exception of the dirt). Poison are doing exactly the same, they are playing their usual hits setlist. So thats 2 setlists aimed squarely at a festival crowd. Loads of hits. Leppard are not doing that at all. They are playing 4 new songs that hardly anyone will know (a few weeks exposure of some of those songs on radio isn’t the same as the big singles in the set, this is unfamiliar material to a festival type crowd), plus an acoustic version of HYENSSB and Excitable are IMO all songs that are more familiar to a Leppard audience, not someone who’s used to hearing the standard US rock singles day after day on the radio. These 6 songs are not part of a greatest hits set that can be compared to what the other 2 artists are doing. Leps could easily have swapped some of those for any number of crowd pleasing singles, but they haven’t and that’s my point. My other point is that the 4 new songs are almost like the “deep cuts” in this tours setlist, they’ve replaced something we may have seen recently like a Gods of War or a Paper Sun or a TLFL with tracks from the new album. Crue and Poison are playing it safe with hits for everyone to enjoy. Leppard have a third of their set aimed at Leppard fans in the crowd that will have brought the new album or appreciate the acoustic Vegas style mid set break. That’s why I think the set is aimed more at the Leppard fans than the casual fans that are no doubt attending these shows to see a great package of hits from all those bands. They are the ones that seem to be complaining on social media about the new tracks and the acoustic break.
|
|