Is it ALL about setlists?

Now, I'm not JUST talking about the Twickenham shows.A couple people think I shouldn't compare, because I've only been to one. I don't agree, but I'm just meaning this thread in general, OK. A handful of people have said the setlist for the Twickenham's wasn't great. Well, my first point is...we would have been DYING to hear Dry County, Hallelujah, Diamond Ring, I Believe, etc. not long ago! Not trying to start up an argument, but you know it's true. Now, my main point is this. Even if a setlist isn't great, does it really spoil the whole show?! What if it is a fairly standard setlist - but the energy the band are putting in is brilliant? What if it's fairly standard, but the crowd are nuts? What if it's fairly standard, but you can tell the band are giving their all, into what they are doing? Surely a show is about the whole performance? Obviously a setlist matters, I'm not denying that. But some people act like it's the be all and end all. Surely a hell of a lot of it, is to do with the performace, and the energy,etc. put in.

Thoughts?

I don't really care. Well, I care a little bit I suppose, I guess we all want tons of rarities.

But hey, I haven't been to as many shows as others so I'm not bored of average setlists whilst I'm there experiencing it. If I'd been to 15 shows perhaps I'd be getting bored but if they were THAT boring then why would you still be going?

I find it interesting to see what is being played on other legs to see what kind songs to expect. I know I shouldn't and it spoils the surprise but that's the society we seem to live in these days. This Saturday I was expecting Dry County but got I Believe which was fine by me. I also got Always which I have never heard live even at gigs where the other legs of the tour all got it - nice to strike that one off the list at last!

I love to see Bon Jovi live no matter what they play, and as much as a rarity is nice I'm a huge sucker for the old favourites anyway.

As to the original question is a setlist important? To me, no. What ever they decide to play on the night, as long as they are playing their hearts out and the crowd is into it then I'm usually happy. I'd guess that a setlist chosen by them will mean them giving a better performance as it's what they want to play!

See, that's the thing. If you see so many shows, you need to kinda expect that. Or just not go to so many shows. Because if it's that boring, or whatever, why would you wanna journey there, and spend your money and time on it?

I think that people were just upset because they brought out so many rarities throughout the European leg, so the last 2 nights could/should have had even more - but there was only really 1 big one.

Personally I don't care - I had a damn good time at both shows! I'd been to Manchester and having not read any of the recent setlists before-hand I was really shocked at the ordering of the set, and that they did Last Cigarette, Diamond Ring, Dry County and Any Other Day, plus I loved hearing Always aswell, and the energy of the whole show was just fantastic. Perhaps I was a bit let-down with night 1 of Twickenham if we're going purely by setlist, as it was very similar to Manchester, only shorter - but night 2 I had a great time, really big surprise to hear I Believe. I don't regret going to any of the shows that I did because I had a great time, and to me that is what it's all about. Sure, I'd love to hear more rarities, but I've only been to 4 shows in total so for now at least I care more about having a good time than getting to hear anything specific.

I reckon you can split the things that make a show into four main sections: 1) How good it sounds 2) The visual aspect 3) The setlist, and 4) The "specialness" factor, i.e. the atmosphere, the crowd, the mood of the band, or if anything spontaneous happens, like improvisations in Keep The Faith or speeches by Jon or whatever. And 3) and 4) kinda overlap, cos obviously a rare song is pretty special

So yeah, IMO the setlist counts for about 25% - 30% of how good a show is. Which is a fair amount. Of course, I could just be overanalysing it, but I reckon for a really awesome show, all those four things have to be awesome

Agreed. Don't get me wrong - rarities are very, very much welcome. But as you say - if the band are putting a lot of energy into it..and the crowd are nuts - that's what a performance is about. Maybe I'm just easy to please, when it comes to Jovi, but...even a fairly standard setlist, performed well is good enough to me. Yeah, I've been to one show...whatever. Nobody has to go to show after show. And nobody can expect them to cater to everyone's induvidual wants, LOL. As well as the diehards, they also need to think about those that love the classics. They need to think about those, that don't know all the rarities too.

I dont care about the set list all that much Im just there to see Bon Jovi, of course I do love to hear the rare ones and there are songs I would love to hear. But I wasnt disappointed by any of the setlists.

I'm happy with just Bad Name Not a rarity in the slighest but it's probably in the top 3 songs I love hearing live. So that makes me happy, rarities are just a bonus and something to boast about

It's fantasic. And even more fantastic live.