Official June 15, 2013 - Slane Castle, County Meath, Ireland thread

Then don't see the ****ing band when they play near you. You love to bitch about the European setlists from behind your computer halfway around the world, but I'm sure if you go to the show and get even a very basic setlist, you'll come away raving about how great the show was.

Bon Jovi doesn't HAVE to change their setlist every night.

So many people think that they don't at all. That's far from true. Yeah, they have a pretty rigid structure, but what successful touring band doesn't? Remember that for 99% of the fans at each gig, that will be the only gig they see on the tour. So they want to hear the hits. There are about 8-10 songs that they need to play every night no matter where they are as far as the big hits go, plus the 5-7 songs that they play most every night for mild hits (like Who Says, Sleep, Faith, HAND, Memory, Lost Highway, In These Arms). Throw in the 3 or 4 new songs they do every night (Water, Because We Can, What About Now) and you're already up to at least 19 songs. When the average set is about 24 songs, that leaves 5 or 6 songs left. That means you get the songs that Jon wants to play and get the crowd moving, whether you like it or not, such as Captain Crash, Raise Your Hands, Saturday Night, etc. That is a set that gives enough focus on the new stuff, gives the casuals exactly what they want, and still covers all the hits. This is what the 99% want to hear.

The thing about Bon Jovi is that Jon is nice enough to throw the diehards a bone in Europe. These Days, Dry County, and Hey God DO pop up, usually at least one in every setlist. And the diehards still find a way to bitch. Yes, we devoted fans WANT more, but put yourself in Jon's shoes. You either appease the 99% of fans, who, if you give them what they want, will go home buzzing and tell their friends and family about the show. Or you can meet the demands of the diehards who want songs that will lose the majority of the crowd. It doesn't take a genius to see the better option.

I already know the response to this. Something along the lines of "but if they rotate just a couple songs" or "if they perform the songs well enough, they won't lose the crowd". Valid points, but again, they don't have to change the setlist! Remember, you don't have to see this band live. If you don't like what they're doing, do us all a favor and stay at home.

In my time on this board, I've never seen so many delusional fans.

Bruce Springsteen doesn't. He might stick to a certain flow but the songs change every night.

But and it's a big but, Bon Jovi fans aren't Bruce Springsteen fans. Go to a Springsteen concert and almost every one is carrying a request sign for some song off an obscure album. Bon Jovi fans on the whole just want to hear the hits and that's why I don't really complain about set lists. Jon can see the crowds reaction and he knows what works. This forum hates Captain Crash & Who Says but night after night it gets the crowd going.

Ryan Adams said on his recent tour that every night he plays for the one show a tour fan. It might sound like a snub to the hardcore fan but he's really just putting on the best show he can for the majority.

TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS!!!

Said similar on the Isle of Wight thread when I stated that although it would have been nice to have Dry County, These Days etc. last night, for 95% of that crowd those songs would have meant nothing.

On paper the set-list does look a little bland, but when you're there in and "in the moment" it's a completely different story.

Definitely on the money with the difference in Springsteen and Bon Jovi fans.

If you want the best view . . I diamond circle but stand about 6 rows of people back , . That what we did and the view is amazing . . See the whole band and no sore neck . . Don't go to the barriers . .


As for people bashing the sets and how . . Fom what I read in every thread the people bashing are always people who didn't go to that particular show

Delusional? No. Disillusioned? Perhaps.

Maybe we're spoiled, but people are used to more variety. When it becomes as rigid as it has- and that may very well be down to the Richie situation, which has already been a big blow for folk- people cant be blamed for wondering what's going on. This is a band that not too long ago could play their 8-10 must-plays, double the current number of new songs, a rarity or two, and rotate the lesser hits in and out on a nightly basis.

P.S. The "must play the big hits for the casual fans" argument is a shaky one at best- if it was truly the case, their BIGGEST hit, Always would have been played every night since 1994.

P.P.S. The difference between Jovi fans and Bruce ones? Please. I've been to Springsteen gigs where the lesser known slow song is judged 'bathroom time' and the crowd volume doubles during Dancing In The Dark and Born In The U.S.A. Perhaps the effort to embrace his diehards and willingness to play the rare stuff has ensured a better mix in the crowd, but there are plenty of casuals at each gig.

If people are fed up with the band then walk away. Go back to where you think they lost the plot and don't listen to anything from then onwards. But please don't moan about set lists when you weren't there.

Every band has a few off nights a tour. From the Beatles to the stones to Springsteen. It happens. Get over it.

If you're gonna play the "you weren't there" card, I must insist that as of this moment you apply that to yourself please.

Can you resist from commenting on here- moan or otherwise- unless you were present while the subject of your comment took place? Challenge accepted?

Well, Slane definitely wasn't an off-night.

Things could of course improve set-list wise as to throwing the die-hard's a few gems, but I just don't see that happening whilst Richie is absent.

I also like the new album, but the only song that worked live was Water....What About Now fell completely flat. Because We Can made me feel like I was at some sing-a-long religious-self-help campfire thing. Their playing the wrong songs off What About Now, but as their still playing Follow and When We Were Beautiful and missing out on the great Circle songs, I sort of fear we're stuck with at least Because We Can forever too.

Despite those things that could be tweaked, it was seriously a great night and a great show. One of the ones that will be burned in my memory. And at the end of the day, that's what it's all about.