But I do expect the "particular piece of music" if they posted their setlist already online. Doesn't every band do this nowadays?
Stads pretty much nailed it - this is not something that a band typically does (Maiden apparently notwithstanding), but the fans. So can the band be held accountable for what the fans do on their own? No.
That may be correct, but would it make a fan "entitled" if they advertised the opposite (rotating setlist, NO idea what was going to be played, NO structure whatsoever) and they decided to support another business (and in bosk's analogy) instead?
All I am saying is that I may not choose to support a band who does business in this way (total chaos instead of having some structure). If that's really the way it's going to be, then I will happily hold onto my memories of the Mangini years, enjoy my albums and DVD's, and leave it at that. If that makes me "entitled", then think what you will. The reality is it just makes me sad.
I think you need to study the rotating setlists of yesteryear. Take it from someone who earned his nickname doing so.
When MP would do the rotating setlists, they were *always* structured.
• You could be sure that for each leg of the tour where the band is playing there for the first time in support of a new album (first run through North America, first run through Europe, etc.) aside from warmup legs, almost all - if not all - shows will feature the same opening song, usually the opener of the latest album. (2002 - TGP, 2004 - AIA, 2005 - TRoAE, 2007 - CM, 2009 - ANtR).
• The main set (or both the first and second set, if an Evening With) will conclude with a great "closing" set song.
• There will be several songs from the latest album that will be included in the setlist - some at pretty much every show, some that may be rotated in and out.
• The balance of the setlist will include a selection of older material, a few which will be played at most shows and others rotated in and out at various times.
• Depending on the tour, the encore may or may not be the exact same thing for an entire run of shows. In 2007-2008 it was primarily Schmedley Wilcox and in 2009-2010 it was almost always TCoT. Conversely in 2002-2006, the encore changed from night to night.
• A few other songs (new and old) may be added into the setlist on later tour legs which will then be featured when the band returns to do a second tour leg and during the warm up tour for the following album-tour cycle.
• I've noticed too that often times MP will pair a couple songs together - perhaps due to guitar tunings or just the general flow, so in 2002, if you saw Misunderstood, it was almost a given that Lie would follow; if you saw Surrounded in 2007, many times TDEN came next.
So as you can see, there *is* structure to the setlist, even if it looks completely random at first glance.
I think Stads alluded to this in his post, but if there is some debate over what will be played at your show, and so therefore whether you want to go or not, a good way to determine it is by seeing what has already been played on the tour (which consists of the "master" list of songs from which each setlist draws from) and see which of those songs were last played in your city (or nearby cities); if Forsaken was played the last time they were in your city or one close by, chances are it won't be played at your city on the current tour if it's in the master list. Does that make sense?
I think we're going to end up with a compromise in the end. There will be some rotation (details still to be ironed out because they have not discussed according to JP) but the extent remains to be seen. But given that JP has enjoyed static setlists and focusing on other aspects of the show, I don't think he will just let MP decide to rotate til his heart is content. As he said, it's not the same for him to relearn all this stuff as it is for MP; VERY different ask.
Hopefully in the end there is some give and take by both sides and everyone ends up getting something they want whether it be variety in the sets if they're seeing multiple shows, or more locked in performances etc.
Yeah, my guess is maybe a song or two rotation and the rest of the set is static. Also depends on how long their set will be. 3 hours evening with, 2 hour 15 minute with one opener, or 90 minutes with two openers.... that will all play a role IMO on how many songs may be in the rotation.
I disagree. I think at least 4-6 as we saw on the Dramatic tour is more likely and reasonable taking all things into consideration.