C4 Documentary: One Last Shot...

[Kieslowski]

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

I bet they wouldn't dare. Most they'd probably do is re-jig it in the setlist and play Motown Junk last or something instead, like on the PPF tour.

They wouldn't, would they? They'd probably drop You Love Us before they dropped ADFL. Fuckers

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

And Nicky, I don't expect you to learn EVERY single song in your back catalogue, just don't always resort to Kevin Carter/EMG/Ocean Spray.

I just cannot be arsed with that argument. They're professional musicians, their only job is to be able to play their own songs. I could probably go on stage and play a longer set of Manics songs than they can! Besides, if they had kept up more variety throughout their career, they wouldn't even need to relearn songs.

Nicky's just a lazy fucker!

[franny]

Originally Posted by MSPKYE

Yeah though they shouldnt be. Thats a fear if the album does go number 1 comes Sunday and Sony see the £££ signs in their eyes and think 'ARENA TOUR!!!' even though they'd just be half empty again like they were for SATT and then they'd just stick to the Greatest Hits set.

Hmm yeah, there could be a March tour consisting of more of PFAYM than the first PFAYM tour and then a Forever Delayed medley, I seriously don't mind bands playing stuff I don't know, if I didn't know the Manics very well and I got to hear ADFL I'd be happy with everything else, whatever it was.

[Kieslowski]

Originally Posted by franny

Slightly, but there are no rules about gig lengths. We get over 20 songs per gig and there's always something relatively new or interesting, they're not the best band for setlists, but not the worst. I genuinely think they're scared of being too obscure in their choices.

If the crowd can't hack a bit of variety at their gigs, then that's the crowd's fault, not theirs. They need to get out of this ridiculous mindset of trying to please the people who aren't even big Manics fans - throw in some unusual songs and get people thinking "hey, I don't recognise this one. I'll need to get whatever album this is on."

[franny]

Originally Posted by Kieslowski

I just cannot be arsed with that argument. They're professional musicians, their only job is to be able to play their own songs. I could probably go on stage and play a longer set of Manics songs than they can! Besides, if they had kept up more variety throughout their career, they wouldn't even need to relearn songs.

Nicky's just a lazy fucker!

Yeah, it's surprising that they forget some songs, I have a repertoire of about 20 and I'm rubbish, especially for Nicky who hardly has the hardest bass lines in the world, maybe he should spend a little more time jamming old songs with the band than glittering everything.

[Beat Poet]

Originally Posted by Kieslowski

They need to get out of this ridiculous mindset of trying to please the people who aren't even big Manics fans - throw in some unusual songs and get people thinking "hey, I don't recognise this one. I'll need to get whatever album this is on."

Or "time to head to the bar" . . .

[franny]

Originally Posted by Kieslowski

If the crowd can't hack a bit of variety at their gigs, then that's the crowd's fault, not theirs. They need to get out of this ridiculous mindset of trying to please the people who aren't even big Manics fans - throw in some unusual songs and get people thinking "hey, I don't recognise this one. I'll need to get whatever album this is on."

Exactly, the reason I love Radiohead is because I saw them live and didn't recognise half the tracks, as a result I discovered Kid A. Purely from a marketing point of view, playing less common songs might sell a few albums rather than justifying those who only bought FD.

[Mr Inconspicuous]

Wouldn't you think mixing up the sets would make it more interesting for themselves, apart from everything else. Do Nicky and James never wake up the morning of a show and think 'I'd love to play Slash n Burn tonight, haven't played it in ages'. After all they're in a position most bands would envy, attracting sizeable audiences of mostly serious fans who would love to hear rummaging through the back catalogue.

[Escape Artist]

Thought the documentary was way too short.

Got to see myself tho lol

It's funny...when Nicky was talking about pleasing fans and doing 3 hour sets me and my mate were screaming at the tv "WELL FUCKING DO IT THEN!!!!"

Honestly...I saw Rush 2 years ago and they played for over 2 and a half hours and they are approaching 60!!

Get a grip Wire and play longer sets.

Couldn't agree with Kieslowski more!

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

I sometimes think they over-estimate their casual fan base these days really. I would have thought a large bulk of audiences at their gigs nowadays are familiar with more than just 'the big hits' anyway.

[MSPKYE]

And if they see that they've got a whole portion of the fams who just want to see The Holy Bible played, and a whole portion who just want to see This Is My Truth - do some album gigs sometime! The JFPL ones were great (though probably mentally torturing for them so I wouldnt expect that album again)

[Kieslowski]

Originally Posted by franny

Yeah, it's surprising that they forget some songs, I have a repertoire of about 20 and I'm rubbish, especially for Nicky who hardly has the hardest bass lines in the world, maybe he should spend a little more time jamming old songs with the band than glittering everything.

It's not just surprising, it's disgraceful! I know from experience that even if you don't play a song for a while, you just need to go through it a couple of times and it all comes back to you. It's just laziness. They've got the greatest job in the world and they can only be bothered making a half-arsed go of it.

Originally Posted by Beat Poet

Or "time to head to the bar" . . .

And then the venue says "excellent, we'll have to book these guys again."

Seriously though, a band that claims to still be "relevant" should not be worrying about people at gigs not knowing a few of their songs. That's what old crusty rock bands do.

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Originally Posted by MSPKYE

do some album gigs sometime!

If they don't want to learn their back catalogue (which was what Nicky was saying in this documentary), then that aint gonna happen

[MSPKYE]

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

If they don't want to learn their back catalogue (which was what Nicky was saying in this documentary), then that aint gonna happen

Even if they just stuck to those 2 (and maybe EMG seeing as they play most of its tracks reguarly) it'd keep people happy

[Kieslowski]

Originally Posted by Mr Inconspicuous

Wouldn't you think mixing up the sets would make it more interesting for themselves, apart from everything else. Do Nicky and James never wake up the morning of a show and think 'I'd love to play Slash n Burn tonight, haven't played it in ages'. After all they're in a position most bands would envy, attracting sizeable audiences of mostly serious fans who would love to hear rummaging through the back catalogue.

YES!!!! My GOD, the main reason my band always changed our sets was because you would get so bored of playing the same songs over and over again. Looking at it this way, no wonder they don't want to do 3 hour sets - they would just be playing the same 60 songs every night.

Of course, they COULD start doing longer sets AND mixing things up a bit (ooooh, controversial...)

Originally Posted by Abstract Unknown Girl

I sometimes think they over-estimate their casual fan base these days really. I would have thought a large bulk of audiences at their gigs nowadays are familiar with more than just 'the big hits' anyway.

Yeah, and it's also a bit patronising to the casual fans that do still go.

To be honest, I would think casual fans are probably less likely to go to Manics gigs, because surely they just think "och, they'll just play the same songs they always play."

[Kieslowski]

So, despite all that moaning... Anyone else about to watch it again on Channel 4+1?