Disappointing SX Setlists...

[rockyracoon]

I've been following SX since 1996 and have seen them live 8 times in that span. They are one of my favorite bands, both onstage and offstage. However, their setlists have been stagnant for quite a while, in my opinion. Most importantly, the ommision of Damnation Game material. Sorry, but please stop playing Wicked, Inferno and Evolution, and maybe think about playing to some of the fans who've been enjoying the older material for years. I find it very strange that the website was previously name TEOF, yet the song gets completely ignored, with the exception of PPII. Other classics like Whispers and In a Winters Dream must also be resurrected.

 

[The Yngster]

Im gonna have to agree, every song they're playing on Gigantour I've seen them play at least 3 times

 

[WhoFooldU]

I've been following SX since 1996 and have seen them live 8 times in that span. They are one of my favorite bands, both onstage and offstage. However, their setlists have been stagnant for quite a while, in my opinion. Most importantly, the ommision of Damnation Game material. Sorry, but please stop playing Wicked, Inferno and Evolution, and maybe think about playing to some of the fans who've been enjoying the older material for years. I find it very strange that the website was previously name TEOF, yet the song gets completely ignored, with the exception of PPII. Other classics like Whispers and In a Winters Dream must also be resurrected.

Last I checked, the tour was in support of an album called "The Odyssey". So, with that being said, Wicked and Inferno belong in the setlist. When you only have 30 minutes to play with and you have a tendency to write longer pieces, you wind up being limited in what you can play. While I understand the frustration of the lack of Damnation Game material, take into consideration the number of people seeing the band for the first time. The knife cuts both ways. In 30 minutes you can't hope to satisfy everyone. The situation is what it is. If the band were on a headlining tour of their own, I'd lend a little more credibility to your rant. However, since this isn't the case, life will just have to go on.

Glenn

 

[rockyracoon]

Last I checked, the tour was in support of an album called "The Odyssey". So, with that being said, Wicked and Inferno belong in the setlist. When you only have 30 minutes to play with and you have a tendency to write longer pieces, you wind up being limited in what you can play. While I understand the frustration of the lack of Damnation Game material, take into consideration the number of people seeing the band for the first time. The knife cuts both ways. In 30 minutes you can't hope to satisfy everyone. The situation is what it is. If the band were on a headlining tour of their own, I'd lend a little more credibility to your rant. However, since this isn't the case, life will just have to go on.

Glenn

I was just generally speaking, and not really refering to the current tour. Also, The Odyssey has been toured for quite a while now. Additionally, I they headlined a show in Chicago at the Metro, and still nothing from Damnation Game or the first album. Unacceptable to completely omit 2 albums, especially when they only have 6. Had I not seen PPI, I would feel even more unsatisfied. I was lucky to see In the Dragon's Den, Dressed to Kill, Through the Looking Glass, etc...but where have those songs been since then???

 

[WhoFooldU]

I was just generally speaking, and not really refering to the current tour. Also, The Odyssey has been toured for quite a while now. Additionally, I they headlined a show in Chicago at the Metro, and still nothing from Damnation Game or the first album. Unacceptable to completely omit 2 albums, especially when they only have 6. Had I not seen PPI, I would feel even more unsatisfied. I was lucky to see In the Dragon's Den, Dressed to Kill, Through the Looking Glass, etc...but where have those songs been since then???

Yeah, the Odyssey has been toured for a long time. The band is like the energizer bunny and the keep going and going and going. But when they decided to pass on Gigantour initially to focus on doing the new album, people cried how can they do that. Now they are on the tour and people bitch about the delay of the new album. Again, damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Damnation Game...for those of us who have been lucky to see them do Dressed to Kill or The edge of Forever. Yeah, it was great. Would I like to see them do some other songs from this album or the first album? Absolutely. But they are the band, they are not a jukebox. They will do what they feel is best.

Looking Glass was set aside because they had done it so many times already. They wanted a break from some songs and add in some of the new material. Hell, there was a time when a band like Dream Theater cringed about playing Pull Me Under for the umpteenth time.

Glenn

 

[bball_1523]

I haven't been a fan for a long time, but I really really really want to see them play at least one song from EACH album when they headline a tour next time. I really hope they don't keep playing evolution, inferno, and sea of lies for the billionth time. At least from the set lists I've read from the past, those three songs have been there almost every single time, and if I had seen them a bunch of times, I could understand what rockyracoon is going through right now.

I really don't want to complain because I had a great time just seeing them for the first time on gigantour, but next time I see them, I'd love to see a bit of variety. I really hope SX doesn't become like metallica, where for the longest time they didn't play "dyers eve" and who knows.

Anyways, one of my musical philosophies is, if a band writes the songs, they should be able to play every single one of them live one day or another.

 

[WhoFooldU]

I haven't been a fan for a long time, but I really really really want to see them play at least one song from EACH album when they headline a tour next time. I really hope they don't keep playing evolution, inferno, and sea of lies for the billionth time. At least from the set lists I've read from the past, those three songs have been there almost every single time, and if I had seen them a bunch of times, I could understand what rockyracoon is going through right now.

I really don't want to complain because I had a great time just seeing them for the first time on gigantour, but next time I see them, I'd love to see a bit of variety. I really hope SX doesn't become like metallica, where for the longest time they didn't play "dyers eve" and who knows.

Anyways, one of my musical philosophies is, if a band writes the songs, they should be able to play every single one of them live one day or another.

Given time and headlining slots and this is a possibility. It's not like they haven't pulled off complex arrangemnets before *cough*the odyssey*cough

 

[Yngvai X]

Actually I'm gonna chime in and say the opposite...to me, a SymX concert WITHOUT Sea of Lies, Of Sins and Shadows, Inferno, etc would be kind of a letdown. They play these songs over and over for new audiences for a reason: they're some of the best songs they've got and they're tried and true to pump the crowd in a live situation. Not saying it wouldn't be awesome to see songs like In the Dragon's Den, Damnation Game, Masquerade, A Fool's Paradise, etc but not at the expense of all the classics.

 

[zakk_hate_me_666]

exactly man

 

[rockyracoon]

I certainly dont want to give the impression that while at the show im not totally into whatever they decide to play, because I will support SX no matter what direction they go both live and in the studio. But I do think that the definition of "classics" may differ from person to person, and if the same songs are routinely played because they are supposedly classics, then there's not much room for other songs to emerge as such.

 

[WhoFooldU]

Actually I'm gonna chime in and say the opposite...to me, a SymX concert WITHOUT Sea of Lies, Of Sins and Shadows, Inferno, etc would be kind of a letdown. They play these songs over and over for new audiences for a reason: they're some of the best songs they've got and they're tried and true to pump the crowd in a live situation. Not saying it wouldn't be awesome to see songs like In the Dragon's Den, Damnation Game, Masquerade, A Fool's Paradise, etc but not at the expense of all the classics.

And with Sins, Inferno, Wicked, Sea of Lies, and Evolution, they are turning some heads at Gigantour. Get up, destroy crowd, walk away and leave them slack jawed trying to figure what truck just hit them.

 

[proulxski]

Nice...Nice!!!

I agree with alot of the things said, and I also disagree! You have to understand that Symphony X has some really complex material! And to play some of these songs live take alot more talent than you can think! Symphony X has the talent to do it, but not the time, they entered Gigantour at the last minute, they where all messed up with set list, and headlinning/not headlinning! A lot of shit went on, so they pulled what they could outa there hats, based on what 'WE' on the Symphony X forums voted on, if i remember correctly JAX made a poll for the setlist! And Symphony X wen't by it, in the end not everyone will be happy- But EVERYONE, I mean EVERYONE will be blown away with a fucking crazy ass show, symphony X's 30 minutes of fame rocks the crowd and has them screaming for more! As I have previously said on these forums, its about the fans and popularity of the band no? So who cares what songs they play! The only way everyone would be happy is if they played EVERY song from EVERY album! Which won't happen!

Add smoke and mirrors to that list of songs that most be played!

Truth is, Wicked, Of Sins and Shadows, Inferno, Evolution! HAve no 3 minute Intros made by classical composers, but have non stop jamming, and keeps the crowd going the whole time! TEOF, The Odyssey, DwOt are great songs, but for new people enw to the band, its a long on going song!

And as for a closer on 'my' ranting! Why don't they do songs from their first album? Primarly because the singer was Rod Tyler i'm sure, now that they have 5 albums with Russell Allen, untill they re'make the original album with Russell Allen as the new singer, they most likely won't use many of those songs...

 

[mask_x]

Perhaps it's also a question of rehearsing these "old" songs. Due to the new album being on the way, I can pretty well imagine that they're not so much into them at the moment so they play songs they know by playing a lot lately.

I think it will become better, when they do their own tour as headliner. Then they will certainly play the 'old' songs again and do less from the oddyssey because of danger of wearing out those songs.

 

[bball_1523]

Nice...Nice!!!

I agree with alot of the things said, and I also disagree! You have to understand that Symphony X has some really complex material! And to play some of these songs live take alot more talent than you can think! Symphony X has the talent to do it, but not the time, they entered Gigantour at the last minute, they where all messed up with set list, and headlinning/not headlinning! A lot of shit went on, so they pulled what they could outa there hats, based on what 'WE' on the Symphony X forums voted on, if i remember correctly JAX made a poll for the setlist! And Symphony X wen't by it, in the end not everyone will be happy- But EVERYONE, I mean EVERYONE will be blown away with a fucking crazy ass show, symphony X's 30 minutes of fame rocks the crowd and has them screaming for more! As I have previously said on these forums, its about the fans and popularity of the band no? So who cares what songs they play! The only way everyone would be happy is if they played EVERY song from EVERY album! Which won't happen!

Add smoke and mirrors to that list of songs that most be played!

Truth is, Wicked, Of Sins and Shadows, Inferno, Evolution! HAve no 3 minute Intros made by classical composers, but have non stop jamming, and keeps the crowd going the whole time! TEOF, The Odyssey, DwOt are great songs, but for new people enw to the band, its a long on going song!

And as for a closer on 'my' ranting! Why don't they do songs from their first album? Primarly because the singer was Rod Tyler i'm sure, now that they have 5 albums with Russell Allen, untill they re'make the original album with Russell Allen as the new singer, they most likely won't use many of those songs...

I am not implying that they change their setlist for gigantour. I can totally understand that they don't have the time to rehearse any other material because of a last minute decision. I'm grateful to even see them this tour! I am just saying for future tours, especially when they headline. It seems as if the past tours, they have always played the same songs over and over without really changing their setlists.

But imo, there is no excuse for not being able to play *any* of their songs from *any album.* That's just the way I see things. I feel like a minority here because the majority of SX fans just want the *hits* such as sea of lies, evolution, inferno, smoke and mirrors, etc, and I'd prefer a mixture of any songs because I really like just about every song they've made. It almost feels like MTV and their pop music....well not really because SX is different.

There shouldn't be a problem with russell singing the 1st album songs. All they have to do is rehearse them, and that's it. They re-made masquerade with russell, it shouldn't be that hard for the talent that they have.

 

[kazahana]

That's just the way I see things. I feel like a minority here because the majority of SX fans just want the *hits* such as sea of lies, evolution, inferno, smoke and mirrors, etc, and I'd prefer a mixture of any songs because I really like just about every song they've made. It almost feels like MTV and their pop music....well not really because SX is different.

I don't think the MTV comparison is valid because popular artists are popular already so people know what to expect. Symphony X don't have the fanbase of your average manufactured puppet on MTV, and the songs you mention that they always play are useful for getting the attention of new fans as well as setting up a rocking atmosphere at a gig.

I've seen Symphony X twice - both times after the Odyssey was released and so I've heard those songs live a couple of times, and it would be awesome to hear some of the older material (or neglected tracks like Dragon's Den and Church of the Machine) - especially The Edge of Forever.
On the other hand, I'd like Symphony X to play larger gigs and benefit financially from an increased fanbase, and it's not as if I dislike hearing those songs time after time anyway

I'd like to hear them play all of V start to finish. I couldn't ask for more than that.

 

[rockyracoon]

But imo, there is no excuse for not being able to play *any* of their songs from *any album.* That's just the way I see things. I feel like a minority here because the majority of SX fans just want the *hits* such as sea of lies, evolution, inferno, smoke and mirrors, etc, and I'd prefer a mixture of any songs because I really like just about every song they've made. It almost feels like MTV and their pop music....well not really because SX is different.

There shouldn't be a problem with russell singing the 1st album songs. All they have to do is rehearse them, and that's it. They re-made masquerade with russell, it shouldn't be that hard for the talent that they have.

EXACTLY!!! Understanding the complex nature of SX music should be a no-brainer. However, pulling out a few deep cuts isnt like learning how to ride a bike all over again. They could do it EASILY. To what degree they would choose to elaborate on the orchestral segments could be changed to adjust for time constraints if necessary. It just seems like people make too many excuses for the band. They have far to much GREAT material that has never been properly toured to simply start aiming their focus on the Gigantour crowd. Also, I've read the arguement that SX must play the *hits* to gain a larger fanbase. But is that really fanbase you want??? One that is based solely on the frequency of *hits* showing up in the setlist. SX should be proud of their entire body of work, and that should be reflected in their setlists. And if Dream Theater isnt above playing material from their first album, then neither should SX.

 

[kazahana]

Also, I've read the arguement that SX must play the *hits* to gain a larger fanbase. But is that really fanbase you want??? One that is based solely on the frequency of *hits* showing up in the setlist.

But you didn't read my post - if playing those 3 tracks gets Symphony X more people interested in their music then that's great - they can get into the more complex tracks later on. Also, it's not up to any one of us to decide who is entitled to be in Symphony X's fanbase and if they only like them for those 3 tracks, then they're missing out - but I honestly don't care who listens to them apart from me. As I noted previously, the more fans they can expect at venues, in addition to the amount of money they can spend on touring determined by the revenue generated by record sales, means they can book bigger venues and have longer sets.

Second, I wish every success to Symphony X - their music has given me countless hours of enjoyment and more fans mean more people buying their records and merchandise which means plain and simple they get more money. Good. They deserve it.

SX should be proud of their entire body of work, and that should be reflected in their setlists. And if Dream Theater isnt above playing material from their first album, then neither should SX.

I think they're very proud of what they've done, but given the considerations above - especially that they don't have 3 hour sets, like DT for example - means that they want to give people energetic performances that they'll remember rather than only 2 epics.

 

[Pharaoh]

Actually I'm gonna chime in and say the opposite...to me, a SymX concert WITHOUT Sea of Lies, Of Sins and Shadows, Inferno, etc would be kind of a letdown. They play these songs over and over for new audiences for a reason: they're some of the best songs they've got and they're tried and true to pump the crowd in a live situation. Not saying it wouldn't be awesome to see songs like In the Dragon's Den, Damnation Game, Masquerade, A Fool's Paradise, etc but not at the expense of all the classics.

I think you said it best, Matt. It seems to me they have been gaining more fans of people into heavy metal than prog for several years. They picked the best songs to pump the crowd, and like Glenn said "leave them walking away slack jawed". I believe if they didn't see such an incredible opportunity to grab a LOT of new fans through this tour, there would have been no question about passing on it and finishing the new songs.

 

[The Yngster]

I completely understand having a few songs that you like to play consistently, but the setlist has varied very very little between all the shows that I've seen. At least a few surprises here and there would be nice

 

[rockyracoon]

In regards to ONLY Gigantour SX shows, I do understand their approach with the setlists they have been doing, because of the target audience. And I certainly agree that SX deserves to prosper in every way, as much as possible. But don't do it at the expense of the fans who have supported them in the past. What about the fans who've been going to filthy dive bars/crappy venues to see them for years, and loving it of course, but nonetheless supporting them from the beginning. Those people bought CD's, tshirts, tickets, and whatever else put money in SX's pockets. SX could definitely pull out some deep cuts without delving into their epic songs, and still maintaining their heavy sound for Gigantour.