Disappointing SX Setlists...

[ElPredicador]

I have to agree with rockyracoon. A varying setlist is much more enjoyable. And you have to ask yourself: Who are the people that go to SX concerts, fans or would-be-fans? I'd think there are more people that already know the band than those who don't. I'd prefer to listen to 'A winter's dream' than 'Out of the ashes'


PS: How come an album called 'Live on the Edge of Forever' doesn't have TEOF in it?????

 

[Yngvai X]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! Michael Romeo could sit down with a guitar and listen to an old song ONCE, and play it. It's not like he's some guy who needs to sit around and rewind the cd a million times to get it right. As far as Lepond, he too would have ZERO problems with any old material. We arent talking about some group of guys like Yes, or some other washed up band of relics who cant even play their own licks anymore, SX are young and full of energy!!! Any arguement involving technicality of songs is just not valid. Oh wait he hasnt learned it yet??? Gimme a break, those guys are machines.

Excuse me, are you a musician? Have you ever played technically challenging music in a band before? I never said the guys would have to sit down for hours relearning old stuff...that still doesn't change the fact that songs need to be rehearsed, especially ones that they have never played live before. I don't care how good the band is. You think they didn't rehearse the shit out of a song like The Odyssey before they played it live?

 

[proulxski]

Yeh I agree with the above... Have you hard any of Romeo's Live interviews, or read anything on them? In one of them he states very clearly " We really only record a song one time, because every time we play it its differ, untill we get the right sound." He explained how they go through the written process and all that, but some of the tapping, and really awsome riffs, are randomly placed things that MJR just fucks around with sometimes... Meaning it can be very easy to forget some of your material, and any good musician with any talent isn't cocky enough to say " I don;t need to reherse..." Any real band rehearses, especially if you expect Symphony X to play better and bigger set lists with more challenging songs! As I said about 10 times in this specific thread, for Gigantour purposed they chosde those songs, very popular for new and old comers, quick, and they know them pretty well. They sorta joined Gigantour at the last moment so they pulled those songs outta the hat! maybe one day when they headline a tour, and have like umpteen hours to play they can play all the longer more technical songs, and I know they can, everyone in the forums know they can play them live, but its not easy to do if you havn't done it in a while! not to mention theya re working on their NEW ALBUM (or where before Gigantour) meaning they wouldn't be practicing any og the old songs... Also if i remember correctly just to add more to the rehearsing required, Jax stated just before Gigantour " MJR and the band now have their setlist, and have started to rehearse" meaning even the simplist over done songs they wanna mker sure are done well!

 

[rockyracoon]

Yeh I agree with the above... Have you hard any of Romeo's Live interviews, or read anything on them? In one of them he states very clearly " We really only record a song one time, because every time we play it its differ, untill we get the right sound." He explained how they go through the written process and all that, but some of the tapping, and really awsome riffs, are randomly placed things that MJR just fucks around with sometimes... Meaning it can be very easy to forget some of your material, and any good musician with any talent isn't cocky enough to say " I don;t need to reherse..." Any real band rehearses, especially if you expect Symphony X to play better and bigger set lists with more challenging songs! As I said about 10 times in this specific thread, for Gigantour purposed they chosde those songs, very popular for new and old comers, quick, and they know them pretty well. They sorta joined Gigantour at the last moment so they pulled those songs outta the hat! maybe one day when they headline a tour, and have like umpteen hours to play they can play all the longer more technical songs, and I know they can, everyone in the forums know they can play them live, but its not easy to do if you havn't done it in a while! not to mention theya re working on their NEW ALBUM (or where before Gigantour) meaning they wouldn't be practicing any og the old songs... Also if i remember correctly just to add more to the rehearsing required, Jax stated just before Gigantour " MJR and the band now have their setlist, and have started to rehearse" meaning even the simplist over done songs they wanna mker sure are done well!

once again!!!!! i completely understand their setlist for Gigantour, i dont agree with it, but i understand it. i do play guitar and that is one of the reasons i dont buy any of this crap. if you've ever seen SX then you've seen the absolute ease with which romeo plays. i cant remember a show where russell didnt come from behind and cover mjr's eyes during a solo, and he laughs!!!!. just because you cant do it doesnt mean they cant. just because you transcribed a song doesnt mean a damn thing. sorry if you think im being a jerk but i just feel that if SX are gonna ever make it to the next level they are gonna need people like you to stop making excuses for them. im not concerned with everone's musical prowess, though im sure those offended will inform me of theirs. bottom line is that im giving them a free pass for now, but after Gigantour, SX needs to get their stuff together and do their catalog some damn justice!!!!!!

 

[proulxski]

I don't think there ever was a doubt that people wanna see a differ setlist, but bitching about it in your manner isn't the proper way to go about it... Let them do what they want, when they're ready to play something differ they will!

And about the hands over MJR's eyes, was that not for the tour of The Odyssey? Either way, TYHey rehearse like everyone does, but I'm sure if its been ahilw that they havn't played it they'd be slowed down a bit, there is alot to remember in osme of their songs

 

[rockyracoon]

I don't think there ever was a doubt that people wanna see a differ setlist, but bitching about it in your manner isn't the proper way to go about it...

And about the hands over MJR's eyes, was that not for the tour of The Odyssey?

let me guess, the proper way is to not have an opinion. the problem is that some people cant handle that a forum involves everyone expressing their opinions. because of that, many people never really say anything unpopular in fear of being attacked. the bottom line is that i buy every SX album and all their tshirts and other stuff, i go to every show within 300 miles me, and constantly try and spread their music to as many people that will listen. so i feel i have the right to complain about a setlist if i damn well choose. as fans, we all do!

and the hands over MJR's eyes was at PPI.

 

[Kronikle66]

They didn't play Evolution for us. Only 4 songs in Orlando

 

[proulxski]

you do have the right o complain, but at least go about it properly- Look I agree with you and i don't, I and veeryother symphony X fan wants to see differ set lists. I just don't like the fact that people jump to conclusions, Sympony X are ubber talented, and play some complex difficult stuff. OF COURSE they need to rehearse, I also understand the problem with the set list but in this case, in the case of GIGANTOUR..Which is the only live show ANYONE is going to be seeing with symphony x in it during this time, they had no choice, they joined late, where working on their new album, so they played the most common songs... leave it be at that, we are lucky they ecven chose to go on tour, we show them ouyr appreciasion by complaining about their set list, however-if and when they headline a tour, lets hope they don't just play those songs, by all means-if they do, bitch it up-i'll be bitching with you. But I am very satisfied with what they're given us considering the terms...

 

[rockyracoon]

however-if and when they headline a tour, lets hope they don't just play those songs...

well i guess im just gonna have to cross my fingers for the next tour...hopefully they can score some better gigs with longer setlists. i really need 2 hours MINUMUM!!!

 

[Yngvai X]

well i guess im just gonna have to cross my fingers for the next tour...hopefully they can score some better gigs with longer setlists. i really need 2 hours MINUMUM!!!

Most bands only get 90 minute sets when they are headliners. In fact, I can't remember a concert that I went to where the set was over 90 minutes.

 

[Progbass]

About SymX playing the older stuff, I once learned TEOF and played it fairly often(damn hard to play), and when I stopped playing it for few weeks, I couldn't remember almost a thing about it. So imagine if the guys hasn't played it for years or so. No one is a machine, songs must be rehearsed.

 

[Jax]

About SymX playing the older stuff, I once learned TEOF and played it fairly often(damn hard to play), and when I stopped playing it for few weeks, I couldn't remember almost a thing about it. So imagine if the guys hasn't played it for years or so. No one is a machine, songs must be rehearsed.

Add to this the fact that MJR is a perfectionist & isn't going to play a song live that doesn't sound 100% perfect, and you can see that it'd take quite a bit of work to get even one old song up to snuff, much less a whole set full of them.

 

[rockyracoon]

Most bands only get 90 minute sets when they are headliners. In fact, I can't remember a concert that I went to where the set was over 90 minutes.

doesnt change that fact that i WANT 2 hrs...just puts things in perspective when Dream Theater can do it...but nobody else even tries.

 

[proulxski]

meh!

 

[Yngvai X]

doesnt change that fact that i WANT 2 hrs...just puts things in perspective when Dream Theater can do it...but nobody else even tries.

Understand also that Dream Theater are at the point where they can book these kinds of shows...they also don't tour with openers anymore, which gives them more time to play. Most metal bands can't book "evening with" shows cause they usually go on tour with at least one or two other bands. I think Rage did an "evening with" show for their DVD concert that was over 2 hours, but this was a one-off concert, I doubt they'd do an entire tour like that.

 

[rockyracoon]

Understand also that Dream Theater are at the point where they can book these kinds of shows...they also don't tour with openers anymore, which gives them more time to play. Most metal bands can't book "evening with" shows cause they usually go on tour with at least one or two other bands. I think Rage did an "evening with" show for their DVD concert that was over 2 hours, but this was a one-off concert, I doubt they'd do an entire tour like that.

true, but DT has essentially been doing that since SFaM tour. maybe SX could do 2 shows in some of the larger drawing cities/venues and mix up setlists from night to night...that would be cool!

 

[BastrdDrmr]

Let me put this into perspective for some of you... I have seen Symphony X live 5 times. I think they do have some "classics" but I do not think that Wicked is a classic. That song is old and tired and sounds like Pantera with more time changes. Here are the songs I have seen them do:

Smoke and Mirrors (x3)
Church of the Machine (x1)
Of Sins and Shadows (x4)
Sea of Lies (x5)
Evolution (x5)
Egypt (x1)
Communion (x2)
Death of Balance (x1)
Inferno (x3)
Wicked (x5)
King of Terrors (x4)
Awakenings (x1)
Odyssey (x1)

if my math is correct that is 13 songs. ONLY 13 DIFFERENT SONGS in 5 times????

 

[WhoFooldU]

Let me put this into perspective for some of you... I have seen Symphony X live 5 times.
if my math is correct that is 13 songs. ONLY 13 DIFFERENT SONGS in 5 times????

And would these 5 times be primarily dates in support of "the odyssey"??

Call me curious.
Glenn

 

[rockyracoon]

And would these 5 times be primarily dates in support of "the odyssey"??

Call me curious.
Glenn

here's a perspective, ive seen SX 8 times, dating back to the very beggining of the V tour, and bastrd drmr's setlist is very accurate...here's another perspective, i drove to new york to go see james labrie on his tour for elements of persuasion, and spent a coniderable amount of time with his bass player, andy deluca, *ring a bell all you SX fans* probably not. well i asked him why Sx doesnt play the old stuff, and he said he pushed for it, but they basically werent into it...so i just question whether playing the waiting game is worth it, or if they've made a firm committment to simply abandoning certain material. love Sx no matter what, but cmon guys, through an old dog a bone!!!

 

[WhoFooldU]

here's a perspective, ive seen SX 8 times, dating back to the very beggining of the V tour, and bastrd drmr's setlist is very accurate...here's another perspective, i drove to new york to go see james labrie on his tour for elements of persuasion, and spent a coniderable amount of time with his bass player, andy deluca, *ring a bell all you SX fans* probably not. well i asked him why Sx doesnt play the old stuff, and he said he pushed for it, but they basically werent into it...so i just question whether playing the waiting game is worth it, or if they've made a firm committment to simply abandoning certain material. love Sx no matter what, but cmon guys, through an old dog a bone!!!

Would you like some cheese for your whine?

I asked BastrdDrmr a question, I'm sure I'll get an answer.

but since you want to take it there, I'll go there....Andy Deluca, yup, know the name. For those of you who do not know, Andy played bass for the band when they toured in support of Twilight in Olympus. Thank you rocky for mentioning something and not putting it into proper context for some of the newer fans who were not around at the time. So Andy's perspective is from one tour and one tour only. Oh and did you mention it was basically the first tour, nope, didn't see that. Obviously the band should be switching things up nightly in your most humble opinion even when touring for the first time. Bah, whatever, they got out and toured and showed that they were a real band and could actually play. They proved that it wasn't just some studio project nor studio magic. They could indeed play, and play well.

now back to touring matters at hand...I've seen my fair share of concerts as well. And let's add some perspecitve to the band's touring. My apologies to anyone in Europe at this point in time, I'm going to focus on North American concerts. How many shows did they play in North America in support of the V album? Anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller...they played 9 shows. 9 frickin shows. Setlists consisted of a sizeable portion of the "V" album (most of the time it was Prelude through Death of Balance). What a surprise, makes sense after all to play stuff you are out in support of. Sprinkle in various other songs Dressed to Kill, Divine Wings of Tragedy, The Edge of Forever, Out of the Ashes, Through the Looking Glass, Smoke and Mirrors, Church of the Machine, Sea of Lies, Of Sins and Shadows, The Accolade, and The Eyes of Medusa and I think you have the makings of a very fine sampling of Symphony X's further back catalog.

So then comes the Odyssey...

The first chance Symphony X gets to tour in support of this in the States is opening for Blind Guardian. A support slot of 45 minutes. Room for roughly 7 songs on an average night. Kind of sucks, but they played a cross section of tunes to attempt to cover the bases. Since they are out supporting the Odyssey, I guess they should play a couple songs from that. Anyone notice a logical trend there? Anyway, so what did the fans get for that tour....Inferno, Wicked, King of Terrors, Incantations of the Apprentice, Evolution, Sea of Lies, Church of the Machine, Smoke and Mirrors, Of Sins and Shadows, and Egypt/Death of Balance. I know I listed more than 7 songs, but you know what, the band was rotating songs in and out of the set during the tour. Not too bad for a month of touring (about 20 dates if you really must know).

next up in the US show department for the Odyssey tour, 2 support dates for Halfor in New York. night one set list: Inferno, Wicked, Sea of Lies, Awakenings, Prelude, Evolution, Egpyt, Death of Balance, King of Terrors, and Of SIns and Shadows. Night two set list: Inferno, Wicked, Evolution, Communion and the Orcale, King of Terrors, Smoke and Mirrors, Church of the Machine, Imperial March from Star Wars, Sea of Lies, and Of Sins and Shadows. Go ahead and compare the two shows, were there enough of a difference for back to back nights?? Nah, probably not for SOME people.

Next US dates (GASP!) 2 weeks of headlining shows with Seven Witches as support. Oh wow, Finally they can have a little more time to play!! about 10 shows and they consisted of a mixture of what they were going for the previous support slots with Blind Guardian and Halford. A set list may have gone something like this: Inferno, Wicked, King of Terrors, Church of the Machine, Accolade/Accolade II (the hybrid version that last about 14 minutes or more), Evolution, Awakenings, Egypt, Communion and the Oracle, Sea of Lies, Out of the Ashes, Smoke and Mirrors, and Of Sins and Shadows. Still not bad set list. For those of you following along, how many headlinging shows have I menitoned in the US?? Just over 20 is the correct answer. But hey, you guys aren't changing up your set lists enough to satify us long time fans.

Then it was off to Europe to kick ass opening for Stratovarius. About another 25 shows doing a support slot. mid MArch 2003 - late April 2003

next show: ProgPower 4 - Atlanta. Sept 2003.
Setlist: Inferno, Wicked, evolution, Communion and the Oracle, King of Terrors, Out of the Ashes, Accolade/Accolade II, Smoke and Mirrors, Sea of Lies, Of Sins and Shadows, and some short number called "The Odyssey" for the encore.

Next dates consist of one month of headlining slots from mid November to Mid Decemeber 2003. Fairly similar setlists throughout this part of the tour. Still playing the odyssey as the encore. And at the end of this, it's a total of 50 or so headlining dates spread over a period of 3 years. but hey, you guys haven't changed up the setlist enough of SOME people, throw them a bone, ok.

2004 --- 10 support dates opening for Queensryche, think they will very the setlist as they are again playing to a new crowd with 45 minute sets? nah, not likely.

2005 --- Support dates for Gigantour (about 40 shows in 50 days). Time of set: a well documented 30 minutes. Setlist on a good night consists of a bout 5 songs: Inferno, Wicked, Evolution, Sea of Lies, and Of Sins and Shadows. New faces, more exposure, playing to more people who don't know who this band truly is. Guess we should play all the old numbers for the die hard in the front row because 500 other people have never seen them.

There you have it...more documentation about the band's history than most people wanted to know. Until this band is doing headlining shows on their own consistently, expect more of the fine mix that you have read of in this post. When they have control over their own shows, better bookings, etc, then let's ask them to change it up a bit more.

And that is my well researched 2 cents.
Glenn

p.s. This post took far too much time to write!! Thanks for reading it if you did.