I can’t say that I have…but I definitely see that many of our readers and friends have enjoyed the UK rehearsal gigs during the past two weeks or so!
I’ve heard so many great things, from the strength of Simon’s voice, to the fantastic set lists; from the time that the band spent going out to greet fans after shows, to the few musical blasts-from-the-past that were included in the shows. Obviously this was a triumphant time for the band as well as the fans who were able to make it to England for the shows. Definitely a 180-degree turn from last May for everyone, and I couldn’t be happier.
I don’t know that I’ve really said much about the shows, other than from what gems I’ve found on youtube, they all sounded great. I fell in love with Secret Oktober all over again, and I have high hopes that they’ll shock me and included Shadows on Your Side in at least some of the setlists for the North American tour beginning later this month.
There is one thing that I’d like to comment on here, because I’ve seen it mentioned over and over again, both by members of the band as well as some fans that must truly believe the rest of the world just is not as “enlightened”. This is the one blog I’d love for the band to read…and believe. As far as I’m aware, the “diehard” Duranie fan base can be found worldwide. *deep breath here* The UK hasn’t completely cornered that diehard market though, and while I realize this is difficult to believe – trust me when I break the news – the rest of us are as sick of Hungry Like the Wolf as you are when you play it. The hits are great, don’t get me wrong, but guess what? You’ve earned the right to play the rest of your catalog, boys. You’ve EARNED the right to tell us all to go to hell, and play what you’d like. I feel fairly confident when I say that chances are, we’d still come to shows. The hits made you financially capable of continuing on for 30 some odd years now, but the rest of your music is what has kept the “diehards” around. I should know. I’m one of the many. We’ve often joked about offering sacrifices to the Duranie “gods” in order to hear some of the more obscure “Duranmusic”. Your US fans, for instance – yeah sure we all love Save a Prayer and Rio, but there are so many other great songs in your back catalog – and you’ve got a FANTASTIC new album that deserves to be played. You have worked very, very hard for this moment, and I just don’t understand why you wouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity. Yes, I know that fans will miss the “hits”, the casual concert goer will miss the “hits”, but on that note – isn’t this the time to sell the fact that you’re still writing great new music? Sell that new album by playing our faces off, play those old obscurities and shock the audience for a change. Those of us who have stuck by you, of which there are many, will be thrilled. Most importantly, don’t sell yourselves short by sticking to those old-standbys!
-R
Amen, Rhonda!
I read the setlists from the UK rehearsals and had chills of excitement course down my spine. What fantastic songs they are playing! I'm not sure how anyone can complain about the offerings. From sexy Secret Oktober to the heartfelt Hold Back the Rain, there really isn't a clunker out there.
And truly, the time has come for this. It appears MOST of the current fan base resembles myself, a 39-year-old lifelong fan. If I want to hear Rio, I can go to Home Depot (where I heard it playing on Saturday.) Bravo to the band!
totally get where you are coming from, but I am going to have to disagree with your POV on this one.
While I agree that having had the hits 30+ years ago, should, in theory, allow the band to do whatever they want to at this point in terms of their concerts, I think the reality is a lot different if they want to keep on touring and playing to live audiences.
There is definitely a diehard fan base that will go to any and all shows, and is perfectly content to hear whatever the band chooses to play. But I also think a lot of the people who are going to shows now –and I'm not talking about a rehearsal show that was only for a couple of hundred — are people who loved their music in the 80s but for whatever reason, didn't get to see them in the heyday or didn't follow them in the later years. I know when I bought concert tickets circa 25 years ago, it was a big expense mainly because I was still in HS! And I certainly wouldn't have had the cash to travel to see a show, assuming my parents would have even let me!
But now many of those same people are in their 30s and 40s, have better incomes than just a part-time after school job, and perhaps can better afford to see a show or two or three, maybe even traveling to go to one. I think if Duran weren't to play at least some of their biggest hits that this group of people would expect to hear, then they run the risk of alienating a good portion of the those who would pay to attend a show in this day and age.
I think if ticket buyers knew ahead of time that what they would be hearing is new and/or obscure material and not the hits, then a good many might not choose to attend at all. Sad but true. Is the band willing to run the risk of playing an already smaller venue and not filling it by not including at least some greatest hits along with the new songs in their sets? I'm not sure they can afford to run that risk. I know the last two tours local to me did not sell out, and I know that the last show I saw this past April still had seats available the day of the concert (though the show appeared to be a full house the night of).
Having observed the audience at the show I attended in the spring, you could see the difference in crowd reaction when they played new stuff versus some of their hits. While the crowd was definitely receptive and clearly enjoyed the new stuff, it was nothing compared to the reaction when the hits were played. It was as if someone had suddenly thrown a switch because the difference in crowd energy was that noticeable.
I think the whole key to selling out venues and to have a successful show and to is getting just the right blend of new and old so that both groups of people are happy. Even if that means sucking it up and playing HLTW (and listening to it whether we like it or not) for the millionth time alongside the new tunes.
-Susan-
I'll offer up a different perspective too. I adore that they are playing rarities and fresh, new stuff. Brilliant. I would love to hear these too.
But just imagine you are a fan in a country that seldome get a tour, let alone things like rehearsals show, Broadway runs or Meet and Greets. I don't mean a show every 3 years….I mean hand on heart somewhere that never gets shows. The crowds at those shows aren't sick of hearing HLTW or Rio. But sure, if you live somewhere where the band tour every 18 months and you get to 3-4 shows, of course you want variety.
As Susan said above, it's getting the blend right.
There's fans in places that have stuck by the band – in fact been fans since pre-US mania kicked off in 1983/4 – but would desperately love to hear HLTW.
I was really amused a couple of years ago when the band kicked off a tour in NZ/Aussie and US/UK fans complained (mainly on DDM) about the setlists that part of the world got – yet the fans Downunder were really happy!
I agree and disagree. As one of those self confessed “die-hard Duranies” I'm in complete agreement that I personally would LOVE to hear nothing but the obscure/new stuff. However, I do realize that this still isn't practical for a typical tour setting. Yes, the die-hards are everywhere and we will go see them even if they said they were doing nothing but reciting past archives of Simon's Reader, but like others pointed out, we don't fill the venues. The casual fans do, they make the bottom line. If the band wants to fill a venue with several thousand people, they need to play the hits. That said, I think that if anything, these gigs have shown that there is room for the band to do small intimate shows, “fan shows” if you will, more often. A small 10 city tour of the U.S, similar to what was done here in April. The current U.S. tour – with arenas averaging around 4,000-5,000 seats each (that's a guess based on the 3 shows I'm attending), will probably have the hits back in the setlist. I'm guessing there will be a smattering of new and BEGGING that the SATRT trifecta gets left in, but I'd be shocked if the bulk of the hits weren't back. Michduran
I don't completely disagree with what anyone is saying here – but I am saying that the setlist DOES have room to throw in a couple oddities every now and then, and even room to play the new songs. I'm also saying that other bands do it and survive. So do their fans, casual and otherwise – and these are bands that have a much larger fan base than Duran Duran has. I don't agree that the casual fan needs to hear ALL of the songs that have been in the setlist for the past 30 years. It doesn't even make good sense not to play the new songs and rely on the hits – there are very good reasons why the band is continually billed as a nostalgia act, and those songs: Rio, GOF, HLTW, SAP are among them. I'm not saying never play them – I'm saying stop RELYING on them to fill the setlist.
As far as other countries go – I live in the US, and as such, the blog is written from that perspective. I think it's completely different when you're talking about other countries that don't have them tour as often. I don't disagree with what you're saying at all, except to say that's just not my experience. I don't mean to sound dismissive, I'm just being honest and admitting that you are right.
I would totally agree with Michduran and say that there is definitely a need for intimate fan shows. No, they couldn't fill a 3,000 seat venue – especially at the prices they seem to enjoy charging – but smaller gigs would work, and then they'd have the perfect opportunity to play the songs that don't get the play that they deserve.
Ultimately, I would be shocked if the bulk of the hits don't get put back into the setlist. That doesn't mean it's not worth my time to point out the alternatives. -R
How about we campaign for them to do a series of smaller venue 'album' shows, like other bands have been doing? What would you pay to hear them play Duran Duran & Rio straight through in one gig?! I think that would attract the die-hards AND the casual fans. I went to see ABC play The Lexicon of Love at the Royal Albert Hall with full orchestra, & it was one of the best non-Duran gigs I've ever been to.
Now that's a brilliant idea, Bryony!
I really should be slapped for even suggesting they do a fan show again – the last one they did in the US was 2007 in NYC, and I dare to suggest that it was not one of their finer moments. Or mine, for that matter.
It'd just be nice to hear them play some of the stuff they never get a chance to play. I realize it's an “out there” concept and that I'm just dreaming in print here, but you never know…. – R
On one hand, I would LOVE for them to play the rarities more often. But I live in the US, and I've been lucky enough to be able to see them often when they tour, so I've had my fill of Hungry Like the Wolf and Save a Prayer.
On the other hand, I understand the band's feeling that they must play the hits for the people in the audience who are not like me. And I absolutely agree that if they're touring in a country that they rarely visit, the hits catalog is definitely the place they should draw their set list from.
I love Bryony's idea that they should do mini tours to perform full albums. A lot of bands seem to be doing that lately. I think there's also something to be said for dusting off the old stuff as a means of creative inspiration. Playing music you haven't thought about for awhile forces you to pay attention to what you're doing, and sometimes that's where new ideas come from.
Another thing that always fascinates me is the universal disappointment with the NY fan show. I think these “rehearsal” gigs are exactly what we were expecting out of that show and didn't get. Maybe they finally figured that out, and since these shows were so successful they'll do that more often.
Ah, the NY fan show…perhaps we should blog about why that was so disappointing for those fortunate people who weren't there!
-A
I know I am late for this one, but I had to put in another point of view. As a long time fan, I agree that the more rare songs are fun (I have been waiting for years to hear Lonely In Your Nightmare live), but I have to put in a word about the younger fans. My 11 year old daughter is a huge Duran fan. I took her to her first concert when the guys were in Atlanta this April, and we had a great time dancing to HLTW, Rio, and other standards (plus all the new AYNIN songs). It was all new to her! I wonder how many second generation fans are out there?
You make good points Heather, but don't you think your daughter would have just as much fun dancing to the other songs? My point being of course that I think their other music – the music that weren't singles (which is naturally a huge percentage of their catalog) is just as worthy, and in a lot of cases, the songs that weren't singles are even better than those that were chart-ready. The hits are great, absolutely – I know my own daughter loved seeing them all when I took her, too so I know what you mean. (My daughter also thinks I'm insane…but that's neither here nor there. Right??)
I still have to stick by the fact that other artists who don't tour nearly as often have no problem playing other things besides the hits. Maybe not at EVERY show, but certainly at enough to keep it interesting for everyone. Why can't DD?
-R