MaryJanes2ndLastDance

If you can, Dollardime, find a copy of the Don't Come Around Here No More from the Echo tour, they play a great intro Oh yeah, Mary Janes from 02 was phenomenal. I'm glad they extended Shadow People and that you were able to experience it live! I thought maybe they'd have stretched out the bridge to Forgotten Man but I guess not. Somewhere on the forum is a youtube clip of One Story Town with a sweet drum break with Stan and percussionist Phil Jones. cheers

Ha ha ha, I wonder if anyone else is even reading these. Yes, I understood your point. I was emphasizing that if they had done so, the shows would be vastly improved. Even if the set was completely static, varying what songs they improvise on would be a huge improvement. "This show had the somewhat longer American Girl and the epic Zombie Zoo." Or whichever. The 10 minute It Ain't Nothin' To Me! The best, of course, would be a different set every night, with a flexibility as to what songs are jammed on, etc. And hey! Does anyone else have an opinion on Let Me Up? cheers

That's awesome and sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing. Ha ha ha about converting them. What tpath songs do you play? cheers

Are you referring to how the jam always built to the same climax? Prior to that, I'm assuming the soloing was different from night to night. Sure it would've been more interesting if they didn't always build to that moment but I'm fine with it. Perhaps Melinda had more of an organic feel because of Benmont, though even that builds to a certain part before the song continues on. cheers

Not that they don't enjoy playing hits or faster numbers, but my impression is they most enjoy playing songs with a good midtempo groove, like Two Men Talking, or Tweeter. I wonder what a show would look like if they simply played only what they wanted to play and not what they expect the audience to hear? I guess it would be a lot of covers, which is a shame. Keeping to the positive, they do a great job with the midtempo numbers, especially when the rhythm keeps going and Mike and/or Ben solo.

Great! Playing music is so much fun, be it on your own or with others. Do you have a bunch of TPATH songs you run through? You play in a band? cheers

The 2013 tour and past ones, would've been much improved if they had taken your suggested approach Shelter; all right, it's the same set list as the night before, but any song could be potentially extended given their mood and the crowd response tonight! It sure would have been fun listening! cheers

Sure, I'd enjoy that approach. If not as great as doing that and mixing up the set night to night, it would definitely reinvigorate their concerts. Sure, they played everything in the same order but gave us the 7 minute Running Down A Dream shredding festival and the six minute Forgotten Man! I also picture a longer than 90 minute show. If that's what they were doing in 2013, I understand given their situation, but I was hoping they could at least do two hours. Ahh, it doesn't take long to return to the set list discussion, does it?

The more they improvise or jam in concert, the more variety within the standard set list.

I also think that Stan could've played on those records, could've done a good job with Wildflowers and so on. It's not like it was a series of non-stop dirges and while the songwriting did evolve, it's not like Tom started writing dissonant pieces. But there was more than musical differences. And here is the biggest irony, in my opinion, about the whole Stan situation. He didn't want to feel like he was in a covers band but most of a TPATH setlist is filled with songs that he played on. Had he stuck on through Wildflowers, only the Full Moon Fever hits would be where he hadn't been part of the album. The majority of the set are the classics from the 70s & 80s. To some degree, it's more of being in a covers band for Steve, than it would've been for Stan!

Nice!

I don't see it as a universal remedy, I just enjoy it, be it a song that has a pre-planned moment to jam in (It's Good To Be King) or if they come to the end of a song and Mike or Ben or someone spontaneously takes another solo. I enjoy long concerts, where there are many flavors being served up, so I definitely prefer more than one or two jam songs; it's about balance. I understand that some bands have songs they know are going to open up and explore in the live setting and that seems important to know ahead of time with six musicians on stage but I also, like you, enjoy when a band takes a song off the beaten path as it were. I also think just even a little variation in a song can do wonders, like the bridge in Even the Losers, sometimes Tom lets that part go on, it's not some giant jam like King, but it's still something different, it's saying we're not in a hurry to get this over with, to get to the last verse, let's enjoy this spot here. Same with the Waiting sometimes. So...I love the jamming, I could handle more, but not so much as to belabor every song, and also like when they offer up alternate takes. This has been discussed before, but I would like it if they switched up Learning To Fly, a hybrid of the original version and the sing-along-gospel-choir take on it. cheers

I'm curious to hear Stan's take.

I really enjoy when TPATH jam on a song, when they open the middle and let the instruments go wild for a while. I think they have a good balance between doing this and keeping fidelity with the album versions. Some of my favorites in random order: It's Good To Be King---perfect for a long road trip. The guitars intertwine perfectly, going from a blasting solo to a moody, spacey sequence. Driving Down to Georgia---Even though there's no album version for comparison, it can vary a bit in length, with the middle and the outro. A great song for both audience and band to have fun with! Saving Grace from 08----Ahh, this is fantastic! One of my favorite reworked songs, it elevates the entire tune from a Bo Diddley/John Lee Hooker mashup to a long, rocking jam. From MIke's slide intro to Steve's pummeling drums, this is the best version of the song by far. Mike's Surf Instrumental circa 95 & 99----Great opportunity for Mike to take the band in any direction he feels like it. Some inspired riffing on Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit and a variety of surf instrumentals. A lot of fun! Dog on the Run---a great 70s jam song, fantastic moment for Ron and Stan to shine. Melinda----Benmont! Two Men Talking---And what a conversation! Do you enjoy the same, or does the 12 minutes of It's Good To Be King have you wishing for a rebellion? What are some of your favorites?

I remember going up to a guy in a Hypnotic Eye concert t-shirt and asking what he thought of the new album. I think he barely listened to it and seemed indifferent. But that still is a good way to get people, especially the ones who are just there for the hits, exposure to the new record. cheers

That's understandable. I checked out the setlist, highlights for me would've been King, Something Good Coming and Good Enough. They should do a residency in Europe, especially if they are there for a festival.

I think it could've worked if Stan had stayed in the band. There's nothing that Tom wrote that he couldn't have handled. I understand the reasons given for his departure/firing. I just think it would've been interesting had he remained, to have that many original members with the band all these years. cheers

Do you enjoy moments like It's Good To Be King? Or the long Saving Grace? I think for the most part, TPATH do a good job between stretching songs out, reworking songs (acoustic Kings Highway or I Won't Back Down, etc.) and playing them pretty much as is, like with Free Fallin'. Too many extended songs become a slog, not enough and I could just stay home and listen to the album. cheers

Enough of the same old same old erratic subordinate clause; I think it's way past time you brought back the unattached participle clause...perhaps when you post a residency?

I'm curious to read what martin03345 has to say. cheers

That sounds interesting.

The album is the peak (or nadir) of the 80s style begun on Southern Accents while the off-the-cuff songwriting points the way towards Wildflowers down the road.

This "vibe" ruined Runaway Trains. There's a good song struggling to be heard under all the f/x. Had it been recorded on Wildflowers, or as you suggested, Mojo, I think it would be a much loved classic, at least by people who read this forum. That and Let Me Up would be great at a residency. Runaway Trains could have that extended moody jam like Shadow People or Tweeter & the Monkey Man, while Let Me Up could have its ending stretched out. cheers

I think it's one of the best rock songs they wrote from the Stan era. I thought it would've been performed on the Let Me Up tour but I guess not. cheers

I think I've convinced myself this album is better than I remember. When I just looked at your list of songs, I thought, I like most of 'em. Maybe it's just the order that drags this down, or maybe any combination of these particular songs; maybe they just don't flow the way great albums do.