Of all the things we have gained from the age of the internet, one thing is resolutely lost for all al time. Our ability to surprised at rock concerts. In the immediate future I have concerts by Odd Future, Black Keys, Bruce Springsteen, and Red Hot Chili Peppers coming up and not only do I have an excellent idea of what the setlist is, I have on my Smart Phone, every single song song they will be playing in a playlist (at no real costs) and figure out to the last bridge of the last song when to leave the Arena before the rush.
Also, if I felt like pushing it, I can rebuild the concerts on Youtube and hear them and see the.
How accurate are the set lists? Very. Even those most willing to improvise band in the world will remain a standard 75%. How can't they? They have to push the album, play the hits, and throw in the deep cuts and they have remain somewhat constant. With all the will in the world, most bands are gonna do that.
So, look, when I go to see a concert nowadays, I'm in fighting trim. I know the vast majority of the material, I know how the concert is gonna play itself, and suck to surprises. There ain't none. It is just the same stuff everybody has seen from Seattle to DC, and just the same everywhere, and everybody knows it.
I even know if it is any good. MAYBE, back in the day, a Trans-Atlantic band might have had their English reviews read by the time they got here, but everybody else… who is reading the Philadelphia Inquirer in New York City? Everybody who wants to in 2012. So as I go forth, not only have I listened and watched the set, I have also read everybodies opinion about it.
Pity the poor rock band!
Wow, talk about consensus opinion, all these people knowing watcha doing before you do it. What a drag!!! And pity the poor reviewer, who, if he ever ever did have an original idea in his head has had it kicked out by every body else by the time he catches the concert, and writes: "No surprises here".