Active Band Man Chats - how to decide the set list-

The theme this time is "The live show set list"!

Song order, right?

Yeah, how do you decide?

At a club, it is common to give the song order table to the PA staff and lighting staff before the sound check.

That's normal. I decide the set list by the day before. It shows awareness of the purpose of the event and the battle of the band.

Yes.

Speaking of commitment, I think it's about including new songs as much as possible.

New songs.

Yup. This is not necessarily a must!

As much as possible.

Now, "Koi wa Bara Bara ★ Stardust" (Rolly-produced song). After all, we have the most confidence in the newest songs.

But every band has a song that you can't leave out. For me (National), it's "Swim", and for Limelight, "Flower of Hope" is almost always performed.

It's a ending song.

Yes. I think there are many bands that have a fixed song to bring a show to an end.

That's right. So what's the first song?

It often starts with an up-tempo tune. Are you particular about anything?

Well, it needs to be a song that you can sing without thinking! I want to sing the first song while watching the facial expressions of the audience as much as possible.

I see. If you’re on following another band, the first song may change the tone and atmosphere of the band just before.

Yes, yes.

If the previous band ended with an up-tempo feel, it may be better to try starting at a middle tempo.

Ah, it's also possible to ride on the upper momentum and start with vigor...?

Of course, that’s also possible, and you need to be flexible. What else...? When I play a cover song, I dare to bring it in as the first song sometimes.

Oh, that's bold!

It's fresh for regular customers, and when the cover song is over, you can return to the usual flow.

I see. Speaking of cover songs, The Captains is a Group Sounds band, so when we are called to a local festival, we start with a famous Group Sounds cover song for the first song. Elderly people will be happy too.

That’s grabbing them, isn't it?

Yeah, get their interest first. By the way, do you ever change the song according to the audience?

There are times. When there are many new customers, I usually select our best song. When there are many regulars, I make a slightly twisted song selection.

I understand. Do you ever try to match the genre?

Sometimes we go with the genre of the band that we are following. I'm a little conscious of it, but sometimes I go to match the band and it fails miserably, and sometimes we fail miserably without trying to match the previous band (laughs).

It requires experience and an understanding of the place, or rather the power to read the atmosphere. The important thing is that even if you fail, don't let is show!

(Laughs) Also, when there are many new customers, I play evenly from the CDs that we brought that day.

That's important! When a customer asks, "Which CD includes the previous song…?"

It would be a waste if you weren’t selling it that day.

Yup. Sometimes the CD is out of print…. Also, the order of the songs may change due to the particulars or the equipment. In my case, depending on the song, it may be a handheld microphone or a guitar vocal.

I agree.

So, if you switch with each song, the flow will be poor, so the theory is to play a few songs with a handheld microphone in a row and a few songs with a guitar in a row.

That’s a smoother flow.

Yes, so let’s end it here today. Everyone who aspires to be a musician, please come up with your set list in time! Yes, and everything?

Is for love.