What Would Be Your Perfect Set List?
Let me preface this entry by saying that I love, love, love country concerts. I do wish, however, that an artist would ask me for advice just once on making the perfect set list. I know these artists have to do their big hits -- the ones everybody is paying big bucks to hear. And I know they need to promote their newest album with songs they have on the radio now, or ones they might want on the radio later. And then there are the covers that give everybody a little something unorthodox to remember them by: "Oh my God! You should have heard Keith Urban on 'Material Girl.' He was better than Madonna!"
But what about all the non-singles on their albums that no one ever gets to hear live? It would be cool someday to hear a show full of those. I'd love to hear Brad Paisley do "I've Been Better," "Two Feet of Topsoil," "The Best Thing I Had Goin'" and "The Cigar Song." If Sugarland calls me for advice, here's what I'd want from them: "These Are the Days," "Genevieve," "Steve Earle" and "Very Last Country Song." And I wish Keith Urban would do a marathon concert so he could play his entire catalog. But in lieu of that, I'd love to hear him do "Raise the Barn," "Ghost in the Guitar," "Hank Don't Fail Me Now," "I Told You So," and "God Made Woman."
If Miranda Lambert wanted to know what I'd like to hear for a change, I'd tell her "Bring Me Down," "I Can't Be Bothered," "Greyhound Bound for Nowhere," "Desperation," "Guilty in Here" and "Easy From Now On." And Dierks Bentley? He hasn't listened to any of my ideas so far, but if he ever starts, expect him to rock an entire show with songs like "Last Call," "You Hold Me Together," "Better Believer," "Band of Brothers," "That Don't Make It Easy Loving Me," "The Heaven I'm Headed To," "Soon as You Can," "I Bought the Shoes" and "Whiskey Tears."
What would you add?
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Joe says:
George Strait- “You’re dancing this dance all wrong”
“You Haven’t Left Me Yet”
“It Ain’t Cool to be crazy about you”
smartmove says:
Where did you hear Keith Urban sing Material Girl? I hope it is on You Tube or recorded somewhere. This I would like to see and hear!!
Meg says:
Basically all songs by Lady Antebellum!
Ty says:
Any of Carrie Underwood’s songs. They are all very good–and the vocals are amazing.
Michelle R. says:
Alison, if Keith ever does that marathong concert, I will be sure to be there! I love his shows!
Osmond says:
Dixie Chicks: “Baby hold on” from TTLW
merlefan49 says:
All from Dale Watson
Justice for All
Nashville Rash
County My A$$
Legend’s what if
Blessed or Damned
From the cradle to the grave
rascalfan says:
everything fom Rascal Flatts including ” Close” from unstoppable
Allie says:
Love Letters- Miranda Lambert
Down On Easy Street- Dierks Bentley
Some Rowdy Women- Shooter Jennings
I’m Bringing Home Good News- The Hag
crazybaby says:
JASON ALDEAN…
Even If I Wanted To
Not Every Man Lives
Fast
Plus, slower songs played acoustically are always a pleasure for me.
Rachel says:
I agree with you Alison on Sugarland’s, especially “These Are the Days”. That’s my fave from Enjoy the Ride and they need to put it back in the show, even if it’s an older one.
Redmaz says:
My experience at a Dale Watson show…after being in the crowd for an hour talking to everyone, he walked up on stage, grabbed his guitar and asked “So what y’all wanna hear?” The fans started calling out songs, and he played them. Originals, or some cover tunes. It didn’t matter. No setlist at all.
MiaT says:
My husband did this for his favorite band the Bottle Rockets. Each night the band would play a a different person’s list with a “cover song”. It was a cool contest on the message board. My husband won a tshirt and got the setlist signed by the band !
merlefan49 says:
Dale doesn’t ever have set list
Dale says:
Where did you see Keith perform Material Girl? Never heard that one in all his concerts I have been at but will join you at his marathon concert to do all including songs from the Ranch!