well spurred on by the guy who wrote the "open letter to tom and ed" im gonna throw this out there.....as songs suggested here, have popped up the odd time in sets, and as im sure tom and ed are busy rehearsing the up coming tour over the next few weeks in between shows, it might be nice to show a little insight into what gems of chemical goodness the good old fans might like to see!

to be clear though, lets keep this to some songs, samples, beats you'd like, not whole setlists!

morning lemon dropping in the ptb tour was pretty good, but a tune i would love to hear dropped in is Let me in mate, one of my all time favs of the breakbeat era of chems stuff. i also always loved the visuals that were used with music:response in the old tours......the addition of the "chemicals good/bad" sample at the roundhouse aslo rocked!

well thats my bit!

Flashback brings the sinister crazy. I wouldn't complain if a snippet of that were weaved back into their set sometime in the future!

As for visuals. Hmmm. It's all so wonderful in a retina-melting kind of way. One visual aspect of their show when I saw them for Push The Button was this bright orange light that came from the stage that bathed the entire tent during the Golden Path. Maybe experiencing that in an enclosed space had more of an impact than if I'd seen it out in the open. It was really something, though.

I like the setlist how it is!

I was kind of listening to the encore of the Luxembourg set, and I thought to myself 'Hmm.....TPPR, TSU, but I wonder when is the next closer the Chems are going to choose in the near future. It can't be these two all of the time.

Then I thought of Superfash! It does have those nasty build-ups to sap the last of the crowds energy. Besides, It closes the show with a bigger bang with the fans salivating for more.

I know, I know, It's still early, but it's my dream! Maybe it's because i'm still not bored with it!

Well, first off... they played Morning Lemon in 2005? Or was it just an interlude?
Anyway... I'm sure you all know by now what my #1 request for a setlist addition is, but that ain't happening in the few days we have left until they start the tour back up, so some other stuff:

Now, I may take some flak for this, but I don't think Galvanize makes the best opener. Yes, it has a kind of early-set vibe and it gets the crowd going, but it just doesn't do it for me as the very first thing they play. It's not one of those tracks that really rises out of the ether and "transports" you into their show, and as such I feel like it kind of gets forgotten about once one of the following tracks does take you there. For an already-tested alternative, I'd open it up with Come With Us, and then go into Galvanize, as seen here. Come With Us, to me, not only has that "immersive" quality to it, but is in fact the best in their entire catalogue at it. I mean, honestly, "leave your earth behind"? Harder to get a show as otherworldly as a Chems show off to a better start than that. Better yet, it makes the performance of Galvanize that follows something to appreciate, because it's not the opener, but hey, they're playing Galvanize! One of their biggest hits! Also, they wouldn't really need to sit down and set up a whole new visual arrangement for it - they've already got the LED screen visuals for Come With Us, at least, geared up to go.
Visuals-wise, I'd like it if they could get a little more use out of the "Stargate". Now, admittedly, having one mass of LEDs shining in front of another can be pretty distracting, which is why any song they've used the Stargate for pretty much had to have its regular visuals gutted to prevent clutter. This has worked out pretty much fine so far, because they've mostly done it with track where this wasn't much of a problem (Star Guitar just had colored lines to begin with, so they could put them on both the screen and the Stargate to compliment each other, Hoops only used it after the regular visuals were over and they kept the theme of the visuals, and Block Rockin' Beats didn't really have any visuals to begin with). But, if my above suggestion were to be taken up, they couldn't exactly use Galvanize as their big flashy intro for the device, and they'd have to use the old visuals. Which is why I would suggest using it in conjunction with the visuals during Come With Us (should they go with it), and turn things over to the Stargate once the giant light-head thingy explodes into white dots. Also, while Don't Think has been a showcase for the back-lighting, there are still periods where it seemed a tad... repetitive. I think it could go for some Stargate action too.
I'd like it if they could bring some of the EBW6 elements that were missing back into their "live re-rub" of Hoops. Particularly this part. I love having Hoops back, but it sounds like they changed the key of the underlying bassline, so the track needs something to establish its key and associated "Hoopsiness". I think that acid line would be the best thing for it.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The new live show is perfection and needs absolutely no changes whatsoever. One-or-two-off switchups would be welcome though, like Nude Night or MMC in the last tour. I'd love to see Marvo Ging played live just once.

I could also well live without Galvanize, DIA and GYH... as mentioned earlier, Buzz Tracks live would be awesome (at least for me, I know it's just one of their B-sides, not even the best one) but also few things I've never heard live, H.I.A. would be great but also Her Jazz (one of their great lost ones imo). Let Me In Mate would indeed be nice also. Also Where Do I Begin... probably as a new opener. On a Sunday gig

I will have to agree with inchem and WhiteNoise that their set is great as is. Aside from adding the odd thing or tidbit here and there - If push came to shove I can't really think of changing anything, or omitting anything... based on what I know and have seen on youtube already (For the record and for what it's worth, in the interest of keeping some elements of surprise, I've gone on a listening and youtube hiatus until after I see them at Coachella)

That said I suppose I can see why Galvanize has worn out its welcome with some of the people here, but I can't say right now if I agree with that viewpoint. I am wondering if part of the reason why people here are feeling this way is a personal thing: because they are bored with that song being in their set? Or maybe they think the song sucks (gasp!!) Or after scouring youtube and listening to bootlegs or attending multiple shows, etc for the past several years Galvanize has lost its luster? Or if it's just that Galvanize isn't the call to arms it once was as a set opener in 2005? I'm not trying to argue, just trying to understand a different perspective is all. Champi brings up an interesting point about Galvanize being the "hey they are playing that song, it's a big hit!" aspect - and I wonder if that's probably why it's still a staple in their set. The Chems are making the festival rounds big time this year so playing the hits, or having the instantly recognizable hook at the beginning of the set, will reel in the casual fan as the Chems progress and really get deep into their set.

I don't know... It's late. I'm tired and I'm rambling.

Galvanize wasn't as powerful as it used to be in 2007. Less acid sound i guess.

Chemical Beats into swoon, in orther words big beat into pop song, isn't working for me. In my opinion, both tracks are really great but they can't be merge together.

saturate into believe is such an awesome time, but they have been playing these two songs for a long time now.

I would love to hear it began in africa, piku, where do I start where do I begin, the test, we are the night and more songs of further.

There are only three Further songs they aren't playing right now. Also, I think Chemical Beats into Swoon works fine. Swoon is like a palate cleanser for the darkness of Horse Power and Chemical Beats before it, so the next couple of songs don't linger under its shadow. And I think that Saturate and Believe are intrinsically tied.
I agree with you about The Test, though.

I've only seen them once live, in 2008, which is why I now hang around here. Whatever Tom and Ed want to deliver, I am sure I will love. While I have some favorites, I can't think of any song I wouldn't want to hear. And whether the transitions are smooth and beautiful, or sudden and soul shattering, it's all part of the journey.

Champiness, on 02 February 2011 - 08:59 PM, said:

But this album is so awesome!

Flashback would be amazing too!

This is my cynical reply: What would I like in the 2011 setlist? The setlist performed in the UK under a format called A TOUR!!!!!! come on boys pull your finger out!

My serious answer though is

Open with Come With Us
And throw in Flashback, 3 Little Birdies ( not snippets, a lot), Under The Influence and a bit of Morning Lemon anyone.

C'mon, stop telling the brothers what to do. We're starting to sound a little spoiled here. Read the first post, this is for songs and samples you'd like to hear live, not "What is wrong with the new tour and how should Tom and Ed change it based on the opinions of people who haven't actually seen it yet."

I'm just trying to keep the thread healthy. Don't want this to happen all over again.

And the same encore, it was mindblowing...

Well, being the open letter guy, I obviously am going to say The Sunshine Underground. I'm starting to get the feeling that its an encore song and that most everyone, myself not included, would rather hear TPPR instead. While I don't disagree with TPPR as the closer, getting a chance to hear the part of TSU where the build up explodes into that crystal clear flying sequence, in person, would make my decade.

bodonnell, on 03 February 2011 - 03:04 PM, said:

Actually, it hasn't always been an encore song. Only during the 07/08 tours and the few times they had an encore last year has it been one. From 1999-2002 it was a midset treat much like it is in Surrender.

So if they did drop TSU, it would probably be in the place of Escape Velocity. I'd like to point out how awesome Super Flash would sound coming out of the end of The Sunshine Underground. It's unlikely they'll do this though, and I'm sure they're not about to replace TPPR after its long absence. But I speak for many members of the board when I say that you'll have a blast when you hear The Reel live in person. Don't worry, you'll have fun no matter what.

The only part that could be changed is Galvanize into Do It Again/Get Yourself High not brecause it's bad, just because it's too much like WATN Tour (but without Burst Generator). Come With Us could effectively be an awesome opener.

Also full Three Little Birdies Down Beats bewteen Star Guitar and Hey Boy Hey Girl would be great too !

But come on guys, there will always be tracks we wish they had played live ! They just brought the Reel back and now some want The Sunshine Underground back...I'm sure if They brought TSU back, it would replace Surface To Air or The Private Psychedelic Reel and some would cry because of that... Same thing if they played The Test, it would replace another track for sure. They changed a lot of things since last year and it's fair enough like that. Both the new setlist and visuals were original, we don't have any reason to complain, Galvanize/DIA/GYH was fore sure too WATN tour-ish but it doesn't prevent the show from being brilliant.

The good thing with the Chems is that they still are awesome when they play live. Of course there will always be tracks we wish they had played but hey it's not like they look like an old band which lost all its energy and is touring just for the money ! They are still providing some monster tunes and are still happy to play the shows they put a lot of effort into.
Honestly who was expecting the "You are all my children now" sample to be reworked ? And with new visuals !

So my wish for 2011 is...KEEP SUPRISING US ! Do things no one here would expect you to do, and it will necessarily turn out great.

The bloke off the internet, on 04 February 2011 - 07:39 AM, said:

Absolutely ... I'll drink to that!

Here is my straightforward requests (although I almost certainly will not make any shows until after I graduate in May).

The song that absolutely needs to stay:
Believe - It is just amazing. My favorite track from PTB turned up to 11. So powerful. I would also suggest that Don't Think and TPPR be left as is, because they are also great chemicals.

Vocal Addition:
Asleep From Day - I'm not sure how they would add this, but I think it would work nicely either with a more downtempo moment, or maybe for the pre-opener? (I love Tomorrow Never Knows, so maybe not the latter.)

Song Addition:
Dust Up Beats - I have this great, old recording of Dust Up Beats. It begins with some really ominous/trippy sounds and reverbed "Brothers going to work it out," and then it goes off! So, this or Flashback - their both wicked great, yet rarely represented in their live shows.

Album that needs more representation:
Come With Us - Star Guitar is the only song that has been representing this album for far too long. Well, Hoops/EBW6 shows up too. But it would be great if IBIA, CWU, or My Elastic Eye could be added.

PS. I just wanted to throw out that I'm actually a great fan of the current tracklist to their 2011 live shows. Probably my favorite since 2007. So, don't accuse me of complaining or anything