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I've been in a phase for a while now where I am constantly analyzing bands' song choices when they perform live. I'm always trying to work out why they might have chosen a certain song (particularly if I don't care for it as much), why they put things in the precise order in which they did, etc. I'm, like, addicted to doing this! Often, the first words out of my mouth after Dwayne and I watch a band have to do with my thoughts on the set list.
Last night, we saw Panic At the Disco for the second time. I never did write much about the first time we saw them two or so years ago. That was during their much-publicized-arena tour where they had burlesque dancers as a big part of their show. It got rave reviews, but honestly, it left me a little cold. None of the hype was about the musicians or the songs really; it was about the presentation. And, quite honestly, it felt contrived. (Plus, we had terrible seats and Dwayne was in kind of a bad mood about it all, so it wasn't a great concert experience.)
This time was better. Now, I'm not a huge Panic fan. The only reason I've seen them twice is because both times (!) the tickets were more or less free. I did buy the new CD several weeks ago so Dwayne and I could listen before going to the show. We've decided that many of the individual songs are pretty good (Dwayne likes them better than I do), but that the CD played straight through is NOT good. It gives me that hyperbolic makes-me-want-to-kill-myself feeling, but not in a Death Cab-"Transatlanticism"-pit-of-despair way. It's more that it's just so FUCKING BORING.
Anywho. I didn't have high expectations, but I thought they put on a good show this time. No distracting dancers, no gimmicks (although there were some lovely bubbles floating through the air for a couple of songs), and they played every song I wanted to hear. Truly, the set list was VERY NEARLY perfect. They did an amazing mix of their old and new songs, subtly changed up the feel of some of the old songs to better match their new sound, and were charming enough to make me laugh and smile a lot.
(For the record, the only reason the set list wasn't perfect is because the third encore song -- which was the final one in the set -- was too boring. They worked those bubble machines near the end for a nice dramatic finish, which almost saved it. But I think a different song would have been better still.)
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