86 replies to this topic

[Belisha Beacon]

It's hard to say what the band will never play because they do change their minds. Even with 14 albums, they like to vary their sets and there's a finite nubmer of songs for them to play. If they weren't interested in playing unusual old songs there's no way Leave, Ignoreland and Let Me In would have found their way in/back in to setlists over the last few years despite not being the most obvious choices to be played.

In 2003 on a live DVD of a North American show I have somewhere, JMS swore they would never play Kohoutek or Wendell Gee again so people should save their time requesting them through the website, as you could at that time (he said they were good songs but not for a live setting). In 2007 in Dublin, Kohoutek was played- so nothing's impossible.

[Hampster]

Been to see them a dozen times but iv yet to hear King Of Birds i would die a happy man if only i could hear that song live. Does anybody no the last time they played it?

[dangermouse]

I may be exposing my lack of knowledge, but the OP mentioned Catapult as a song they'll never play live - is there some history I don't know of?  I think it's a great song, and features on their earlier gigs and works great live - I'd love to experience it live on current or new tours.

King of Birds would indeed also be a good song to hear on stage.  A small part of me also would love to see JMS doing Moon River - it seems an old (maybe really old) favourite which on the first listens I didn't really like, but over time I've grown to really like it and keep going back to listen to for a pick-me-up.  Maybe I'm just a bit strange on that count :o

[klock]

dangermouse said:

I may be exposing my lack of knowledge, but the OP mentioned Catapult as a song they'll never play live - is there some history I don't know of?  I think it's a great song, and features on their earlier gigs and works great live - I'd love to experience it live on current or new tours.

King of Birds would indeed also be a good song to hear on stage.  A small part of me also would love to see JMS doing Moon River - it seems an old (maybe really old) favourite which on the first listens I didn't really like, but over time I've grown to really like it and keep going back to listen to for a pick-me-up.  Maybe I'm just a bit strange on that count :o

I don't know for sure but I think it was in the current issue of Mojo Magazine that one of the members of REM said they had to play Catapult so many times in the studio that they grew tired of it and don't want to play it anymore. I don't have the magazine with me right now but when I have it I'll fact check that.

[philanders tie]

submarine soundchecked in copenhagen according to roaddogg

[Silvy]

philanders tie said:

submarine soundchecked in copenhagen according to roaddogg

:eek::eek:
Wow!
What a great news!!!!

[JackieG]

I feel like I've heard all the great songs in the few (7 ) gigs I've been to between 1984 and 2008.
Sometimes I do inwardly groan when a song comes up that I think is boring for a gig (but great on the album) Usually this is a case of playing something just cos its on the new album rather than it being great in a live gig. I also think they over play Man on the Moon.
My faves to hear at any time would be Get Up, Wake Up Bomb, Life and How to Live It, Driver 8.......and Toys in the Attic and Funtime as encores. *Sigh*

[nisse_]

Catapult's bassline is so great, and it's very catchy too! I hope they'll resurrect 9-9, Stumble, Just a touch, We Walk, Hyena and Binky The Doormat!

[stipeeyes]

Aelica said:

I have hear "So. Central Rain" in Milan in 1995, such a great song! And I've been so lucky to hear "Country Feedback", which is my R.E.M. absolute favourite song!, every time I've seen them!

I know they play "Nightswimming", I'd like so much to hear it live. And also "Hope", "Walk", "Shaking Through", "Be mine"... :)

I heard Time after Time and Nightswimming in Atlanta and So Central Rain in Jones Beach this tour.  So sometimes they are putting those in the set.  


Songs I doubt I'll hear live that I have been wanting to hear live for a long time are Low, Bittersweet Me, Kohoutek, and Feeling Gravity's Pull(they played that maybe once this tour?)

[RamblingRob]

Would love to hear Fretless, Beat a Drum, and Good Advices...  Maybe some day :)

[RamblingRob]

stipeeyes said:

I heard Time after Time and Nightswimming in Atlanta and So Central Rain in Jones Beach this tour.  So sometimes they are putting those in the set.  


Songs I doubt I'll hear live that I have been wanting to hear live for a long time are Low, Bittersweet Me, Kohoutek, and Feeling Gravity's Pull(they played that maybe once this tour?)

They played FGP in Denver and it was a bit underwhelming IMO.  Great to to hear though.

I've heard three Gardening at Nights since 2003.  That's pretty cool.  This is a great tune live.

[Naug]

What a cool website, this remchronicle...

[Queen of Comedy]

The IMPOSSIBLE song is SIDEWINDER :(, I'd die to hear it live!
Other to impossible songs :( are Can't Get The From Here and Wendell Gee

There are too many MASTERIPECES played during the Up tour that are still unplayed: How The West Was Won, Crush with eyeliner, Tongue, Pop Song 89 (OK it has been played ONCE this year...come on R.E.M., there are 2 Italian dates remaining to play it again :rolleyes:) and the MASTERPIECE LOTUS and Hope, of course :rolleyes:.

There are so many from Murmur I wish to hear: Talk About The Passion, Perfect Circle, We Walk, 9-9...

I'd die to hear Submarine and Gardening at Night too...and of course Sidewinder, Lotus, Can't Get The From Here and Wendell Gee:rolleyes:...

And songs like Low, Star Me Kitten, World Leader Pretend, Suspicion, Middle Distance and Weatherman would be wonderful surprises too.

OK, I've had the big luck to hear Kohoutek, Feeling Gravitys Pull, Carnival of Sorts, 1000000 (trice :eek:), Wolver Lower (twice), Star 69, Strange Currencies, Superman, Maps and Legends, New Test Leper, Pilgrimage, West of the Fields, Sitting Still, Turn you inside-out, Middle Distance (Dublin's demo), On The Fly, Rockville, Harborcoat, Auctioneer, Disguised (Supernatural's Dublin demo), 7 Chinese Bros,...but please, R.E.M. let me dream again :D!!!

[paper weight]

Any song is good for me, since I have never seen them live BUT the real treats for me, of the lesser played songs would be:

Wolves, lower
Strange Currencies
Leave
E-Bow the letter
Perfect circle
Wendell Gee

But I would trade all of those for Country Feedback. Just the way I feel :p

Thsnks to the person who posted the link to REM Chronicle, pretty nifty site.

[klock]

Thanks for the remchronicle link! It's very helpful.

[Silvy]

In the end they didn'y play Submarine the other night...:(

Yesterday I was listening to UP and yes..... every song from this album would be very apprecieted... I didn't remember how beautiful UP is...

[Jorn]

Having missed the Monster Tour I would like to hear some NAIHIFI songs played on that tour, especially Undertow and Binky The Doormat, but Be Mine or New Test Leper would be excellent too.

Maybe an idea for the Oberhausen show ?? ;)

[dangermouse]

We Walk would be another on my list I think - great song and lots of opportunity for audience participation.  Maybe e-Bow would also be up there.

[Wichita_Lineman]

The Wichita Lineman sadly (love that song)