Feature / One Question Interviews
Paul Needza Friend

Words: Loren • May 15, 2014

Paul Needza Friend
Paul Needza Friend

Paul Needza Friend

SPB: What do you think of band’s playing a record in its entirety for a tour concept?

Paul: I suppose that depends on the integrity of the album in question. If there's only a couple choice tracks on the latest record, then maybe the band should consider performing their "Best Of..." album, if they even have one :P Then again, aren't most concerts really just a "Best Of..." album played live with the track order shuffled and maybe one or two bonus cuts from the latest record?

Which also primes one to take into consideration whether or not the order of songs on a given record would translate properly in a live situation. I would think that concept albums or "rock operas" might fare a bit better in such cases, since from their inception the songs were written to be played in a specific order.

Most new bands only have one album's worth of material anyway, so they wouldn't really have a choice but to play that only album in its entirety when they are on tour. Normally, the order of the songs must be changed to suit a live situation anyway. Not only is producing an album and playing live two completely different art forms, but I know from having toured all throughout Europe and North America, that you need to be able to tailor your set list to the audience on the fly in order to invoke the optimal enthusiasm from the crowd. 

Although, there are certain predictable patterns that apply to almost any crowd, one should be on one's toes. When I first started touring, I made the mistake of trying to perfect a set list and then play it the same way every night. Consequently, some nights I would blow the crowd away, and other nights I heard crickets. It didn't matter how well I sang. That's because the "one size fits all" (or one setlist fits all) approach doesn't pay off in the long run. It wasn't until I figured out how to tailor my setlist and performance to any given night's specific audience that I started being able to ignite audiences with reliable and predictable consistency.

I suppose if I were to do the kind of tour you are asking about, it would have to be a concept record with some sense of theatre involved.

 

Loren • May 15, 2014

Paul Needza Friend
Paul Needza Friend

Related features

Cheap Fix

One Question Interviews • July 14, 2025

Cheap Fix SPB: What’s the most MacGyver-esque workaround you’ve made to connect different bits of equipment? Chad Nichols (guitar/vocals): You'd think with a name like Cheap Fix, we'd be all over this question. But I'm the least handy of the band members, so I've got next to nothing. All my … Read more

Mike Huguenor

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • July 8, 2025

Mike Huguenor Tell us about the primary guitars you used making Surfing the Web with the Alien? Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

Music • July 6, 2025

We're halfway through the year: when did that happen?! Luckily for you, SPB is on hand to share the music we've enjoyed most in 2025 thus far. Read on to hear about the records that have made our top list for this year as it stands, and also some bonus … Read more

Shane Herrell: A Tribute

Music • July 6, 2025

Shane Herrell: Rest In Power(pop) (1980-2025) The Rocker I try to live my life with as few regrets as possible. Sadly I never got the chance to hear my friend Shane Herrell karaoke Thin Lizzy’s "The Rocker." As a singing bass player we don’t have enough heroes. It might just … Read more

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more

Related news

More from this section

Cheap Fix

One Question Interviews • July 14, 2025

Cheap Fix SPB: What’s the most MacGyver-esque workaround you’ve made to connect different bits of equipment? Chad Nichols (guitar/vocals): You'd think with a name like Cheap Fix, we'd be all over this question. But I'm the least handy of the band members, so I've got next to nothing. All my … Read more

Mike Huguenor

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • July 8, 2025

Mike Huguenor Tell us about the primary guitars you used making Surfing the Web with the Alien? Read more

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more