A Perfect Circle toured all across the US (and occasionally Canada) this summer and from all reports it was a good, though somewhat controversial tour.
Much of the controversy revolved around the choice of setlist for the tour. The setlist changed from night to night, however played mainly songs from their last album eMotive. Many fans, not being such huge fans of this album, were disappointed that they didn’t get to hear more tracks from their favorite albums Mer De Noms and Thirteenth Step.
However those attending the shows generally seemed to enjoy the new additions to the set. According to Setlist.fm, the following tracks were played on the tour:
- Every show:
- Imagine
- People Are People
- Passive
- Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums
- Annihilation
- Weak and Powerless
- By And Down
- The Outsider
- 3 Libras (All Main Courses Mix)
- Played most shows:
- The Hollow
- When The Levee Breaks
- (What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?
- Gimme Gimme Gimme
- The Noose
- Fiddle And The Drum
- What’s Going One
- And a selection of these songs each night:
- Rose
- Magdalena
- Gravity
- The Package
- Orestes
- Blue
Personally, I was disappointed to read that the set was largely covers. Far be it for me to dictate to a band what they should and shouldn’t play, but I find it a little distasteful that a band I’d pay money to see play a set with so many cover songs in it. If I wanted to see a covers band I could go down to the local pub and see one for nothing. That said, I do wish I could have seen the tour for myself. It’s all too easy to judge a band on their setlist, not taking into account the atmosphere and dynamics of the show.
Speaking of which, from all reports the stage setup and lighting was excellent, with the band playing in front of a large metallic curtain with the APC logo on it. As usual, Junior seems to have done a fine job with the lighting.
One thing many found quite interesting about the shows was that a new song, By And Down was played. Normally the final song in the set, this moody song sounds more like a Thirteenth Step track than a Mer De Noms one, and there are plenty of bootlegs available on Youtube for those interested.
A reasonable number of you attended the shows as VIPs, and the reports from that experience were generally pretty positive. VIPs received an APC bag, a poster and possibly some other stuff, and also got the change to experience the sound check, as well as get some premium seats at the shows. There were a few hiccups here and there, but it seems as the though the VIP tickets offered good value for those that picked them up.
Some were even lucky enough to catch some of the band after the shows. By all accounts the band were quite happy to chat with fans (though Maynard generally was nowhere to be seen). Word is that there will be a new album, but don’t expect it any time soon. A certain member has other priorities in the coming months/years…
One of which of course is Puscifer. We’ve already been warned to expect a tour in October/November. On the Ashes Divide front, they are close to completing a new album, so I’d be expecting to hear that and a tour as well, probably early 2012.
