Tuesday, July 3, 2007

They Might Be Predictions

Way back when I used to go to concerts more frequently, if there was a band I really liked coming, I'd investigate what songs they had been playing that tour to get an idea of what I could expect to hear when they finally came. This was particularly true of Weezer, who originally had very regular setlists, and for a time allegedly input songs into a Dungeons and Dragons style random data selector. I decided that since I was going to be seeing They Might Be Giants, and I had a wealth of data at my hands, I'd at least give it a shot, which turned into an exhaustive analysis of the likelihood of songs occuring.

While there should be new numbers tonight after a non-standard, non-NYC concert, I still thought I'd put out what I have. Songs listed horizontally indicate a greater chance of them being played together.
There will probably not be less than 25 songs total. There probably won't be more than 30 in the main set, or even overall (is that a typo?). There will probably not be more than 36 songs.

Damn Good Times(15% in encore, with next two moved slightly), I'm Impressed, Take Out The Trash (100%)
Ana Ng (95%, 10% in encore)
Don't Let's Start (15%, almost certain if Ana Ng is not played)
Asbury Park (100%, 15% is opener with altered set somewhat)
appropriate Venue Song (almost certain if exists, could be earlier in set, or after Meet James Ensor)
Upside Down Frown (100%, possibly later in set)
Experimental Film (95%)
New York City (95%, possibly after We're The Replacements)
We Live In A Dump (10%, possibly elsewhere, possibly related chance to Why Did You Grow A Beard)
Fingertips (95%, possibly before The Joker)
No One Knows My Plan, with Everybody Conga intro (20%, most likely later in the show, significantly different set)
Birdhouse In Your Soul(100%), The Shadow Government(100%), Contrecoup(90%), Meet James Ensor(90%) (70% in this order, latter 2 cut for shorter sets potentially)
Turn Around (20%, 85% if played within last 4 songs)
Bee The Bird Of The Moth (10%, could be anywhere)
Particle Man (90%, 10% elsewhere in set)
Phone Calls To The Dead (70%)
We're The Replacements (85%)
Why Did You Grow A Beard (5%, very different set, possibly related chance to We Live In A Dump)
Climbing The Walls (80%, possibly earlier if Careful What You Pack is not in set, 2% opener)
Careful What You Pack (78%)
Withered Hope (100%)
Why Does The Sun Shine? (88%)
Older (90%, 20% in encore)
James K. Polk (20%, 25% in an encore, could be anywhere, very different set)
Till My Head Falls Off (15%, could be anywhere, very different set)
Memo To Human Resources (90%)
The Cap'm (90%)
Alphabet Of Nations (100%, 10% earlier in show)
Doctor Worm (100%, 15% in encore)
Drink! (95%, 10% in encore)
Boss Of Me (2%, most likely later in the show)
The Mesopotamians (100%, almost certainly the last song of the set)
The Joker (1%, would be last song, would be after fingertips, no encore, and set would be radically different)

Could be anywhere:
Our Cannibal Friends (3%)
With The Dark, extended intro version (4%)
Vestibule (3%)

Encore 1
Istanbul (90%, 15% in encore 2, 15% in main set)
The Famous Polka (68%, 5% in main set)
This Damn Band (15%)
Spy (25%, only if set real different)

Encore 2
She's An Angel (85%, 20% in encore 1)
Twisting (60%, 90% closer if played)
The Guitar (18%, only if set real different, possibly in set)
This is ultimately intended to apply to the times I go see them, but I suppose it really goes to just about any show they are playing on this tour.

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