John Doe's set list, HopMonk Novato, 8.6.18
That piece of paper that often lays below they players on the stage may seem like nothing much, just a bunch of words and notations that is often soaked with booze by the end of any given night of music. But alas, it is so much more than that, as it is the coveted Set List, and it’s presence to both musician and fan is incredibly important.
To the musician, the set list for any given performance can help them remember what songs to play, in what order and in what key. Sometimes notes are added as to who sings or plays during that song. The set list can be a constant reminder of what to do so that they can focus on playing the music without thinking “Oh Shit, what’s next?” Set lists are not always followed exactly, for example troubadour folk singer Ramblin’ Jack Elliot often does set lists, but usually doesn’t follow them. He jumps around, singing songs that may or may not be on the list, often taking requests from the audience or completely ignoring a song he was set to play in lieu of another.
To the musician, the set list for any given performance can help them remember what songs to play, in what order and in what key. Sometimes notes are added as to who sings or plays during that song. The set list can be a constant reminder of what to do so that they can focus on playing the music without thinking “Oh Shit, what’s next?” Set lists are not always followed exactly, for example troubadour folk singer Ramblin’ Jack Elliot often does set lists, but usually doesn’t follow them. He jumps around, singing songs that may or may not be on the list, often taking requests from the audience or completely ignoring a song he was set to play in lieu of another.
 Ramblin' Jack, HopMonk Novato, 11.10.19 |  Johnny & June Forever, Sweetwater, 10.6.19 |
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| Townes Van Zandt Tribute, Sweetwater, 7.10.18 | PSDSP, Sweetwater, 7.20.18 |
To the fan, the set list is often a prize fought over at the end of a show. It’s a keepsake for the experience one has, a memory for what was played during shows, a treasure that says “I was there! I was witness to this night!” If the list was handed to the fan directly from one of the musicians, it is even more of a gift, as that brief interaction with a favorite musician is noteworthy to any fan of their music and can add to the story.
 Kongos, Great American Music Hall, 1.10.19 |  Petty Theft, Mystic Theater, 5.19.18 |
 San Geronimo/Abbey Road, Terrapin 8.18.18 |  Jade Jackson, Mystic Theater 2.24.18 |
My own fascination with set lists is more practical, as with writing reviews for shows I attend I often must remember what is played in order to facilitate the review. I started to take pictures of any set list I could, or if I were lucky, I would grab it from the stage or ask one of the band members if I could have it. My collection of physical and digital set lists has grown vastly over the last few years. My refrigerator is covered with them, my desk is littered with them and my external drive is a huge archive of images with set list from the shows I have attended in the last couple of years since taking on writing about music. The Kongos Great American Music Hall set list sits next to John Doe’s Hopmonk Novato list. The song list from when Sam Chase played at Mystic Theater slightly covers Elliott Peck’s Terrapin Crossroads show list and Nicki Bluhm, Circles Around The Sun (RIP Neal Casal) The Soft White Sixties, Chris Robinson’s Green Leaf Rustlers and many others all lay haphazardly on my messy desk.
Green Leaf Rustlers, Love Field 6.2.18
 Circles Around The Sun, Cornerstone, 11.23.18 |  Joe Bonamassa, Paramount Oakland, 10.10.19 |
Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the amount of lists I have, and sometimes I am unsure what to do with them aside from put them in a file. But in reality, whenever I come across one in my chaos I realize they are prizes to me. They started out as functional lists, but after I am done with the review, they get elevated to reminding me that I now have wonderful piece of memorabilia of any show I go to.
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