"Mae" as a show opener

My friends and I saw the guys open with Mae at the album release show and we all loved it. I'd count it as a highlight of the show. Yet it seems like a number of other people have said it just "didn't work".

I'm curious as to why you guys feel that way? Did they do the thing with twinkly lights in the background and the backdrop falling into place after the song ends like they did at the album release show? Maybe without it, it doesn't have the same effect.

It left me and at least one of my friends totally awed so I'm very confused by the reaction. Thoughts?

I haven't seen it so I can't really say but I feel like it's good to start the show off with a bang when everyone is really hyped up and ready to go.

simo wrote:

I haven't seen it so I can't really say but I feel like it's good to start the show off with a bang when everyone is really hyped up and ready to go.

I totally agree. The cool thing I found though was they did this like magical performance of the song, then the backdrop fell and it was like BAM! and they exploded into the next song. So we still got that and if anything it was more powerful because it was like we were in a trance and everyone was holding their breath waiting for that explosion.

Mae at Webster Hall was amazing.

Personally I'm a fan of Great Expectations as the opener, but that night Mae was really something special.

NeverTrustAJunkie wrote:

Mae at Webster Hall was amazing.

Personally I'm a fan of Great Expectations as the opener, but that night Mae was really something special.

I've always preferred Great Expectations as an opener but after seeing Mae at Webster Hall in person I hope they open with it again at Terminal 5 night 1.

StitchesOnTheRadio wrote:

My friends and I saw the guys open with Mae at the album release show and we all loved it. I'd count it as a highlight of the show. Yet it seems like a number of other people have said it just "didn't work".

I'm curious as to why you guys feel that way? Did they do the thing with twinkly lights in the background and the backdrop falling into place after the song ends like they did at the album release show? Maybe without it, it doesn't have the same effect.

It left me and at least one of my friends totally awed so I'm very confused by the reaction. Thoughts?

coming out of my lurkerdom to say that yeah, I was one of those awed friends. It was beautiful and so unexpected. I hope they keep doing it because it was probably my favourite Gaslight concert experience. That moment when the backdrop came down was pretty perfect (I think they've still been doing that; somebody told me about that at a recent show they were at). It just really made me feel like I was seeing something special.

i wasn't really a fan of mae before seeing them on this tour and now it's one of my favorites on the new album. So yeah, I loved it.

It does build as the song progresses I think but Im not a fan of it as an opener. They usually rip straight into a fast number like T59S immediately afterwards anyway. I'm a bit tired of the predictability of Great Expectations as an opener. In some festival shows I've seen them open with High Lonesome, Orphans and I think American Slang or 45 are both good opening songs...

1930 as an opener would be lovely.
a girl can dream.

even blue dahlia.

I thought Mae was a great opener at Glasgow - as soon as it finished the backdrop fell down and they launched straight into The '59 Sound - awesome start to a show!!!

I only find it strange because the Handwritten album, for me, builds up to Mae which makes it odd to start the set with.

But that's just my view of the track and I have no problem with whatever they open with at all.

It shocked me when I heard the opening notes on the first Brixton night but after that it just felt right. I also think it makes an awesome image to see the four of them (not Benny) all in line at the front of the stage playing such a gentle song.

Steve70s wrote:

I only find it strange because the Handwritten album, for me, builds up to Mae which makes it odd to start the set with.

But that's just my view of the track and I have no problem with whatever they open with at all.

I thought that too which is why I was shocked when it worked! I definitely wouldn't change it's spot on the album though because you're right it does build to it.

When I first heard of them opening with Mae I didn't feel like it could work. Long behold, in September in Ottawa they opened with it and it was perfect. That song grew so much on me with every listen. Hell, it's still growing.

its a great opener. i said in another thread it reminds me of pearl jam opening with 'Release' at shows, slow and building. Like someone said i couldnt be more bored to shit of great expectations as an opener.

plugga wrote:

1930 as an opener would be lovely.
a girl can dream.

even blue dahlia.

for them to just play 1930 would be nice.

StitchesOnTheRadio wrote:

Steve70s wrote:

I only find it strange because the Handwritten album, for me, builds up to Mae which makes it odd to start the set with.

But that's just my view of the track and I have no problem with whatever they open with at all.

I thought that too which is why I was shocked when it worked! I definitely wouldn't change it's spot on the album though because you're right it does build to it.

At the Birmingham show the twinkly lights and backdrop appearing at the end of Mae were lost on me as I went the whole show without even seeing Benny! We were off to the left but at the barrier so had a great view of the other four.

Raoul_Duke wrote:

for them to just play 1930 would be nice.

Haha yes.

"i wanna see you tonight, would you come for a drive?"

sounds like the start of something to me.

Mae opened the show for the only one I have been too. I liked it. I have nothing to compare it to, but I thought the slower start was a nice intro of what was to come.

Mae was awesome opener!

Hopefully they bring it back for future dates.

the Intro is written like it should be an opener, It just has that drum/bass line that keeps building, keeps creating anticipation, and then it just starts.

Totally agree Jimmy! It's a great opener so long as enough people in the crowd know it, but I wouldn't recommend opening a big festival wiht it

Mae is like Thunder Road from Springsteen.
Great opener and introduction to a show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvfFuASYgfM

I totally agree with the above 3 comments. I think Mae is the perfect opener!