Arts & Culture

Question Of The Week: Do You Collect Setlists?

By Bob Boilen

Published November 15, 2013 at 2:01 PM CST

Earlier this week we asked you to submit photos of the setlists you've collected over the years. We got a lot of amazing pics. Some, such as the Elliott Smith setlist from 1999, felt like rare treasures. We've added some of our favorites to the gallery below. Click the info icon or mouse over the images for captions and explanations for each one.

1 of 37 — Dan Wilson at Joe's Pub (New York City, NY), Nov. 7, 2013."I'm usually going home with set lists to use as a reference for writing up concerts ... but I was recently impressed [that] Jagwar Ma had none (it was just in their heads!) Plus, now many bands are using laptops or iPads for this purpose ... I worry this is going to be a lost art/souvenir." - Anonymous

Dan Wilson at Joe's Pub (New York City, NY), Nov. 7, 2013.

"I'm usually going home with set lists to use as a reference for writing up concerts ... but I was recently impressed [that] Jagwar Ma had none (it was just in their heads!) Plus, now many bands are using laptops or iPads for this purpose ... I worry this is going to be a lost art/souvenir." - Anonymous

/ Guest

2 of 37 — Elliott Smith at the Sapphire Supper Club (Orlando, FL), Mar. 15, 1999.

Elliott Smith at the Sapphire Supper Club (Orlando, FL), Mar. 15, 1999.

/ youmadeyourbed

3 of 37 — Sufjan Stevens at the Beachland Ballroom ("Surfjohn Stevens' Christmas Sing-A-Long Tour" - Cleveland, OH), Dec. 16, 2012.

Sufjan Stevens at the Beachland Ballroom ("Surfjohn Stevens' Christmas Sing-A-Long Tour" - Cleveland, OH), Dec. 16, 2012.

/ bikemailey

<p>Left: Morrissey at The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA), Sept. 26, 2007.<br />Right: Johnny Marr at The Fillmore, Nov. 1, 2013.</p><p><em>"I'm very lucky. I work at a music venue, so I get setlists often (but only for bands I really love!)." </em>-Dina Marie</p>

4 of 37 — Left: Morrissey at The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA), Sept. 26, 2007.Right: Johnny Marr at The Fillmore, Nov. 1, 2013."I'm very lucky. I work at a music venue, so I get setlists often (but only for bands I really love!)." -Dina Marie

Left: Morrissey at The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA), Sept. 26, 2007.
Right: Johnny Marr at The Fillmore, Nov. 1, 2013.

"I'm very lucky. I work at a music venue, so I get setlists often (but only for bands I really love!)." -Dina Marie

/ Dina Marie

5 of 37 — Neutral Milk Hotel's first live show in 15 years; at Space 2640 (Baltimore, Maryland), Oct. 11, 2013.

Neutral Milk Hotel's first live show in 15 years; at Space 2640 (Baltimore, Maryland), Oct. 11, 2013.

/ Twitter: @andrewtabs

6 of 37 — Arcade Fire at the Troubadour (Hollywood, CA), Jan. 16, 2005."It was a performance that could be described as life-changing without being hyperbolic, and I wanted a souvenir to commemorate the occasion, and have been collecting ever since." - Frank Mojica

Arcade Fire at the Troubadour (Hollywood, CA), Jan. 16, 2005.

"It was a performance that could be described as life-changing without being hyperbolic, and I wanted a souvenir to commemorate the occasion, and have been collecting ever since." - Frank Mojica

/ Frank Mojica

7 of 37 — Brand New at the Live Music Hall (Köln, Germany), Feb. 1, 2007.Check out this massive setlist collection on reader Olf Spleen's Facebook album.

Brand New at the Live Music Hall (Köln, Germany), Feb. 1, 2007.

Check out this massive setlist collection on reader Olf Spleen's Facebook album.

/ Facebook: Olf Spleen

Bon Iver at the Wilbur Theatre (Boston, MA), Dec. 12, 2008.<br /><em><br />"Got it from the sound guy. Bri?" - @kevinmccaul</em>

8 of 37 — Bon Iver at the Wilbur Theatre (Boston, MA), Dec. 12, 2008."Got it from the sound guy. Bri?" - @kevinmccaul

Bon Iver at the Wilbur Theatre (Boston, MA), Dec. 12, 2008.

"Got it from the sound guy. Bri?" - @kevinmccaul

/ Twitter: @kevinmccaul

9 of 37 — Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the House of Blues (Boston, MA), May 12, 2003."Waited years to see them, my favorite band, and had to fight off some drunk girl as she tried to grab it from me. Snagged some Y confetti as well just for fun." - ssophia

Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the House of Blues (Boston, MA), May 12, 2003.

"Waited years to see them, my favorite band, and had to fight off some drunk girl as she tried to grab it from me. Snagged some Y confetti as well just for fun." - ssophia

/ ssophia

10 of 37 — The Lone Bellow at Kean University's Enlow Hall (Union, NJ), Oct. 19, 2013."Got to meet them after the show and they signed the set list. Most people asked for [a] CD or Vinyl or poster to be signed, but when they saw I snagged a set list, they all lit up. Like they were thinking, 'Someone cared enough to take our set list, we made it.'" - M00nmaster

The Lone Bellow at Kean University's Enlow Hall (Union, NJ), Oct. 19, 2013.

"Got to meet them after the show and they signed the set list. Most people asked for [a] CD or Vinyl or poster to be signed, but when they saw I snagged a set list, they all lit up. Like they were thinking, 'Someone cared enough to take our set list, we made it.'" - M00nmaster

/ M00nmaster

11 of 37 — Wolf Parade at The Warsaw (Brooklyn, NY), Aug. 19, 2007."Love the nicknames (for the songs)." - @kevinmccaul

Wolf Parade at The Warsaw (Brooklyn, NY), Aug. 19, 2007.

"Love the nicknames (for the songs)." - @kevinmccaul

/ Twitter: @kevinmccaul

12 of 37 — Randy Newman at the Sheldon Concert Hall (St. Louis, MO), May 4, 2008.

Randy Newman at the Sheldon Concert Hall (St. Louis, MO), May 4, 2008.

/ Twitter: @PerkinsS

13 of 37 — Ra Ra Riot at Funk 'n Waffles (Syracuse, NY), Mar. 4, 2008."They apparently recycled the setlist from their 3/2/08 show." - Travis B.

Ra Ra Riot at Funk 'n Waffles (Syracuse, NY), Mar. 4, 2008.

"They apparently recycled the setlist from their 3/2/08 show." - Travis B.

/ Travis B.

14 of 37 — Devenda Banhart at the Bowery Ballroom (New York City, NY), Oct. 28, 2012."[He] opened for Swans on the eve of Hurricane Sandy." - @oh_starship

Devenda Banhart at the Bowery Ballroom (New York City, NY), Oct. 28, 2012.

"[He] opened for Swans on the eve of Hurricane Sandy." - @oh_starship

/ Twitter: @oh_starship

15 of 37 — Derek Trucks Band at The Vogue (Indianapolis, IN), Sept. 8, 2008."Handwritten on a printer's test page." - @cyrilwood

Derek Trucks Band at The Vogue (Indianapolis, IN), Sept. 8, 2008.

"Handwritten on a printer's test page." - @cyrilwood

/ Twitter: @cyrilwood

16 of 37 — The Avett Brothers at UIC Pavilion (Chicago, IL), Apr. 25, 2011.

The Avett Brothers at UIC Pavilion (Chicago, IL), Apr. 25, 2011.

/ Twitter: @bob_davidson

17 of 37 — Jason Bartell, a guitarist in Fang Island, collects set lists from bands the group tours with, and makes them into charcoal drawings. This is a drawing for a setlist from the band Like Pioneers.

Jason Bartell, a guitarist in Fang Island, collects set lists from bands the group tours with, and makes them into charcoal drawings. This is a drawing for a setlist from the band Like Pioneers.

/ Twitter: @fangisland

18 of 37 — Mazzy Star at Greenstreet's (Columbia, SC), 1990.

Mazzy Star at Greenstreet's (Columbia, SC), 1990.

/ Derek Riley

19 of 37 — Beach House at the Variety Playhouse (Atlanta, GA), Sept. 16, 2012."[The] setlist [was] split four ways, all of them signed [by the band]." -@kevfbrownn

Beach House at the Variety Playhouse (Atlanta, GA), Sept. 16, 2012.

"[The] setlist [was] split four ways, all of them signed [by the band]." -@kevfbrownn

/ Twitter: @kevfbrownn

20 of 37 — City and Colour at Passionkirche (Berlin, Germany), Jan. 4, 2008.Check out reader Olf Spleen's massive setlist collection on his Facebook album.

City and Colour at Passionkirche (Berlin, Germany), Jan. 4, 2008.

Check out reader Olf Spleen's massive setlist collection on his Facebook album.

/ Facebook: Olf Spleen

21 of 37 — Broken Social Scene at the Aspen Spring Jam 2011 (Aspen, CO), Mar. 18, 2011."Amazing show, but most of the family vacationers had no clue who they were." - @shelosaurus

Broken Social Scene at the Aspen Spring Jam 2011 (Aspen, CO), Mar. 18, 2011.

"Amazing show, but most of the family vacationers had no clue who they were." - @shelosaurus

/ Twitter: @shelosaurus

22 of 37 — Superchunk at City Plaza (Hopscotch Music Festival - Raleigh, NC), Sept. 10, 2011

Superchunk at City Plaza (Hopscotch Music Festival - Raleigh, NC), Sept. 10, 2011

/ Twitter: @allisonhussey

23 of 37 — The Lumineers at the Magic Bag (Ferndale, MI), Jun. 9, 2012."Before they were headlining festivals, [The Lumineers'] Neyla Pekarek gave me this handwritten setlist." - @taylorhornecker

The Lumineers at the Magic Bag (Ferndale, MI), Jun. 9, 2012.

"Before they were headlining festivals, [The Lumineers'] Neyla Pekarek gave me this handwritten setlist." - @taylorhornecker

/ Twitter: @taylorhornecker

24 of 37 — Nickel Creek at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Nov. 2, 2007.

Nickel Creek at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Nov. 2, 2007.

/ NPR

25 of 37 — Spoon at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Oct. 23, 2007.

Spoon at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Oct. 23, 2007.

/ NPR

26 of 37 — Soundgarden at the Newport Music Hall (Columbus, OH), Mar. 14, 1990."They were the first band of the night. Second band was Faith No More and Voi Vod was the headliner. Tickets were $12.50. Seems like last week." - Ryan Hamler

Soundgarden at the Newport Music Hall (Columbus, OH), Mar. 14, 1990.

"They were the first band of the night. Second band was Faith No More and Voi Vod was the headliner. Tickets were $12.50. Seems like last week." - Ryan Hamler

/ Ryan Hamler

27 of 37 — Ben Folds at the University of Chicago's Mandel Hall (Chicago, IL), Mar. 1, 2008."First song they play? NOT EVEN ON THE THING. I had to write it on. Hence all the crazy numbering on the side. Nothing was in order." - Allison S.

Ben Folds at the University of Chicago's Mandel Hall (Chicago, IL), Mar. 1, 2008.

"First song they play? NOT EVEN ON THE THING. I had to write it on. Hence all the crazy numbering on the side. Nothing was in order." - Allison S.

/ Allison S.

28 of 37 — Metric at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Jun. 18, 2009.

Metric at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Jun. 18, 2009.

/ NPR

29 of 37 — Tim Kasher at the Rock and Roll Hotel (Washington, D.C.), Nov. 5, 2013.

Tim Kasher at the Rock and Roll Hotel (Washington, D.C.), Nov. 5, 2013.

/ NPR

30 of 37 — The Flaming Lips at The Belmont (South by Southwest Festival - Austin, TX), Mar. 14, 2013.

The Flaming Lips at The Belmont (South by Southwest Festival - Austin, TX), Mar. 14, 2013.

/ NPR

31 of 37 — Bright Eyes at 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Jan. 29, 2005. This was the headliner for our first-ever live concert webcast.

Bright Eyes at 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Jan. 29, 2005. This was the headliner for our first-ever live concert webcast.

/ NPR

32 of 37 — Coco Rosie at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Jan. 29, 2005. They followed Tilly And The Wall in our first live concert webcast.

Coco Rosie at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Jan. 29, 2005. They followed Tilly And The Wall in our first live concert webcast.

/ NPR

33 of 37 — Wilco at the Tiny Desk, Oct. 17, 2011.

Wilco at the Tiny Desk, Oct. 17, 2011.

/ NPR

34 of 37 — Olivia Tremor Control at the Bottom Lounge (Chicago, IL), Oct. 27, 2008.

Olivia Tremor Control at the Bottom Lounge (Chicago, IL), Oct. 27, 2008.

/ NPR

35 of 37 — Lou Reed at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Apr. 23, 2008.

Lou Reed at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Apr. 23, 2008.

/ NPR

36 of 37 — St. Vincent at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Nov. 1, 2011.

St. Vincent at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Nov. 1, 2011.

/ NPR

37 of 37 — Tilly And The Wall at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Jan. 29, 2005. This one, scribbled on a paper plate, was from the very first live webcast we ever did.

Tilly And The Wall at the 9:30 Club (Washington, D.C.), Jan. 29, 2005. This one, scribbled on a paper plate, was from the very first live webcast we ever did.

/ NPR

I see the setlist grabbers every time I go to a show, often standing at the lip of the stage. They're usually one of the first fans in the club, or maybe just good at being sneaky (or pushy). But when the show is over they reach for that memento, that paper stuck to the stage floor or on a guitar amp, and have the setlist. I and other members of the NPR Music team are certainly guilty of this. In fact, here are some of the ones we've nabbed over the years:

It's a beautiful moment really, one that works best when there's direct contact and the artist actually hands their setlist to a fan. Grabbing a setlist is one of the most personal ways of remembering a special show, short of sleeping with the band (not that I remember ever doing that).

The best setlists are hand-written, not typed. And they're filled with a shorthand of sorts, like "Trying 2" for Wilco's "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart." Long song titles may be boiled down to one word or some inside joke. Sometime they'll note key signatures or have other handmade doodles, or they'll have little notes about the style of each song, such as "slow," "fast," "rock," "ballad," offering a glimpse into the thinking behind their shows.

So we were wondering: Are you a setlist hunter? Do you hone in on the stage at the end of the night to grab that coveted piece of paper? If so, we want to see them. Take a picture of your favorite setlists and post them in the comments section. (Just click the little photo icon in the lower left corner of the comment box). You can also tweet them to us at @allsongs. Be sure to tell us who the band is, and where and when the show was. If you'd like, you can also tell us how old you were when you saw the concert and why you grabbed the setlist. At the end of the week we'll add some of our favorites to our gallery.