Every now and then I enjoy browsing through (mostly) old Live setlists on Setlist.fm. . I keep noticing new things. It’s especially interesting how certain songs were played well before the albums they eventually appeared on were released. That became less common over time. But if you look at those 1993 setlists: they were basically full Throwing Copper shows. I would’ve loved to hear those early versions of the songs. Playing almost nothing from your already‑released material — pretty bold. Then again, they weren’t as big yet as they would become after TC.

The 1998 shows were even more fascinating, with a mix of completely new material and songs that would never see the light of day. Only occasionally did they throw in a TC or SS track. I also love digging up early versions of certain songs: Vine Street was already being tested in 1997. And Overcome also dates back to that year! I never knew that — I always thought it was written in 1998. Live kept doing this all the way up to their last regular album: I remember how Love Shines, Sofia, Show, etc. were already being played a lot in 2005 (SFBM was probably finished by then too; it just came out much later).

Have you come across any interesting discoveries yourself (or were you maybe at one of those pre‑album shows)?

pretty sure I remember Lightning Crashes played during mental jewelry, and Freaks played during throwing copper

I had a recording of Freaks way before SS came out on a bootleg CD.

The earliest records on setlist.fm of:
Operation Spirit/Waterboy/Pain Lies On The Riverside/Mother Earth Is A Vicious Crowd 05/15/1990 CBGB, New York, NY, USA
Susquehanna 07/13/1992 The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA, USA
Stage 02/27/1993 University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD, USA
Top 02/27/1993 University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
T.B.D. 11/10/1993 University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD, USA
The Dam at Otter Creek/All Over You/I Alone/Waitress/White, Discussion/Shit Towne/Horse/Lightning Crashes/Iris 04/02/1994 Salem Armory Auditorium, Salem, OR, USA (1992 MTV 120 Minutes Tour)
Freaks 07/31/1994 The Edge, Orlando, FL, USA

Cheetah 03/14/1995 Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
Turn My Head 03/26/1995 Livestock Festival V, FL, USA

Vine Street 09/20/1997 South Park Meadows, Austin, TX, USA
Overcome 11/17/1997 Irving Plaza, New York, NY, USA
Face and Ghost (The Children's Song)/Meltdown/Where Fishes Go/Sparkle 05/28/1998 The Viper Room, West Hollywood, CA, USA
Sun/They Stood Up For Love 05/08/1998 CBGB, New York, NY, USA
Deep Enough 09/05/2000 New World Music Theatre, Tinley Park, IL, USA
Nobody Knows 04/30/2000 Robertson Memorial Field House, Peoria, IL, USA
Call Me A Fool 09/16/2000 The Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA, USA
Like I Do/Heaven/Run Away 06/22/2002 Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland
Life Marches On 11/19/2002 Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, PA, USA
Disclaimer: Have to say that these in no way necessarily the actual first time these songs were played live. Alas setlist.fm isn't complete with all the Live-gigs ever played.



This post has been edited by Lakini's Juice: Mar 8 2026, 12:24 pm

Would love to know when Cheetah was first played. I remember Ed said they were playing a working version of a new song at a Michigan show

Added Cheetah to the list.

This post has been edited by Lakini's Juice: Mar 8 2026, 12:24 pm

I personally saw Deep Enough before that on 8/11/2000 in Camden NJ and I remember looking forward to it because someone released a recording of it from a previous show. To me it was the only highlight of the short setlist. I saw Live at Hammerstein ballroom the year before and it was a way better show. Was also disappointed that Live opened for Counting Crows.
https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/co...99-20479fe867e0

Oh excellent! Another source!

Thanks. Looks like I heard it 6 months after it debuted. Still wish it would have been on SS.

Is there a recording of ‘early Deep Enough’?

The most early version of Deep Enough I have is from
2000-08-06, Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnatti, OH