Alright, so my guess... result of some realistic dreaming:
01 Trapper Man (I mean, this has to be the opener, right? Band starts playing the intro while MK walks on, and at the moment he's upfront the drums and full band kick in...)
02 Calling Elvis (It's the biggest band since DS days, no? Time to bring this one back. Open like in 2001, some atmospheric synths to give the wrists their rest and this one doesn't even necessarily need the fastest guitar playing in the world, keep it down to earth, build it up slowly give the folkies some strumming instrument... a man can dream..)
03 Back on the Dance Floor (We know for sure it will be played and would fit perfectly after the first DS classic, maybe even slightly abridge with the previous song, a nice new breather)
04 Sailing to Philadelphia (Keeping it nice and easy with a solid classic, perfectly solo tie-breaker for the first half of the set!)
05 Metroland (we've even got a trumpet player this time! Haven't we waited long enough? A nice deep cut to satisfy the die-hard fans and lure new people in further, like Wag the Dog did in 2001. Great substitute for Hillfarmer's Blues)
06 When You Leave (I'd place Seattle here if Ruth Moody joined, but this can take its place - let the brass shine!)
07 She's Gone/Your Latest Trick (another confirmed one, would be perfect to abridge to When You Leave instead of She's Gone if only both were in the same key (instead of Emaj and Fmin
))
08 Romeo and Juliet (The live staple of MK shows, cannot be missed. And hey, we've got sax with us, so bring on that lovely sweet song. If this is the last tour, Mark cannot miss out on it (+ is was already played during a promo show for DTRW, so MK's still got it))
09 Nobody Does That (Let's celebrate the brass once more before we put them down for a while - this is where Broken Bones should've been, can take Sonny Liston's or Gator Blood's place) (If MK wants to go folk here, like he did with Haul Away and Mighty Man, put in Drover's Road!)
10 My Bacon Roll ('scuse me? One of the most acclaimed songs of the new album and a really nice haunting vibe, extended that outro further with some licks and you're good to go)
11 Portobello Belle (It's been too long since this one has been played and I'd say it perfectly fits MK right now. I'm still dying for a version with the folk influence that doesn't end as abruptly as the 1996 video, so bring it back. Also, I like to put a DS song in here, instead of all clustered together. Nice balance between new, old and new versions of the old
)
12 One Song at a Time (Alright, assume Mark already introduced the brass at the start of Nobody Does That, this song then provides the perfect new Postcards from Paraguay. Same trick: drums first, then that cute organ, bass, etc. He has to play it,
down the road wherever...)
13 Heavy Up (Lighten the mood even further! No longer Marbletown is the big one at the end, but a nice jam on Heavy Up: not too long, but good for dancing and bringing the brass back to shine on the next song...)
14 On Every Street (Telegraph Road is of course the magnum opus, but I think it has retired: the piano gives Mark some rest and the outro is just iconic. I'm dying to see it live once)
15 Speedway at Nazareth (A long, growling solo to end the main set. Maybe the essential song of Mark's solo career and live always stunning. Should by all means be there and has grown up, it's worthy of closing the set)
ENCORE:
16 Matchstick Man (Mark said he'd play it, and can you imagine him returning to the stage, lights dimmed, acoustic guitar and nothing more? I can.
So there he was then...)
17 So Far Away (Yeah, this one will never retire. Quite remarkable he chose this song to become his DS classic, no? It wasn't even played that often with the band in the heydays and skipped it during the Golden Heart tour. Brought it back after 10 years in 2001)
18 Going Home (Going out with a bang, and definitely possible with this band. Also, nice hint/promotion of the musical. I could even see The Mist Covered Mountains return as the intro, played by the band. Even though I loved Piper to the End live, this one blew me away much more. The moment everyone kicks in just does things to a room)
So, maybe a little bit heavy on the last album and DS (eight and six songs), and representing not many others (only Local Hero (1); Sailing (2); Metroland (1)), but I'd love to see something like this live. Would work absolutely well with the new album. Being totally realistic though, I expect Privateering and Hill Farmer's Blues to return and Just a Boy to debut after Romeo and Juliet. Encore will probably include Brothers in Arms or Our-Shangri-La at times. What It Is might return as well, Why Aye Man maybe even... so many songs would work perfectly.
