The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band that has been performing for over 5 decades. They are known for major hits like “Listen to the Music,” “China Grove,” “Black Water,” and “Long Train Running.” When The Doobie Brothers go on tour, their concerts typically last around 2-3 hours from start to finish. This includes an opening act, intermission, and encore. While the exact setlist and length varies from show to show, fans can expect a full night of great music when attending a Doobie Brothers concert.
Typical Setlist Length
The Doobie Brothers usually play about 20-25 songs during their full headline concerts. They have an extensive catalog of hits to choose from, so the setlist rotates show to show. However, it typically includes many of their most popular songs like:
- “Listen to the Music”
- “Jesus Is Just Alright”
- “Rockin’ Down the Highway”
- “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me)”
- “Without You”
- “Black Water”
- “Long Train Runnin'”
- “China Grove”
- “Takin’ it to the Streets”
For a full-length show, The Doobie Brothers will usually play at least 90 minutes of music. This allows them to fit in most of their hits and some deeper album cuts for the diehard fans. The setlist is carefully curated to create a high-energy show that appeals to both casual and lifelong listeners.
Average Song Length
Most Doobie Brothers songs range from 3 to 5 minutes long. Their hits from the 1970s tend to run on the longer side, with epics like “Black Water” and “Long Train Runnin'” clocking in around 5 minutes each. Shorter tunes like “Jesus Is Just Alright” and “Rockin’ Down the Highway” are more in the 3-minute range.
On average, most of the songs the Doobie Brothers perform live are about 4 minutes long. With 20-25 songs played over a full concert, this adds up to about 80-100 minutes of actual music time, excluding breaks between songs.
Opening Acts & Encores
In addition to the main Doobie Brothers set, most concerts also feature an opening act and encore. The opening act is usually a newer band or solo artist playing a 30-45 minute set to warm up the audience. After a 15-20 minute intermission, The Doobie Brothers will return to the stage for multiple encore songs at the end of the night.
So in total, a full-length Doobie Brothers show generally follows this timeline:
- Opening act: 30-45 minutes
- Intermission: 15-20 minutes
- Main set: 90-100 minutes
- Encore(s): 15-20 minutes
Add this all up, and most Doobie Brothers concerts run between 2.5 to 3 hours long from the opening note to final bow.
Setlist Variations
While most Doobie Brothers shows follow a similar formula, the exact setlist length and content can vary from night to night. Here are some factors that impact the sets they perform:
Festivals & Fairs
When playing shorter festival sets or county fair shows, The Doobie Brothers may perform for only 60-90 minutes. They condense their setlist to include just the biggest hits and fan favorites. These shorter sets usually exclude an opener and encore.
Album Anniversaries
On special tours, The Doobie Brothers may perform full album shows to commemorate milestone anniversaries. For example, in 2019 they played The Captain and Me in its entirety to mark the album’s 45th anniversary. These shows dedicated to one album tend to shorten the overall setlist length.
Residency Performances
During multi-night residency concerts at the same venue, The Doobie Brothers mix up setlists to give fans a new experience. While the total concert length stays the same, the song selections vary across different nights.
Setlists by Tour
Here is an overview of typical setlist lengths on some of The Doobie Brothers’ most recent tours:
| Tour | Year | Setlist Length |
|---|---|---|
| 50th Anniversary Tour | 2022 | 25 songs, 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Summer Tour | 2021 | 22 songs, 2 hours 15 minutes |
| 50th Anniversary Tour | 2020 | 24 songs, 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Summer Tour | 2019 | 19 songs, 2 hours |
As shown above, set lengths have varied from 19-25 songs over the past few tours. But most full headline shows fall right around the 2 hour 30 minute mark. This allows fans to enjoy plenty of live Doobie Brothers classics in one epic night.
Types of Doobie Brothers Shows
Beyond the typical full-length concerts, The Doobie Brothers also play other types of shows with varying setlist lengths.
Festival Performances
When playing at multi-act music festivals, The Doobie Brothers usually perform condensed 60-90 minute sets. They have to limit their song selections to fit shorter festival time slots. Some festivals have them play as little as 6-8 songs.
Private Events
The Doobie Brothers occasionally do exclusive private shows for high-paying corporate clients. These events can be full length or shortened, depending on the client’s request. The band has more flexibility to customize setlengths for private performances.
TV Appearances
When appearing on television shows and awards broadcasts, The Doobie Brothers typically play only 3-4 songs. Late night TV or awards show performances run just 15-20 minutes due to strict time schedules. The songs are shortened as well.
Charity & Benefit Concerts
The Doobie Brothers are known for supporting charity causes. Special benefit concerts can range from 30 minutes to full 2 hour sets, depending on the event. These shows help raise money and awareness for various non-profit organizations.
Songs Played Most Frequently
While the Doobie Brothers change up their setlists, there are certain staple songs fans can expect to hear at most full concerts. These songs have remained go-tos in their live shows over the decades:
| Song | Times Played Live |
|---|---|
| Black Water | Over 500 live performances |
| Listen to the Music | Over 500 live performances |
| Long Train Runnin’ | Over 500 live performances |
| China Grove | Over 500 live performances |
| Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me) | Over 300 live performances |
These beloved hits have been in constant rotation since they were released in the 1970s. After 50+ years together, The Doobie Brothers know how to deliver a crowd-pleasing set packed with their most popular tunes night after night.
How Long are Classic Doobie Brothers Songs?
Here is a breakdown of the length of some iconic Doobie Brothers songs from throughout their catalog:
1970s Classics
- “Listen to the Music” – 3 minutes, 48 seconds
- “Jesus Is Just Alright” – 4 minutes, 30 seconds
- “Long Train Runnin'” – 3 minutes, 23 seconds
- “China Grove” – 3 minutes, 17 seconds
- “Black Water” – 5 minutes, 14 seconds
Later Hits
- “What a Fool Believes” – 3 minutes, 45 seconds
- “Minute by Minute” – 3 minutes, 40 seconds
- “You Belong to Me” – 3 minutes, 52 seconds
- “The Doctor” – 4 minutes, 26 seconds
Their short pop-rock songs and longer jam tracks provide variety throughout a Doobie Brothers set. The range of song lengths allows for seamless flow between fast rockers and extended solos during concerts.
How Long are Doobie Brothers Concerts Compared to Other Classic Rock Bands?
Doobie Brothers concerts generally run a bit shorter than shows by other major classic rock bands who emerged in the 1960s and 70s. Here’s a comparison of average show lengths:
- The Doobie Brothers – 2 to 2.5 hours
- The Eagles – 2.5 to 3 hours
- Bruce Springsteen – 3.5 to 4 hours
- The Rolling Stones – 2.5 hours
- Paul McCartney – 3 hours
The Doobie Brothers have an extensive catalog to choose from but don’t indulge in quite as many elongated jams or vocals breaks as some peers. Their more radio-friendly songwriting style lends itself well to marginally shorter shows compared to the marathon concerts of Bruce Springsteen and other classic rock legends.
How Doobie Brothers Setlists Differ Between Indoor & Outdoor Venues
Whether playing indoor arenas and theaters or outdoor amphitheaters and festivals, The Doobie Brothers adjust their setlist approach slightly for each unique concert environment.
Indoor Set Strategies
In indoor venues, The Doobie Brothers focus on capturing the energy of a more contained crowd. They lean into guitar and drum solos to play off the audience reaction in enclosed spaces. Lower key acoustic songs also land well in these settings.
Outdoor Set Strategies
At outdoor festivals and sheds, The Doobie Brothers craft high-energy setlists built for singing along in open spaces. They mix rockers and hits to get big crowds on their feet. Vocals and sound dynamics are adjusted to carry over distance and echo across open skies.
| Indoor Setlist Elements | Outdoor Setlist Elements |
|---|---|
| Longer jams & solos | Crowd pleasers & big choruses |
| Acoustic segments | Uptempo rockers |
| Album deep cuts | Lengthier hits |
| More mellow tempos | Higher energy arrangements |
While the song selections vary, The Doobie Brothers ensure that both indoor and outdoor shows capture the fun, high-quality musical experience their fans expect.
Conclusion
After 5 decades of touring, The Doobie Brothers have perfected their setlist formula to deliver rock-solid, hit-packed shows to fans of all ages. While the exact songs vary nightly, most full concerts clock in right around 2.5 hours from start to finish. Their tight performances and time-tested greatest hits keep audiences singing along start to finish. With dozens of classics to choose from, The Doobie Brothers rotate just enough songs each show to keep things sounding fresh, even after all these years.
