The song we leave off the live setlist

Every band has a song that carries a different kind of weight once the amps are turned up. For us, that song is “The Sex Is Good”. It has its place in the Saving Abel story, but it is the one track we refuse to play live now, and the reason has less to do with embarrassment than with honesty.

A studio recording captures a moment. A live show creates a shared space with a real crowd, in a real room, on a particular night. The words, the mood and the people standing in front of the stage all matter. That is why our setlists continue to change as the band changes.

When the song first found its audience

“The Sex Is Good” was written with the directness that shaped much of our early rock catalogue. It was loud, uncomplicated and built for a crowd ready to sing along. At the time, its swagger matched the energy of the shows and the radio landscape around us.

Years later, the track lands differently. The music still has punch, but the lyric leaves less room for interpretation than songs such as “Addicted” or “18 Days”. We would rather acknowledge that shift than perform the song simply because it once appeared on a familiar playlist.

A live room is a different place

A recording can be paused, skipped or heard in private. A concert is immediate. Fans may be standing beside their partners, teenagers may be attending with parents, and venues have their own expectations about language and atmosphere. The responsibility changes when everyone is sharing the same room.

That does not mean every song must be polished smooth. Rock needs edge, tension and a little danger. It does mean the band has to know when a lyric serves the night and when it distracts from it. Leaving one song out can be a stronger artistic decision than forcing it into the encore.

The Australian crowd hears everything

Australian audiences are direct, and the pub-rock tradition rewards bands that sound genuine rather than carefully packaged. A Saturday night in Brisbane, a festival afternoon outside Melbourne or a packed club in Sydney each has its own rhythm. We pay attention to that atmosphere before locking in a setlist.

There is also a practical side to touring Australia. The distance between cities can shape a run of shows, while local licensing rules and venue policies affect curfews, age access and language expectations. A song that feels natural in one late-night room may feel out of place during an all-ages event in Adelaide or Perth.

Why nostalgia is not enough

Fans sometimes ask for the track because they remember when they first heard it. That connection is real, and we do not dismiss it. Music can attach itself to a road trip, a first gig, a break-up or a long drive home after an arvo spent watching footy.

Still, nostalgia cannot be the only reason a song stays in rotation. Saving Abel has always been about the relationship between heavy guitars and personal experience. If a performance no longer reflects where we are, the honest choice is to let that recording remain part of the catalogue instead of pretending it belongs in every current show.

The story continues without it

Leaving “The Sex Is Good” off the set does not mean we have abandoned the era that produced it. The song remains available for listeners who want to revisit it, and its place in the band’s history is understood. We can respect an old track without treating it as a permanent obligation.

That space in the setlist gives newer material room to breathe. It also lets songs with greater emotional range connect across a full evening, from the first guitar hit to the final chorus. A good live show should feel like a journey, not a museum display.

What you can expect at a Saving Abel show

Our current performances focus on the songs that still feel alive when played together. Expect the familiar favourites, the deeper cuts that longtime listeners keep requesting and the kind of loud, close-to-the-crowd energy that has always defined our gigs. The exact order can change, but the aim remains the same: make the room feel involved.

For Australian fans, that also means keeping an eye on official tour dates, event photos and updates about upcoming recordings. Merchandise availability may vary by location, and Australian purchases can be affected by GST and protections under the Australian Consumer Law, so use the official store and venue links for the clearest information.

Check the official tour calendar, follow Saving Abel on social media and visit the online store for current merchandise. If you are heading to a show in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or elsewhere across Australia, bring your voice for the songs that made the set—and understand why one track will stay backstage.