I kind of have mixed emotions to both sides of the set list argument but ultimately I agree with the side who wish the Stones would include more newer songs (especially when they are supporting a new record like AB
as well as older ones rarely played before, along with maybe a handful+ of standards. A friend of mine who likes the Stones and has gone to a number of shows with me over the years surprised me when he said to me recently that he probably won't see them again since he always hears so many of the same songs - even though he really likes the shows. He is more of a casual fan. I went back and reviewed the set lists of the last 5 Stones shows he has attended with me in Philadelphia and the vicinity over the last 10 years or so and came up with the following numbers:
For these 5 shows:
105 total songs (average of 21 a night)
65 different songs
This averages to about 13 different songs a show (for these five shows) along with 8 of the standards played basically every show. I think the 8 standards were:
Jumping Jack Flash
Brown Sugar
Tumbling Dice
Honky Tonk Women
Sympathy for the Devil
Start Me Up
Satisfaction
It's Only Rock N' Roll
He was surpised when we went over this by how many different songs he actually saw/ heard them play during this time span. This certainly was not a scientific study but I was even surprised when I saw the numbers on these five shows. I still think they could reduce the standards from the 8 listed above to maybe 4 or 5 leave another handful for newer songs and the other 10 for rarities, other hits they don't play that much, etc.
Jimmer