Encore! Encore!

Is anyone else of the opinion that the scripted encore at a live concert should be prohibited?  It annoys me when a musician says, "good night, thank for coming" when everyone in the building knows that he'll come back.  Why go through the farce.  

 

Recently, I've found that it's even worse because the "end" occurs closer and closer to the middle of the set.  An encore can consist of half-dozen songs or more.  

 

Needless to say, the second encore is ridiculous.  

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Permalink Reply by Brian Conway Band on October 28, 2011 at 12:53pm
I could not agree more. Encores are only meant for Artists with a multitude of hit songs. I am also a firm believer that when you are an artist that is not as well known, and maybe has yet to recieve the airplay it would take for people to know your songs word for word, and sing them along with you, then it is best to perform a shorter set of what you feel are your best songs and leave the audience wanting more.
Permalink Reply by Paul Goode on October 28, 2011 at 4:07am

Doesn't bother me: I just look at it as a closing miniset.

The first time I saw this was during Leonard Cohen's '94 tour. When "Sisters of Mercy" and "Take This Waltz" are part of the encore, who cares whether it is planned or not?

Permalink Reply by Sarah Thompson on October 28, 2011 at 5:51am
I like encores that are a slightly different rhythm from the regular sets. I get annoyed by the un-merited standing ovation, though.
Permalink Reply by Marc Prave on October 28, 2011 at 6:07am
I reckon it depends on the band. If its planned, it sucks and i have experienced that for sure, but if the band is feeling it sometimes they (encores) are the best "shows within a show". Anyway, this past september i Got to see Steve Earle with his wife and band in State College Pa. No opener, they just hit the stage running. I was expecting maybe an hour to hour and a half but after three encores the show lasted nearly three hours. I have never seen an act of this caliber do that. I don't know if Steve and his gang play shows like that all the time but it was fantastic, nearly wore me out and I was just watching...everyone in his band are song writers so Steve gave all of them time in front of the mic to share some songs. Dare I say "encore"!
Permalink Reply by Easy Ed on October 28, 2011 at 10:25am
An encore is great when the main show is so spectacular, so amazing, so energetic and creative that the crowd just needs more. Sadly, its a rare thing to occur. Most of todays's concerts, from stadiums down to coffeehouses, have a scripted dance between audience and performers that makes the forced extended clapping and cheering, and the "aw shucks" return to the stage, something that leaves me colder than cold. I hate it. And I dread being in the midst of people who feel that they need to clap and clap and clap until the artist returns, knowing full well that they will anyway. And I've also seen encores when half the audience have already headed for their cars because they thought the show was over, I mean really over. So anyway...there you go.
Permalink Reply by sluggo on October 28, 2011 at 2:27pm

 

This gives me a chance to tell about the WORST encore I ever witnessed.

It was during an Eric Clapton concert back in the `70`s ...the band did "Bottle of Red Wine"...I said to my wife , they aren`t even playing..next thing you know the whole band is wandering around onstage hugging each other and passing a bottle around while the sone continued over the P.A.

rubbish...

Permalink Reply by sluggo on October 28, 2011 at 2:29pm
saw Leon Russell back in the summer and he said, "just pretend we went backsatge and now we`re back for the encore"..I didn`t mind a bit because I could listen to Leon all night and it is hard for him to move around these days..
Permalink Reply by Bill Feinberg on October 28, 2011 at 7:41pm

i agree with a lot what has been said here, but the grateful dead nailed this concept in one way - yes, they always played 1 encore, but when they played 2 encores, you know it was special and meant something - think about johnny b. goode -> and we bid you goodnight, for ex. double encores rarely happened.

also, their encores were special songs that usually had nothing to do with the feel of the show or second set - they were either short little up tempo closers (don't ease me in, us blues, day job, etc.) or slow, beautiful songs that really capped the show very well (e.g., baby blue, knockin' on heavens door, brokedown palace, etc.). i nominate the dead for nailing the concept of what an encore is supposed to be.

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Created by No Depression Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06pm. Last updated by No Depression Apr 9.