Is It Time to say "Thank You and Good Night" to the Pro Forma Encore?

walkonby wrote:
if they want to do or not do an encore, they will or they won't because they want to.  the end.  

I doubt that that's true.  I think most bands probably regard it as bullshit they have to do because the fans expect it.  It's kind of like nobody wants to pay $50,000 for a wedding, but then they get sucked into all the rituals that everyone expects, and suddenly they've got a shitty DJ playing "Macarena" and a bouquet toss, just like everyone else.

Sure, the decision is ultimately that of the band but we have reached a point (and have been at that point for a while) where encores are the norm and bands feel pressured to do them or face ridiculous reactions from the crowd such as a chorus of boos.

Jaguar wrote:It gives the band a chance to pee and freshen up for a last blowout.

no no no.  THIS IS ROCK AND ROLL, DAMMIT.  so you've been on stage for an hour or more, drinking beer, singing your heart out, jumping about, and you think you have the right to pee or sit down for 60 seconds?  DENIED, NOW GET BACK ON STAGE <crack of a whip>

azaghal1981 wrote:
I think I may have seen two or three uncontrived ones in my lifetime.

you need to go to more shows.

^You know that the second part of that post is not true. ;)

RE: the pee break thing, you're totally reaching but get it done before going on.

^ ;D  ok, fine, i meant you need to go to *better* shows… <hides>

i love how motley crue and lil'wayne have conveniently become role models for folks 'round here.

he goes to a lot of shows and cancels a lot of them, too

azaghal1981 wrote:
^You know that the second part of that post is not true. ;)

encores are for big rock shows not shows on someone's porch..

I think people against encores are the same people who are against the wave at baseball games.  Some people dont' like fun. 

atomicfront wrote:
I think people against encores are the same people who are against the wave at baseball games.&nbsp; Some people dont&#039; like fun.&nbsp;

I'm pro-encores, anti-wave. The wave at ballgames is lame as shit.

Saw Guster last night at Summerstage. As theres a curfew there, they kindly said - 'we have no time for this encore BS - so we're running to the side stage for 3 secs and will  pretend that was our encore and keep on playing'. Worked out great - they ran off - ran right back on - crowd went crazy and they played a 3 song 'encore'.

Havent seen a band in a long while that has really great stage banter. I was pleasantly surprised.