I have attended 5 gigs in March, a lot for me but one was rearranged from November and last night’s was a spur of the moment decision after we decided to have a night away. I may write more about the shows if I do a write up for my activity in March (quick capsule review – they varied from very good to excellent) but what I want to mention here is encores or the lack of them.
1) Honeyfeet, The Jago in Dalston. There are no wings at the venue so bands go through the audience to the stage. Reasonably enough Rionagh Connolly explained that they weren’t going to, and described the encore ritual as ‘a bit disingenuous’.
2) The Churchfitters, Colchester Arts Centre. They did go offstage and come back to play another song, a heartfelt tribute to the late founder of the band.
3) Peat and Diesel, the 100 Club, Oxford Street – see the situation at The Jago. ‘Just pretend we did it’.
4) Katherine Priddy, Colchester Arts Centre. Despite the same wings the Churchfitters used, ‘We’re going to play another two songs anyway so you can stamp and shout for more if that’s a big part of your night, but just so you know you have no agency’.
5) The Guilty Men (Clive Gregson’s new project), J2 Cambridge. Early in the set there was a ‘plot spoiler’ that there would be an encore but when the time came there was just a show of undoing guitar straps before the band carried on without leaving the stage.
So, encores. A reward from the audience for a job will done, or just a rather stale and tiresome ritual for all concerned?
Katherine Priddy has been wonderful on this tour, hasn’t she? And George Boomsma is such an excellent foil.
I completely agree on both points.
I remember seeing the Undertones at the Top Rank in Sheffield in 1979 and after returning for an encore, Feargal announced that the band couldn’t be doing with all the going off and coming back again, so they would play three more songs and then call it a night. This seemed perfectly reasonable to me and a sensible way to end proceedings, but every act I’ve seen before and since does an encore regardless of how the audience has been and usually leaves it hanging in the air as to whether they’ll be back a third or fourth time. I think Feargal called it right, but clearly 46 years worth of gigs since then have not resolved the issue one way or t’other.
Folkies seem less keen on the ritual of encores, often relating to the size or awkwardness of venues. I would loosely include all 5 shows described as being of folk/roots origin, or with players familiar with that scenario. Even on bigger stages I am seeing artists acknowledging the nonsense of trooping off and coming back on, so admitting that they will play the encore without leaving. I wonder whether any withhold that last set of 2 or 3 songs if the audience are insufficiently supportive. Like deducting an already added service charge.
I saw Norma Waterson towards the end of her performing career explain that she wasn’t going to go through the pretence of the encore because there were steps to the stage and ‘me arthritis is bad’.
Just about to add about Norma saying the same, plus there was nowhere else to go and disappear.
I saw John Tams a few years ago and towards the end as he was playing someone called out if there was a doctor in the house. The person was moved off to the back. JT carried on playing then finished. The promoter came on and asked if he’d do an encore. “I’d rather see how my friend is rather than do an encore” which was perfectly understandable.
I generally think it’s a pointless ritual.
I recall Jackson Browne saying to an audience member who shouted out for Take It Easy very early in the set, that he couldn’t play it at that point because it’s part of the encore and if he did play it, he’d have to end the show there and then. He didn’t and carried on for about another hour and a half, plus encore including that song.
I think I have only ever seen one really genuine encore. That was Emmylou Harris at Shepherd’s Bush Empire in 1996 (I think).
After playing their main set and coming back for an encore they went off. The house lights came on, but no-one left. We simply called for more. They came back and Emmylou said they didn’t have anything else, but performed some sort of jam they did at soundchecks.
In small venues I have seen artists say they wouldn’t bother with the ritual and to take the last song or two as the encore.
I’m not a huge Van Morrison fan, though my wife is, so I have been to see him quite a few times. I like his attitude towards encores – don’t play them.
I have never seen Cat Stevens but I understand he never plays them.
I haven’t seen The Who for many, many years, but am I right that they now have started playing encores, which they never used to do?
They are a bit tiresome when they always happen. However one can glean how well a show has gone whether everyone is on their feet screaming for more or going to their cars to get ahead of the traffic.
Naturally Bruce fits into the former category, but these days the E St Band do their first final bows then huddle mid stage and just get on with it. With them have seen encores lasting around an hour which is longer than many gigs I have seen.
It’s a nice moment of audience / performer appreciation even though it’s understood that it’s an expected ritual.
At football matches the team applauds the fans at the end for bellowing throughout the game. In the theatre the cast take a curtain call. At a jazz gig every solo gets a round of applause. At classical concerts the audience is scared they might applaud at the end of the wrong movement. At an Open Mic people carry on talking like they have all night (except for the appeal for hush when their pal is on). At our house , whenever dinner is served I genuflect. And at Springsteen concerts you shout, albeit in in a low monotone, Broooooooce. In the cinema you just shuffle out unless (old days comment) the National Anthem is playing. All good.
Saw Tom Robinson some years back at the Stroud Sub rooms with Emily Barker supporting . Now you don’t usually get the support doing an encore but at they end of her brilliant set she went to walk off only for Tom to march her back onto the stage and announce to the audience that she hadn’t played his favourite song of hers which he had been constantly playing on his radio show . He made it abundantly clear he wasn’t coming on until he heard it which of course she did . Not too sure if this was all pre planned but it seemed real enough . He also appeared first on stage before the support acts and played 3 acoustic numbers announcing to the audience he wanted them in the hall listening to the support acts and not drinking in the bars . Anyway back to encores maybe because of my age But I could do without them now . Get the gigs on earlier and have pre timed finishing time so we can all get off home for our coco.
Also, Stroud would have been a home crowd for Emily Barker at the time, although she’s now back in Perth, Oz.
It depends whether it’s Hackett and you know he’s likely to do Supper’s Ready.
Those cheeky scamps New Order, who famously* didn’t do encores, once came back after about half an hour after the audience had left the venue, to play an encore to the people sweeping the floor.
(*) they did sometimes, though, even back in the day. But the Tony Wilson doctrine of “print the myth” ensured a few extra column inches.
Craig Fletcher of the Guilty Men said that at a gig in Wales last week the band left the stage expecting to come on for an encore, but the house lights were switched on and everyone left.
FB last week showed Brooce playing a bedtime lullaby for his grandkids. Four hours, two encores.
The once happy lover of many a musical experience becomes the weary, intolerant grump in the Afterword years. So it goes, quite often. Personally I always rather liked the encore, if it’s a good gig of course. It’s like a reboot, beginning the build up one more time. Sometimes you get two encores. It’s all part of the show of show business.
When you check on Setlist FM prior to going to a gig to see what songs might be played, it’s not unusual to find acts doing the same set every night of their tour.
Can understand why acts – especially ones with elaborate stage presentations – need to regiment their main sets in such a way.
That said, think encores should be reserved for former faves/deep cuts that no longer get a regular airing. If acts varied the encores in the encores on a nightly basis, fans would also come away feeling as if they’d been to a truly special gig. As they do when going to see Van M, Neil Y and Bruce S, all of whom rehearse and can call upon like something like 80 songs for their tours
I’ll happily put my hand up for that description. Other gripes include standing ovations for decent but not exceptional shows, patronising laughter for weak/ ancient jokes told on stage, and the expectation of applause for normal social or political opinions (‘ I think racism is really bad. ‘ Me too; I’m glad we’re on the same page. If I don’t applaud did it suggest that I agree with racism rather than thinking the observation so mundane that it doesn’t warrant my reaction?)
I have also been to some gigs where once the encore starts people suddenly decide to start enjoying themselves, getting out of their seats and dancing, like they now have permission to do so.
Best encore ever for me, Cloudbusting by Kate Bush.
China Crisis said to the audience that they couldn’t be bothered going away and coming back again – so here’s a couple of encore songs.
I’m all for that , just get on with it I say .
I moaned about Jason Isbell on his own thread but briefly, we saw him and he came on so late we had to leave before the end to get the train. Guess what, he did “Decoration Day”, over of my favourites, as a bloody encore which we missed.
Wonder if anyone ever done a brand new song as an encore? ”
“Hey, wait! it’s really good. No, honestly, come back!”
Famously and discussed here previously. Neil Young played the Tonight’s the Night album in full when no one knew it. He encores with the title track (2nd time played). Came back again, said here’s one you know (big applause) and played it for a 3rd time 🙂
The first time I saw New Order, they did two tracks from Brotherhood as an encore. The album didn’t come out for another year or so.
Prince was always good value for encores. He’d do the main gig in one mood, switch it up for the first encore, then do a third encore in a third mood. If you were really lucky and he was really up for playing, you could get a fourth encore as well, also in a different style/mood.
But I guess it’s easier to do great encores when you’re a musical genius with an endless and infinitely varied back catalogue!
In general, encores were better in the past, less predictable.
And I prefer when I get an uplifting, uptempo last song rather than a tearjerker – I want to leave the gig feeling energized and happy, not sad and tired…
And famously he would often play an after show gig at a small venue somewhere in town (no idea how one heard about these / got tickets etc).
One if my all time favourite bootlegs (and a favourite Prince album) is the “Small Club” release from 1988 – I still suspect it was an ‘unofficial’ release as the sound quality is great.
I do like an encore with a special guest or two. I remember seeing The Damned many years ago when Robert Fripp came out for the encore and played Hippy Hippy Shake with them!
That would have been a hoot!
I’m not a great fan unless the artist is unpredictable. Yes ALWAYS doing Roundabout annoys me. I think a fun cover version is better than the hit/ hits. Unless you really go for it – the cure did 50 minutes of hits, and it’s intoxicating.
Stiff Little Fingers (in their first incarnation) would often throw in a “silly encore”.
The reformed version has continued this theme sporadically throwing a cover version into the encore, and have played Ace Of Spades, Boys Are Back In Town, and 2468 Motorway on recent tours.
I’ve seen no footage or heard audio, but am reliably informed the Teenage Kicks has also made an appearance
Encores are expected, and you know they’re expected because at least 2 expected songs are missing from the setlist.
John Otway is totally upfront about it saying stuff like “I’m not playing that yet, I’m saving it for the encore”, or as he announces the last song of the set asks “when this has finished, please cheer and clap and I’ll be back for the encore”
I saw King Creosote play the Black Box in Belfast a few years ago. The band have to walk from the back of the room through the audience to get to the stage so instead of going through that rigmarole they hid behind the speakers for a minute or so whilst we applauded.
The Wedding Present never do encores as far as I’m aware.
Gladys Knight tottered off after her recent farewell tour gig, and the lights came up. I was fine with that.
In general, I think they’re a bit pointless because they’re normally they’re just a planned part of the set but sometimes, just occasionally, the artist goes rogue and takes requests.
I once saw Thea Gilmore emerge for an encore to a variety of requests from the audience. ‘Those are all excellent suggestions, but we’re going to play something we’ve rehearsed if that’s all right with you.’
Originated by the late Ronnie Scott and frequently quoted by other musicians:
“Feel free to shout out for any requests. We won’t play them of course, but don’t let that stop you.”
I’m not bothered whether encores are played or not, as long as the show is good.
A lot of the pub gigs I go to have strictly-enforced curfews that can jeopardise the landlord’s license if broken too often. In those circumstances the only way you’ll get an encore is if the performer(s) finish a bit early to leave time for one. I don’t really see any point in that.
Hank Wangford has what he refers to as “The modesty moment” where he finishes, accepts calls for an encore and then plays another song or two. Similarly to Norma Waterson, above, after he’d had a necessary hip replacement op (he came onstage with the aid of a walking stick) he made it clear he wasn’t going to leave the stage and then come back because there was a short flight of steps down.
Early in his career, Johnny Cash would announce: »If you have any requests – if we know ’em, we’ll play ’em. If we don’t know the song, we’ll learn it and play it next time.«
Proper customer service.
Nothing wrong with a bit of theatrical convention. No audience member interrupts To Be or Not to Be by shouting “‘ang on! He’s talking to himself! Why’s he looking at us in the audience?”, or interrupting a theatrical aside with “Those other characters can still hear you, you know”. I think it’s all part of the willing suspension of disbelief that you sign up to when engaging with Ver Arts.
Also, purely from a musical perspective, it can allow the band to reset and change musical gears: often a first encore song might be something slower which could have lost the gig some momentum in the main set; the encore applause can help to cast a reflective song in a more flattering light.
I don’t mind it.
At Band on the Wall last night, Jon Boden finished his set, with the Remnant Kings, by announcing the last song, but, should anyone wonder, he did have one further song, should anyone wish to ask for an encore. They did, keeping the applause going for the full 5 seconds he and the band were off stage for.
For the record, let me say what a delight he and this band are. I normally cannot stand his grating tone deaf corncrake of a voice, spoiling, thus, his duo with John Spiers and also Bellowhead. Oddly, it works a treat for this set of, often, old music hall songs. With the ambience of Richard E. Grant, in Withnail, conducting a school assembly, it was grand. Interesting instrumental line-up of bass, drums, concertina, fiddle, oboe and pedal steel, with the singer on keyboards: a plinky electric piano, and guitar.
I saw Brian Wilson in Dubai and at the end of the show prior to an encore Al Jardine took Brian by the hand and led him to a chair at the back of the stage where they sat for a few minutes before resuming. It was so sad.
Years ago, I saw a trendy Neil Labute play starring Paul Rudd where the author made clear that he would not allow a curtain call of any kind at the end as he thought they were self-indulgent ,which I still think is a pretentious and arsey way to treat a theatre audience who have watched actors perform fort a couple of hours.