Why do the manics not 'do' encores?

[MrsCarbohydrate]

Originally Posted by hummingbird

Bryan Adams did three encores at wembley in 1992. Thought it entertaining to see the crowd stay for the first one then some of em not expect the second one. By the third everyone on the pitch started leaving only to turn around and move back en masse when he came back again. I know he's a bit shit but back then i thought he was AMAZING.

Three encores is too much! Travis did about six hundred encores at a festival in Latvia a couple of years ago, so the manics were about half an hour late on. I was not impressed; the Latvians loved it though...

[Alexkid]

It's always really cringeworthy when it's been a crap gig/rubbish crowd and no-one claps/chants for more. Then the artist/band has to come back on stage to awkward silence. This always happens in Aberdeen. I kind of think the Music Hall (most wonderful venue ever) should be dismantled and re-constructed somewhere where they actually appreciate music.

[UEF]

I too find them incredibly fake. Especially when you see bands go off and not do "their song", only to come back and do it in encore. It's just complete bollocks, if you're going to do that you might as well leave the stage suspended by wires and clouded in dry ice.

[helvissa]

Morrissey does encores. It's quite annoying cos everyone stands about knowing he'll be back, and you're thinking, "hurry the fuck up, you old git, I'll miss my bus!"

And then when he comes back on, he feigns surprise that anyone loves him at all. *eyeroll* In his case, encores are total pantomime. That whole "Who, me? You're actually here because you like me?" thing... but then again, you come to expect it so it's part of the show. Usually ends on a Smiths song... "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out", I think I've seen him do. And of course, if he hasn't already played it during the rest of the set, then you can pretty much guess it'll turn up in the encore. It's quite a beautiful and apt song to end a show with, though.

Brett Anderson's another one for encores, I seem to remember. And again, little surprise there. "Yeah, you all love me, yeah, let's get on with it, here's "Animal Nitrate"." *microphone spanking recommences*

[Deets]

Originally Posted by L.A.M.F

21-05-91 London Marquee

is it the one the band got angry as very few people stayed for the encore?

[itsjustaride]

It's not very "punk", whats why!

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

Originally Posted by itsjustaride

It's not very "punk", whats why!

Neither are the Manics these days though.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by harrijack

Midge Ure summed-up the majority on encores when I saw him last. He said, 'You're all so used to encores nowadays that if I just played this whole setlist and walked off you'd probably all feel short-changed. So what I have to do is play all of them but three, pretend to go offstage and be getting into my car when I'm lured back by applause, and then finish the set..."

So? It's a bit theatrical, but it's fun. I like encores because they're sort of an advance warning system to let you know that the gig's coming to an end soon. If a band just walk off and don't come back on my poor brain can't handle it. Encores help me to prepare for the inevitable.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by harrijack

Midge Ure summed-up the majority on encores when I saw him last. He said, 'You're all so used to encores nowadays that if I just played this whole setlist and walked off you'd probably all feel short-changed. So what I have to do is play all of them but three, pretend to go offstage and be getting into my car when I'm lured back by applause, and then finish the set..."

I saw Imogen Heap say "This is the last song", then chuckled and said something about feeling like a professional liar. Midge Ure is the man though!

[Bathtub]

I saw the Brian Jonestown Massacre about 9/10 years ago and they came back on when the house lights had come up, after a pretty lousy half arsed performance in their main set, to play half a song stop and then berate the crowd at tedious length for not being into them enough.

I couldn't give a shit about encores, they neither annoy nor please me.

[Frozendiva]

It's also not fun when a show is supposed to start at a certain time and the band in question doesn't show up til midnight or 1 a.m. (cough GNR cough) Uh, people do have jobs, especially if it's on a weeknight. If you didn't park your car at the arena, it's a long wait to get home. Or expensive by taxi.

I don't care for the 'encore'. If it's spontaneous and deserved, great. I've experienced a few of those. The rest, meh. Play the show and if you're good, you can do an encore. That's real. And earned.

[L.A.M.F]

Originally Posted by Deets

is it the one the band got angry as very few people stayed for the encore?

Ive only heard a dodgy audio recording but there was a few people in the audience that were yelling all sorts of obsceneties when they returned to play you love us for a second time. Great early gig though!

[wireobsessed]

It would seem wierd if the Manics started doing encores now. I love the fact they don't.

[L.A.M.F]

Originally Posted by wireobsessed

It would seem wierd if the Manics started doing encores now. I love the fact they don't.

Agreed!

[El_Scorcho]

I played an "encore" once, we genuinely hadn't planned one (it was more a "one more tune!" thing before we had left the stage) and ended up playing a song that was not ready for public consumption. Disaster! I saw The Cribs about a year ago and they warned the audience that "we don't do encores 'cos they're shit" or similar and finished with City Of Bugs, which was refreshing. The dearly departed Reuben used to say all of their thanks and goodbyes before the final song of the set and then leave without any fuss afterwards.

I like that the Manics don't do it, even if I felt very confused the first time I saw them. If they played fan-favourites maybe, but following A Design For Life at the end would be tough (that said, I'm all for ADFL being placed early in the set as per the PPF tour... just saying...).