Fake Encore! It's a Fake Encore, Right?

actually we never even asked for an encore.

Saw the Gaslight Anthem last night at webster hall.... they rock. like really kick ass at their shows. just an awesome performance.  i only had one complaint. the fake encore.

this is not their fault. fake encores are an epidemic, and they are pointless.... and frankly, a little insulting.

last night show featured the band walking off the stage saying "goodnight" to the crowd after playing for a little over an hour.  people are conditioned to expect a fake encore... and the gaslight obliged. they came out and played for almost another hour.

what an encore!!!

i mean, come on... why even do that? they basically played two sets. thats awesome. call it that. why (half-heartedly)  fake like you are done, when you fully plan on playing another hour? i don't get it. fans aren't faked out.... if they were, they would probably riot since playing an hour would really tick the majority of the crowd off.

the term encore is defined as: "a demand, as by applause, for a repetition of a song, act, etc.,"

most bands save their fake encore for a final one or two songs... some even have a fake 'double' encore.... these were songs they had intended to play all along... as a concert goer, i would much rather have them just play straight through. i can handle not knowing when the show will end.

is it an ego boost thing? i mean, i guess bands like to feel like they are being called back on stage... even if they're not, really.


i have no idea what the thought process is.... i've never been in a band (unless you count the four squeezers, but we were way ahead of the accapella craze by about 20 years and were never given a fair shake).... i bet they started off as "if they call us out for an encore, what song should we play?" type of discussion before the show... then became "when they call us out, we're gonna play these two songs"... and now its "we just gonna do second mini-set"


again, thats fine. i guess my problem is with the "goodnight" or any language the band throws out there, trying to play it off like they are done.... 


but if i had the choice, i'd rather just hear all the songs you planned on playing, with out a drawn out farce. if you need to take a few breaks throughout the show, go for it. 

lonesome billy always tells it like it it.

the only band i know of that does not do this is buffalo tom (and that's in large part because the venues they play these days don't have a 'back stage' for them to retire to)... but when they get to the end of the show, bill janovitz always jokingly says "and we're gonna go right into the encore"

i appreciate the honesty bill.

just don't tell him he reminds you of boggs from shawshank

i also saw roger clyne and the peacemakers at bb kings about a month ago... they did the fake encore thing.... and they were done... off the stage, show was over... but the crowd was going bonkers... they wanted an encore... and they got back on stage and played another. you could tell it was authentic, becuase they literally were debating on what song to play.... it was very cool. probably the only non-alta mira related 'real' encore i've ever seen (PC tangent - alta mira's 1999 performace at that party featuring hank the angry dwarf was one of the best shows ever... plus their encore involved them actually playing 'ophelia' for the second time. never even heard of anyone doing that)

good show, hank!

actually, now that i think about it, i am just as much as a fraud on this. because even after buffalo tom's 'honest non-encore' i'm still screaming like an idiot for 'one more song'... the same way i wanted the peacemakers to play after their fake encore.... actually thats probably why they do it in the first place... just to shut up drunken fans... writing this may have been a waste of time.... not encore worthy at all.

and the gaslight seriously kicks ass. can't wait to see 'em again. fake encore and all.