I am never surprised by an encore anymore, nor do I think they have any meaning anymore. I would love to see encores phased out of performances, and if I ever get to a point in playing where I could potentially play an encore, I would not (UNLESS [and this is a big unless] it is under the terms of what an encore is supposed to be). I hate hate HATE seeing encores included in the setlist.

Finch - What It Is to Burn

I think all of the encores I've experienced were written down on the band's set-list. Don't think that counts.

Freebird?

All I know is that when I saw The Gentlemen last year at their album release show I was really annoyed that they didn't come out and play an encore. Despite everyone standing there and shouting for a couple of minutes. Really disappointing.

Anberlin played a good encore when I saw them in Manchester last year. Manchester Orchestra's Andy Hull played two of his own acoustic tracks as an encore when I saw them too. That was a beautiful moment.

Bruce did the encore right last night. He didn't walk off stage.. he just said thanks, then finished with another six or seven songs (including fan requests).

Encores should only happen when a band has exhausted their scheduled set, and then feels like treating the crowd. Playing the same songs night after night, encore after encore, is just cheesy. A ton of bands do it, though.

-ACA

It would be nice to get a truly spontaneous and deserved encore, but I think some bands still do it right, even when it is on the set list. TSL was really good about mixing songs up a little bit and just generally having fun with the encore, not really sticking to a specific script or anything.

I've been to too many concerts to think of one encore that really sticks out in my mind.

I think they've defiently lost their meaning, now its just expected that the band is going to come out and play some more songs.

Originally Posted by ACA

Bruce did the encore right last night. He didn't walk off stage.. he just said thanks, then finished with another six or seven songs (including fan requests).

Encores should only happen when a band has exhausted their scheduled set, and then feels like treating the crowd. Playing the same songs night after night, encore after encore, is just cheesy. A ton of bands do it, though.

-ACA

I think the idea behind an encore is good, but at the same time you always want to leave people wanting more. This is kind of the thin line for me. As someone in a band, you want people to feel like they need to see you again.

Originally Posted by The Revisionist

I am never surprised by an encore anymore, nor do I think they have any meaning anymore. I would love to see encores phased out of performances, and if I ever get to a point in playing where I could potentially play an encore, I would not (UNLESS [and this is a big unless] it is under the terms of what an encore is supposed to be). I hate hate HATE seeing encores included in the setlist.

I didn't even read your post...that avatar is too awesome!!!

I hate the idea of a planned encore. It's really just become an excuse to get the crowd level of excitement up again. Play your set, if people want more, they'll let you know. The planned double-encore is even more annoying...

Some bands like Every Time I Die don't even do encores, but for the most part, I do like them. Bottom line, even though they're all assumed and often planned on the set list, it's more music to hear. Plus, you get to re-experience the lights going down and the band coming out to the stage and the crowd going wild, that's always a pretty cool feeling.

A band like Pearl Jam actually plays close to half their set in encores, in the end it's fun, but not really surprising anymore.

I'm actually more surprised now when a band doesn't play an encore.

Best Encore I've experienced- Coheed & Cambria- NY NeverEnder Nights I & IV, simply because I doubt anyone had a clue of what to expect. Night I was a face-melter for sure, while Night IV was just ridiculous, and you could actually see the band truly enjoying the crowd's repsonse and enjoying themselves (and hell, after for epic nights, who can blame them!)

However, most encores nowadays are pretty much a given, whether written on a set list or not. Truthfully, I'd rather they just phase out the encore and add those songs to the normal set list. They are not "faking out" the crowd, we all know you're coming back- hell 99% of the time we can see you in the wings having a some water/soda/beer, counting the seconds til you come back!

Encores were rewards or rare treats. Please return them to such. Or have the testicular fortitude to walk off stage and stay off stage. I'd probably be way more impressed if that happened.