See, we're coming from completely different places, because I didn't mean a big send off like a hit song. If I go see Phish, a big send off doesn't mean a "hit song." If anything, their most well known song as an encore (YEM) is a magical treat that is a HUGE send off on an amazing show. They don't do that often and they don't have hit songs hahaha.
A huge send off may be a song a band hasn't played in years, or it may be a song that's meant to be the last opportunity for the crowd to get down and dance. With a band that plays a lot of live shows, an encore may be to make up for a sloppy performance, it may be to celebrate what a wonderful show they just played, or it may be sending a message (i.e. fuck you) to a lame crowd.
A big send off to a knowledgable crowd may be a cover never before performed, a rare song from the band's catalog, a 3 song encore when there's usually only one. I think you missed what I meant by "big send off."
Like you I don't see Bon Jovi or bands that give you a predictable setlist that you could find was played every other night on a national tour, with the same predictable encores. Not because of the encore itself, but because if I want to listen to greatest hits, I'll put on the greatest hits CD and have a beer on the back porch rather than spending $100.
Oh…see I like what you’re saying…and I get that with different shows (i.e. a Bon Jovi vs a Phish), an encore means something else.
If there is some element of surprise in the encore, like a song they haven’t played in years, then I’m totally more appreciative. That’s kinda what I was saying. I just don’t necessarily like the whole act of leaving the stage waiting for the audience to scream, coming back on as if they never intended to do that anyway thing. But if they play something interesting and unexpected (or if it’s like a thing that they always close with one song…) then it makes it much better.
I don’t know, I mean concerts are really funny things if you think about it. It’s a band or an artist, catering to hundreds to thousands of people, who all have their own idea of what constitutes a great show. I mean…concerts are really actually quite personal things, wrapped in the most impersonal setting possible. You know?
In the Saddle
