Punk rockers Pup insist thereB次元官网网址檚 a time and place for concert encores B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 not usually at one of their shows.
Shortly before the start of their 2019 tour, the Toronto band made a pact to stop playing into one of live musicB次元官网网址檚 biggest charades. They banned the encore from their setlists and didnB次元官网网址檛 look back.
B次元官网网址淎n encoreB次元官网网址檚 supposed to be when something really special happens,B次元官网网址� said PupB次元官网网址檚 lead singer Stefan Babcock.
B次元官网网址淵ou go above and beyond, because people need to hear another song.B次元官网网址�
Babcock canB次元官网网址檛 stand the farcical nature of process, how at some point, what used to be an impromptu stage call turned into a faux finale starring both the performers and the audience.
If youB次元官网网址檝e been to a concert, you know the drill: the band leaves the stage, everyone cheers, while the auditorium sits in the dark as the applause continues. The crowd waits, and waitsB次元官网网址nd waits.
Once theyB次元官网网址檝e milked the applause, the performers return to the stage to knock out a few more tracks. One of them is usually their biggest hit, which they conspicuously didnB次元官网网址檛 play during the set all but certain theyB次元官网网址檇 need it for the big finish.
The tradition is so deeply ingrained in the DNA of a modern concert that Pup felt it was necessary to explain why they didnB次元官网网址檛 want to participate, in hopes it would extinguish any false theatrics or potential disappointment from their fans.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 need our egos to be stroked,B次元官网网址� Babcock said in reflection. B次元官网网址淧eople clap after we play songs; thatB次元官网网址檚 good enough.B次元官网网址�
The banality of encores has long been a frustration for some musicians, but in recent years a growing number of notable acts have taken a stand against performing them at all.
Grimes, the electro-pop artist from Vancouver, has told audiences she doesnB次元官网网址檛 like the pause between her main set and the inevitable return to the stage, so sheB次元官网网址檚 simply eliminated it in favour of a longer performance.
Alessia Cara nixed encores from her latest The Pains of Growing Tour because she B次元官网网址渁lways felt weirdB次元官网网址� about dropping the contrived expectations onto fans.
B次元官网网址淚 like ending where the showB次元官网网址檚 supposed to end,B次元官网网址� said the Grammy-winning pop singer.
B次元官网网址淭hey know itB次元官网网址檚 done and we know itB次元官网网址檚 done, rather than an: B次元官网网址楢h, tricked you.B次元官网网址� We all know that itB次元官网网址檚 going to happenB次元官网网址� so itB次元官网网址檚 kind of like what are we really doing this for?B次元官网网址�
Saving the biggest songs for last can also unexpectedly backfire, like it did for the Jonas Brothers at their Toronto show last August. The trio ran into what they later called an B次元官网网址渦nforeseen technical difficultyB次元官网网址� that caused them to leave the stage and not return for an encore, which wouldB次元官网网址檝e featured their hits B次元官网网址漇uckerB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏urninB次元官网网址� Up.B次元官网网址�
Some concertgoers responded angrily on social media, while others posted videos of fans singing their own encore.
Arkells frontman Max Kerman believes thereB次元官网网址檚 a degree of awareness that performers must have to pull off a successful encore. If the crowd isnB次元官网网址檛 feeling the show, he said, itB次元官网网址檚 better to just sign off and turn up the lights.
B次元官网网址淵ou should know before the end of the set if youB次元官网网址檙e going to have an encore,B次元官网网址� said the Hamilton singer, who sometimes dons a shiny gold jacket with B次元官网网址淓NCOREB次元官网网址� written across the back in sequins.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes weB次元官网网址檝e got to the end and IB次元官网网址檒l say to the guys: B次元官网网址榃eB次元官网网址檙e wrapping this up, no encore.B次元官网网址� And then IB次元官网网址檒l say to our sound guy B次元官网网址楧ave, this is for real, the last one,B次元官网网址� so he knows to hit that P.A. music.B次元官网网址�
But artists arenB次元官网网址檛 always so lucky to have full control of their shows. Some event promoters will build into their contracts that each musician plays a certain period of time, followed by an encore.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 when it feels artificial,B次元官网网址� said country singer Tim Hicks. B次元官网网址淭he encore should not be an automatic thing. The encore is for a crowd that gives as much as you give as a performer.B次元官网网址�
Tom Cochrane, a grizzled veteran whoB次元官网网址檚 played his hits B次元官网网址淟ife is a HighwayB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏ig LeagueB次元官网网址� on the Canadian tour circuit for decades, considers the encore B次元官网网址渁 necessary componentB次元官网网址� of the concert experience.
ItB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渢he ultimate tribute,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淎n encore is a big part of what we are. The curtain call is an important thing. ItB次元官网网址檚 always been an important thing in theatre and important in musicB次元官网网址� I love doing the encore.B次元官网网址�
David Friend, The Canadian Press
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