Why is it, after a good 50 years of ‘popular music’ and the concept of the ‘gig’, do modern bands; no matter how diverse or anti-conformist their music claims to be – STILL peddle the sad masquerade of the ‘encore’.

Why do they bother? They thank the audience, they say goodnight and they walk off stage, knowing all too well that in less than 5 minutes they’ll be back on the stage doing the exact same thing. Do they really believe that modern audiences, as savvy as we are, can’t put 2 and 2 together and see that – even though the band have said goodnight, the house lights still haven’t come on? And, do they really think that having guitar techs run around the stage tuning the guitars not give away the fact that… the band might use them again?

After standing in a hot, sweaty venue for a couple of hours (depending on the price you paid for the ticket, but invariably it will be hot and sweaty), having beer spilled down your back and having your feet trodden into the ground… do the audience really have to go through the encore pantomime again? Oh wait… they’re leaving… maybe if we shout loud enough, and show them how much they mean to us in our pathetic little lives… MAYBE THEY’LL PLAY AGAIN! COME ON GUYS!! I MEAN, THEY MUST LIKE US, THEY MENTIONED OUR CITY WHEN THEY SAID ‘HELLO [insert town here]’. Pssh. Come on… they’ve already planned their set list. It doesn’t matter if the band like you or hate you. It doesn’t matter if the audience hate the band, they’ll still be back… and you’ll still cheer as if it was a surprise.

Isn’t it entertainment gospel that you should always leave the audience wanting more? It’s cheating slightly if you just walk off mid-set. How about, instead of the tired theatrics, you just play an amazing hour long set, packed with amazing energy and excitement, leaving out the songs that people probably won’t like, and then you just fuck off? Hmm?