The theatrical exit, fake goodbye, and inevitable return feels increasingly hollow. Maybe it's time artists just played their bloody hits.
Picture this: The Jungle Giants finish their set at Brunswick Ballroom, wave goodbye, walk off stage, and then... that's it. No waiting around for three minutes while the crowd chants, no theatrical return, no "one more song" charade. Just a complete show that included all the songs people came to hear.
Revolutionary? Hardly. But in 2026, it might just feel that way.
The encore has become music's most predictable magic trick. Everyone knows it's coming, everyone knows it's fake, yet we all still play along with this bizarre ritual. Artists like Phil Jamieson have been doing it for decades, but does anyone actually believe he's genuinely surprised by the crowd's enthusiasm after 30-odd years of performing?
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The Theatre of False Goodbyes
Walk into any venue from Chinese Laundry to The Triffid on any given night, and you'll witness the same performance. Band finishes, leaves stage, crowd cheers predictably, band returns looking "shocked" by the response. It's musical theatre at its most transparent.
The problem isn't the extra songs – it's the dishonesty. When Enter Shikari hits Brisbane this weekend, they know exactly which songs will close their show. So why the pantomime?
Just Build a Better Set
Here's a radical thought: structure your show properly from the start. If "that song" – you know, the one everyone's waiting for – is essential to the experience, just put it in the actual setlist. Save everyone the awkward standing around.
Artists like 360 have built careers on knowing exactly what their audience wants. The encore pretence undermines that connection. It suggests the artist doesn't trust their own judgement about what constitutes a complete show.
The Festival Reality Check
Notice how this rarely happens at festivals? When Dark Mofo rolls around in June, acts don't disappear for encores because there's no time for theatrical nonsense. They play their allotted slot, hit the highlights, and leave everyone satisfied.
That's not a limitation – it's clarity. It's respecting both the music and the audience's time.
Authenticity Over Artifice
The best live experiences happen when artists commit fully to the moment they're in. Whether it's an intimate show at Brunswick Artists Bar or a packed night at venues across the country, genuine connection beats choreographed surprise every time.
The encore isn't dead because it never really lived. It's been a zombie shuffling through Australian venues for decades, and maybe it's time to put it out of its misery.
Ready to experience live music without the theatrical exits? Discover authentic gigs happening now on musick.com.au – where every show is exactly what it claims to be.