1. When the band/artist fills up the set with cover versions. Fair enough if you're a relatively new act with only one album under your belt, but when veteran artists ignore gems from their own back catalogue in favour of performing somebody elses song it really pisses me off (I'm looking at you Prince, Guns N Roses and Tori Amos!). I don't go to see my favourite artist to watch them perform songs I either don't know or don't care for.

2. When the band/artist look like they're just going through the motions. I mean, at least fucking pretend that you're engaged and feeling the music. It's an insult to hard working folk who travel from afar, book hotels and save up their money to go and watch some over-indulged star play for the minimal amount of time, putting in the minimal amount of effort (ahem... *cough* Prince 21 Nights *cough*).

[Edited 3/23/12 9:05am]

when every song has to end with a bang/explosion

I actually love great musicians' take on other musicians' work, so covers are usally welcome.

But, obviously, I primarily want to hear the artists' own work, so for me it's really a matter of percentages. If the set is 20 songs long, then 2 covers are definitely welcome. But, if there are considerably more, I might be disappointed, not because the covers are necessarily bad, but because I wanted to hear more of the artist's own work. Expand the set and I'd accept more covers.

I'd like to add this:

-when the WHOLE crowd is just yelling for one last song, or another short encore, maybe a hit, maybe a rare song, maybe a short acoustic jam, whatever, but the star is already drinking in the "camerino", not giving a damn because the set-list is the SAME every fuckin' night, and hey, "I'm too tired for another song, and hey, unless it's the Madison or the O21, I don't really care about the audience"

great

What I hate is when they play the song I went to go hear THEM sing and they turn the mic to the audience and want me to sing it to them! I'm talking to you, Beyonce... (and ???)

I am paying to hear YOU sing the song. Not me. Just sayin'.

I hate it when I go to a concert and hear some random person shout "Free Bird" at the top of their lungs in between songs. As if Mariah Carey or Britney Spears is going to sing Lynard Skynard at their concert.

MattyJam said:

1. When the band/artist fills up the set with cover versions. Fair enough if you're a relatively new act with only one album under your belt, but when veteran artists ignore gems from their own back catalogue in favour of performing somebody elses song it really pisses me off (I'm looking at you Prince, Guns N Roses and Tori Amos!). I don't go to see my favourite artist to watch them perform songs I either don't know or don't care for.

2. When the band/artist look like they're just going through the motions. I mean, at least fucking pretend that you're engaged and feeling the music. It's an insult to hard working folk who travel from afar, book hotels and save up their money to go and watch some over-indulged star play for the minimal amount of time, putting in the minimal amount of effort (ahem... *cough* Prince 21 Nights *cough*).

[Edited 3/23/12 9:05am]

and George Michael! He could have done Careless Wisper, I want your sex, Fastlove...but no, he does Rihanna!

[Edited 3/24/12 5:29am]

2 of my biggest pet peeves about a live show #1 please let the show be live i cant stand coming 2 a show and they lip syncing and im like wow i could of stayed home and watched the video. #3 put some cheography and thought in2 t he show please dont just stand there make it worth my money honey bun

FormerlyKnownAs said:

What I hate is when they play the song I went to go hear THEM sing and they turn the mic to the audience and want me to sing it to them! I'm talking to you, Beyonce... (and ???)

I am paying to hear YOU sing the song. Not me. Just sayin'.

Fuck yes!!! Irritates the hell out of me. I paid money to hear YOU sing the fucking songs. I can sing the songs in the shower and in my car for free.