Actually, "riddle" is a bit of a misnomer, since it implies an answer. But I'm curious:
Let's say a well-regarded band you like is playing three consecutive shows in your city. Which show do you see: the first show, the second show or the third show? And why?
In theory, the third and final show allows for the most potential surprises. The first show often gets you the most crowd-pleasing set. The second show, however, might feature a similar set to the first, yet the band may be looser (in a good way) and prone to throw in an extra song or two to rectify whatever oversight marred the first show.
If you planned for the third show instead of the second or first, and the band died in some horrible accident, you'd feel really dumb. If you planned for the first, you'd miss whatever surprises are in store for the last. If you went to the second, you could very well miss out on the best of either extreme. Etc.
So what would you all do? This exercise is strictly hypothetical, just for fun.
― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Friday, 29 October 2004 18:55 (twenty-one years ago)
Prince did this in St. Paul earlier this year. Saw the third show, and I can't really imagine anything he could've done that'd improve on it. But yeah, the third show was a good blend of reliable classics and left-field things (an acoustic goof on "Jailhouse Rock"; a hellfire cover of Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love").
― MC Transmaniacon (natepatrin), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)
All three is really not much of an answer. Choose! Choose!
― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Friday, 29 October 2004 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)
This reminds me: In the reader I noticed the Donnas are playing three shows in Chicago this weekend (Metro, Park West, House of Blues), which I find odd for some reason. One is a freakin' ManCow event! wtf?
― frankE (frankE), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)
Go to Park West, where the crowd will be older / smell better / have digital cameras.
Three-night stands always seem to me to be a function of price, location, ticket availability, personal schedule, what night everyone else is going, etc.
― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 29 October 2004 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)
I suppose "all three" is a legitimate choice. But, assuming one has the time and money, when would "all three" not suffice?
― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Friday, 29 October 2004 21:14 (twenty-one years ago)