2. music
  3. 193216-2248

The best opening act you've ever seen & heard?

 

I have two:

 

In 1983 I went to see The Plimsouls (Peter Case’s pre-solo career band) at The Garage, a tiny little "club" on Ventura Blvd. The room had filled up (elbow-to-elbow tight), and the opening act started their set. My woman and I both looked at each other, our mouths agape. It was Los Lobos, and they were great! Their debut album How Will The Wolf Survive? had yet to be released, but I sure picked it up when it was.

 

I went to see John Hiatt at The Roxy Theater on Sunset Blvd. during his Perfectly Good Guitar tour, entering the room just as the opening act was starting her final song. The ads for the show listed her name, which was unfamiliar to me. As the song started and progressed, I was stunned; the song she and her band were performing was a great one, and I knew I had missed a quality set of music. It was Sheryl Crow, whose debut album had not yet been released. Damn it!

 

128x128bdp24
mksun
542 posts
 

@tonyrox I was at that concert at the LA Coliseum in 1981, and I remember the booing and someone throwing a bottle at Prince which essentially ended his set. The following year he released “1999” and had the last laugh. In 1982 I was back at the LA Coliseum and saw the Clash open for the Who. 

krkingar
1 posts
 

1972/73 I had a single ticket for the Loggins & Messina concert at the Berkeley Community Theatre - which was actually attached to Berkeley HS. and at that time one of the nicest rock venues.  The Opener was a guy I'd never heard of and the Grand piano sitting on one side of the stage didn't shed much hope for a great rock experience - the guy finally came out with just a lead guitarist and a drummer, sat down at the piano and busted out "Travelin' Prayer" and then pretty much the entire songbook from his first record that hadn't yet been released (Piano Man) - Never felt the same about Rock & piano players after that - Really couldn't tell you much about Loggins & Messina's performance either - 52yrs later - still my favorite concert !

wharfy's avatar
wharfy
361 posts
 

@immatthewj -

I don't remember the song they played together. Looking through setlist.fm it probably was "Daddy's Little Pumpkin". 

"Girl in the War" is one of my wife's favorite Ritter songs. He's quite a songwriter and performer. Last Spring he did a small solo tour, road testing new songs and playing older ones. Wow, wow, wow...

Sermon on the Rocks and Gathering are terrific, if you get the chance to hear them.

thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian
4,873 posts
 

"What kind of idiot would boo Linda Ronstadt?"

Probably the ones who came down from Massachusetts. They’re like that.

Billy Squier opening for Queen right after his ’Don’t Say No’ album came out, Hartford Civic Center.

Collective Soul opening for 3 Doors Down, at Mohegan Sun Arena. Left after Collective Soul.

Side note; Went to see Flock of Seagulls on Panama City Beach. Leaning on center stage and high diving the lead singer throughout. Final song, he bent down and asked me if I knew it. I said yes, and he motioned me up on stage to do a duet with him before ushering up the hot girls in the crowd to dance to it. Don't judge me.

thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian
4,873 posts
 

That should be 'high fiving'. Stupid autocorrect.

More to discover