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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!

 

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jreiter
16 posts
 

@larsman ... that's a great idea! 

middlemass
928 posts
 

"Styx opened for Marty Robbins??!!! That’s inspired! Dang, somebody should start a thread about the most unlikely-billed shows they’ve ever gone to.."

 

I wasn’t there but how about Jimi Hendrix opening for The Monkees?

 

 

 

 

jplunkettj
61 posts
 

1978 The Warehouse in New Orleans. The Specials opened for The Police.  We didn't know who they were at the time, but were absolutely blown away by their pure fun energy.  They were actually swinging from the rafters in the venue.  Everyone in our college gang immediately went out and bought their album.

jmalen123
168 posts
 

Mine was seeing Pat Benatar open for Billy Squire. Pat and Spyder killed it, and Squire got booed off the stage. As a side note... Santana's drummer Michael Shrieve was the youngest performer at Woodstock.

littleman
43 posts
 

Mid 70's, Wings arena in Kalamazoo, Rush opened for ZZ top...blew ZZ off the stage...over half the audience left after the first couple of ZZ songs...

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