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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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nicholsr
59 posts
 

This is certainly a yesteryear thread and rightfully so, but since i cannot remember the opening acts to all the great shows i saw in the 70's/80's, I'll offer a recent great opening act.  Katie Pruitt opening for My Morning Jacket at Beech Mountain, Summer '23.  After she was done, my son went down to the concession area and stopped by Katie's booth.  He asked if she had any vinyl for sale and they had one copy of her album. Katie signed it.  It's a great record, all the way through.  She's appeared on CBS Saturday morning and I'm convinced she'll be big someday.

mitchellman1
14 posts
 

Technically not an opener but 2nd on the billing, U2 playing before Todd Rundgren at the Concert for Children show at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill 1983. It was raining and Bono climbed the stage scaffolding during their set.

forestg
31 posts
 

An unknown band named Tesla opened for David Lee Roth.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings played before the Tedeschi Trucks Band on the Wheels of Soul tour 2015. They were an established band, but I had never seen them.

And a kid I had never heard of played before Tedeschi Trucks on another Wheels of Soul Tour named Marcus King. He was incredible.

markmoskow
47 posts
 

Several.

Santana, opening for Canned Heat, 1969.

John McLaughlin opening for Steve Miller Band, about ten years ago....I stayed for 2 songs from Miller and left. A joke after McLaughlin.

Leon Russell, first few months on his comeback, opening for Hot Tuna. Jorma had enough sense to take it all the way down to a slow acoustic blues for a bit, as if it was still intermission.

 

 

jonwolfpell
416 posts
 

Marshall Tucker Band opened for the Allman Bros in ‘74. Both were great!!

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