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!
@wharfy , was it Daddy's Little Pumkin? I like Josh Ritter a lot. Girl In The War back in '07 is what turned me on to him. But sadly, I haven't followed up on him much. |
@winoguy17 , Steve Earle is one of my favorites; I would have loved to see that. What year was that? |
@tony1954 , and Linda Ronstadt is another one of my favorites! I remember seeing a documentary about her (I think it was on CNN) and I kind of remember that the documentary talking about that tour (Young & Ronstadt) and saying that she did such a great job as an opener that Young had her alternate with him on who would open and who would headline. If I remember correctly, he could get some extra rest this way. |
Not and opening act, but... I saw Bonnie Raitt playing unannounced/unadvertised @ the Airliner Bar (Iowa City, IA) on Friday March 29, 1974 with no cover charge. Was walking down the street, heard the music and then saw her on a little pool table sized stage through the window. She was a backup musician for Muddy Waters who played Iowa City's Hancher Auditorium the following evening (Saturday).
DeKay |
