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

Immatthewj, Im thinking it was mid 80's...?

Maybe it was during his Guitar Town heyday, @winoguy17  ?

I know that he went on to say something to the effect of "Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that."  I heard him interviewed sometime after that and he walked it back a bit, saying that at the time Townes was in a rough period and that he was just trying to bolster him up.  I saw another interview on youtube, and Steve said that Townes said something to the effect of being appreciative, but considering Bob Dylan's bodyguards, maybe he ought to reconsider.  Steve said that he has seen Bob Dylan's bodyguard and he wasn't worried because he (the bodyguard) was nothing special.  

@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. 

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 !

@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.

"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.