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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Wow, lots of incredible combinations. Here's my add - March 1976, WSU Coliseum War (Cisco Kid, Lowrider) is the headliner. I was working as part of the local crew. The opening act is a band from Seattle with two female singers who'd just released their first album.

Their hit was 'Dreamboat Annie' and they rocked the house. Their name was Heart. They started their first National tour 2 weeks later. I was offered the job as stage manager, but i was halfway through my senior year of College, and said no. Bur 2 weeks after school ended, I started work with Stanal Sound, and two weeks later, I was on tour with John Denver. 

In 1967 a friend I was visiting in Santa Barbara knew I was a Tim Buckley fan so he gets us tix for a concert. Tim opened the show (who knew?) followed by Jimi Hendrix and Moby Grape. I've never fully recovered.

Al Jarreau opening for George Benson in the '70s, when I was in high school. subsequently saw him a number of times in small venues in Chicago, before he hit the big time.

What a talent!

Rory Gallagher open for ZZ Top in 76

Steeley Dan opened for Rare Earth in 73

Cactus opened for Trapeze early 70’s