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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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deecee's avatar
deecee
108 posts
 

In the seventies, Earl Klugh (who I never heard of at the time) opened for Bob James.

After the concert, the record store was still open, so I bought every Earl Klugh album they had.

His live performances are WAY better than his studio work (which still ain’t shabby!)

A few years back Ledisi opened for Gregory Porter. She was excellent! Funny, warm and told some fun stories. Since I had a VIP package my wife and I posed with her and got some nice pictures (when I posed with her she looked at my wife and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll give him back when I’m through!” She was very sweet and funny!

 

orenstein
68 posts
 

Great thread!

In 1972 I went to a free concert in Eisenhower Park on Long Island, NY to see (if you can believe it) Jay and the Americans.  The opening act was an unknown group called Steely Dan!

thr1961's avatar
thr1961
69 posts
 

Great thread!
 

I have a few:
 

1. Definitely the Clash opening for the Who at Shea stadium 
2. Jimmy Cliff opening for Van Morrison at an outdoor show in what used to be called Great Woods in Massachusetts 
3. Simple Minds opening for the Pretenders in Hartford CT
4. The Go Gos opening for the Police in New Haven 

audition__audio
1,544 posts
 

AC/DC opening for UFO in 1978.

audio-oldie
11 posts
 

It was 1978 and as a young G.I. at Fort Hood we went down to Austin to listen to Renaissance.  The opening act was AL DiMeola and I have been a HUGE fan ever since.

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