Best opening act you've sat through. *

Nirvana before Dinosaur Jr., a few weeks before Nevermind came out.

 

Alice In Chains opening for Van Halen.

 

A practically unknown Eagles opening for Procol Harum (touring in support of their monster single, Conquistador) circa 1972. This in contrast to their very mehhh performance in 1980 on their mega tour in support of Hotel California after they'd hit the big time.

 

Need to look through ticket studs for this, but off the top of my head:

Great White before Alice Cooper (Britney Fox opened and were awful). Great White rolled the volume back, was still loud but was crystal clear - and played a great set mostly from their current album Twice Shy at the time. Alice Cooper was touring Trash - and that's how he sounded when the volume went back up. Was a disappointment as it was my first Cooper gig. Was a big fan of his 70's work as well - and it didn't need to be played at ear bleeding volume.

 

Whoa, whoa - ticket studs is a totally different thread!

 

Bob Seger returned to the road after a long hiatus in 1996 and his opening act was John Hiatt, who was absolutely amazing. It was a short set (35 - 40 minutes,) but man, was Hiatt great! Seger was great as well, but I was a bit taken back because it was the first time I had ever heard a singer take his songs down a key because his vocal range had lost a little.

 

The Ben Miller Band opening for ZZ Top 2015

 

Allman Brothers Band, opening for Chicago, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia in 1970.

 

Van Halen 1978 Superdome New Orleans.

They opened for this band called The Rolling Stones.

 

Preservation Hall Jazz Band opening for My Morning Jacket
Wilco opening for Neil Young
Wilco & My Morning Jacket opening for Bob Dylan
Sleater-Kinney opening for Pearl Jam
My Morning Jacket opening for Pearl Jam
VietNam opening for Jenny Lewis

 

Sonic Youth for Neil Young. David Johanson for Southside Johnny. Patti Smith for Neil Young

 

John McLaughlin & Shakti opening for Weather Report (with their brand new bassist Jaco Pastorius) at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston on the "Black Market" tour in 1976... great show!

 

Saw a show on that 1972 tour, too. Bernie Leadon made a big difference.

 

Aerosmith opening for Mott the Hoople in '74

 

The Blind Boys Of Alabama opening up for Robert Cray in 2001.

Stevie Ray Vaughn (solo) "opening" for Living Colour (he was the unannounced special guest for a benefit concert in NYC in 1989).

 

Sparklehorse opening for Mazzy Star in Seattle in 1995..6? Anyway, I had never heard of Sparklehorse and thought it was a stupid name. I considered going late just to avoid what sounded to me to be a dippy band. Low and behold here they came out and did this crazy Neil Young by way of David Lynch set that blew me away. I bought vivadixie... the next day. One of my favorite bands ever since.

 

I saw that tour in Allentown, PA. Hunter was better, and I went to see him, not Heart. A few friends wanted to see Heart, so it worked out. As I remember, Nancy Wilson looked great with the sun setting behind her that night.

 

John Miles released more albums in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, but never gained widespread popularity. He was Tina Turner's music director and toured and recorded with her; and appeared on other's albums. John Miles is proof that profound talent is not enough to be a star.

 

Forgot one: I saw Tomahawk open for a band that shall remain nameless, lest I offend their fans.

 

The Del Lords opening for Pat Benatar. We walked out before she hit the stage. We came for the Lords and gave our tix to the people seated in the farthest back rows we could find.

 

In 1995, opening for The Grateful Dead, I saw the voice of the promise of the 60s counterculture. The guy who forced folk into bed with rock. Who donned makeup in the 70s and disappeared into a haze of substance abuse. Who emerged to find Jesus. Who was written off as a has-been by the end of the '80s.



The opener stole the show, mostly because the lead guitarist in the headlining act had disappeared into his own haze of substance abuse by that time, never to return.

 

Suicide opening for The Clash
Television (w/R. Hell) opening for Patti Smith(the 3 piece band)
Steely Dan opening for ELO
Rory Gallagher opening for Deep Purple
Humble Pie opening for Lee Michaels
Queen opening for Mott The Hoople
New York Dolls opening for Mott The Hoople
T Bone Burnett opening for Richard Thompson
Mott The Hoople opening for Delaney & Bonnie
Sir Lord Baltimore & J. Geils opening for Sabbath
T. Rex opening for Mountain
Elliott Murphy opening for John Fahey
Bush Tetras & Chain Gang opening for X

 

Allman Brothers & Love opening for the Dead at the Fillmore East 2/70