Greatest Concert Opening Song

What, in your opinion , is the Greatest opening song performed in front of a concert audience?

This is not hypothetical. In other words, the artist you cite, actually opened a concert with the song you are listing. You don't have to have been at the concert, you may have seen a video, or heard a recording, or heard about someone else's experience.

For me, I'd like to cite Led Zeppelin and the opening number for their 1977 US Tour:

"THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME "

It was so very powerful to see and hear that song open the show. I particularly enjoyed the presentation in Houston and Ft. Worth of that year. I'm not however saying that bootlegs of those shows would, or would not, back me up. I'm just saying what I remember experiencing...

Sonically, I would compare the 1973 version released for the soundtrack:

 

Wings: "Venus and Mars''/ "Rock Show"/ "Jet" medley.

 

Genesis-Watcher of the Skies
Cheap Trick-Hello There

 

Eagles opened The Long Run tour shows with 'Hotel California.' That's like Bruce opening with 'Born To Run!'

Monkees open with...duh...

 

I've seen many a great Flaming Lips show open with the majesty that is "Race for the Prize." This is just one example.

 

"Streams of Whiskey" - The Pogues
"Your Phone Is Off The Hook (But You're Not)" - X (the band)

 

''School'' ..... Supertramp

 

ELP, "Hoedown"
Aerosmith, "Helter Skelter"
Deep Purple, "Highway Star" (mentioned)

 

Rush - "Bastille Day" (from All the World's a Stage)

 

GFR-Are you ready?

 

Zep opening up with Immigrant Song has to be up there as well?

45th anniversary of the Blueberry Hill show at the Forum TODAY as well!

 

The Left Banke-She May Call You Up Tonight

 

I can't Explain-The Who.

 

Paul McCartney at Earls Court in London: Hello Goodbye.

 

NRBQ opened at least one show with "Achy Breaky Heart" in 1992.

 

Iggy & the Stooges---"Raw Power"

 

I maintain that it's the smart move to save a big song for the number two slot. A lot of big acts get around this by dimming the lights and then playing a short film or something like that to get butts in seats. But back in the day the first number was subject to sound issues and people still grabbing beers or whatever. See Heaven and Hell by the Who. Shoot to Thrill second in an AC/DC set is a great example...a "deepish" cut that really gets things moving. If I were writing a setlist for the Stones I would nix It's Only Rock 'n Roll from the second position and throw Street Fighting Man or even Jumpin' Jack Flash in there.

 

When I saw Bruce, he opened with Incident On 57th Street.

 

Leonard Cohen, 'Dance Me To The End Of Love.'

 

Allman Brothers - statesboro blues

It's like, that's it, we can go home now. My ticket was worth it.

 

Another McCartney vote but this one for breaking out "Hippy Hippy Shake" in Liverpool in 2008: I, along with everyone else in Anfield, went completely crackers!

 

Came here to say that!

 

Springsteen - Born To Run

Replacements - IOU

Elton - Funeral For A Friend

 

Black Sabbath "Symptom of the Universe."