Concerts where you went for the headliner, but were blown away by the opener

A twist on a fun thread started by @jparis51 ...

I recently saw Jason Isbell for the 5th time. I knew he’d bring the goods, but the opener was Richard Thompson acoustic/solo, and... wow! Incredible playing, powerful vocals, electric and commanding stage presence. I was absolutely mesmerized by seeing this guy play for what I hope will be the first of many times. And to think, I almost missed his set because of pre-show dinner companions running late!

Any stories of openers that blew you away?

 

Went to see Tony Rice at the Great American Music Hall in SF. Opening act was a 16-year-old Allison Krauss.

 

I should mention I saw St. Paul and The Broken Bones open for a different Isbell show. At the time, I’d never heard of them, but they were a hot opener, too.

 

Went to see Willie Nelson, but was totally blown away by Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.

 

Sabbath, w/Van Halen in 1978.

 

Went to see Tori Amos at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in the 1990's and the opening act were Neil Hannon's then not that well known Divine Comedy who were fantastic

 

Well, that didn't take long at all.

 

Got to see Randy Rogers Band at the State Room SLC and the opener was Wade Bowen...now I am a huge fan of both...

 

Flat Duo Jets opening for The Cramps
Jane's Addiction opening for Love & Rockets
Billy Bragg opening for Echo and the Bunnymen
Subhumans opening for Dead Kennedys
Caspar Broztmann Massaker opening for The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Laughing Hyenas opening for Sonic Youth
Mudhoney opening for Sonic Youth
Soundgarden opening for Voivod
The Dicks opening for Black Flag

 

U2 Rattle and Hum tour with BB King as the support act ... BB was awesome

 

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers supporting Nils Lofgren. But I was already aware of them and Nils was great so a real bonus.

 

Saw Robert Plant about fifteen years ago supported by none other than Arthur Brown who was very energetic and fantastic!

 

Iggy Pop opening for The Pretenders. They should have flipped the bill.

Iggy was just Iggy. Amazing.

 

Richard Thompson opener ???? Such a giant as an opener ???????

 

Radiohead opening for REM. Bought The Bends the next day

 

I watched The Scorpions blow Rainbow off the stage back in 1977!

 

Roxy Music reunion tour, early 2000's, Rufus Wainwright opened with his sister singing backups and Teddy Thompson on guitar. He was touring the Poses album and as good as Roxy were, it was clear which act was about the cash and which was about the art. Incredible songs, been a fan ever since. And btw, Avalon is my favorite album of all time.

 

In the very early 70s my girlfriend at the time wanted to see John Denver. I was horrified, but I knew exactly what would happen if I refused. Or perhaps I should say I knew exactly what would NOT happen if I refused.
Anyway, the opener was folksinger Megan McDonough who absolutely blew me away. And 20-odd years later I not only met her but we became friends. And she sang on a bunch of my home 16-track recordings.

 

J. Geils opening for Peter Frampton in 1977.

J. Geils and George Thorogood opening for the Rolling Stones in 1981.

Seal opening for the Rolling Stones in 1994.

Santana opening for Eric Clapton in 1975.

 

Back in 1997, I went to see a band called Magnet at Spaceland in Los Angeles. It was amazing to see Maureen Tucker on drums and they were really good. The opening band, however, absolutely blew me away--Commander Venus with a teenage Conor Oberst at the helm.

 

Wishbone Ash opening for The Who in 1971 at Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington, Minnesota, USA

I had never heard of Wishbone Ash. Eventually owned their first four albums. Fantastic guitar playing.

 

1- Thin Lizzy opening for Queen in Montréal, 1977.
2- Iron Maiden opening for Judas Priest at New York's Palladium, 1981

 

He was amazing. I came away a little embarrassed that my only previous exposure to his work was through YouTube. To his credit, Isbell took time out to praise Thompson lavishly during his own set.

 

J Geils Band blew Yes off the stage in Syracuse, NY 1972.

 

Summer of 1984, home from college two shows at the Starry Night club in Portland when I was 19. Both headliners were good (it's not like the openers *blew* them away), but I was unfamiliar with the openers and was impressed with both enough to became long time and bigger fans of both:

Talk Talk opening for Berlin
Dream Syndicate opening for REM