Opening act better than the main attraction. (Full Version)

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ObviousLee -> Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/9/2008 2:59:32 PM)

Has anyone ever been to a concert where the opening act(s) was/were better than the headliner (whether unexpectedly or not)?

One concert comes to mind that I attended in '76. The concert was Ted Nugent, Bebop Deluxe, and Rush (whom I had never heard of prior). Although I didn't admit it at the time, Bebop Deluxe and Rush were far better performance and music wise. They outclassed the Nuge in every way. It was my first intensively loud concert. However, BD and Rush were able to maintain the quality of their sound to tolerable/pleasant. The Nuge was a pain to listen to. He did something with his guitar that caused me to hear ringing in my ears the next day. Overall, BD and Rush are classier musicians. The whole ego-centric performance of the Nuge just didn't hold a candle to the tight-knit sound of both trios (I think BD was a trio).



MusicianDad -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/9/2008 8:11:48 PM)

I went to a Day On The Green in Oakland once where the headliner, Foreigner, got embarrassed by Iron Maiden, Scorpions, and Loverboy. We left in the middle of Foreigners set. El Stinko!

In '84, Van Halen had some garage band open for them. Everybody just threw **** at them for an hour before the real show got started.



MusicianDad -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/9/2008 8:13:11 PM)

Ooops, sorry. Didn't know the name of the inventor of the toilet was a bad word. [:D]



uncabeeil -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/9/2008 8:31:27 PM)

A few times. I saw Queen on their Flash Gordon tour. Billy Squire opened and made them look really bad, mainly because that soundtrack was horrid and that's most of what they played.

Second time was a few weeks later, Heart with John Cougar (at the time) opening. Cougar an the band were just hitting on all cylinders that night. Heart was very good, Cougar was great.

Third time - Headliner was Al Jarreau, opener was Take Six on their first ever tour. We left 45 minutes into Jarreau's set.



I_Walk_Alone -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/10/2008 4:05:15 AM)

This happened to me a few times. 3 that remain in my memory.

1. During the Life is Peachy tour for Korn, Helmet was the 2nd opener and not only destroyed the first opening act, which was Limp Bizkit, but they also killed Korn. But then again, I knew this going into in the first place. 1 hour of Helmet live was worth it.

2. Pantera headlining. The openers for this one was Coal Chamber and Anthrax(still question that one to this day). Coal Chamber at the time was an emerging band and if marketed properly could have been very big. Their sound was similar to Korn's but much better and had a better singer. I wish they were still together. Then came Anthrax, which tour the stage apart. I know that their is division in the ranks on which era was better Belladonna's or Bush's. But I like both. Anthrax are metal legends and for that fact they should have been the headlining act. Their performance that night proved it.

3. This was in 2006. Lamb of God tour. First opening act was horrible. Then came one of 2 opening bands that I was dying to see. That was Children of Bodom. The hardcore crowd really didn't appreciate them. But me and my fiancee were front row banging our heads to this incredible band and Alexi laiho moved to our side of the stage and didn't leave that spot. Got to hear them play all my favorite songs. Then came Fear Factory (again wondering why these guys weren't headlining). I have been a big Fear Factory fan for a long time and have seen them before. But my fiancee wasn't that familiar with them and was surprised to hear that the singer sounded the way he does live. Fear Factory quickly grabbed the stage and took the whole show over. Playing an incredible live set that left the entire singing along, banging their heads, etc. After Fear Factory were finished, 1/4 of the crowd left. That includes us, since neither one of liked Lamb Of God. But we left that night satisfied with the incredible performance from Children of Bodom and Fear Factory. We also had hearing problems for about a week too. Fear Factory has to be the loudest band I have ever seen in concert.



huskarine -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/11/2008 10:42:36 AM)

Downhere opened up for Jeremy Camp, and I didn't know about Downhere at the time, and I was thrilled about Downhere....Jeremy still put on a good show, but he couldn't out-do Downhere

oh, and the first time I saw Todd Agnew...it was Newboys, and RSJ and Todd Agnew. Todd Agnew rocked. RSJ was good, and Newsboys was always great as usual...but at the end, I had to buy Todd Agnew's cd...the violinist of his band was outgoing during the concert...



PHmosh1 -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/14/2008 7:56:17 AM)

I believe it was in '96. Nine Inch Nails opened for David Bowie. When NIN finished there was a mass exodus. I tried to listen to Bowie for a little while, but the show ended when Trent and company left the stage.



firefightermama -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/27/2008 2:11:03 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: huskarine

Downhere opened up for Jeremy Camp, and I didn't know about Downhere at the time, and I was thrilled about Downhere....Jeremy still put on a good show, but he couldn't out-do Downhere



I went to college with a few of the guys from downhere a number of years ago. What a great bunch. Fabulous musicians, all of them.

I think one year at college we had a POD concert, and downhere was one of the pre-acts. I'm pretty sure they were better [;)]



mapachito13 -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/27/2008 3:24:47 PM)

U2 on their "Boy" tour opened for J. Geils Band ('nuff said).

The Clash opened for "The Who" (just as good)

Motley Crue opened for KISS (their 1st tour without make-up [:'(])

Gene Loves Jezebel and New Order opening for Echo and the Bunnymen (NO was best of the three)

I know there were others! Maybe more to come!



uncabeeil -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/27/2008 3:47:13 PM)

quote:

U2 on their "Boy" tour opened for J. Geils Band ('nuff said).
I guess this one's a matter of taste, cuz I'd rather see J Geils any day over U2. I stood for an hour in a snowstorm to them at a college show. Peter Wolf is an amazing showman. This was just after Freeze Frame topped the charts, and they were celebrating their second concert with a synthesizer. Because they could finally afford one. Magic Dick is one of the best harmonica players ever.



mapachito13 -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/27/2008 5:48:49 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: uncabeeil

Magic Dick is one of the best harmonica players ever.[/font][/color]


Now this I grant you. The man knew his way around the blues harp.

Mark my words I like 'em both but U2 who was "Who 2?" to me then (except when they played "I will follow") had the better performance. The Edge definitely started a new guitar sound with even Alex Lifeson of Rush to be counted as being influenced by him!



markb77 -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/27/2008 8:43:49 PM)

In '75 , I saw Thin Lizzy open for Bachman Turner Overdrive. As much as I liked BTO (give me a break - I was still in high school!), it was no contest. This was not too long before Jailbreak came out, and Lizzy simply smoked the guys from Canada.



amybreit -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/28/2008 9:37:36 AM)

In college, I saw Bon Jovi open for 38 Special. 38 Special put on a good show, but I'd never heard of Bon Jovi at the time & they were great!

Dh & I went to see Jars of Clay when they were 1st popular. Third Day opened up for them & blew us away!



rlj -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/29/2008 1:46:17 PM)

If Howling Wind is still around I want him to come tell us who was better in '83 - U2 or The Alarm. ; )



howling wind -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/29/2008 4:33:50 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rlj

If Howling Wind is still around I want him to come tell us who was better in '83 - U2 or The Alarm. ; )


Did someone wake me from my slumber?[8D] I have been to well over 500 concerts, but I always claim this U2/The Alarm concert (at Houston's now demolished Music Hall) to be my favorite show of all-time (only rivaled by Crowded House in 1986 and Bruce Cockburn in 1992). The Alarm came onstage and everyone just started laughing at their extremely big hair and cowboy garb (myself included), but they were my new favorite band before their set was over. U2 simply KILLED that night - Bono was diving into the crowd while singing Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."

I have seen U2 five times - once on the "War" tour, once on the "Unforgettable Fire" tour, and three times on "The Joshua Tree" tour - and they have been incredible each time. I saw them in 1985 (Unforgettable Fire tour) at The Summit (now Lakewood Church) in Houston and the crowd stole that show. After the show, everyone in the parking garage was singing the chorus to "40" ("How long to sing this song.."). The sound just reverberated throughout that place. I've often wondered how many people realized they were singing the words to Psalm 40...[;)]



ObviousLee -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/30/2008 12:00:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MusicianDad

I went to a Day On The Green in Oakland once where the headliner, Foreigner, got embarrassed by Iron Maiden, Scorpions, and Loverboy. We left in the middle of Foreigners set. El Stinko!


I had been to one DOG, and Nugent was the headliner. This show was kind of okay in that Ronnie Montrose came on stage to jam with him on a tune. Blue Oyster Cult was pretty good. The rest of the line-up seemed to be your typical DOG bands; Journey, AC/DC, Cheap Trick. I think BOC was the best.

I did see the Scorpions open for Nugent once. For some reason I wasn't too impressed with them that night.



ObviousLee -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/30/2008 12:03:47 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mapachito13



Motley Crue opened for KISS (their 1st tour without make-up [:'(])


I had seen MC open for Kiss too. They were still wearing make-up. I think it was right before they abandoned the make-up. Unfortunately it was after the Ace Frehley era.



ObviousLee -> RE: Opening act better than the main attraction. (8/30/2008 12:08:45 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: uncabeeil

quote:

U2 on their "Boy" tour opened for J. Geils Band ('nuff said).
I guess this one's a matter of taste, cuz I'd rather see J Geils any day over U2. I stood for an hour in a snowstorm to them at a college show. Peter Wolf is an amazing showman. This was just after Freeze Frame topped the charts, and they were celebrating their second concert with a synthesizer. Because they could finally afford one. Magic Dick is one of the best harmonica players ever.


I never got the appeal of the J. Geils Band. I saw them live with the Rolling Stones and George Thorougood. The sort of remind me of Huey Lewis & the News. The vocals seem to dominate the music to the extent that I don't notice much instrumentation.



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