What a great topic for exploration! And the way you do it, by framing it on one particular show (yes, I chose “framing” specifically for your mad photog skills!) is especially effective. My brain is exploding trying to think of great opening acts I discovered when seeing a more famous headliner. I do know that I saw the band Cake at a small club in San Francisco before they ever had an album, but I can’t think of who they opened for!:) I’m just now going back to read past essays from you and other of my favorite writers here, so I’ll be in the archives digging around, shovel in hand!
Opening Acts... what a category, what a thought and who would’ve thought it is a very strong and compelling topic!!
I worked at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix AZ from ‘73-‘75 tending bar. I got to see both the opening acts and the featured artists minus the opening song of the featured artist (had to count the register downstairs) and during this timeframe I was fortunate to see huge bands in a tight venue.
One of the best opening acts I witnessed was Billy Joel opening for Phoebe Snow, then Jackson Browne opening for Linda Ronstadt, Commander Cody fronted The Dirt Band, Joe Walsh opened for Dan Fogelberg. All of these bands were much better than the headliner except for The Commander as both The Dirt Band and The Commander played for a total of 4 hours before a paltry crowd of 750 people, one of the better concerts I attended.
The worst opening act I saw was Maria Muldaur not because she and her band sucked but because they opened for ZZ Top as you had 2 totally opposite styles/fans. Maria’s crowd liked one plastic highball cup of rose wine. Then you had the ZZ Toppers who downed their first shot of Jack b4 they left the counter. Fighting broke out 3 times during her performance (none of them lasted more than three punches as Maria’s fans were no match for the other side) but I will admit that when ZZ Top took the stage I could hear a huge eruption from downstairs. As for the show... Billy, Dusty and Frank put on a dynamite of a performance.
Awesome piece. You and Carpenter both captured the stresses of being the "opener", which I can tell you from experience are even worse these days (I'm in 2 bands that have opened for eight "legacy hard rock" headliners, and adding a 9th this Saturday night). Also, grateful for folks like you, still writing about live music. We need all the writerly help we can get, Lord knows.
What a great topic for exploration! And the way you do it, by framing it on one particular show (yes, I chose “framing” specifically for your mad photog skills!) is especially effective. My brain is exploding trying to think of great opening acts I discovered when seeing a more famous headliner. I do know that I saw the band Cake at a small club in San Francisco before they ever had an album, but I can’t think of who they opened for!:) I’m just now going back to read past essays from you and other of my favorite writers here, so I’ll be in the archives digging around, shovel in hand!
Opening Acts... what a category, what a thought and who would’ve thought it is a very strong and compelling topic!!
I worked at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix AZ from ‘73-‘75 tending bar. I got to see both the opening acts and the featured artists minus the opening song of the featured artist (had to count the register downstairs) and during this timeframe I was fortunate to see huge bands in a tight venue.
One of the best opening acts I witnessed was Billy Joel opening for Phoebe Snow, then Jackson Browne opening for Linda Ronstadt, Commander Cody fronted The Dirt Band, Joe Walsh opened for Dan Fogelberg. All of these bands were much better than the headliner except for The Commander as both The Dirt Band and The Commander played for a total of 4 hours before a paltry crowd of 750 people, one of the better concerts I attended.
The worst opening act I saw was Maria Muldaur not because she and her band sucked but because they opened for ZZ Top as you had 2 totally opposite styles/fans. Maria’s crowd liked one plastic highball cup of rose wine. Then you had the ZZ Toppers who downed their first shot of Jack b4 they left the counter. Fighting broke out 3 times during her performance (none of them lasted more than three punches as Maria’s fans were no match for the other side) but I will admit that when ZZ Top took the stage I could hear a huge eruption from downstairs. As for the show... Billy, Dusty and Frank put on a dynamite of a performance.
Awesome piece. You and Carpenter both captured the stresses of being the "opener", which I can tell you from experience are even worse these days (I'm in 2 bands that have opened for eight "legacy hard rock" headliners, and adding a 9th this Saturday night). Also, grateful for folks like you, still writing about live music. We need all the writerly help we can get, Lord knows.
John Hiatt & a pack of cigarettes at the gate! That sounds like...a John Hiatt song. :)
Seriously though, this was great! Sounds like a killer show.
Opening acts is how I discovered Band of Heathens.
As always, your commentary makes me wish I were there. I'm sure you had a darned good time soaking in all the acts. Thanks for sharing!