Top 3 opening songs you've seen (or wished you saw)
 

I still get pumped when a band I love plays a killer tune to open up the show.



Saw:

King's X "Groove Machine"

Soundgarden 'Jesus Christ Pose'

The Who "Tommy Overture"

(Honorable Mention: Metallica "Breadfan")



Wanted to see:

Pumpkins "Cherub Rock"

Queensryche "Anarchy X/Revolution Calling"

Van Halen "Unchained"

Bleed American by JEW

Our tastes are way too similar, Hurst. About all I could add to yours is that I've seen Queensryche open that way twice, never saw The Who, and would add Judas Priest's Electric Eye.

BTW, since you mentioned KX live, they've finally gotten around to releasing demos/bootlegs and just released the 1994 Dallas Z-Rock show, completely remastered. That was already one of the best boots out there since it was broadcast on FM, but the clips I've heard are even better. Can't wait for it to arrive!

Best opening songs I've seen:

Nirvana - Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (Kansas City, 1993)
The White Stripes - When I Hear My Name/Dead Leaves (Chicago, New Year's Eve, 2003)
Tom Waits - Make It Rain (Atlanta, 2006)
Honorable Mention: Cat Power - The Greatest (Asheville, NC, 2005)

a buddy gave me tickets to the eagles reunion tour in 95 or so.

they opened with hotel california, and i was gone 10 minutes later.

i hate that band, and saw all i was mildly interested in seeing.

what the hell did they play for the next 2 hours, anyway??

Village People-Sex Over The Phone

Pink Floyd - Astronomy Domine (completely blew me away as that was the last song I expected to hear to open the show)
Rush - Spirit of the Radio (They shouldn't be allowed to open a concert with anything else)
Def Leppard - Rock, Rock Till You Drop (Man, what a high energy opener that was to the very first concert I ever saw some 24 years ago)

I'm becoming predictable, but there may not be a better "kickoff the show" song than Welcome to the Jungle.

The new lineup starts shows with a dark stage with just the lone guitarist visible, playing the first few licks over and over again, pausing each time. Really gets the crowd going, then Axl finally comes in with the "Do you know where the fuck you arrreeee..." and the whole stage (literally) explodes.

It's especially effective because by the time they make it on stage it's about four hours after their advertised start time and you're pretty sure they've just decided to no-show.

Maybe he should be asking himself if he knows where the fuck he is and what time it is!

I saw My Bloody Valentine open with some song that was so loud, that by the time they got to their encore the event was an entirely visual experience for me.

True story: for the Ottawa show, gates opened at 7:00, and opening acts went on at 8:00. We were told GnR would be on by 10:00. At 11:00, Axl Rose was still in Toronto.

Moneen - The Frightning Reality
Choke - Breathing Won't Come Easy
Alexis on Fire - Boiled Frogs

AC/DC in the mid 80's opening with "For Those About to Rock(We Salute You)" cannons and all. I was about 16, it was great.

That would be pure awesome.

are you fricken kidding me?!?!? They OPENED with that?! My god. You moved to the front of the line.



RE 'Spirit of Radio':

I've seen 'The Big Money', 'Force 10', 'Dreamline', 'Tom Sawyer', 'SoR', and the opening lick to 'Finding My Way' open up Rush shows. The 2001: A Space Odessy theme into Dreamline was the most moving.

dang. that would be awesome.

I forgot I saw ELP do an edited version of Karn Evil 9. The first 2 movements were enough to get me going.

Also, Yes did 'Going For the One'. Pretty cool as well.

Yes opened with Siberian Khatru when I saw them in 2003, and that rocked the house.

ok, i just got back from a show that i have to put at the top of my (real) list

Muse opened with Knights of Cydonia, and followed it up with Hysteria.

It was the most upbeat crowd jumpingest hands clappingest sing alongiest opening ive ever been to. only thing that could top it would be seeing the same thing, but in europe.

oh, drug smokingist, too. i had two girls on both sides of me sharing the love. that was a great show :)

I saw them here in San Francisco last nite and they opened with Take a Bow before going into Hysteria. Place went nuts. Best show I've ever seen, they were amazing.

AC/DC For Those About to Rock would be my ultimate dream opener to see.

Yes opened with Katru last time I saw them back in 91 (the Reunion tour with everyone who played in the band). I can't remember what they opened with on the 90215 tour, just remember that was the best concert I ever saw.

If I went to a Muse show I'd love to see them open with Newborn. That song is a kick in the teeth.

Nothing beats For the Workforce Drowning, by Thursday.

Hmm...I dunno off hand. Most of the bands I've gone to see haven't opened up pretty insane. They usually warm the crowd up. Part of that is probably because of where I go to see shows most often.

Fiona Apple's show was pretty spastic from start to finish. In a good way. The Roots too, they put on a killer show with tons of energy. And of course, TV On the Radio are absolutely outstanding.

But I can't think of one standout starter song to start a show.

1. Elvis Costello "45"

2. U2 "The Electric Co."

3. Bruce Springsteen "further on up the road"

I can imagine both of those set up great shows. Does U2 still even play Electric live? They have this habit of disavowing their early stuff in concert, which happens to be my favorite stuff.

It was a long time ago. 1992

I saw them at Coachella in '04 (I think), and they were AWESOME. Even outdoors they sounded great. At one point, Matt Bellamy layed down one of the amps and held the mic on it with his foot, then just started laying down this monster riff. It was so goddamned loud..my ears rang for the rest of the night.

I've seen Muse live about... 4 or 5 times now I think, and each time has been great. Technically they are faultless, and the sound is always mixed absolutely perfectly.

I think I'm going to retract my entry, I researched AC/DC set lists and from what I could find they never opened with it, but in fact it was a staple closer for them.

I guess it made such an impression in my mind that I imagined it was the opener.

So I change my entry to I wish I had seen it.

onesidezero opening for Static-X started the show with "We miss you Lynn" and then Mickey from Soulfly (who also played) jumped in and onesidezero played "Absent" by Snot with five guitarists.

I loved Snot (I was 11 or so when they were out there) and I still do. It was the three year anniversary of Lynns death that day they played. Totally amazing.

#2 is Bane opening with "Can We Start Again"

#3 is "AM/PM" by American Nightmare