Have you been to a concert where, to your surprise, the support band stole the show? What tales have you got of the warm up turning out to be even better than the bill toppers?
Chas and Dave blew Status Quo away at the O2 a few years ago. And, a few years before that, C&D were themselves supported by Buster Shuffle, who absolutely ripped it up.
Also, in 1983, I saw The Police with a support band "to be announced". Turned out to be The Animals, reformed only that year. The concert was recorded, released and they disbanded again.
The Who at charlton back in the 70s. It was raining and the atmosphere was pretty flat. Alex Harvey transformed a docile crowd into a proper crowd. Not saying they outshone the who but they certainly got the crowd worked up enough to make the who's job easier.
Chas and Dave blew Status Quo away at the O2 a few years ago. And, a few years before that, C&D were themselves supported by Buster Shuffle, who absolutely ripped it up.
Also, in 1983, I saw The Police with a support band "to be announced". Turned out to be The Animals, reformed only that year. The concert was recorded, released and they disbanded again.
Beat me to it on Chas n Dave!
I had that animals concert on video years ago, they were superb.
Black Sabbath's 10th Anniversary Tour (1979). Only two of us got tickets for the Hammersmith Odeon gig, and then they announced an extra night the day before at Lewisham Odeon on the Friday night. I swear half the school were there.
On come some American band as the support group for their first gig in the UK, with half the audience in the bar.
"Lewisham - the Rock 'n' Roll Capital of the World" screams the lead singer.
Van Halen blew Sabbath off the stage that night, so much so, that I bought their album the next morning and (in my mind) learnt all their songs for the Saturday night gig at the Hammy.
They blew Sabbath off the stage that night as well.
Two spring to mind. Went to see showaddywaddy in Croydon with Alvin Stardust was far better. Also went to see Lordi and the although were brilliant, Turisas was simply amazing.
Have you been to a concert where, to your surprise, the support band stole the show? What tales have you got of the warm up turning out to be even better than the bill toppers?
Went to a Pussycat Dolls concert with the missus (don't ask) and Lady Gaga was the support act, at the time a complete unknown, but she was 1000x the performer that they were
In 1976 went to see Little Feat at the Hammersmith Odeon. They were supported by The Outlaws, whose music I hadn't heard. Wasn't expecting much but they were blinding. The bonus was that Little Feat were brilliant but just not as good as The Outlaws that night. Brilliant night, 2 exceptional performances.
Have you been to a concert where, to your surprise, the support band stole the show? What tales have you got of the warm up turning out to be even better than the bill toppers?
Went to a Pussycat Dolls concert with the missus (don't ask) and Lady Gaga was the support act, at the time a complete unknown, but she was 1000x the performer that they were
That's great to hear about your missus. But how good was Lady Gaga?
Two spring to mind. Went to see showaddywaddy in Croydon with Alvin Stardust was far better. Also went to see Lordi and the although were brilliant, Turisas was simply amazing.
The demographic group of people who are fans of both Showaddywaddy and Lordi is, I suspect, quite small.
Neil Young had that collaboration with Pearl Jam and came out to Prague on the tour. Support band remained "undisclosed", and the low key way the Levellers sauntered on suggested they were a last minute call. Big mistake by Neil's gang. The Levellers were at the peak of their career and already very popular in Prague. Neil was grumpy throughout, seemed to almost pick a fight with one of the Pearl Jam guys, and made a dodgy comment about Budweiser. Embarrassing.
I went to see a band in the 90's called Saint Etienne at Southsea Parade Pier the support band was Pulp, Jarvis and the band were superb. Everybody leaving was talking about them rather than the main act you just knew they were going to make it big.
The Tramshed about 87ish The band I was in at the time supported The Climax blues band. A cracking band. We had a Roadie called Trumpet, now he was called Trumpet because he used to roll huge joints that looked like Trumpets, he smoked em like ciggies. My band was playing our support set (TBH we were young kids who weren’t the best) and Trumpet was having a Trumpet backstage when two of the guys from The Climax blues band decided to partake with him, however it was rather well loaded, and by the time they started their set they were hammered (allegedly), they made us look like gods! Dont do drugs kids!
Not quite the same but I went to a small festival down in Devon a few years ago and was really excited Seasick Steve was headlining (and he was very good), but one of the support acts I'd never heard of went down really well, little ginger bloke called Ed Sheeran.
Comments
Also, in 1983, I saw The Police with a support band "to be announced". Turned out to be The Animals, reformed only that year. The concert was recorded, released and they disbanded again.
The Charlatans supporting Oasis at Finsbury Park in 2002.
It was raining and the atmosphere was pretty flat.
Alex Harvey transformed a docile crowd into a proper crowd.
Not saying they outshone the who but they certainly got the crowd worked up enough to make the who's job easier.
I had that animals concert on video years ago, they were superb.
On come some American band as the support group for their first gig in the UK, with half the audience in the bar.
"Lewisham - the Rock 'n' Roll Capital of the World" screams the lead singer.
Van Halen blew Sabbath off the stage that night, so much so, that I bought their album the next morning and (in my mind) learnt all their songs for the Saturday night gig at the Hammy.
They blew Sabbath off the stage that night as well.
Headliner Little Bob Story was nothing compared to the support band.
Three kids in suits from Woking called The Jam.
LSE early 80s. One of the Specials going solo was meh. The support band had this guy with an acoustic guitar and great songs. Aztec Camera.
Chas and Dave (again) supporting the Libertines @ Kentish Town Forum (2005)
Franz Ferdinand supporting Hot Hot Heat at Highbury Garage (2003)
Went to see showaddywaddy in Croydon with Alvin Stardust was far better.
Also went to see Lordi and the although were brilliant, Turisas was simply amazing.
The bonus was that Little Feat were brilliant but just not as good as The Outlaws that night.
Brilliant night, 2 exceptional performances.
The band I was in at the time supported The Climax blues band. A cracking band.
We had a Roadie called Trumpet, now he was called Trumpet because he used to roll huge joints that looked like Trumpets, he smoked em like ciggies.
My band was playing our support set (TBH we were young kids who weren’t the best) and Trumpet was having a Trumpet backstage when two of the guys from The Climax blues band decided to partake with him, however it was rather well loaded, and by the time they started their set they were hammered (allegedly), they made us look like gods!
Dont do drugs kids!