Opening bands have more fun.

In October 1998, even with interest starting to wane in Better Than Ezra, an opening slot for the Baton Rouge, LA band at the 9:30 Club was a good performance slot.  Knowing members of the opening band, my friend and I were invited backstage.   As we were milling around between sets, a musician friend of Better Than Ezra’s who also happened to be in the midst of a national tour stopped by to say hello to everyone.  Since the aforementioned musician was not instantly recognizable without his drum-kit, my friend engaged in conversation with him as if he were just another member of the entourage.  When gentleman mentioned he was leaving D.C. that night to travel to his band’s next gig in New York City, my friend naturally asked “where is your show”?  The response was “we are opening for Barenaked Ladies at Madison Square Garden”, and the even quicker response back was “be prepared for a late arriving crowd”.

What is it about the opening band that generates negativity and disrespect?  Although I have heard the term ‘second tier’ thrown around to describe an opening band, I have been pleasantly surprised many times.  Recently this happened with the support band for The Gaslight Anthem at their September 2013 show at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh, PA.  The band is The Sidekicks from Columbus, OH and their Weezer-influenced sound and raw, unabashed style and delivery definitely earned them their spot on the tour.  Another solid opening act to check out in 2014 is Foy Vance – he has already supported some European dates with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and the United States leg of his tour has him appearing with Brett Dennen.

An opening act or supporting act is the entertainment that performs at a concert before the featured act, or "headliner".  Although a lot of times, the opening act will usually be an up-and-coming group with a smaller following than the featured artist, there is typically a reason the band has been selected to perform.  And outside of the ability to get your friends and family to the show, it’s not easy in getting in front of the headliner’s crowd.  Some fans resent the fact that the opening act is prohibiting them from being able to watch and listen to the act they have paid to see.  Rolling Stone even conducted a ‘Reader’s Poll’ to determine ‘The 10 Best Opening Acts in Rock History’ and one of the highlights of the list was the fact that Guns N' Roses opened up for Motley Crue in 1987, shortly after the release of 'Appetite for Destruction'. 

The satisfaction of converting other fans to your music must be ranked up there with the USSR crowd rallying behind Rocky in IV (check out the 6:40 mark).  So this spring/summer as you head out to shows, the next time you see a band working hard in advance of the band that you actually came to see, stop for a moment and listen.

Thanks for reading!