What were the shows that you weren't expecting much from, that wound up blowing you away?

For me... Primal Scream - Metro, 1994

My friend was a huge fan, and dragged me there, although I was curious. It was a midnight show and the band didn't saunter on stage until 1:30 a.m. No apologies or remorse for their tardiness.

Sucky attitude.

Then the band launched into "Jailbird".

Within 10 seconds, 300 people, shoulder-to-shoulder, became a mass of undulating, joyous dancing. Fucking incredible. And it didn;t stop until about 3 a.m. I didn't go to work the next day.
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But the one that changed my life (literally) was Uncle Tupelo opening for fIREHOSE - 10/31/89 at the Blue Note in Columbia, MO

UT were a local band I'd heard good things about but had no interest in seeing. Still, I got there in time to see them and when it was time, these three scraggly looking guys came on stage and kicked in with (I think) "Whiskey Bottle". My jaw dropped. I bought No Depression the day it came out (about a month later) and decided that I wanted to play guitar and write songs like Jay Farrar.

Evidence of that HERE
and
HERE

Awww yeah.

The first time I saw the Supersuckers I was very suprised. I had heard a little of their recorded music and I wasn't very impressed. But they brought it live. It was an all around fun rock show.

Auteurs, supposedly past their peak.
Stereolab, dragged by a friend of a friend. Had never heard of 'em.
Morphine, thought they'd be all mellow and shit.
Spoon at ATP a few years ago - thought the albums were good but nothing special, but they really brought it live.

usually artists live up to my expectations. i had no idea tegan & sara were opening for ryan adams when i signed up to see him a few years back. first time i didn't know an opening artist that i wanted to buy their album right after.

many people call him an asswipe, but Ryan Adams put on one of the best shows I have seen during his Demolition tour. Also Elvis Costello brought the mother fucking house down a few years ago on his When I Was Cruel tour - much more energetic than I thought it would be - I haven't seen a Portland audience react that much in a long time (notoriously sedate audiences).

Elvis would have to be it for me. I was so blown away by his live performance that I saw him a couple times that year.

the hives. opening for milemarker & the international noise conspiracy at the north star many years ago. i went because t(i)nc had been really good opening for rocket from the crypt earlier that year. they came out in their suits and people were like, "what? who are these guys?" and they proceeded to smoke everyone out. oh my lord, i have nary seen a band own an unsuspecting crowd so well. pelle just had it as a frontman and the whole band looked like they didn't care about anything other than rocking out. people were practically dragging their jaws across the floor afterward. milemarker nor t(i)nc even had a chance.

pearls & brass. i was living at home a few years ago, got into a fight with my dad about how i lived while under his roof, so i went to a show in some kid's basement. i went to see black cross. they were really good, but i had no idea what i was in for. the next band sets up and it's three guys who don't look like they should even know each other. i thought the house above us would collapse once they started playing. sweet jesus, they absolutely tore through their set. (riyl: early yardbirds, cream, my morning jacket.)

I always remember being really blown away by the Smithereens live, and I wasn't expecting much. Great 2 hour plus show, even featuring some Michael Jackson covers where the band switched instruments and some amazing beer bottle balancing and breaking acts.

Wu-Tang Clan

Sandwiched between Atari Teenage Riot and Rage Against the Machine, I didn't expect much, as is the case with most rap shows I've seen live.

Sound was incredible, not too bass heavy, no extra hype-men or yelling on stage, a fantastic stage setup that had guys coming out of different doors and windows and different parts to interact with the show, like a cop car that would spin the lights from time to time.

It was like the ODB version of a play, except he wasn't there.

Arcade Fire both times- I am still awe struck that they are so good live.

really? i saw that tour (with ODB, nonetheless) and was pissed. there were 3 year-olds on the stage fer chrissakes!

for me i think it's gonna be Grandaddy. But this is more because they went from being hypershy and nervous and riddled with self-scrutiny to really developing a stage show and kicking the living shit out of visual presentation. I swear those videos they showed that night I could watch every day.

also, automato. I have never seen a crowd light up the way they did that night, despite the fact that they were subbing for MF Doom opening for RJD2 and nobody had ever heard of them. For anyone that doesn't know, Philly is a pretty tough crowd and notorious for not doing anything at all during a show, but i shit you not these people were insane. 2 weeks later i bought the album and realized it was entirely based on the 2 good songs they have, but that night it was like magic. i think they were just as surprised as we were.

Did you see them near Philly? That's weird cause ODB wasn't at my show. I was expecting garbage but left very entertained. It was also cool that they damn near incited a riot by encouraging people to jump the rail and enter the pavilion from the lawn.

I loved hearing the muzak being played between songs, along with the nonstop oddball videos being projected through the show. The one of the guys on dirtbikes beating the hell out of an old car they found just killed me. That show (opening for Pete Yorn) cemented them with me as a band I just plain liked a whole lot.

yeah and the whole kitty in a rocketship thing for "Now It's On"

oh and the one where the band is played by 6 year old girls with fake guts and beards? that was awesome. They should really consider DVDing that shit.

the refreshments - yeah, as cheeseball as it is....

and

white zombie

The Hives in '02. I went more to see Mooney Suzuki and New Bomb Turks, who were opening. Both were good, but Pelle alone blew them right the fuck off the stage. I was amazed. He can't be described if you haven't seen him and the rest of the band up close.

Close 2nd would be Rocket From The Crypt. Was unimpressed by "S,DS!" at first but they opened for Soundgarden and absolutely brought it. Even in a cavern like The Palace of Auburn Hills, it was enough to blow me away.

Deathray Davies. Saw'em opening for Pete Yorn, and they were awesome. That's the first I 'd ever heard. One of the few times I really enjoyed an unknown to me opening band.

1. Leonard Cohen - On The Future tour back in '93. He played for around 3 hours and sang everything you wanted to hear if you're a LC fan. There were 4 encores, the dude just kept coming back for another song. I was blown away. Far and away the best I've ever seen.

2. Foo Fighters - Extremely lively; What surprised me was how much fun Dave Grohl seemed to be having. He seemed to be having a ball and really came alive on stage. This was one of those Molson Blind Date concerts in '98 in Sudbury, so it was at a small club. He really brought it.

3. Sonic Youth - Lollapalooza 95, late at night in Barrie ON. I don't know what I expected, but they were thrilling to see. They were touring behind Washing Machine at the time and those songs were great live. It seems to be a common theme, wasn't thrilled with the album, but it was way better live.

My Morning Jacket---I saw them open for Doves, and they absolutely blew me away. I saw them the next year as a headliner, and they were even better. I've since seen them 3 more times.

MMJ is one of my handful of "travelin' " bands---I'll travel up to 800 miles to see them (if they're skipping my home town).

Notwist, foching blew me away. This was a tour for Neon Golden and they came out as a guitar band. And it worked (I have since found out that they started out as a guitar band). And they did all sorts of things -- they played one song to a record player (the one with the string quartet). They vamped, they jammed, they drew songs out, just like in the old days.

Highly, highly recommended, if they ever come to your neck of the woods.

How funny. Mine involved the same tour as a few of you.

The Roots sandwiched between Atari Teenage Riot and Rage Against the Machine. Wu-Tang clan dropped out (i was pissed off) and were replaced by the roots. I had never heard of them but did some research before the show. They were so great. The crowd was into it and Rahzel was doing his stuff (throwing in some Beck for the white kids).

That show at the Gorge was the infamous show where the town sheriff wanted to have the show cancelled and threated to arrest rage if they were "indecent". MTV covered the whole thing and it was all over the local news. Rage started the show with Fuck the Police and it was great. Good show all around. Me and about 2 other guys were going crazy for ATR. I was out of control dancing and fist pumping and singling along while all these frat boys gave them the finger.

RIP - Carl Crack

probably califone opening for wilco a few years ago. i wasn't expecting anything out of them, but they blew me away.

First time I saw Mooney Suzuki...I expected it to be good - I didn't expect it to be in the Top 3 Shows I've Ever Seen.

Usually, show surprises come to me in the form of opening bands that knock me off my feet unexpectedly.

last year, Prince at MSG.

I have seen him before and he was great, and I usually read positive reviews of his shows..

this was another level..perhaps cause it was the greatest hits tour...the electricity in the arena was magical, and the show blew me away more then I could have hoped or expected.

Hands down...Basement Jaxx