What concert were we most pleasantly surprised by, including just opening bands? It doesn't count if you already knew it'd be good.

In my case, I'd have to say Megadeth in about 1992. I used to usher at the Fox in Atlanta when I was in highschool, and anytime there was a "rock" concert, (quotes used because pretty much everything except Les Miserables was lumped into this category), the old ladies who accounted for 90% of the ushering base would have nothing to do with it, leaving the place desperate enough to call us at home. So in about 92 Megadeth comes through town, Hangar 18 tour or something like that, and they call us all in. I went figuring I'd leave at halftime, but man was that entertaining. Those guys were tight! And it must've been 92, because I remember Mustain saying about the upcoming election, "if you don't like the choices in the booth, write my fuckin name in!" to uproarious applause, naturally.

So, what shows have pleasantly surprised you?

Flaming Lips being upstaged by relatively unknown Hum in the early 90s, Manhattan, Kansas.

I know I've this before, but...

Nick Lowe at the Park West in Chicago.
Touring in 1998.

I was psyched to see him... the first time ever to see one of my big heros.
I got there and the opening act was Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham. Name sounded familiar.

Two old dudes hit the stage, one with a Martin acoustic and one behind a Fender Rhodes. The set list consisted ONLY of Dan's original compositions, including:
"Cry Like a Baby" (the Box Tops' hit)
"Dark End Of the Street" (Aretha Franklin/The Commitments/Flying Burrito Brothers)
"Do Right Woman" (Aretha)
"Cry Like A Man" (Percy Sledge, I think)
and many, many more soul classics and shoulda-been soul classics. It ocurred to me halfway through the show, that I was watching a National Treasure.

Simply breathtaking.

Midnight Oil in 1993, they were pretty damn good. I wasn't expecting that level of performance.

np: Lazarus-Boo Radleys

Oh yeah, I have another:

I went to see Violent Femmes back in the summer of 1989.

Opening acts (neither of which I had heard of at that point):
Mojo Nixon & Skid Roeper They were hillarious and totally fun way to open the evening.

The Pogues Yeah, Shane was on stage (except when he went to refill his drink). It was the Peace & Love tour and the first time I had ever heard anything like them. Blew me away.

when i saw Superchunk back in the early 90's, it was the first time i had ever heard them. They were incredible. Really blew me away. i've been a life long fan since.

also the Strokes impressed me, they were as tight live as they are on the album. Almost too tight.

and even though i was excited for the show D'angelo took it 10 steps farther than i could have ever imagined. He was an amazing performer and had the whole auidence in the palm of his hand all night. ?uestlvoe was the drummer and some other semi-famous dudes were also in the band.

Oh, and then there's the Star Room Boys, formerly of athens, GA. I worked with the bassist, and didn't like any country at the time. So I went to see them, sort of the token "I'll go see your band since we work together" show. Hooooly crap, they were awesome. Wound up seeing them about 40 more times before they split up a few years back. Changed a lot about what I like now, that's for sure.

went to see beth orton a few years back and my morning jacket were opening. at that time, billy g and maybe one other person on the old cmj board had ever brought them up...so i had heard of 'em, but wasn't expecting much. well needless to say, they kicked ass live and today are one of my favorite active bands.

i have to pick one? it's funny how i'm now such an old man that i don't actually expect any show to be very good. i've been disappointed way too much to believe the hype or go into a show expecting it to be amazing. with that being said, when i am floored by a performance, i'll talk about it for years. i just can't pick one, but i can narrow it to two:

11/1/02: i was at cmj seeing a few shows each night, of course. i'd gone to northsix to see common rider, but showed up too late and the dreadful shiner was on. i stuck around through oxes and then a friend of mine said, "let's go to irving plaza for moldy peaches." i was like, "fine, whatever." we got there and the danielson famile was on. they were fun and they had the crowd involved; it was a good time. and then moldy peaches played. now, plenty of people talk trash on them, but they were so awesome that night. yes, they're gimmicky, but they displayed such enthusiasm that you couldn't not have a smile across your face. kimya was dressed as alf with a tutu and adam was a witch. it was totally wild. and then chris barron jumped on-stage and sang "two princes" for the encore. awesome night.

9/6/03: i was living with my parents and got in a fight with my dad earlier in the day about something ridiculous. i just totally didn't want to be at home that night, so i went to this show in a kid's basement. it was kinda grimey. there was furniture strewn around one side. the bands played in a corner between vents and poles taped up with blankets. the misfits logo was spray-painted on the wall too. i knew of one band that night, black cross. they were alright, but then one of the locals, pearls & brass, played and they blew me away. they sounded like a heavier early yardbirds, or something. i couldn't believe that this band existed so near and i'd never heard of them. they absolutely killed that night. they weren't nearly as powerful the next few times. oh well.

Nice. I've put their "White Lies, Blue Tears" on many a mix.


I've just become acquainted with his stuff through those Country Got Soul compilations. He's amazing. AND he's producing the new Frank Black album due out in May.

2 come to mind immediately:

Cypress Hill in 1995. they were sandwiched between Pharcyde and 311. I had pretty much given up on them at this point, but they fucking tore the joint down. And we burned many a joint (blunt) down. 311 was boring, and we missed almost all of Pharcyde because of an icestorm in ATL.

Squad 5-0. They were the first act on the bill at Stubb's first night of last year's SXSW. opening for D.O.L.L., the Von Bondies and (International) Noise Conspiracy. Had never even heard of the, but they came out and sounded like a Dolls-Replacement hybrid, complete with Keith/Ronnie/Johnny Thunders hair, snakeskin boots and eyeliner. They closed with Bastards of Young. Later on, I was walking around the crowd, swilling Lone Star tallboys, rockinga UGA tshirt, and a guy came up to me, and asked if Iwas from Georgia, and we talked about the upcoming football season. Only when two folks came up and asked for his autograph did I realize it was the singer from Squad 5-0. Cool band, and good music.

The most recent Damien Rice show in December where he invited Herbie Hancock to play onstage.