Best (and worst) Opening Bands

[Jon T.]

Could go for some more Delta Spirit opening dates :) Never saw those shows.

Says the guy who likes the sound of banging trash can lids?  Pffft.

Sorry for the harsh, but actually went in early to see them twice in FL last year during December run....the music wasn't terrible, per se, but I think the bass player freaked me out - felt like I had time travelled back to my frat house basement in the early '90's (as opposed to waitin for the best band on earth to play).  And they actually broke down their own equipment as MMJ crew was setting up.  The whole thing was kinda budget.

i respect bands more when i see them setting up or breaking down their own shit.  to each their own, i guess.

[ManNamedTruth]

I've been a long-time BOH fan.  Saw them open for Built To Spill back in 2006 and I've been a fan of them ever since so they were my favorite opener so far.  They had a GREAT turnout in Columbus for their opener as well and you could tell Ben was really digging the support.

Prez Hall has to be my sentimental favorite opener though.  That was my first Jacket show and they certainly helped making that a memorable night.   

Least favorite was some local band at a Pittsburgh show and I can't even remember their name.  I heard some of their stuff prior to the show and decided they weren't worth the bother of going in early so we stayed in the lot and drank good beer... 

I would also have liked to have been to one of the shows where the Black Keys opened for them.  THAT would have been a killer show.

Dream openers would include Dean Wareham (hopefully one night in Port Chester), Dr. Dog, Everest, etc...

I think that was some kind of pre-show thing, I believe Daniel Martin Moore was the official opener for that show.

[ManNamedTruth]

I feel bad that there is some much unhappiness with Neko Case! She's a fave artist of mine (and The Sadies have been frequent backing musicians and I luuuuurrrrrve The Sadies).  What's the disconnect? I'm curious as I think it makes a great fit.

Surprised to see a couple dislikes for Neko too. I thought she held back a little opening for MMJ last year, as some opening bands do sometimes. I saw her headline this year and it was much better. I talked to some fans after the show and they were all very lame though! None of them were into MMJ, even the ones that were at the MMJ/Neko shows said they left early.

My favorite opener has been The Slip. The only other openers have been Daniel Martin Moore witch I didn't catch, BOH, and the previously stated Neko. I've had one "evening with".

[pattilovesmmj]

I saw My Morning Jacket with Band of Horses, and here's an interesting story:  Last year I wanted to see BOH with KOL in Tinley Park, IL and BOH was opening, which was great because I don't like KOL so I thought - what the heck, I'll leave after Band of Horses.   But the Kings lead singer (I think) got drunk and they cancelled their tour.
So then, I kept wishing that Band of Horses would somehow play with MMJ.  BAM!!!! roll call announced the MSG show with BOH as the opening act.
Well I could not go to NY at that time, but MMJ was kind enough to have Band of Horses open up in Chicago.  The only bummer was the beer lines were so long that alot of people were standing in line during Band of Horses waiting to get beer instead of being able to watch the show.
Anyway, I thought they were great, but My Morning Jacket are the innovators and everyone else are the immitaters.

[Penny Lane]

Could go for some more Delta Spirit opening dates :) Never saw those shows.

Used to love these guys but their last tour/album was terrible..(too much singalong with the crowd and distracting stuff on stage) then I think i got my overdose of him at Newport Folk Fest, i hope they re-group somehow and come back with a good album and that dude comes back down to earth..

[e_wind]

Could go for some more Delta Spirit opening dates :) Never saw those shows.

Used to love these guys but their last tour/album was terrible..(too much singalong with the crowd and distracting stuff on stage) then I think i got my overdose of him at Newport Folk Fest, i hope they re-group somehow and come back with a good album and that dude comes back down to earth..

yeah I came to say this. I would be STOKED for them to open if we were still in the Ode to Sunshine days

[ryno11111]

Well lets just go ahead and end this discussion right now.  Worst. Opener. Ever.  I dare somebody to try and top this one...

[Fully]

I was waiting for someone to bring this up...

[e_wind]

forgot about that. it sucked. conversation is over

[itrainmonkeys]

Could go for some more Delta Spirit opening dates :) Never saw those shows.

Used to love these guys but their last tour/album was terrible..(too much singalong with the crowd and distracting stuff on stage) then I think i got my overdose of him at Newport Folk Fest, i hope they re-group somehow and come back with a good album and that dude comes back down to earth..

I'm a huge fan of the band and have been since the first album. I loved the new stuff and  think they're a great live act but I do understand some people's criticisms. While I liked a lot of it or didn't notice it at points, there were a lot of complaints about the production and vocal effects on the new album from friends. I'm easy to please though and am a huge fan of that "circle" of groups like Deer Tick, Delta, Dawes, Dr. Dog, Felice Brothers, etc.

[Penny Lane]

The Mother Hips would still be a good opener for MMJ, I think, too.

AGREE!

[ralph]

We had Dawes in April down here. They were pretty awesome...

[MrWhippy]

As a couple other people have mentioned, I loved Everest as an opener at T5. 

I'd talk about how much I loved Band of Horses at Red Rocks, but I'm scared of the big old Canadian ass-whipping a certain someone might give me in Port Chester if I did.

[mahg33ta]

Mr Whippy-  when I saw you had posted in this thread, I was sure you were going to be mentioning when you and I were fighting for the rail in Forecastle w/ Andrew Bird.   Now THAT was a long set.

[Fully]

Didn't that set last two and a half hours too?

[ericm]

Mr Whippy-  when I saw you had posted in this thread, I was sure you were going to be mentioning when you and I were fighting for the rail in Forecastle w/ Andrew Bird.   Now THAT was a long set.

We're you guys fighting to get off the rail and out of there for that? 

[MrWhippy]

Mr Whippy-  when I saw you had posted in this thread, I was sure you were going to be mentioning when you and I were fighting for the rail in Forecastle w/ Andrew Bird.   Now THAT was a long set.

Quite possibly the longest 90 minutes of my life.  I didn't really think of that as an opening band for MMJ as it being a festival, but if I do think of it that way, that takes the cake as the worst for me by far.  If there is a soundtrack to Hell, Andrew Bird will provide the whistling.

Kyle, you bringing up our fight up at the rail at Forescastle reminded me of your response to the young girl trying to squeeze in front of you.

Girl to Kyle - "Do you mind if is squeeze in front of you?"
Kyle to Girl - "Yes, very much."

Classic.

[Fully]

Are you sure it was only 90 minutes? It seemed so much l o n g e r.

[TheThird]

Mr Whippy-  when I saw you had posted in this thread, I was sure you were going to be mentioning when you and I were fighting for the rail in Forecastle w/ Andrew Bird.   Now THAT was a long set.

Quite possibly the longest 90 minutes of my life.  I didn't really think of that as an opening band for MMJ as it being a festival, but if I do think of it that way, that takes the cake as the worst for me by far.  If there is a soundtrack to Hell, Andrew Bird will provide the whistling.

Kyle, you bringing up our fight up at the rail at Forescastle reminded me of your response to the young girl trying to squeeze in front of you.

Girl to Kyle - "Do you mind if is squeeze in front of you?"
Kyle to Girl - "Yes, very much."

Classic.

Ah I remember that! I was the kid in front of you by the way. I'm with Fully, there is NO way that the Andrew Bird set was only 90 minutes. It was horrible.

Well lets just go ahead and end this discussion right now.  Worst. Opener. Ever.  I dare somebody to try and top this one...

But the reason why I came here was to bring this up but I see someone already beat me to it. That is still one of the strangest and worst pairings I've ever heard of.

[MrWhippy]

Ah I remember that! I was the kid in front of you by the way. I'm with Fully, there is NO way that the Andrew Bird set was only 90 minutes. It was horrible.

I know that, silly.  You're very easy to pick out in the Forecastle webcast, but the way, if you haven't noticed.