Best (and worst) Opening Bands

[Fully]

With the news about Soundland being cancelled, I think the best opening band is any band and show that actually takes place.

[LeanneP]

I'm a newb, so I've only got one real show under my belt. I was underwhelmed (if that's a word - teehee!) by BOH. I hadn't heard them before I saw them at Echo Beach so my frame of reference is very limited. They just seemed to get the basics of a song going and then it ended. I was bored, ultimately.

Dream: The Sadies

[Fully]

I'm a newb, so I've only got one real show under my belt. I was underwhelmed (if that's a word - teehee!) by BOH. I hadn't heard them before I saw them at Echo Beach so my frame of reference is very limited. They just seemed to get the basics of a song going and then it ended. I was bored, ultimately.

Dream: The Sadies

I think we will keep you around here after all. I hate to bash too much on BoH. I know that lots of people really like them. But except for the last three songs of their sets I've seen them play, it's a little .....boring.  Maybe it would be better if I wasn't waiting to see MMJ play, but I've seen them play with them enough that I'm not planning to ever pay to see them by themselves.

[exist10z]

Lot of BOH hate here.  I use to like them a lot, now just meh.  Saw them open at MSG last year, and I would have said that was my favorite opener, as none of my other Jacket shows had 'proper' openers that I remember.

However, after seeing Portugal The Man at the Wiltern, I will say they are my favorite now.  Least favorite, I am going to have to pile on Shabazz Palaces.  Didn't think they were terrible exactly, and I am a hip-hop fan, but I just couldn't really get into it.

[buymycar]

...with that stated...all opening bands suck...they make us wait for MMJ...;)

The best opener was on the Evil Urges tour...no opener.  An evening with My Morning Jacket.

Now THAT show at the Greek was 3+ hours!  Here's to no openers! 

Cheers to that!  If '08 was the Scottish Battlefield show, this year's Greek show was Operation Desert Storm.   

[SaraBananaBear]

The Head and the Heart was just pure love, so good! I'd love to see them again or Floating Action.

[joey_rogo]

Best - The New Pornographers, even the fans in upstate NY weren't that into them.

I wouldn't say the NPs were bad themselves, but I would say I felt bad for them. It was awkward, and thus, I would have to say it was one of the 'worst' openers I've seen for MMJ. Again, not that they sucked or anything, but the crowd just didn't buy what they were selling and they knew it. It was uncomfortable. I remember the singer saying something like 'maybe you all could stand up or something...' 

[tdb810]

PHJB, and Grace Potter have been my faves, and Everest is up there too.

Not gonna touch the worst one.

How could I forget Grace Potter?? She was great!!

[Northern Neighbour]

Best - The New Pornographers, even the fans in upstate NY weren't that into them.

I wouldn't say the NPs were bad themselves, but I would say I felt bad for them. It was awkward, and thus, I would have to say it was one of the 'worst' openers I've seen for MMJ. Again, not that they sucked or anything, but the crowd just didn't buy what they were selling and they knew it. It was uncomfortable. I remember the singer saying something like 'maybe you all could stand up or something...' 

Awkward would be an apt description.  I thought the band was fine, but the atmosphere was really odd.

[YungYave]

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were a lot of fun. Never saw Band of Horses open for MMJ, but did see them open for Pearl Jam and they're great. And yes in my opinion, no opener is the optimal situation e.g. Portland, ME 2010.

[itrainmonkeys]

I haven't been lucky enough to attend one of these shows but I'm always jealous when I see favorite bands like Delta Spirit and Portugal. The Man opening for the group.

[Devil Ledbetter]

BoH was my least fav, because of the boredom factor. They are not bad, just not very interesting to me.

I'd love to Portugal. The Man open for them. I haven't seen them do so, though I have seen them (at Bonnaroo ''09). Also, I'd like to see them have Kurt Vile or Fruit Bats open.

[timandre22185]

I would have to go with Delta Spirit and Trombone Shorty as the best openers I've seen...

[Jeff Murray]

I've only seen BOH and Neko Case open for MMJ.  Not a big fan of Neko, flame away, and I only like the early BOH, never got into their previous album, and didn't mind their MPP show. 

I think Trampled By Turtles would be a great opener for the next tour, saw them at the Union Transfer and was very pleasantly surprised, as well as by their opener These United States.  Not often do you get a great opener at shows it seems, so when I do it's a great time.

Another great opener to get the crowd riled up for MMJ would be J Roddy Walston and the Business... pure rock and roll joy.

[My Morning Tube top]

 

Shorty & Orleans Ave. all the way! Those boys are sooooo fn talented. If there are any albums I have abused as much as any off MMJs it's 'For True' & 'Backatown'! If you haven't heard them run out and get them. This is one band the MMJ didn't guide me to but my love for Nola music and Jazz fest did. My one tour failure was not making it to Red Rocks this summer to see them open... Hoping they open one of the Port Chester or NYE shows!

PHJB- Nola love and guaranteed horns later!
Everest- hometown band I love as well
Iron & Wine- shocked how much I liked his opening at The Wiltern, after seeing him at The Fox before, He is Prob one of the funniest guys with his banter and great chemistry with MMJ

Thank you for this post as I just googled Shorty and see he's playing in Malibu 10/20... anyone in LA you should go!

[layin low]

Delta Spirit was really good. Hadn't heard much of them and they killed it.

Band of Horses has to be my high point. Seeing BOH and MMJ together was one of the greatest concert deals I've ever received in life.

I don't like to say worst, but I could not get into Neko Case.

[Murph]

Holly Miranda opened one of the nights at T5 and was really awesome

[Sticky Icky Green Stuff]

I liked Kathleen Edwards when she opened..  she had a jacket on with a white t-shirt on underneath and when she took off her jacket her boobs were slammin.  borderline boner material. 

worst bands were band of snorses'zzz or neko gayce.  MMJ shouldn't have an opener.  they don't need one. 

[rincon]

Lot of BOH hate here.  I use to like them a lot, now just meh.  Saw them open at MSG last year, and I would have said that was my favorite opener, as none of my other Jacket shows had 'proper' openers that I remember.

However, after seeing Portugal The Man at the Wiltern, I will say they are my favorite now.  Least favorite, I am going to have to pile on Shabazz Palaces.  Didn't think they were terrible exactly, and I am a hip-hop fan, but I just couldn't really get into it.

I was sitting in the back on the bar stools with a decidedly white, over 40 crowd that night. Everyone was bored, and looked perplexed. The guy next to me just received free MMJ tics from a friend who could not go, and he knew nothing of them. He agreed Shabbazz was not horrible, no one said that in our little crowd, but I saw no one who was into them. He told me during intermission he hoped MMJ was nothing like the opening band.

[Shug]

The guy next to me said that Shabbaz was the longest hour of his life.  I didn't disagree.

I LOVED the way Portugal. The Man came out pedal to the metal and rocked an intense instrumental jam to open their set.  I also dug the way they'd slow down as they got heavier, it reminded me of Sabbath and old Mother Hips a little bit.

My fave opener has been Sharon Jones and Dap Kings, but I love classic soul.  Everest were really good, too.  I thought I'd like Trombone Shorty, but I found something lacking.  I guess I was expecting more of a traditional New Orleans sound.  I do like Pres. Hall Jazz, but I've not seen them open for MMJ.

For me to like the opener for MMJ, they have to rock.  Mellow stuff does not get me fired up to rock out with MMJ. Iron and Wine has talent, but for me it was a buzz kill rather than a whet the appetite kind of thing. I'd love to see Lucero or J. Roddy Walston open, some good, soulful roots rock kinda deal.  Raphael Saddiq would work, too.  The Mother Hips would still be a good opener for MMJ, I think, too.