Best support act you’ve ever seen?

[Robmarriott]

I always make sure I get to a gig early enough to see the support acts as over the years I’ve seen some people who I’ve ended up seeing when they’ve headlined.

One of my most recent ones were a band called Penelope Isles, saw them at Bedford Esquires supporting The Magic Numbers and they got the biggest, loudest response I’ve ever seen for a warm up.

So what good bands have you seen as support?

I don’t mean The Charlatans supporting Oasis, Royal Blood supporting Foo Fighters, I mean little bands you’d not heard of who were much better than you expected them to be.

[MitchT]

Been to see Alistair Griffin (the guy who did the "Just Drive" song that Sky used on their F1 titles) a few times. At one of his gigs he had Beth McCarthy as support. Never heard of her before - she was so un-famous at that point that she was sat in front of me in the venue before getting up from her seat and hitting the stage when we first arrived! She's great and seems to be getting some traction now. Another of Alistair's support acts - Vinnie Whitehead - also brilliant.

[vixen1700]

In recent years, only band to really stick in my mind were Black Doldrums, a guitar and drums two piece. What a sound at a small East London monthly event above an ex-servicemen's club.

Seen them a few times since and they really do have a sound.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TmVuOn_iUrg

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2XnTPoEWC7A

[Rollin]

Massive Wagons
Juniore
The Blinders

Seen then a few times since as main act except Juniore (which is in a couple of weeks)

[pitboard]

Saw Yes supporting The Nice in Harrogate, September 1969.
Made every band I'd ever seen up to that point seem sloppy in comparison.

[yellowjack]

Two spring immediately to mind. Reverend & The Makers opening for The Enemy at Wembley Arena. I've seen Mr McClure and his Makers many times since, and they are ALWAYS a great night out, bringing some good support bands with them, including, I think, The Virgin Marys.

Then there was Big Sixes supporting Deaf Havana at the Union Chapel. An amazing live band, with a 'different' sound about them. I loved them and hoovered up all I could find by them, but sadly they are no more and never really made it "big".

I've always made sure I get to a venue as early as possible, to make sure I see the support act(s). I've seen and heard some amazing bands that way, many of which I'd have happily paid the ticket price to see as a headline act on their own. I can only think of one instance where I missed the opening act of a gig, and that was an issue with getting to the venue in time from work. I'd never actively choose to miss live music I'd paid for, because that'd be plain stupid!

I've not been to a gig for a while now, but usually my wife likes to book at least one gig per month, but sometimes as many as three. Over a decade or so that's quite a few support acts to see. More recently I've taken a back seat while my wife has treated our youngest son to gigs as a reward for good results at Uni. His last gig was a Japanese rock band called Man With A Mission. He's pretty immersed in Japanese culture and music, and is learning the language too. I've got to say that dipping into his music collection can only be described as an "educational" experience!

[HM-2]

Dendera, supporting Demon, at Fuel in Cardiff were pretty awesome. I saw Fozzy solely because Hardcore Superstar were seconds. Young Gods supporting Killing joke at the Hammersmith Apollo back in 2010, and then Turbowolf supporting them again at the O2 Bristol last year.

I also "accidently" saw The Darkness's supporting Three Inches of Blood before they got big.

Edited by HM-2 on Sunday 28th April 23:06

[SickAsAParrot]

Went to see Hawkwind '+ support' at Trentham Gardens many years ago, when I got there found out '+ support' was The Cardiacs. Bliss.

[jet_noise]

The Police.
Supporting Alberto & los Trios Paranoias (who?).

One of those times when a band breaks part way through a tour and their status changes from indie critics, cult & student favourite to superstardom seemingly overnight.
They were, as the vernacular has it, "on it". Hit after hit from Roxanne to soon to be hit Message in a Bottle which really cemented the night.

[AdeTuono]

jet_noise said:

Supporting Alberto & los Trios Paranoias (who?).

Heads down, no nonsense, mindless boogie. Big hit for them, wasn't it? (No, it wasn't!)

Saw AYLTP supporting The Fabulous Poodles (who?) back in the 70's.

[droopsnoot]

Max Raptor, supporting The Stranglers a few years ago. Since then, I think most of the support acts have been acts I've heard of, but Max Raptor were good, and I think are the only support act where I've actually bought their CD from the merch table afterwards.

[realjv]

I first came across The Twilight Sad as support to Idlewild. I had no idea who they were before they started but have seen them a number of times as headliners since.

Probably my favourite support surprise though was Mexican Institute of Sound supporting Calexico. 3/4 of Calexico came out and played as MIS backing band and then MIS played the whole of the headline set with Calexico. MIS were huge fun and perfect for the support slot.

In terms of worst support I've seen some real clunkers. Sometimes a band is just the wrong fit for headliners audience - Kelis supporting U2 didn't go well.
Sometimes they are just bad - Chicks On Speed supporting Chili Peppers.
Sometimes they are just disappointing - James Brown supporting Chili Peppers at the same show.

Edited by realjv on Monday 29th April 10:56

[RVVUNM]

Saw The Bare Naked Ladies supporting The Beatiful South once, better than the main act.

[Deesee]

Hardly unknown (sorry), but James Brown with full entourage, stole the show at the Chilli Peppers Hyde Park gig a few years back, he was worth the money on his own.

[p4cks]

For me only one springs to mind. I was going to Newcastle O2 to watch one of my favourite bands, Ocean Colour Scene and we arrived a little earlier than we'd have liked so got to see the vast majority of Young Rebel Set's set. They were absolutely amazing and they blew me away and I was a fan ever since.

They've sadly disbanded but you can still see some of their songs on YouTube.

This is a particular favourite of mine, especially this acoustic version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndp-9VCWtmU

[gazza285]

I was impressed by Snuff, when they supported NoMeansNo in 1989, at the Leeds Duchess.

[dieselgrunt]

Nuclear Assault at the Hammersmith Odeon, completely destroying the headline act Agent Steel in comparison

[crofty1984]

The Darkness supported Def Leopard in Brixton in 2002 I think, just before their first album came out. I thought they were mega.

[toon10]

Probably Radiohead but that was back in the days before they took off.

Recently I was impressed with Talos (supporting Editors). I had a couple of their tracks on Playlists and the support act wasn't announced prior so it was a nice surprise. Their produced work is quite dreamy and you have to be in the mood but live they added a new dimension to their tracks. They opened with Odyssey which quickly spiked the interest of those who weren't aware of them.

Victories at Sea supporting The Boxer Rebellion were also brilliant. Wasn't familiar with them so a nice new discovery for me. Good album.

[ChrisPackit]

Back in c. 1991 / 92, I saw a band called Top (who?!) from Liverpool and supporting were a little know band called The Cranberries. Got me into them after watching that gig, of which there were about 50 people there!