Sometimes I feel it important to point out my dislike of people who go to concerts and disregard the opening bands. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a band in the world that didn’t open for someone else at one point in their career. Some of my favorite bands are still opening acts and I’ve discovered some awesome music by opening myself up to actually listening to the first acts at shows.
Just to name a few, We Were Promised Jetpacks and This Good Robot are two bands that I never would have known had they not opened at concerts I was attending. From the first second We Were Promised Jetpacks started playing, I knew I had to download their album, even though the crowd basically ignored them. Some of their guitar riffs are almost haunting and raw and Adam Thompson’s Scottish accented voice, while not incredibly distinctive, is still memorable enough to make you want to keep listening. This Good Robot is a good example of an opening band that could completely rock a venue without anyone knowing who they were. An eight person band that filled the stage, whose lead singer jumped around and then into the crowd, that’s attention getting. Mix in Michael Ragosta’s knack for dancing, singing and playing guitar all at the same time, while being backed by not one but two drummers, and you’ve got an opening act that can actually get the crowd considering them.
I only put these things out there because I think too many people go to concerts thinking that the opening acts are going to be terrible, without even giving them a chance. I mean, how else are we going to discover new music if we don’t go into things with an open mind? All I’m saying is that not all opening bands totally suck, so give ‘em a chance before you turn off and ignore them.
- RIOT!
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