the Fans perspective on opening bands

tom · Post by **tom** » Friday May 28, 2004

I am wondering what the average Club Hopper (non musician) thinks about opening bands....................

I'm not talking about pre announced double bills, or multiple act shows, just showing up at a club to see band X and sitting thru another band to see the band on the Marquee

any thoughts???????

esa · Post by **esa** » Friday May 28, 2004

I think it depends. Like, if I know the second band, I'm a little harder on the openers. I mean... If I never heard ESY before and they were opening up for Deviance, then...I might get impatient because I need my De-viance fix and I need it now, demnit!
But if I had never heard either band before, I'm a little more open to the opening band.

However, if they got good tuneages...then let them wail away. If they are new to the band scene and shakey...eh. By the third song they should have their stage feet. Anything after song five that is still rough, I have a feeling they need to go back to the garage and practice another month before coming up on a stage again. Don't ever quit.. just get more sure of yourself before you try and play before a sometimes not so forgiving public.

Opening bands are great! Buddy systems are great! (Scratching backs for each other).
That's my .02

313 · Post by **313** » Friday May 28, 2004

Personally, I prefer to see several bands on the same bill.

Running with Scissors · Post by **Running with Scissors** » Friday May 28, 2004

The more bands on the bill, the more people through the door. Hence your chance to win over some new fans..

Post by **Jim Price** » Friday May 28, 2004

I like seeing opening bands on the bill, especially if it is somebody I haven't seen yet. I actually prefer 2 or 3 bands to one singular band in an evening, it keeps things from getting monotonous.

Two pet peeves for me, though: 1) when an opener is on the bill and is unadvertised, and I wind up missing them because they weren't advertised and went on early; or 2) when an opener is advertised to start at 10:30, and I show up at 10:30 and find out they started at 10 and are on their last song.

ERiC_AiXeLsyD · Post by **ERiC_AiXeLsyD** » Friday May 28, 2004

I'm in a band, so maybe I don't count... but I like to go & see all the bands. Variety is cool. The time thing that Jim was referring to is also a pain in the ass that I've noticed over the years.

A lot of times it's just due to the club guy or the sound guy being anxious... sometimes it's the bands' nerves.

I still find it hard to believe that in this day & age of mass communication everywhere... you can show up expecting to see band X, band Y, & band Z... and only band Y is there, but they brought bands A, B, C, & F-.

I also like to watch all the bands if my band happens to be on the bill. Nothing irritates me more when you set up a show with a band, & they don't even have enough respect to watch your set.

esa · Post by **esa** » Friday May 28, 2004

I agree with that one.

Opening band plays, Header band sits and bs's amongst themselves. No support.

Or Header band stands for opening band, and the opening band does not stay to support the header.

That drives me up a wall. It's a respect thang. If you are standing there, right up front stage, jamming out to their tunes, then they should show the same curteousy to stand for some of your music...tell you that you're doing a good job and you're appreciated.

Gah!

ERiC_AiXeLsyD · Post by **ERiC_AiXeLsyD** » Friday May 28, 2004

esa wrote:That drives me up a wall. It's a respect thang. If you are standing there, right up front stage, jamming out to their tunes, then they should show the same curteousy to stand for some of your music...tell you that you're doing a good job and you're appreciated.

Gah!

Glad I'm not alone on this. You should see the number of people that look at me like I'm nuts when i say things like this.

ImAGrimmette · Post by **ImAGrimmette** » Friday May 28, 2004

Being a huge fan of The Grimm... they usually have an opening band! Which is really cool, because it gives some un-known bands a chance to let people hear their music and for that matter The Grimm has brought in some out of town bands to the area for us to check out as well. And then that gives The Grimm a chance to try their thing out in the other bands town. Which I feel is a really good concept!

Plus what better way to get yourself out there and known... then to swap shows. I personally think an opening band is very cool idea! I have heard some pretty awesome music from opening bands and have met some pretty awesome people as well.....

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Saturday May 29, 2004

I just saw a multi-band bill this evening, in Houtzdale. Unfortunatley, the neighbors had to be curmudgeons and the show was shut down before the final band played. (though I saw a really killer Black Metal band) The police came and harassed the bands while they were tearing down, and I went off on a little 4 and a half hour misadventure. (no, I wasn't doing anything illegal)

But anyways....... I really like the multi-band bill. Just for the fact, that if I'm plopping down money, I have a better chance of seeing a band I enjoy. I think some people are reluctant to give new bands a chance, because they may end up paying 3+ dollars for a band that may not like. Having 2 or more bands raises the odds of seeing a band one will enjoy.

Hal · Post by **Hal** » Saturday May 29, 2004

I have one problem with opening bands. If I am driving over an hour to see a bigger name band and they have an opening band that was not advertised and they sound like they need another year playing in the garage, I am fucking pissed!!! Other than that opening bands kick ass too!!