What is the most unique opening song that you've seen?

cheney50mc

Both of my most unique opening songs are ones that are played almost every night.

Porch (Hamilton - 2005) and Given to Fly (also Hamilton - 2011).

I've never seen another set-list that had either of those songs as the opener.

Porch was awesome, but GTF seemed a bit strange.

Is there a list anywhere of all of the openers? Just curious...thanks.

cp3iverson

I think i saw the first opening of Crazy Mary in Philly 03.  

Alot of shocked people lol

PB11041

cp3iverson said:

I think i saw the first opening of Crazy Mary in Philly 03.  

Alot of shocked people lol

That was a good one. It lit a fire.  

offhegoes32

Do The Evolution, Champaign 2003.

Man, what a way to get a show going.  Not sure what other times they opened with it.

JimmyV

EDIT: I didn't see this show myself but I wish I had.

LIvefootsteps claims it has happened six times but hearing Alive open things up would be a mindblower:

Newcastle, Australia
November 19, 2006

Not a bad little set list, either.

http://www.livefootsteps.org/setlist/?show_id=774

Set 1

1. Alive
2. Life Wasted
3. Severed Hand
4. Save You
5. Insignificance
6. Unemployable
7. Brain Of J.
8. Red Mosquito
9. Given To Fly
10. Last Exit
11. Hail, Hail
12. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
13. Better Man
14. Daughter
15. War
16. Whipping
17. Leatherman
18. Down
19. Do The Evolution
20. Undone
21. Rearviewmirror

Encore 1

1. Thumbing My Way
2. Masters Of War
3. Footsteps
4. Crown Of Thorns
5. Alone
6. Even Flow

Encore 2

1. Corduroy
2. Fuckin' Up
3. Rockin' In The Free World
4. Yellow Ledbetter
5. Little Wing

CopperTom

 I got Lightning Bolt and Crazy Mary(each 2 times ever).

PB11041

In terms of absolute numerical based fact - I Am Mine - has only opened 2 times, or 1.78% of the times it has been played.  So that would be number 1.  Followed closely by Hail, Hail - has only opened 5 times, or 2.09% of the times it has been played. 

On the very unusual all things considered front, catching Once, which has been played 14 times as an opener but only twice since 1992, one being the night before 4.28.16, was unusual get at the Ten show.

In terms of personal favorite and never expected to get it openers, it would be Wash, 7.14.2003.  Had not opened a show in the United States since bridge 1994, and ultimately, opener or not, I never expected I would be at a show they happened to play it.  And then I was fortunate enough to get it again just two years later in Ottawa. 

KC138045

Breakerfall is probably the most unique one I've got.  My first show too.

RiotAct10

Betterman in Cleveland, 2006, was a surprise out of the gate.

rw160510

I saw given to fly open at Hyde Park in 2010. That was probably the most unexpected opener I have seen. Other notables that do not happen too often were go in Manchester 2012, world wide suicide at the astoria in 2006 and hard to imagine in Amsterdam 2014, but that's just as they don't play that song nearly enough.

cheney50mc

JimmyV said:

http://www.livefootsteps.org/setlist/?show_id=774

                

Thanks for this link                           

cheney50mc

PB11041 said:

On the very unusual all things considered front, catching Once, which has been played 14 times as an opener but only twice since 1992, one being the night before 4.28.16, was unusual get at the Ten show.

I always thought it was strange that Once opened both shows. And then heard that before the 2nd show they were given a '10' banner for their tenth show at the venue, so they decided to play the album. I was also surprised they went straight into '10' instead of doing the usual 2 or 3 song lead in...

Maybe this was the only time they have opened with the same song during a 2 night stand... ?

Bob Mayo on the keyboards Bob

offhegoes32 said:

Do The Evolution, Champaign 2003.

Man, what a way to get a show going.  Not sure what other times they opened with it.

Agree completely! Blew my mind. I think that's a really underrated show all the way around  -best version of Black I've ever heard. 

CantKeepmedown

I feel like it was 2006, or maybe 2003 that had a run of different openers.....Present Tense, GTF, Alive, Betterman.  For me, personally, it's probably Crazy Mary or I am Mine.

I know they opened a Petty show with Last Kiss.  And a couple Inside Job's on the 2006 tour too.   

rw160510

Delete

gonzo

cheney50mc said:

PB11041 said:

On the very unusual all things considered front, catching Once, which has been played 14 times as an opener but only twice since 1992, one being the night before 4.28.16, was unusual get at the Ten show.

I always thought it was strange that Once opened both shows. And then heard that before the 2nd show they were given a '10' banner for their tenth show at the venue, so they decided to play the album. I was also surprised they went straight into '10' instead of doing the usual 2 or 3 song lead in...

Maybe this was the only time they have opened with the same song during a 2 night stand... ?

They opened with the same three songs 6/1/06 and 6/3/06 in East Rutherford: Severed Hand, Corduroy, World Wide Suicide. 

cheney50mc

gonzo said:

 

They opened with the same three songs 6/1/06 and 6/3/06 in East Rutherford: Severed Hand, Corduroy, World Wide Suicide. 

Wow, strange. Thanks, I like this stuff 

lolobugg

Wash was a great opener.

Elderly Woman was not such a great opener.

JimmyV

lolobugg said:

Wash was a great opener.

Elderly Woman was not such a great opener.

Elderly Woman is a great opener. Pops the crowd every time which is what an opening song should do.

lolobugg

JimmyV said:

lolobugg said:

Wash was a great opener.

Elderly Woman was not such a great opener.

Elderly Woman is a great opener. Pops the crowd every time which is what an opening song should do.

Wrong again, Jimmy.

totally killed the vibe in Virginia 2010. so much so that they played about 5 or 6 rockers in a row to get it going again.

maybe it had to do with the shitty acoustics at that Amphitheatre.

JimmyV

lolobugg said:

JimmyV said:

lolobugg said:

Wash was a great opener.

Elderly Woman was not such a great opener.

Elderly Woman is a great opener. Pops the crowd every time which is what an opening song should do.

Wrong again, Jimmy.

totally killed the vibe in Virginia 2010. so much so that they played about 5 or 6 rockers in a row to get it going again.

maybe it had to do with the shitty acoustics at that Amphitheatre.

Montreal loved it in 2011.