II-22: Pilate vs. Elderly Woman

[epilogue]

I think the effect of an opener very depends on what comes after it too, there's little point opening with Release and then rolling into Arms Aloft.

Small Town > Go > Do the Evolution

That was a good, solid opening run.

Yeah, that sounds pretty fucking great.

[Strat]

I think the effect of an opener very depends on what comes after it too, there's little point opening with Release and then rolling into Arms Aloft.

Small Town > Go > Do the Evolution

That was a good, solid opening run.

Dude you have no idea how BAD that actually was. Release into arms aloft. The whole place just sank to shitter levels. It was so strange. Everybody around me was perplexed beyond recovery.

[Kevin Davis]

"Elderly Woman" opened the last show I saw (they immediately played all of "No Code" afterwards so it was a minor complaint). But it's a weird opener -- I'm generally much more amiable to participating in Eddie's touchy-feely audience singalong business after I've been finessed a little bit. "Better Man" as an opener is even worse, with it's "Good evening -- I haven't sung a single note yet, why don't you guys take the first verse?" It's like meeting up with a friend you haven't seen in five years and the first thing he asks is if you'll do his laundry while he takes a nap. It's like, who the hell does this guy think he is?

[LetMeSleep]

I saw it mid set and it killed the vibe.

[BurtReynolds]

"Elderly Woman" opened the last show I saw (they immediately played all of "No Code" afterwards so it was a minor complaint). But it's a weird opener -- I'm generally much more amiable to participating in Eddie's touchy-feely audience singalong business after I've been finessed a little bit. "Better Man" as an opener is even worse, with it's "Good evening -- I haven't sung a single note yet, why don't you guys take the first verse?" It's like meeting up with a friend you haven't seen in five years and the first thing he asks is if you'll do his laundry while he takes a nap. It's like, who the hell does this guy think he is?

heh I haven't thought of it that way. but what if he actually sang the song? I like the build up.

[Kevin Davis]

I favor the traditional-style PJ openers but it would be leagues better if EV sang that first verse himself.

[Norah]

I favor the traditional-style PJ openers but it would be leagues better if EV sang that first verse himself.

Exactly. There's a reason why those traditional openers became traditional.

[Strat]

Sometimes, of the girl, HTI or get the fuck out.

Also, is there anybody here that can hook me up with Beneroya Hall show? I seem to have misplaced that .

[evenslow]

Sometimes, of the girl, HTI or get the fuck out.

You forgot Long Road and Release.

I'm also a fan of the once-in-a-while "fuck it" let's roll this place fast openers - like Champaign '03 Do The Evolution.

[Strat]

Sometimes, of the girl, HTI or get the fuck out.

You forgot Long Road and Release.

I'm also a fan of the once-in-a-while "fuck it" let's roll this place fast openers - like Champaign '03 Do The Evolution.

yea, duh.

Rapid City 98 the crazy young bastards came out with a "ok fuck you" right into DTE.

Strat=dead

[stip]

sometimes is not a great opener. while i could sing the praises of Small town all day it works better as a brief early set cool down.

HTI and release are the best openers. pendulum worked well too

[LetMeSleep]

I've seen sometimes open and it worked.

Best I've seen:
Go
Release

Not so much:
DTE
GTF

[E.H. Ruddock]

Go is a great opener

[evenslow]

I'm also down for some Interstellar Overdive >> Corduroy.

[tragabigzanda]

How has nobody mentioned the Wash opener? I got one in MA in '08, and it was outstanding.

[BurtReynolds]

I'm generally a fan of the rocking openers or the ones that build up to a big finish (Elderly WOman kinda fits that). Either that or short ones like Sometimes.

I always thought songs like Release or Long Road make for strange openers, but I'm not picky. They are fine. And great songs. I just think it's kinda weird is all.

[evenslow]

That's what makes it so great. Counterintuitive openers that set a mood and lock you into the moment. You can go anywhere from there.

Really the only band I've ever seen pull it off on such a consistent basis.

[Kevin Davis]

How has nobody mentioned the Wash opener? I got one in MA in '08, and it was outstanding.

Yes, "Wash" is definitely in the "classic openers" canon. In my mind, these are songs that have historically made significantly more appearances in the opening slot than at any other point in the show (the trend tapered off a bit in recent years as they've switched to this "double opener" approach," but you get the idea):

Release
Oceans
Wash
Long Road
Sometimes
Of the Girl
Can't Keep
Pendulum

I haven't done the math but "Hard to Imagine" probably belongs here too -- it certainly fits the bill.

The only time I've ever been present for a big rock opener was "DTE" in Champaign '03, and it blew the roof off the joint -- that was probably the most energetic PJ show I've been to, and a lot of it was in the room because on the boot it plays like just another show (albeit a very good one).

I think I also just really, really like a lot of those openers and hearing them at the beginning of a show just puts me in a good mood.

[LoathedVermin72]

Seems like MFC would make a good opener.

[Birds in Hell]

I've seen a pretty idiosyncratic collection of openers: MFC, Small Town, Porch, Release, Why Go.

Porch was actually surprisingly good in that role, it's a song that's immediately recognisable to most casual fans and that slow beginning with Ed on guitar that I complained about earlier actually worked pretty well at slowly raising the energy level before the band kicked in.