My preference here is to get songs youhave actually seen performed as the first song of a set and are appropriate/good in that purpose.
Failing that, songs you think SHOULD be or should have been used thus.
My nominations (I have actually heard these): Heart: Kick it Out. Probably the most appropriate starter song, perfect, upbeat tempo, not teribly complex, and apropos lyrics. Also, doesnt waste a “good” song on the opening song (I think it’s a waste, since the crowd is already psyched)
Dropkick Murphys:Cadence to Arms/Do or Die: again, a great one to open with. I had always thought that combo would be a great opening song but didnt think they’d actually do it! The bagpipe call that slowly grows into a hand-pumping punk anthem is an awesome starter.
Saves the Day:At Your Funeral: I actually predicted they would start with this, and was right. Unfortunately it is also their best song, but the tradeoff was worth it. The song begins with about 8 lines almost acapella. After the first two words were out the whole audience was singing with him! The best feeling I’ve had at a concert. Plus, the guitar comes in very predictably so it was quite fun to pump your head when you know it will happen.
Devo did a sitting-down acoustic version of Jocko Homo as their first song the last time I saw them play. Then the energy domes were put on and soon Mark was pulling cabbage out of his underwear and throwing it at us and balance was restored.
Back in the early 70s, Jethro Tull opened with “Thick as a Brick.” Since that went for 45 minutes or so, they took a break after the 1st song and then came back to play all their hits. After the break Ian Anderson said “Now, for our second number…” Pretty much everybody liked it.
I’m a big fan of the curtain in front of the stage during an intro track followed by the curtain dropping and everyone going nuts. That was a total Depeche Mode thing for the longest time, but not so much anymore. I thought their moody intro to the Devotional Tour (the song “Higher Love”) was perfect.
“I Can’t Explain” has started off many a Who concert to good effect. They also used Entwistle’s “Heaven and Hell”: take a listen to the Isle of Wight CD (or DVD)–it really cooks!
I forgot about that, AH, I knew they opened with that, and indeed it would have kicked ass…but did not see the tour
About the only other Floyd song that would have topped that would be “In the Flesh?”. “Speak to Me” would have tied with IO, but only if they would have gone on to play the first half of DSOTM.
