Opening number

[tdavey980]

Racking my brains on a song to open my gig!
Needs to be punchy, middle of the road and to have that "WOW" factor,

Was thinking about "America" from Neil Diamond or "Let me entertain you" from Robbie Williams,

Any suggestions?

[Emerald Midi]

May experience is it usually depends on the venue, and more importantly your audience.

A 20 - 30 something crowd like to hear modern stuff, so in this case LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU would be a good option.

[shyamwestwind]

Elvis' "I just cant help believin" is a good show starter and so is the good ole favourite "La Bamba"
You can get the intro going without singing and you'll notice that most know the song and will start singing the chorus. Let that play for a bit till they come on the floor and then ..... BANG ! You sing the song !!! You'll need to think of the second song to match the beat and life of this one !!!

[paulo]

tHE OPENING NUMBER,Tricky one.For me it has to be a song that i can sing with no strain and because the sound check was a while ago,and the sound in venues change I need a chance to maybe turn up the mic ,guitar turn down backing whatever the song I would usually choose is Hurts so good J C Melancamp.

[860tombarry]

I like to start with Buffet Margaretaville(spelling?). Easy to sing and somewhat uptempo.

[weeo]

I normally choose a mid tempo number that i don't have much guitar to play so i can fine tune the balance.Same idea as Paulo
Stuck in the Middle / Brown eyed Girl./I'll be your baby tonight
Then build it up from there.
Hope that helps

[rossi]

There must be a hundred answers to this one. Horses for courses comes to mind.
When I was a single Guit/Voc entertainer in the Northern cabaret/working mens club scene, I often opened up with a version of Billy Joels "Its still rock and roll to me". This gave an opportunity to adjust the volume on my guitar with the opening pulsating chord and also helped the backing muso's (organ/drums) to get a feel. You could extend the first bars to as long as you wanted and then hit the audience with the lyrics..."What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing..."
Nowadays I've ditched the guitar and I play to a mixed crowd which is different each night.
I can honestly say that I have no idea about the first song I play until I'm behind my keyboards. I walk on and look around at the audience and try to assess them quickly. Young, old, little kids, diners....whatever. It's your decision.
Last night there was a lot of folks eating evening meals. I kicked off with "Everybodys Talkin', (Beautiful South/Nilson). Doing "The summer of 69" would not have been right....see what I mean. Gently ease yourself into their effections. (Unless its an out and out rock gig of course!)
Go with what your happiest with and always check the age group your entertaining.
Cheers,
Rossi

[themd21]

Rossi has nailed it. I really can't see how you can predict what number you're going to open with until you've sussed the crowd.
Remember the " Blues Brothers? ". Thank god for the chicken wire!!!

[gibbo]

That's true, with us it always depends on the crowd... the original post on this thread was asking for song suggestions, along the lines of "Racking my brains on a song to open my gig!
Needs to be punchy, middle of the road and to have that "WOW" factor..." so I guess that The Blues Brothers' version of Rawhide fitted the bill for Bob's Country Bunker.
Speaking of which, do any of the Scot contingent remember Green's Playhouse in Glasgow?
Back in the early 70's they had a soccer net over the front of the stage, exactly like the scene from the Blues Brothers and for exactly the same reasons... to keep the bottles off the band! The first time I ever played there I was expecting it to roll up like an Opening Curtain! After the first set the Manager explained that it was there to protect the bands from "Glasgie Applause".
Luckily for us the crowd liked our music and we never had to contend with thrown bottles.
Ah, the memories...
Cheers, Dave.

[Steptoe]

I always choose an opening song that'll allow me to adjust the levels without to much trouble!

[shyamwestwind]

Very P R A C T I C A L John.

[cowboy79]

I have 2 I'm from the country by Tracy Byrd or Honky Tonk Man by Dwight Yoakham. Easy going but bouncy. Also gets the gig unerway.

I do a couple of quick numbers then a slow or cha cha type number.