i've never actually gone specifically for the opening band, but i have been to one particular show where the opener turned out to be better. last year i went to see robin trower, and despite he being a guitar whiz on the records, he was just really bad live, not to mention the sound being awful...anyways, the opening act was some local rock band (whose name escapes me) who ended up being awesome. they whipped out doublenecks and closed out their set with a killer rendition of la villa strangiato!