Duke Silver wrote:

RevMatt wrote:The next time he gets to the refrain he sings, " And it ain't my crowd and it ain't my night but I'd be lying if I said I can't relate I'm just the opening act and the van is packed and I'm hauling ass to another state" Can't relate to what? I think he is saying that he can relate to what happened to the guy who fell off the bull. How many times has he gone to a club, had a few too many and did something like try and ride a mechanical bull?

I interpret this section as, "It ain't my crowd (it's the headliner's), it ain't my night (it's the headliner's), but I'd be lying if I said I can't relate (to the headliner)". Patterson/the narrator isn't identifying with the man on the bull, he's identifying with the "band on stage that used to be huge". He's using the man on the bull to underline how un-glamorous and un-rock and roll the whole situation is. Imagine how depressing that has to be for a band who maybe used to play arenas to be competing for a thinning crowd's attention with some mechanical bull sideshow in a dive bar (and being "asked to turn down", on top of it!). The narrator's "salvation" in this song comes from him realizing that he's "just the opening act". It's not his night, it's not his problem, and he's on to the next show, while the headliner is left contemplating what has become of their career.

But the great thing about this song is that it's written well enough that it can support both interpretations.

beantownbubba wrote:

Duke Silver wrote:

RevMatt wrote:The next time he gets to the refrain he sings, " And it ain't my crowd and it ain't my night but I'd be lying if I said I can't relate I'm just the opening act and the van is packed and I'm hauling ass to another state" Can't relate to what? I think he is saying that he can relate to what happened to the guy who fell off the bull. How many times has he gone to a club, had a few too many and did something like try and ride a mechanical bull?

I interpret this section as, "It ain't my crowd (it's the headliner's), it ain't my night (it's the headliner's), but I'd be lying if I said I can't relate (to the headliner)". Patterson/the narrator isn't identifying with the man on the bull, he's identifying with the "band on stage that used to be huge". He's using the man on the bull to underline how un-glamorous and un-rock and roll the whole situation is. Imagine how depressing that has to be for a band who maybe used to play arenas to be competing for a thinning crowd's attention with some mechanical bull sideshow in a dive bar (and being "asked to turn down", on top of it!). The narrator's "salvation" in this song comes from him realizing that he's "just the opening act". It's not his night, it's not his problem, and he's on to the next show, while the headliner is left contemplating what has become of their career.

But the great thing about this song is that it's written well enough that it can support both interpretations.

More food for thought, Duke. I've always thought of it more like Peter J (at least if i'm understanding him correctly), which takes the first part of your interp, duke, but then goes off somewhat differently. I.e., "oh, well it aint my crowd and it aint my night because it's the headliners night and crowd, but i can't blame anyone or expect much more because i can relate to being in the audience and not caring about the opening act."

grayotis wrote:The Opening Act is not only my favorite DBT song, but one of my all-time favorite tunes, period. The music, the mood, the words...it hits me on every level.
And on every level, I can relate. It gives me chills.

Does anyone else feel that this is a transcendent song, or is it just me?

Tyler wrote:Patterson gave some background on this at a solo show....was inspired by a specific show he saw...some of the southern rock "legacy" self tribute bands...forget which but it was Marshall Tucker or the Outlaws or one of those.

Smitty wrote:

Tyler wrote:Patterson gave some background on this at a solo show....was inspired by a specific show he saw...some of the southern rock "legacy" self tribute bands...forget which but it was Marshall Tucker or the Outlaws or one of those.

For some reason, I always assumed it was DnC.

beantownbubba wrote:

Smitty wrote:

Tyler wrote:Patterson gave some background on this at a solo show....was inspired by a specific show he saw...some of the southern rock "legacy" self tribute bands...forget which but it was Marshall Tucker or the Outlaws or one of those.

For some reason, I always assumed it was DnC.

Speaking of which, the music nerd I referred to in the live music thread mentioned that DnC was scheduled to play Boston this summer but it was canceled for lack of interest/ticket sales. It was the first I'd heard about the show, which might be part of the problem - not that i hadn't heard about it, but perhaps the word did not get out as well as it should have. Sad.

Tyler wrote:It could have been DnC I guess, my memory is certainly more than a bit hazy on this...they were never really "huge" though.

Smitty wrote:

Tyler wrote:It could have been DnC I guess, my memory is certainly more than a bit hazy on this...they were never really "huge" though.

Shit, they were pretty damn big back in "Fly Me Courageous" days, in the South atleast.

Kudzu Guillotine wrote:I know that there for a while, they were often the opening act or were at least one of several bands on the bill at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh in the 90's even if they weren't promoting a new album. Last year, they played a show at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on the same night Southern Culture On the Skids was paying a free concert just a few blocks away on Fayetteville Street. Upon leaving the SCOTS show I ran into several people that were interested in seeing D n' C yet had no idea they were even in town. In retrospect, perhaps the Lincoln show should have been promoted as the "after party" even though it got underway around 8:30 with the Olympic Ass Kickin' Team opening. Last weekend, D n' C played to a pretty large crowd at the Lincoln (at least for a Sunday night) as part of Schoolkids Records 40th Anniversary celebration and put on one of the best shows I've ever seen them do. Oftentimes, I hear people say, "I had no idea they were in town" or "If I'd only known, I would have gone". I have no idea if that is due to poor promotion on the part of the local clubs or if people just don't pay attention to who's playing around here. I'm thinking it's the latter.

Smitty wrote:

Kudzu Guillotine wrote:I know that there for a while, they were often the opening act or were at least one of several bands on the bill at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh in the 90's even if they weren't promoting a new album. Last year, they played a show at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh on the same night Southern Culture On the Skids was paying a free concert just a few blocks away on Fayetteville Street. Upon leaving the SCOTS show I ran into several people that were interested in seeing D n' C yet had no idea they were even in town. In retrospect, perhaps the Lincoln show should have been promoted as the "after party" even though it got underway around 8:30 with the Olympic Ass Kickin' Team opening. Last weekend, D n' C played to a pretty large crowd at the Lincoln (at least for a Sunday night) as part of Schoolkids Records 40th Anniversary celebration and put on one of the best shows I've ever seen them do. Oftentimes, I hear people say, "I had no idea they were in town" or "If I'd only known, I would have gone". I have no idea if that is due to poor promotion on the part of the local clubs or if people just don't pay attention to who's playing around here. I'm thinking it's the latter.

We have no local music scene to stay on top of, but DnC did play a free "concert series" show last Saturday 25 minutes from me and I missed it because I didn't hear about it till the day after.

Whispering Pines wrote:Last spring at the Truckers' show at Toad's Place, the band followed "The Opening Act" with Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." The result: rock club nirvana.

Clams wrote:Count me in on the drug dealer theory, especially in light of this line....

I see my friend and give him all my money and tell myself it's a necessary evil

schlanky wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 04, 2020 10:42 pm

I was listening to the awesome quarantine show again tonight and got to thinking (after some beers) that our beloved Urban Bovine Knievel is out there somewhere and likely has no idea that there is a song all about him from that really bad night in Columbus on the mechanical bull.

From stage stories, we know Harold showed up at a Hood solo show to claim "Margo and Harold." Does anyone know if the Urban Bovine Knievel has ever come forth to claim his song?

bovine knievel wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 08, 2020 6:05 pm

schlanky wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 04, 2020 10:42 pm

I was listening to the awesome quarantine show again tonight and got to thinking (after some beers) that our beloved Urban Bovine Knievel is out there somewhere and likely has no idea that there is a song all about him from that really bad night in Columbus on the mechanical bull.

From stage stories, we know Harold showed up at a Hood solo show to claim "Margo and Harold." Does anyone know if the Urban Bovine Knievel has ever come forth to claim his song?

I missed the story behind the lyric.