Support bands, are they worth it? One of the best gigs I went to was a four hour Bruce Springsteen gig with no suport act. Ok the other hand I loved Joan as Policewoman, who supported Rufus Wainwright as well as being in his band. Plus I saw the Cocteau Twins as support many years ago. David Sylvian traditionally does not have a support act & his shows are all the more special for that fact. Some support acts can overcome the minimal sound check, cramped condition at the front of the stage and impatience for the act we have paid money to see to transcend the moment and still be memorable after the gig has finished and we wander home humming the main acts big number. I started thinking about this when I was satt in Kentish Town, on a bench in The Forum waiting for Marillion to start their two hour show pondering that the support act, whose name is unknown not only to me but to all around too, will not stay in my memory for more than a few seconds after they leave the stage. This may be down to dementia rather than their musicianship.
