'they blew'em off the stage'

Back in the early '70's the headliner was Jethro Tull. The opening band was Steeleye Span. Never heard of them...no one had.
They were pure magic. I can't say they blew away Tull, but they were a very hard act to follow. So much so the crowd kept applauding and yelling for more, that the concert went for a VERY long time.
Tull was, of course, not a letdown (I think it was the Aqualung Tour), and after a great headliner act, Ian Anderson brought back Steeleye Span and both bands played together.
Their synergy was incredible.

John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, December 1971 in Burlington, VT. They opened for The Blue Oyster Cult and the reconstituted Byrds. No contest. Not even from the same solar system.

Steve Morse Band opening for Rush Worcester, MA 1985(?) for the Power Windows tour.

Morse and Co. did a version of Dazed and Confused from the second half, the instrumental section, that nailed absolutely every note and nuance of Pages studio version solo, simply frightening and scary as I remember. Totally unexpected and the audience was in shock.

Rush was good but they didn't top that one that night.

Please tell me there were others that were also at that same show.

1968....minneapolis armory...a local band-white lightning-opened for creedence clearwater revival. first time i had heard them. creedence played 2 25 minute semi-psych droners. white lightning had the flair and dash of the early who along with a singer who could do a pretty good jim morrison....no contest

"Blown off the stage" is too strong but a couple years ago Susan Tedeschi followed by Koko Taylor and Buddy Guy. Buddy is still an amazing guitarist but they both brought Susan back on stage for duets and virtually passed the torch.

The oddest double bill was Joe Cocker and SRV. Completely different styles. Cocker had Ray Charles-like precision while I doubt SRV ever played a song the same way twice. Still, the best concert ever. That was the last road trip for SRV.