Who is the best musical performer you've ever seen live unexpectedly?

I saw James Taylor in Honolulu about 15 yrs ago. He brought down the house, and was amazing. Michael McDonald was awesome too.

JT wasn’t supposed to be there, though? Just showed up?

I know these bands aren’t terribly well known, but I’ll throw it out there anyway.

I went to see Straylight Run (former members of Taking Back Sunday) at a small theater in Indianapolis. A band called Lovedrug that I had only heard of opened for them. Lovedrug played one of the most crisp live shows I’ve ever seen. Vocals were on, stage presence was exciting, and everybody was perfectly in sync.

I was at warped tour at club la vela watching NOFX and their drummer was sick so they had the drummer from Suicidal Tendencies play. It was pretty bad ass. I saw that tour when NIN was touring with JRC and I think I was 13 at the time and the power went out at the venue and NIN cancelled. We did get to see JRC and Prick, though. Prick was awesome. I even think Pop Will Eat Itself played, too.

I forgot how good Prick was. I just found this.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=48516515

Carlos Santana. Before he got really famous he used to go to this place called the Red Noodle and jam late at night, working out his tunes. Never knew when he would show, always a great surprise.
and Hendrix when he was making Rainbow Bridge, he used to wander all around, no entourage. He would play anywhere, anytime. Life was simpler back then…

Normally i hate opening acts and bide my time while they play through their crappy songs until the main act comes on. But the first time i went to see Buckethead in concert That1Guy (who id never heard of at the time) opened for him. Needless to say, i was blown away. I think i actually enjoyed That1guys set more than bucketheads.

Motörhead. I had no expectations. I mean, they look ugly, they can’t sing, their songs are simple and sounds all the same, yet it’s probably one of the best gigs i’ve attended.

DeVotchKa opened for Jim White, and absolutely stole the show. They were absolutely amazing that night, and have been a fan ever since.

Another time, I went to see some local bands that I had never heard of, at my college (Green River Community College, Auburn, WA) student center, and ended up falling in love with one of the bands that played. They were called Nirvana, and also so very amazing. I went out the next day and bought Bleach.

I was at the Cotton Club in Portland many years ago. Sammy Davis Jr. just dropped by after his own show downtown. He got up and did a marvelous set….just because he loved the Club and the audience.

I’ve been at some peace rallies in SF and Bonnie Raitt just rolls up. I think I once saw her sing with Tracy Chapman but I may have made that up. Any other SFers remember this?

emilyrose – your answer reminded me of a more mellow one that happened to me. I went to the first Lillith Fair, and I was away from the stages, looking at the exhibits. I turned a corner and walked into a Border’s Books booth, and I looked up, and about 10 feet from me, there was Pat Benetar and Neil Geraldo, they did a 45 minute live acoustic set, it was pretty damn impressive.

Thanks to all for the great answers so far!

@chutter, straylight run is one of my favourite bands in the world. [[[[[[[[=

the only two unexpected concert experiences i can think of both had to do with a band called matchbook romance (who are unfortunately no longer a band). i saw them play a few years ago, and paramore was supposed to open for them, but dropped out last minute, and a band called sullivan replaced them. they were really good, at least i thought they were. (:
the second time, i went to a music festival and taking back sunday was playing. they weren’t that good that time, but to their credit, a few of their members were gone. but the former drummer of matchbook romance (now the drummer of god or julie) was replacing theirs. so i was ecstatic haha

Okay, this was awhile ago…back in 1985, my parents took me to the Presidential Inauguration for Reagan (his 2nd term), and that week, there were numerous events for the Republican party. One such event was a dinner and “jam session” sponsored by the NAACP, and the musicians playing were Lionel Hampton (whom my dad was friends and at one time his physician), with a young(er) Wynton Marsalis in the band on Coronet.

Here’s the kicker: in the middle of a great improv session based on Hamp’s classics (Boogie Woogie, Flyin’ Home, etc.), who steps up to do a quick solo, but Hamp’s old buddy, Dizzy Gilespie! Granted by then his chops were all but gone, but my brother and I sat on the lip of the stage and watched as his neck blew up like a puffer fish!

Little did we know that we were seeing a piece of history…to my knowledge the two never played on the same stage together after that night and a few years after, Dizzy passed on (then Hamp, as the story goes).

Jazz fans probably would appreciate the story…

Hubert Sumlin was playing one night near Brady Street in Milwaukee and who should show up to jam with him? Mick Jagger. Right out of the blue. He stayed for one Hubie and then he and Hube did one and then he split. Um, yea. Fucking speechless we were. And after Mick left Hube said, “I told y’all I ran dangerous”.