The legendary British rock band The Who are embarking on a tour in 2023, which includes a stop at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri on March 25th. As one of the most iconic rock groups of all time, The Who always bring an amazing show with hit after hit. However, dedicated fans are also curious about who will be opening the show and getting the crowd warmed up for The Who’s high-energy performance. This article will reveal who is opening for The Who at their St. Louis show and provide background information on the opening band.
The Who 2023 Tour Details
The Who formed in London in 1964 and originally consisted of singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Though they have continued with different lineups over the decades, Daltrey and Townshend remain at the core of The Who to this day. The 2023 tour is titled “The Who Hits Back” and promises to feature The Who’s unmatched catalog of classic rock anthems. Some of their most legendary hits include “My Generation,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” and many more. The tour will bring The Who to arenas and stadiums across the United States, culminating with two nights at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in November.
St. Louis Show Details
The Who will perform at St. Louis’ Enterprise Center on Saturday, March 25, 2023. The venue holds around 20,000 for concerts. Tickets to see The Who went on sale in October 2022, with prices ranging from $51 to $251 before fees. The show is expected to sell out, as fans are eager to see these rock legends live in concert. The Enterprise Center show is part of a larger Midwest run for The Who, with other stops in Chicago, Detroit, and more.
Finding Out Who is Opening for The Who in St. Louis
So who will have the honor of opening for The Who at Enterprise Center and getting the crowd excited for one of rock’s greatest bands? There are a few different ways to find out the answer.
Check The Who’s Website
One easy way is to check The Who’s official website, www.thewho.com. For major tours like this, the website will usually list all supporting acts and opening bands for each show. The Who wants fans to know who is performing each night, so check the “Tour” page on their site and look for the St. Louis show details. If an opener is announced, it should be posted there.
Look at The Who’s Social Media Pages
In addition to their official website, The Who also have verified social media pages on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A quick scroll through their recent posts could reveal an announcement about the opening act in St. Louis. Oftentimes bands will share opening band news on social media to get fans excited about the full lineup.
Check Enterprise Center’s Website
The venue hosting the concert, Enterprise Center, may also announce the opening band on their website or social channels. As the host, they want fans to know the full lineup for the big show. Venues will sometimes share news of openers and start times as part of the concert details listed on their site.
Search For News Articles and Concert Previews
In the days and weeks leading up to a big concert like The Who in St. Louis, local media outlets will often report on the show. This may include newspaper articles, radio segments, or TV news coverage previewing the concert. Part of previewing the show often involves announcing or speculating on who will open the concert. Searching Google News and entertainment sites for mentions of the St. Louis show could uncover if any media outlets have shared news of the opening act.
Check Music Sites Like Bandsintown or Pollstar
Sites like Bandsintown and Pollstar track concert dates and lineups for most major tours. They get their information directly from the artists, venues and promoters running the concerts. For high profile tours like The Who, details on opening acts are often provided to these sites. So its worth looking up The Who’s St. Louis date on Bandsintown or Pollstar to see if they include the opening band name.
Call the Venue or Box Office Directly
If an internet search fails to reveal the opener, calling Enterprise Center directly is a more old school way to find out. Venue staff may have access to the most up to date information on the lineup, especially closer to the concert date. Don’t be afraid to call the venue’s box office and simply ask who is confirmed as the opening act for The Who in March. This insider information can give you the definitive answer.
Wait For an Official Announcement
It’s also possible that the opening band has not yet been announced or confirmed. In that case, no amount of searching will reveal the answer quite yet. Often the opening acts for major tours like The Who are announced a few weeks or months in advance. If the show is still a couple months away, more patience may be required until The Who and the venue make an official announcement.
Who Has Opened Previously on The Who’s Current Tour?
While we await official word on who will open in St. Louis, we can get some clues by looking at who has opened for The Who so far on their 2022-2023 tour:
Date | City | Opening Act |
---|---|---|
October 2, 2022 | Toronto, ON | Jillard Guitars |
October 4, 2022 | Cleveland, OH | Classless Act |
October 7, 2022 | Philadelphia, PA | Dizzy Reed |
This early leg of the tour featured different opening acts in each city, ranging from up-and-coming young rock bands like Classless Act to veteran performers like Dizzy Reed. This indicates that The Who is not relying on one supporting group for the full tour. More likely, they are choosing a local or regional band to support them at each stop.
Could Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Return as Opener?
When The Who first announced their 2022 tour dates, it was mentioned that acclaimed rock artist Joan Jett & The Blackhearts would be supporting them on all the fall dates. However, it appears there was a change in plans and no single group was tapped for the entire tour. But given Joan Jett’s background of opening for The Who, there is still a chance she could return as direct support for one of the 2023 shows. St. Louis fans would undoubtedly love to see the “I Love Rock N’ Roll” singer back up the legends on stage.
Other Potential Opening Acts in St. Louis
While nothing is confirmed yet, here are some possibilities for artists who could open for The Who in St. Louis based on their touring schedules and history with the band:
The Zombies
British invasion contemporaries The Zombies recently opened a series of West Coast shows for The Who and their classic pop harmonies went over extremely well with crowds. The Zombies are not currently scheduled to be on tour in March, so they could join back up with The Who for the Midwest dates.
Spiritualized
This British space rock band centered on singer-guitarist J. Spaceman have opened for The Who in the past. Their trippy soundscapes would nicely complement The Who’s maximum R&B. Spiritualized will be doing some US dates in early 2023 making them available to support The Who again.
Dirty Honey
The rising LA rockers of Dirty Honey opened a late 2022 leg for The Who and their gritty sound earned them some new fans. The band has cited The Who as musical heroes and influences, making them a great choice to rejoin the tour in 2023.
Alice Cooper
The legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper has been friends with The Who for decades and even opened their 50th anniversary tour in 2014. Cooper has tour dates scheduled in 2023 during The Who’s St. Louis show. His vaudeville theatrics would entertain the crowd before handing off to the headliners.
Local Bands
As mentioned earlier, The Who tend to choose local support acts in some markets. Enterprise Center could look to rising rock bands from the St. Louis area to warm up the crowd. Groups like Lions of the Pride, BFG, or Isaac Hoskins and the However Longs could potentially land the big opening slot.
Conclusion
In the end, only The Who and Enterprise Center know for sure who will have the honor of being the opening band when the legendary rockers hit St. Louis in March 2023. Concert openings are often fluid and not announced until a few weeks before showtime. Based on their past tours, it will likely be an up-and-coming rock act or a More seasoned artist who complements The Who’s iconic catalog. Fans can expect an update directly from the band or venue as the concert date draws nearer. One thing is for certain, however – The Who will deliver an epic night of live rock in St. Louis no matter who warms up the crowd first. The anticipation only builds the excitement for seeing Roger Daltrey belt out classics like “Baba O’Riley,” “Pinball Wizard” and “You Better You Bet” with Pete Townshend windmilling on guitar. It will be a great night of rock music regardless of who kicks it off.