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Bands Can't Stop Rockin' in Alpharetta
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Temperatures in the mid 90s -- 100 plus off the pavement -- couldn't stop the rockin' Sunday night at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park.
Styx, REO Speedwagon and 38 Special were in town for the "Can't Stop Rockin'" Tour, an idea Kevin Cronin of REO and Tommy Shaw of Styx had back in September 2008 that couldn't be stopped. The 9,000-plus audience members agreed with the two rock legends that, indeed, you Can't Stop Rockin'.
Donnie Van Zant helped pull the crowd off its collective derrieres -- at least those in the Orchestra section. The rest of 38 Special, led by Don Barnes, kept them rocking in the opening set.
More people seemed to recognize REO Speedwagon's songs -- such as Ridin' the Storm Out, Time for Me to Fly, Keep on Loving You and Take It On the Run -- than the band itself. But lead singer Cronin made the night personal, remembering the nights the band played Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom. Pulling out the band's big hits of the '70s, Cronin related the tough times when Ridin' The Storm Out was a hit during the days of the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon's presidency to today's tough economy. Like back then, the country will recover, he said, drawing a huge ovation from the crowd.
Not until Styx hit the stage were the big projection screens flanking the stage really effective, but the crowd came for the music, not the images. They knew their rock idols have aged, but visual confirmation wasn't necessary. But if you are a few football fields away from the stage or stuck behind somebody much taller than you, those screens sure are nice.
Maybe they took the chairs out in the Orchestra section -- the seating in front of the sound board and reserved boxes -- because I don't think anybody there ever sat down once 38 Special hit the stage to open things at 7 p.m. After hearing three bands, they were still going strong.
Wednesday night will have a different type of sound, with Stevie Wonder on stage. Gates to the amphitheater open at 7 p.m., with concert start at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, June 27, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra holds its second summer concert in Alpharetta, "Magnificent Mozart" with Grant Llewellyn as conductor and Pedja Muzijevic on piano.
Summer means long days and short nights, so a word of advice to concert fans. If you like sitting in the sun, soaking up some rays, try to get sections 103 or 104 for your seats. If you'd rather stay in the shade, sections 101 and 102 can be your friends. For lawn seating, just pick up your feet and walk to your favortie spot. The Orchestra sections, which are closest to the stage, are screened by buildings, trees and the stage itself, so this really isn't an issue.
Visit www.vzwamp.com for more details on these and other upcoming concerts.
Tags: Alpharetta
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