Weekend Mag Feedback: Crazy times in '76, Our Altamont?, Not so obscene and Thrilled by response
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Just read Scott Mervis' article about the ZZ Top/Aerosmith/Point Blank concert (June 21). This is how I remember it ...
I was 15, school had just let out, there was booze and I recall "herb" in the mix. We rode to the concert in a VW Beetle. It was hot, we were happy and the girls outside the stadium were scantily clad.
Point Blank went on as people were still taking in the totally wild atmosphere of the event. Security could do nothing but watch as people carried in kegs, cases, bottles, flasks, jugs, backpacks, coolers.
It was hot on the stadium floor, but once the sun set and the music blared, everyone was having a blast just hanging out -- and did I mention there was booze and I recall "herb" in the mix? My three friends and I made friends with strangers, and then all got separated, found each other, got separated again ...
When Aerosmith went "unplugged" for a bit, we were booing because we had spent nine bucks for a ticket and wanted the music back on. When ZZ Top finally hit the stage I was in awe of the huge long-horned steer that was standing on stage and the video being projected of the rattlesnakes.
It was an incredible experience that I have vivid and vague memories of. It was hardcore rock 'n' roll; I think I made out with some chick; I fell down a number of times; the floor was strewn with clothes, empty bottles, shoes, blankets, broken lawn chairs, passed out people, couples having sex, spectators cheering them on; fireworks; it was rhythmic party chaos.
It was like surveying the aftermath of a great battle like Gettysburg, but instead of armed confrontation, it was a battle waged with drugs and alcohol and Frisbees.
When I finally staggered out of the stadium, I was shirtless, filthy, intoxicated, sunburned, my ears were ringing, singing, "I'm just lookin' for some tush."
I rode home in the back seat with my friend Dan and a large Coleman cooler that we did not have at the start of the day. I've met a few people who were at that concert and the recollection of it is always the same ... it was AWESOME!
Thanks for rekindling the memories of June 12, 1976.
David Kaye, Crafton
I really enjoyed the article on "The Craziest Show on Earth" since I was there, new to Pittsburgh from Boston, with Phil, a recent emigre from Knoxville, Tenn. Although I was a ZZ Top fan as well, this set up a day-long argument between us as to who rocked harder: Was it The Boys from Boston or the Texas (read "Southern") Blues Rockers?
Needless to say, by nightfall I was referring to Phil as "The Colonel" as he reminded me I was a "Damn Yankee." Forgive our prejudices. We were both 21. Sitting in the cheap seats high above the fray, I do remember feeling a growing paranoia brought on by the sun, the crowd's nonstop ingestion of substances legal and illegal, and the sudden rash of beer bottles being hurled back and forth on the stadium floor.
Was this our provincial version of Altamont? Despite the quality of the music, I remember we decided that leaving before the end of the show seemed like a very good idea.
One last thing. The story failed to mention the buzzards among the traveling menagerie. They should have been circling the stage not caged.
Jonathan Neuhaus, Shaler
In response to "Rude Awakening" (Feedback, June 18), I don't find "Spring Awakening" to be all that obscene.
Yes, there are nudity and curse words, which isn't so unusual in the society we live in today. And yes, I am an 18-year-old girl. Moreover, I'm an actress and I see "Spring Awakening" as an art form that is bringing our youth back to the theater.
All too often young people don't think it's cool to see Shakespeare or something that may seem "gay" by standards. "Spring Awakening" is something all of our youth can enjoy because we can relate to the problems that the characters face in the show. Also, if this woman did any research on the show before going to see it, she would have seen on several Web sites, including most ticketing Web sites, that there was nudity involved and if that was so obscene than she should have stayed away.
Another thing that struck me about her letter was the musicals she referred to as being "entertaining musicals." I am going to stop now and preface that I grew up on the classics and I am no way slamming them. In fact, I happen to love most of these musicals and they hold a special place in my heart.
With that all said, "Showboat" is a musical most notably filled with racial prejudice, "Oklahoma" has a murder at the end of it and "A Chorus Line" is filled with sexual innuendos (need I mention the song "Dance: 10; Looks: 3"?) and language.
I just feel like, with everything in our society like cellphones and iPods, we need to do something about getting our young people back into live theater. If "Spring Awakening" is a way in doing that, why is that so bad?
Sara Fisher, Carrick
In response to Marjorie Jones' comment about "Spring Awakening" at Heinz Hall (Rude "Awakening," June 16): Assuming she saw the disclaimers shown on the Heinz Hall Web site as well as inside the theater, stating "Contains sexual content, brief nudity, and mature themes," I thank her for being open-minded enough to see "Spring Awakening."
As a "young" fan who has followed the show for nearly two years and saw the Broadway production, I wasn't sure how Pittsburgh audiences would respond, especially when the opening night crowd included a large number of senior citizens. After attending all eight performances, however, I was both surprised and thrilled to see the overwhelming majority of viewers return after intermission for the second act, and proceed to give a standing ovation at the show's conclusion.
Shows such as "A Chorus Line" and "Fiddler on the Roof" deserve praise in their own right as wonderful, entertaining musicals. But behind every feel-good show is a deeper message. "Spring Awakening" simply doesn't hide its intentions behind flashy dance numbers, nor wrap up its problems in a stunning grand finale.
I completely understand that "Spring Awakening" may not be everyone's cup of tea. But I do not think mature themes should serve to disqualify such a beautiful show as a "good musical."
Michelle Farabaugh, Hampton
First Published June 25, 2009 12:00 am
