Bread Among Best in Rock Group To Appear This Season at SPAC

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, September 1, 1971

Bread proved to be one of the better rock groups in the current series of specials last night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Although only 4,400 attended, it was a good show and these four young men are quite definitely excellent musicians, singers and pretty good composers. Attesting to this is the fact that James Griffin, lead guitarist, won an Academy
Award for his lyrics to “For All We Know” last year.

They sang some excellent songs of their own including “Make It With You,” “It Don’t Matter To Me” and “I Am That I Am.” Especially interesting was a ballad, “Outside of Life.”

Their style ranges from the too loud hard rock to country-western, real torch ballads, and they even threw in an amusing bit of boogie last night.

Their harmony is especially strong, and they act like four very nice talented guys, clean-cut, pleasant and informal. This labeling will probably finish them in show business but it was refreshing.

Although only together since late 1969, Bread is clearly one of those superior groups, rising above the mediocre dozens that come and go.

Unlike many other SPAC specials, they were the sole performers last night, with no warm-up second-rate act. This showed they were real pros, willing to give the audience full measure for their money.

One thing | have discovered this year, although SPAC management will not be happy with this revelation, is that the sound for these groups is far better, more enjoyable and a truer mix on the lawn than down in the theater. It is also
easier to take for those who do not care for high-decibel, blaring sounds.

Since the price structure in the amphitheater stays the same for specials as for ballet and orchestra, the $2 lawn seats thus become the best buy. The hardy souls who deliberately buy down-front house seats for these rock groups must be the ones preferring distorted loud sounds.

Tonight at 8:30 it will be Sandler and Young.

SPAC announced last night that singer Carmen McRae will appear with Bill Cosby Saturday night, comedian David Steinberg with Melanie Sunday night and Tin Tin will be with the Bee Gees Sept. 10.

Best news of all is a special SPAC benefit concert slated for Sept. 17 sponsored by 21 area radio stations to help underwrite the theater’s deficit. Tommy James and the Shondells, and Sha Na Na are definitely booked, with Blood, Sweat and Tears probable headliners. The show will be at 7 p.m. and all house tickets will have a single price. This is the latest addition to the specials scheduled for September.