Don McLean Returns to SPAC
by Don A. Metivier, The Post-Star, August 31, 1973
Folksinger Don McLean returned to Saratoga Wednesday evening, performing in concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
The “American Pie” star sang for more than an hour before a small, but enthusiastic audience.
“This is the best concert I’ve done in a year,” McLean told the cheering group.
The crowd especially enjoyed several of his hit songs, “American Pie,” “Starry Starry Night,” and others.
They groaned, however, when he started talking politics. “You moan,” he said, “but you’ll see I’m right,” but he then got back to singing and stayed away from commenting on the passing scene in Washington.
McLean grew up in the folksinger era where political comments were just the thing, as every group was expected to talk more about the war and politics than sing. Today, that scene has changed and most people show up to be entertained, something McLean can do well, entertain people.
His unique style and voice quality makes him one of the best folk-type singers still performing, and probably is the reason he has survived as most others have faded back to their small coffeehouses.
He was joined by a group, “The Persuasions,” who sang a capella, and brought the audience to its feet cheering.
An area bluegrass group opened the evening, but not too well.
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