Elton John Captivating At SPAC

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, September 3, 1971

All the advanced publicity on Elton John’s ability to attract a rapt audience was totally accurate in the devout 12,000 fans attending his performance last night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

He is by far the best in the current series of rock specials the past several days at SPAC. Unfortunately, he has all the
earmarks of those rare, intense performers who usually burn themselves out at an early age.

He plays excellent piano, sings and seemed to give the audience everything it anticipated. In fact, they were so certain of this they gave him a standing ovation before he even started.

Unable to Watch

With the early deadline, it was impossible to watch what everyone claims is John’s socko finish, a 20-minute rock-and-roll frenzied medley of “Burn Down the Mission.”

According to his backstage traveling staff, John alters his program with each performance so even they were unable to give an advance idea of what was to come.

The audience was extremely quiet in the first half, but the control problem set in shortly after John started.

SPAC officials are becoming increasingly concerned over the potential hazards these onrushes of people down into the darkened theatre are creating. Reportedly this will be a paramount consideration of the board of directors this winter in deciding whether any rock specials are booked in future seasons.

Matter of Safety

The question of whether they provide the necessary funds to underwrite the deficits of SPAC’s regular season becomes secondary when the matter of safety of house patrons, especially older or infirm ones, enters the picture.

SPAC officials indicated last night that unless audiences respond to the requests of ushers, law enforcers and other official personnel in remaining in their assigned purchased locations, the days of the rock specials will terminate with the end of the 1971 season.

John was really an enjoyable spoof when he made his entrance. Noted for his unusual garb, he sported brown cowboy hat, blue velvet cape, white bermuda shorts, striped knee socks, green sleeveless tank top with Superman on the chest, and dark glasses which he wore during the performance.

He was backed by guitarist Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson, who had the greatest mound of drums and accessories I’ve ever seen.

Many Problems

Entire opening half was a four-man group, Hookfoot. Making their initial American appearance, they were beset with problems, ranging from mike feedback to distorted sound mix and broken guitar strings. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for this group in their debut with so many problems. They were particularly effective, however, when using the harmonica in their rock compositions.

John sat in the theatre with eight associates for the first half and seemed quite disturbed about the sound problem. He kept sending one after another of his group backstage to check, then finally went himself. He obviously solved it, for the sound for his performance was well mixed.

Tonight at 8:30 it will be the return of Chicago, out to try to break their 23,000 record of last year and hopefully to top The Who’s 34,000 earlier this year.