17,000 Pack SPAC To Hear John Denver
by Donald E. Wilcock, The Times Record, August 5, 1974
15,000 More Expected Tonight
“Sing along if you like, but kindly limit yourself to the choruses. It’s my show,” said John Denver in a childlike manner that endeared him to the more than 17,000 fans that packed the Saratoga Performing Arts Center last night.
About 15,000 more people are expected tonight for a repeat performance that has long since sold out all seats. Lawn tickets are still available.
John gave the kind of performance that says he’s arrived, and he intends to stay at the top for a while. On stage with him was an orchestra of at least 30 people conducted by Lee Holdridge.
In addition, he had a smaller unit loosely grouped around him that consisted of Steve Weisberg on steel and lead guitars, John Sommers on banjo and fiddle, Dick Kniss on standup bass, Herb Lovelle on drums and Hal Blaine on percussion.
The sound mix buried John’s voice on the first number, but there were no obvious adjustments being made that would annoy the audience. However, as he began his second number the mix became remarkably clear—and at a very listenable volume.
Considering the complexity of mixing the whole orchestra and still bringing his voice out front without overpowering the audience, it may just have been the best sound mix SPAC has seen at a pop concert for a very long time.
And if a full orchestra and terrific sound weren’t enough to grab you, there were rear-projected movies and slides, on three screens behind the orchestra that provided shots of Colorado and the Rocky Mountains for those who don’t get the message from John’s singing.
BUT EVERYBODY got the message.
“Far out,” yelled one enthusiastic fan after a foot-stomping bluegrass number. And everybody immediately picked up on the meaning—it’s one of John’s favorite sayings.
The show was divided into two sets that included an acoustic guitar portion where he played alone. “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” “Annie’s Song,” and other familiar numbers were combined with songs from all his albums. “The Eagle and the Hawk” closed the first set and was particularly well received as the orchestra synchronized perfectly with a majestic film of a swooping eagle in flight.
Several reporters reminisced about Denver’s SPAC concert of a couple of years ago when he sat around and talked to the press for an hour.
Not anymore.
RCA and his managers are protecting him from the cruel world. After all, how much longer can he talk and sing about being tucked into a featherbed with seven quilts before somebody gets a quote out of him that doesn’t sound like a precocious 10-year-old farm boy?
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