Peter, Paul and Mary Stir Spa Crowd Before Backdrop of Thunder and Lightning

Don A. Metivier, The Glens Falls Times, July 23, 1968

Nature provided an eerie background of flashing lightning and clapping thunder as Peter, Paul and Mary presented their folk-religious-protest-humor type program to the largest crowd in the history of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center last night. More than 12,000 persons, about 7,000 sitting in the warm rain that drenched the sloping lawns outside the shell, cheered the efforts of the three folk singers, who rewarded them with most of the songs that have carried them to their position as one of the major forces in group folk music today.

Possessing a harmony seldom found in a trio, Mary Travers, Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow, along with one of the finest young bass players in the country, Dick Kniss, presented a varied program, tied together by the continuing theme of the young performers’ dedication to the new protest ideals, which are perhaps the most important contribution to our culture made by this generation.

The group worked together on the first few numbers and then gave each individual an opportunity to showcase his or her talents. Peter and Paul are exceptional musicians, blending their guitars as mellow background or raging sound to set or accompany the mood of the song.

Although Peter at first did not appreciate the magnificent sound system of the shell, he learned during the intermission the problems he thought the system were presenting did not exist, making his second half performance much more relaxed and easy.

Paul Stookey, a former single act at Saratoga’s popular folk palace, “Caffe Lena” did a humorous monologue, which while it will not make you forget Johnny Carson, was timely and well done.

Mary Travers has as fine a folk singing voice as there is working today and she had many opportunities to use it, and did so extremely well, especially singing the lead in “Too Much of Nothin’.”

The start of the concert was delayed about 20 minutes by the thousands of persons waiting to get into the shell and on the lawns.

The crowd especially appreciated the trio’s work on the poignantly religious “Tramp on the Road,” roared through “I Dig Rock ‘n Roll Music,” and sang the chorus in the children’s song, “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” Of course, “Blowing in the Wind” and “I’ve Got a Hammer,” two of the group’s most famous recordings, were also most well received.