5,000 Endure Cold Weather To Hear Colorful Bee Gees

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, August 30, 1968

The sound was loud and amplified, the garb outlandish and the hair long, yet the Bee Gees were a personable, delightful, talented group well worth the listening. And more than 5,000 braved the cold last night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center for this excellent English group, backed by a 30-piece orchestra of local and area musicians.

They played all their top hits—”Massachusetts,””Words,””Harry Brown,””To Love Somebody”—as well as many little-known ones, combining this with some very enjoyable bits of humor and horseplay among the five.

Since three of the quintet are brothers, the banter was especially good among them, all wholesome and thoroughly enjoyable to watch. The other two come from Australia, were labelled as being “shy” and the brothers constantly coaxed them to “say hello to the audience,” which drew squeals of encouragement from the largely teenage audience.

“The Main Attraction” appeared in the first half, offering many of the top hits of the day. They were quite pleasant
and especially significant in this foursome was an extremely hard-working girl guitarist who handled this instrument well and won repeated, deserved applause.

The audience was extremely orderly, attentive and appreciative throughout. They had come to hear a favored group and listened quietly. Once the numbers were finished, the applause was thunderous but never unruly.

The appearance of the Bee Gees in their bell-bottom trousers and bright shirts made a sharp contrast against the 30-piece adult orchestra in tuxedos and black evening gowns. Most were members of either the Albany Symphony or the Lake George Opera Festival Orchestra.

Backstage, the Bee Gees showed the press three gifts which they noted, “just show how darned nice American kids can be to performers.” They were two huge layer cakes and a box of cupcakes made by Cobleskill fans for their idols. “We’ll take them along with us as we continue our tour,” one of the Bee Gees reported.

Tonight comedian Bill Cosby will appear at SPAC at 8:30.