(Courtesy of the Polytechnic / Words by Bob Cunningham / Photo by Duhl)

Band and audience alike were frustrated when The Doors played the RPI Field House in support of their second album, “Strange Days.”

Doors in concert, dance, highlight frosh weekend

By Bob Cunningham for The Polytechnic. Photo by Duhl.

It was concert time again at the Field House Friday night. This show, the opening event of Frosh Fling Weekend, began with typical Rensselaer precision a half-hour late.

Following the opening act, there was a 10 minute intermission which was well received by the crowd. A half-hour later the Doors came on and like true showmen gave not quite their all for 45 minutes.

Tim Rose was the warm-up act. Not up to the quality of a college concert group, he was more or less ignored as card games, originally devised by the audience to while away the pre-concert time, began to break out on the floor. Rose’s act included his own unique rendition of “Hey Joe” and a not so familiar version of “Morning Dew.”

Following Rose was the headline group, the Doors. CRAWDADDY MAGAZINE, New York’s rock music bible, describes them as “the best the West has to offer in concert. The audience was receptive to renditions of their top hits “People are Strange” and “Break on Through.” Also they were intrigued by the haunting tones of “Alabama Song” (Whiskey Bar).

Most people were pleased by Ray Manzarek’s organ and Robby Krieger’s gultar soaring through “Light My Fire” and a few other songs. Unfortunately, much of the impact and fire of Jim Morrison’s vocals seemed to be lost in the expanses of the Field House.

Instead of setting the house on fire, Jim falled to even break the ice. He seemed disgusted with the whole scene at the end and showed how he felt when he cried, “If this is Troy, I’m with the Greeks.”

For the crowd’s taste, the concert was far too short to be worthwhile. Those on the floor felt cheated of space, and all felt cheated out of the best the Doors could have offered.