From America Calling, Ann Moses in Hollywood, New Musical Express, June 19, 1970
A Sunday afternoon is generally A nice time for just about anything. But, add the Who, warm sunshine and 30,000 music-hungry people sprawled on blankets at a baseball stadium, and that afternoon becomes an incredible experience!
‘That’s what it was recently at the Anaheim Stadium, home of the Angels. The event was a six-hour afternoon concert feature the Who, John Sebastian, the Blues Image and Leon Russell.
An elevated stage was constructed on home base of the playing field. The audience filled the entire grassy area and spilled upwards to fill the lower bleachers. Although the concert was scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm, some people spent Saturday night in the stadium area, while others arrived as early as 6:00 am Sunday morning.
The groups proved to be not the only entertainment; the audience itself was a big attraction. Some came with faces painted, others with flags draped over them, and after the music began some stripped themselves, to be drenched in the sun as well as the sounds.
The order in which the groups played gave the audience the variation it needed in a concert of that length. The Blues Image opened and surprised many with their heavy back beat, unlike the beat of their single hit “Ride, Captain, Ride.” That song, however, brought cheers from the audience.
And then Leon Russell. This musician had the audience dancing from the time he walked on-stage, underneath an enormous top hat encircled with roses.
John Sebastian gave them a rest with songs like “She’s A Lady,” and “I Got Rainbows All Over My Blues.” His warmth spread over the audience like honey. It was nice.
There were, however, some unfortunate moment in the generally peaceful afternoon. One youth began tossing out handfuls of LSD capsules and many popped them, so it wasn’t long before two young girls were having fits beneath the stage.
The audience was back on its feet for the Who, when shouts came from @roger Daltrey, demanding, “Gimme water and maybe somebody’s daughter.” At this point the hot afternoon sun was cooling itself down but the audience couldn’t have noticed. Not with the heat the Who was putting out!
A lot of their opera, “Tommy,” was played with “See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me” and then into “My Generation” with brutal abandon.
Through the concert, bodies themselves towards the hypnotic sounds from the bandstand. Closer to the music. People met their neighbors and danced with them. It was a nice afternoon.
Comments on this entry are closed.