Albany Art and Air Festival made a calculated decision to book only Rock Bands to play at the venue. The reason is because this area is saturated with Country Music. Sweet Home has the Jamboree, Brownsville the Country Music Festival; Benton County Fair tends to book country acts as well as Albany River Rhythms.
With that decision, Large…. Really large (and in half the population of the city) attend the Art and Air Festival music venue. Last year, it was Joan “I Love Rock and Roll” Jett with approximately 23,000 people. It’s a crazy venue in that, the stage is in a pond (yes, you read that correct) and the crowd sits on this dome shaped mound that is slopped for stadium seating provided you have your own chair. And 23,000 people in that space tends to make no room for movement. No way to reach the beer tent. Did I forget to tell you the music is free?? As in no-cost.
This year, it’s the Music of Styx. You know, the 70- 80’s rock that your parents didn’t allow you to listen too solely based on their name. (Styx is the river that leads into Hell. The band made a quip about how great Albany was for putting the stage out in the water just for them. I’m sure most people missed the reference to their name. Anyhow.)
The city anticipated a large crowd, the same as Joan Jett. In order to maintain a safe environment in which someone could go get a beer, the city gated the venue and had two entry-exit points with the gates opening at 10 am. Yes, I was in line. Many people were scared away. There was no guarantee you’d be allowed back in the venue, even with your hand stamped. It was a pity really, since getting in and back in seemed to be no issue. I set up my chair at 10 am and returned around 6 pm for the 8 pm show. I heard they closed the gates at 7:10 pm however that is unconfirmed.
Styx rocked the house. Some the music sounded really 80’s. However, the audience stood the entire time and sang along to “Blue Collar Man” and “Too Much Time on my Hands.” They didn’t play Mr. Roboto the song in which many American’s learned how to say Thank you very much in Japanese. (In case you forgot its Domo Arigato.) Maybe because Dennis DeYoung who wrote and sang that song left Styx’s in 1999 and then sued the band. (He lost.)
After the show, fireworks. Yeap, a good 15 minute show of fireworks to ooh and awe over.
I’m looking forward to next year. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for ZZ Top.
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