Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 5, 1994 TAG: 9407050040
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Highland Park alternative to the annual Music for Americans Fourth of July celebration at Victory Stadium was in limbo right up until last week, when Roanoke finally coughed up the necessary permit, organizers said.
"It was sort of like, `A bunch of hippie bands get together, there'll be trouble,' " said organizer Jane Gabrielle. "It's not that way."
The event was planned as an alternative for young people, and to promote local music, organizers said. Gabrielle sings and plays guitar for Radar Rose.
Radar Rose is a hippie band. Gabrielle confirmed this.
Still, there had been no trouble by the time the Roanoke-based band finished its set on the tree-shaded stage at pleasant Highland Park, midway through a sweltering Fourth of July afternoon.
There were no real prospects for trouble, either, as Atlanta-based Wendy Bucklew & Skin Horse took over.
Even with three more bands yet to come - Oldentight, Red Weather and Animus, all from the Roanoke area - the prospects for trouble seemed so remote that children were playing with soap bubbles and there wasn't a police officer in sight.
In all honesty, there wasn't much of anyone in sight. A very mobile crowd ranged over the course of an hour or so Monday afternoon (the free event went on until dark) between perhaps 50 to 150 people. It never rivaled Music for Americans, however - let alone Woodstock.
This did not prevent Ron Maturani from believing he had traveled back in time.
"It reminds me of a miniature version of San Francisco in the 1960s," said Maturani, who had tufts of gray hair peeking out from under his Valvoline cap.
Maturani was, in fact, in San Francisco in the 1960s. "A miniature Golden Gate Park," he went on. "As soon as Radar Rose came on, I said, `It's another Janis Joplin.' " Maturani was referring here, apparently, to Gabrielle's Joplin-like unrestrained hair and casual wardrobe. "The next song sounded like Grace Slick," a lead singer of San Francisco's Jefferson Airplane.
Maturani was at Highland Park with his wife, Marilyn. Both are musicians. He described the quality of the music at Highland Park as "decent."
"I'm having a great time," said Debi Matthews, who was sitting not far from the Maturanis with her daughter, Michaelynn.
Matthews said she and her daughter have had similar tastes in music since Michaelynn was 6 and used to play with her Doors tapes.
Michaelynn, who is 20 now, still likes the Doors.
She did not know what Music for Americans was, however.
"I'd rather hear this," said Michaelynn.
At Victory Stadium, meanwhile, a crowd of several thousand and counting listened to music Monday night while waiting for fireworks. The music, much of which carried a patriotic theme, was performed by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Music for Americans Community Chorus, and Stan Kingma's Virginians. Among the early visitors were Republican U.S. Senate candidate Oliver North and Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke. Music for Americans is sponsored by the Roanoke Times & World-News.
The alternative concert, meanwhile, "turned out real well," said John McBroom, a member of the band Red Weather, and an organizer of the Highland Park event. "I think it will definitely help promote local music. There's so much good music in this town."
McBroom said he anticipates another Fourth of July concert at the park in 1995. "There's definitely going to be a next year, if there are bands."
by CNB