August 2011 News

by Cathy Ingalls, Albany Democrat-Herald



Albany's park and recreation staff has confirmed that rocker JOAN JETT drew between 23,000 and 25,000 fans to her concert Saturday night at the Oregon Amphitheater as part of the ATI Wah Chang Northwest Art & Air Festival at Timber-Linn Memorial Park.

Mayor Sharon Konopa gave the Democrat-Herald those estimates Monday, and now Katie Nooshazar, the city's recreation programs manager, has confirmed the numbers.

"That is a record for that event and that venue," she said. "We believe it is the largest concert ever held in Albany. The previous largest were 17,000 to 18,000 at River Rhythms concerts at Monteith Riverpark for the Dixie Chicks, Sugarland and Ladysmith Black Mambazo."

Jett concert fans traveled to see her from all over. Nooshazar heard about or talked with people who had driven down from Bellingham, Wash., or flown up from California.

"People love Joan. She has a lot of cross-generational appeal, and many of her songs have stood the test of time," she said. "Others came to support her for her causes: the military and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals."

Nooshazar was surprised by the number of gifts fans gave Jett after her concert. There were flowers, gift bags and stuffed animals. "There is a real sense of an international star quality to her," she said.

Despite the big crowd, relatively few security issues arose, Nooshazar said. There were a few drunken people who had to leave, and several fans were sitting in the aisles when they should not have been.

"We staffed for an audience of 15,000," she said. "Albany police and Eagle Security were out there. Next year, we'll position more security on the bridges, on the top of the amphitheater and along the aisles. We want to be able to respond as quickly as possible to any problems and we want people to feel safe at these concerts."

by CHRISTOPHER HOLDEN, Special to The Recorder

Despite bombardment by hail and thunderstorms earlier in the day, the Calvert Marine Museum's Summer Concert Series featuring rockers JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS and ZZ Top opened to sunshine this past Sunday.

Without hesitation, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS started off the night with the song "Bad Reputation."

Clad in a studded black leather leotard, Jett moved around stage, communicating with the audience through winks, smiles and waves while performing a multitude of songs spanning her career.

Although most of her set focused on her work with the BLACKHEARTS, a handful of other songs were incorporated. Jett noted that her first band, The RUNAWAYS, originated in Rockville and in memoriam played a few of their songs, including "Cherry Bomb" and the first song they recorded, "You Drive Me Wild." Another song performed by the BLACKHEARTS that was not their own was a cover of Iggy Pop and the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog."

Sam and Liz Rider of Lexington Park won tickets to the concert through local radio personalities. Of Jett, they said, "She was right on with how she sounds on her albums."

ZZ Top's entrance incorporated a smoke machine, multicolored track lights and lights inside the drum kit, making it more of a production than Jett's. Beginning with "Give it Up," ZZ Top started its portion of the show by playing through three straight songs without stopping.