University of Virginia Library

Circle K Scores Success

Concert Gets Cheers, Sighs

By Rick Pearson
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

What a pleasure to go to a
concert in which nothing goes
wrong. That was the case with
Saturday night's Association concert
presented by the Circle K
society, and equal praise must go to
the promoters and the rock group
itself.

The master of ceremonies set
the stage for the entire evening with
his ebullience and confidence. In
the tradition of the normally inept
Virginia concert, the emcee, if there
is one at all, is usually a tremulous
student who can barely be heard,
and he appears principally to make
excuses for unplanned delays.

The Circle K announcer, however,
had the confidence and clarity
of a gambler who knows he has an
ace in the hole. He walked on stage
at 7:20 and announced the concert
would start in ten minutes, right on
time. And if the music didn't begin
until 7:32, the significance of the
occasion was not lost on the
audience.

The concert was indeed significant,
for it proved that a musical
event of its kind could be run
efficiently and well, resulting in the
entertainment of the University
community and a financial success
for its promoters.

From its prompt beginning to its
triumphant climax over two hours
later, there were no problems at all,
no nagging deficiencies to detract
from the purpose of any concert or
the enjoyment by the audience of
good music.

The promoters produced top-name
entertainment, one of the
most popular rock groups in the
country. They did not cancel out.
The program was arranged so that
they appeared on time. The sound
system was excellent, so that the
music was heard by everybody.
About the only complaints came
from students all-too familiar with
University concerts who arrived late
at University Hall and missed
several numbers.

The wonder of it all is that this
was all accomplished by a group
whose major purpose is not entertainment.
Circle K is a service
organization that promotes concerts
once a year. It was obvious
that the product was the result of a
full year of dedicated effort.

And the audience was by was by
no means unaware of this.

On the contrary, the 10,000-plus
people who attended the affair
were lavish in their appreciation of
the musicians and promoters. University
Hall was filled to overflow,
with at least a few hundred kids
sprawled on the gym floor and
many others sitting in seats so far
back that all they could see was the
backs of the performers.

There is no doubt that the
University has the resources for the
support of a top band. Such a band
was the Association, and Circle K's
reward was in ticket sales. The
Charlottesville community also can
be tapped for support, and Saturday
an enormous number of the
spectators were obviously too
young to be college students. These
signs should be heeded by the
scions of the PK and German Dance
Societies, whose sole purpose is to
promote concerts, and who will be
on trial in a matter of days. The
University Union might also learn a
lesson from Circle K.

Wide Following

The concert itself was the proof
of the pudding, perhaps the most
outstanding performance by a rock
group in several years, with the
possible exception of the perennial
excellence of Peter, Paul, and Mary.

The music of the Association is
in a class by itself, not subject to
the labels of Hard Rock, Chewing
Gum music, Folk, or Soul.
Although all groups strive to
achieve a unique style that distinguishes
them from the rest, the
Association is one of the few that
have succeeded.

Their music, without being
patronizing to the mass audience, is
appreciated by a wide range of rock
followers, finding a home in the
hearts of the teenybopper as well
as the inveterate music lover and
acid rock addict, and their live
performances take in all aspects of
the rock genre.

The music of the Association is
the kind of thing that, without
being corny, brings a sigh to the
breath of most anyone who has
heard them. Almost everyone has a
certain memory that they especially
cherish, and they usually associate
it with the Association. The most
devoted worshipper of Jimi Hendrix
seems to find his stomach
feeling funny with "Cherish" or
"Never My Love," and even Julie
Nixon gives David that funny look
when they play "Requiem For The
Masses."

In Saturday's concert, the group
won over their audience completely.
Their act was divided into two
parts, each having a distinct character.
The first hour was dedicated to
their loyal followers, with almost
every big hit they've recorded
getting the Association treatment.
Those who came to hear all the
songs they played on their stereo
sets all weekend were more than
content by intermission.

Distinct Style

After the first hour of hit after
hit, they digressed into areas of
music they do not normally
explore. They showed off their
musical and vocal talents, which are
impressive. One is not struck by
any single member or solo performance
that stands out, but instead by
the wonderful blend of their
collective virtuosity. They are
indeed a group, and this came out
in the second set.

The songs here were newer,
faster, variations and exceptions
from their style. "Goodbye
Columbus," and "Enter The
Young" showed their force, and
several numbers from their new
album showed a surprising evolution
of their style. At times they begin
to approach contemporary rock,
but they always manage to remain
distinct and unique.

But the concert was made by
two songs, "Cherish" and
"Requiem For The Masses," both
old hits played at the end of the
performance. Until "Cherish" the
audience was warm and appreciative,
but suddenly the atmosphere
changed. You could hear 10,000
people quietly, almost prayerfully,
whisper the words, and by the end
of the song the audience was jelly.

Then "Requiem." The high,
cold wailing of the trumpet and the
whiplash of the vocal thrashed the
audience to their seats. The song
ended and cries of "bravo!" could
be heard. The next number brought
the people to their feet, clapping
gleefully in the air.

On this note the performance
ended, after a triumphant encore
and a jubilant ovation. The whole
show had been a model for an ideal
concert, and it was hard for a
University student who has barely
been here for over a year to believe
it was happening in Charlottesville.