Danville rocks!

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: July 17, 2008

Hootie & the Blowfish put on a great show in Danville

To the editor:

I had to write in on, “Hootie rocks Danville,” (July 13, page B1). The couple in the photo praised Danville for presenting the Hootie & the Blowfish concert. However, Danville didn’t bring the band here, it was Radio Media Productions — and boy, did they produce.

Danville did its part under the guidance of Dennis Forsland by providing a clean, safe and accessible, comfortable venue.

As for the band, you would never have known a superstar, Grammy award-winning group was in town just by looking at them. They had their mountain bikes out on the Riverwalk Trail all day. They could have been in line to buy tickets and no one would have noticed.

I grooved with them from the beginning of their musical journey. Regardless of who produced the event, it was poetry in motion. Everyone had to dance to make it move.

All seats are grand at the Carrington Pavilion — even the lawn at $20 was a giveaway. The venue itself is the best kept secret in this region. I found that out as I met people from Lynchburg, Roanoke, Edenton, N.C., Raleigh, N.C., and even a couple from Danville that had never attended a concert there. I saw friends who are loyal to live music. The great opening act, The Drew Davis Band, along with beautiful weather, clean bathrooms and easy access to vendors made it all a great experience.

Then the invited guests of the evening took the highly charged crowd on an almost non-stop musical journey. Only two groups I’ve ever watched live played the entire concert nonstop — Prince and Parliament-Funkadelic. But Hootie & the Blowfish came close. Did I mention their two encores. Each time the band came back out and sang multiple songs, including a surprise version of Kool & The Gang’s “Get Down On It.”

Radio Media Productions is bringing Willie Nelson and Lynyrd Skynyrd to Danville, so get ready music lovers, restaurants and hotels. I’ve said it before — music transcends race, gender, age, class and any negative vibe that hinders communities of hard-working people who are just trying to survive under some tough economic times.

I encourage you to support live music. It’s what I live by. Remember, Danville can be a destination, not just a stop off U.S. 58 or U.S. 29. Visitors to Danville ask where the Carrington Pavilion is first, then the mall. As long as they are asking, we’ll be fine.

TIMOTHY L. MALONE

Danville