Rockin’ For Riley Concert Draws A Crowd
WARSAW — Jack Russel’s Great White took the stage at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 17 to a large, cheering crowd at Glover Pavilion in Central Park. The crowd contained fans new and old, from as far away as Crown Point, all of them gathered and ready to enjoy some classic 80s rock.
“We never stopped listening [to Great White],” said Robert Ritter Jr. of Rochester, one of the many gathered for the concert. “Once Bitten Twice Shy is my favorite,” he continued. “I like it all,” countered his companion, Stephanie Chilcutt.
Still others came just to listen and have a good time. “We don’t know the bands … We just came here to listen to the music,” Melissa Method said as she sat on a blanket next to two of her friends.
Another pair of attendee’s, William and Debra Smith, were staked out in the chairs just behind the stage. “We’ve been fans for forever, I’ve got their greatest hits CD at home,” William said, a smile touching his lips as he spoke. “I’m excited [for the performance] … They put on great concerts here in the park.”
“I never followed them but he showed them to me,” commented Debra, William’s wife.
Another attendee and Great White fan, Brian Palik, sat beside a few trees just before the concert began, his hat shading his eyes from the evening sun. “I remember Great White when it was the original Great White,” Palik said.
Palik is a big fan of the park concerts. “I try to catch all the rock and country concerts all year,” he said. ” The Parks Department has been bringing good artists and I hope they keep up the good work,” Palik continued.
“We’re expecting anywhere from 6,000 to 7,000 people,” said Sheila Weiringa, the recreation director of the Warsaw Parks & Recreation Department, as she held a hand over her eyes to look over the crowd.