Summertime blues cured with concert line-up

There is a cure for the summertime blues.

This summer, local concerts and music festivals, featuring the Dave Matthews Band, Third Eye Blind and the Lilith Fair, helped keep students occupied.

The Bryce Jordan Center proved to be the closest and most convenient venue for students without transportation. On June 16, the center hosted the Moody Blues, a '60s band known for the initiation of the concept album -- an album with a specific rock theme.

The center also hosted the group Lynyrd Skynyrd on July 23. Led by lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant, the Southern rock group, which dates back to the early 1970s, provided a cross-section of blues, rock and country.

Music and the atmosphere that a band of this nature provides attracted about 5,000 people to the show, Punt said.

For those students with transportation, Hersheypark Stadium hosted a huge lineup this summer with acts such as Van Halen, Dave Matthews Band and the Lilith Fair. The stadium is located adjacent to Hersheypark in Hershey.

Van Halen cruised into the stadium on July 26 and Dave Matthews Band played to a sold-out crowd on July 29. On Aug. 10, the Lilith Fair, featuring Sarah McLachlan and Natalie Merchant, appeared in the rain on dual stages in the stadium.

However, students did not need to trek the more than 90 minutes to Hershey to attend an outdoor venue. Less than 10 miles outside of State College, Tussey Mountain Amphitheatre hosted several concerts during the summer. The Summer Sun Festival featured the Jerry Garcia Band as part of a 20-band lineup on June 26-28. On July 10, the Indigo Girls took the stage, and on July 26, Third Eye Blind and Our Lady Peace performed at Tussey.

-- Compiled by Collegian Staff writers