Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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McGOVERN '72 IT'S TIME WE WON Students for McGovern Meeting Jan. 25, 1972 Tuesday nite Rm. 307 Russell House -Murry SIB McLeai By BOB CRAFT Staff Writer A lot of people "heavied" themselves out of a damned good concert last night. Don McLean put on one of the most pleasantly surprising evenings seen by anybody in a long, long time. Those who said they couldn't be bothered with seeing McLean because they thought the only thing he did was a two hour version of "American Pie" really missed it. As usual, the concert started late, about 25 minutes late, and there were a lot of people who were a trifle upset about the whole thing. The usual footstomping and mess went on, but there were, thank God, no Frisbees. McLean finally made it to the stage toting a guitar and a banjo ("The only American instrument, except the ukelele, that is, if you want to count Hawaii as a late entry.") His opening number was mediocre and totally forgettable, but it was all great from then on. Beer $.25 served with meal concert He made the audience laugh with an old blues song, shifted into high gear, reeling off songs with the melodic intricacies of Paul Simon and the lyrical complexities of Bob Dylan. He had only one setback which was when he tried to pick blue grass which turned out not to be his forte. He got the audience to sing along with him on a round based on one of the Psalms. The audience was a bit shy, but gave it a try anyway. (He wants us to do something? He's suppose to do everything!) He talked about Woody Guthrie , Lester Flatt and poked some fun at Bobby Sherman (" 'Course I'm a good American. -I got a complete autograph set of Bobby Sherman records.' ") He just kept going and going, laughing and joking, joking and picking. He finished a very sen sitive song and broke right in for the thing everybody was waiting for (Come on and try it. Sing along Bye-Bye Miss American Pie...) He we'nt into the first verse about dancing in the gym and he sud denly stopped. ALEX H Restau ra 988 Knc Studei Mc 8wo For Re 796tK5012 -Mury 90 praised One of his guitar strings had broken. He sort. of shuffled and grinned and reached into his hip pocket and pulled out a pack of strings (They're Guild, ya'll). He pulled off the broken string and threw it in front of him on the stage. ("Anybody want a souvenir?") He went on singing snatches of old songs and cracking jokes ("Yeah, I had my last three kids by Tommy Dorsey.") A girl came over and asked if she could please have the string. McLean shuffled and grinned and picked it up and handed it to the girl. He walked back to the mike and started again. He finished the song and the audience was on its feet screaming, "More, More!" McLean walked back on stage and said, "You didn't have to do that. I was coming back anyway." Then he took his banjo and taught the.audience another song. McLean's show was really terrific. Thanks, Concert Com mittee. AWKINS nt & Lounge x Abbott Dr. it Special in - Tues $2.50 :. Sir., Sal, bread :hoice of pot. -