A Look Back: July 16

By Mike Stampalia.

30 years ago: Mary Chapin Carpenter / The Mavericks @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

While Carpenter offered her version of Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” purr during “I Feel Lucky,” it was Raul Malo, the big-voiced frontman of opening act the Mavericks, who conjured up the ghost of the Big O.

With power-house songs like “I Should Have Been True,” Jesse Winchester’s “O What a Thrill” and his solo waltz-time ballad “This Broken Heart,” Malo secured his position as Orbison’s heir.

But there’s more to the Mavericks than just Malo’s magnificent voice. In fact, the Mavs may very well be the best country band in the land.

– Grey Haymes for the Times Union

20 years ago: Bruce Springsteen @ Pepsi Arena

There were some real surprises, too, like his primal version of “Reason to Believe” (from the “Nebraska” album), which found him stomping his feet, blowing his harmonica and singing through a distorted microphone like Howlin’ Wolf. Many of the fist-pumping anthems like “The Rising” and “The Promised Land” were recast in an intimate fashion. And his closing rendition of Suicide’s “Dream Baby Dream” cast a hypnotic spell with its droning, repetitive pump-organ grooves and uplifting lyrics.

– Jim Catalano for the Ithaca Journal

20 years ago: “Aggressive Music Festival @ Glens Falls Civic Center

Killswitch Engage offered a machine-gun set that was more musically challenging than most – employing dynamics and the rare slow-tempo tune. The hyper group collided into each other on the strong set closer “World Ablaze.”

Shadows Fall has a real frontman in Brian Fair. With long dreads down past his belt flying in the air, Fair was crowd-surfing himself in no time, propelled by superb drummer Jason Bittner (ex-Stigmata) from Niskayuna.

– David Malachowski for the Times Union

10 years ago: Atlas Genius / Rival Galaxies @ Alive at Five

1 year ago: Third Eye Blind / Yellowcard / Arizona @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

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