It’s been 40 years since Blue Öyster Cult released Agents of Fortune, and “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” hit the charts and embedded itself into annals of rock music. Based on the reaction of the crowd at the 3rd Annual American Music Festival for the Lake, “The Reaper” hasn’t gone stale. The distinctive opening riff, with cowbell, brought Festival attendees to their feet in a kind of time warp at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons Saturday night.
“They still sound the same,” said one fan, who, back in the 70s, saw BÖC with Black Sabbath, the Black and Blue Tour, in New Haven, Connecticut. Their set at the American Music Fest included “Burnin’ for You” and “Godzilla.” They closed with “Reaper,” then returned for an extended, loud encore of “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll.”
BÖC was one of a dozen acts performing at the two-day festival. “Saturday Rocks” featured Let’s Be Leonard, Super 400 and Johnny A., the Boston guitarist who plays with the Yardbirds and has lent support to B.B. King, all leading up to the headline act. New this year, a second stage, a tailgate affair with musicians setting up in front of their tour buses, saw performances by Doctor Magnum and Rambler’s Home.
“Sunday Jam” had a smaller crowd and a mellow vibe. There was a lot of barefoot dancing in the grass. The Ryan Montbleau Band reigned in the afternoon with its bluesy folk and humor-infused lyrics. Sly Fox and the Hustlers were moved from the “B” stage to the main stage where lead vocalist Sly Fox said, “We’re gonna do a Mike Tyson on you, hit you hard and fast.” That they did with powerful energy. A couple Doors covers had one Festival patron commenting that Sly Fox could well be Jim Morrison incognito. Grateful Dead tribute band Gratefully Yours, a collaboration of musicians from several different local and regional bands, closed the show, a fitting way to wind down the weekend.
Several food trucks were on the grounds offering, as promised by promoters, affordable eating options, including hot dogs, hamburgers, empanadas and pizza, many items in the $2 – $5 price range. More than two dozen merchandise vendors sold the usual festival fare of t-shirts, jewelry, pottery, sundresses, tie-dyed bed sheets, Tupperware, alligator heads and replacement windows.
The alligator heads, not a local product, were sold by Venison Joe, who traveled the three hours from Orange County, New York to offer his line of exotic wild game meat snacks. He admitted the alligator skulls weren’t a big seller at the American Music Fest, but they drew customers to his stand to buy his jerky, and he sold enough to make the trip worthwhile.
The 2014 American Music Festival for the Lake was the first event held at the then new Charles R. Wood Festival Commons. The first Festival, with a lineup of national, regional and local acts including New Riders of the Purple Sage and the Claire Lynch Band, attracted 2,500, a respectable draw for an inaugural event. Last year’s show saw an uptick in attendance with Sawyer Fredericks of “The Voice” fame a major draw. Final attendance figures aren’t yet in for this year, however, Festival organizer Robert Millis says he believes this past weekend’s event will prove Festival number three to be the most attended music festival held at the Festival Commons to date.
A portion of the American Music Festival proceeds is donated to the SAVE Lake George Partnership, an organization dedicated to protecting the lake from invasive species. This year’s Festival included a charity poker tournament to benefit the Partnership.