subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Nov 24 2009 

Published: September 03, 2007 11:44 pm    print this story  

Meridian gets rocked

Four bands crank out Southern Rock for thousands of fans

By Brian Livingston / staff Writer

One would be hard pressed to remember when Meridian was rocked so hard and so long as it was Monday during Rock at the Lake.

A crowd estimated at more than 5,000 people, young and old, filled the Mayor’s Point section of the upper Bonita Lakes Recreation Area beginning at 3 p.m. when the gates opened. The four bands, Absence of Concern, a Jackson band featuring Meridianite Adam Box ripping the skins, opened on the Jagermeister Mobile Stage, a 44-foot trailer that opened into a fully self-contained stage measuring 34 feet wide, 16 feet deep and 20 feet high.

As the crowd began to swell, Kirsten Davies, with her hard driving vocals backed up by equally hard driving sonic sound, began to whip the crowd into shape. Black Stone Cherry, fresh off their debut album, lathered up the screaming



fans as they cranked out an intense, bluesy riff that are equal parts Guns N Roses and Alice In Chains on “Lonely Train,” to finish their set.

A surprise visit by American Idol runner-up, Bo Bice, who at the invitation of Hartley Peavey made the event, just further took the mash of people in front of the stage to a higher level with his cover of “Sweet Home Alabama,” in which the crowd joined in.

Molly Hatchet, the headliners who for almost 30 years now have defined Southern Rock, took the crowd over the top as they opened with “Whisky Man,” taking the fans on a ride through three decades of some of the best rock ever to grace the radio waves.

The venue for the evening, set up on the boat ramp of Mayor’s Point, took advantage of the natural surroundings of the trees making the entire setup into a huge amphitheater. Children as small as toddlers and adults well into their twilight years for one evening the same age as they rocked, and ate by the lake.

Jeffery Miller, 25, of Jasper County said he traveled to Meridian to hear Molly Hatchet and Black Stone Cherry perform. He may have put the entire evening and event into perspective when he said, “Southern Rock never really ages. Sure the guys with Molly Hatchet may look a little past their younger days but they can still crank it out. You know you are on to something when 18-year olds today are riding around listening to Lynard Skynard, Allman Brothers and Hatchet. Just driving around flirtin’ with disaster.”

The concert was presented on the The Jägermeister Mobile Stage showcaseing the latest audio innovations from Peavey Electronics and has been featured at Ozzfest 2007.

Sponsors for the event were Peavey Electronics, radio stations 106.9 The Buzz and V 93, Chunky River Harley Davidson, Hoopers Stereo and Video, T & D Furniture and Appliances, Magnolia Beverage and Comcast Cable.

print this story  

Photos


Bo Bice makes a surprise visit and performs “Sweet Home Alabama” for thousands of rock fans that turned out for “Rock at the Lake” Labor Day at Bonita Lakes. Peavey Electronics developed the Jagermeister mobile stage that was used for the concert. None/Paula Merritt (Click for larger image)


None/Paula Merritt (Click for larger image)


None/Paula Merritt (Click for larger image)


None/ (Click for larger image)


None/Brian Livingston (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Drivers Needed
GREAT PAY, GREAT BENEFITS
Solos, teams & contractors wanted.
*$5,000 team sign-on bonus
*$1,000 contrac
...>MORE

Now Hiring:
RN, LPN,& LAB TECHS
Portamedic, the leader in the health information field is currently looking for an examiner, in
...>MORE

UWA
Director of Field Experience and Outreach and Instructor of Education: Master’s degree in a teacher education field req...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

For Sale
1983 3/2 doublewide on 2 ac, WL Sch. $47,000. 1993 3/2 & 2003 2/2 + 1.79 ac. Only $63,000.
601-727-5014, 513
...>MORE

For Sale by Owner
Newton Co. School Dist. 4 BR, 2 BA, L-D, FP, eat-in KIT, CH/A, ceiling fans, huge mud/
laundry room, dble carpor
...>MORE

See all ads

Deal of the Day

For Sale By Owner
Approx. 91 acres convenient to Okatibbee Lake and West Lauderdale School campuses. Approx. 1920 ft. along east side of ...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index