July 30, 1993: There was no reading from the Torah, but their was first-rate alternative rock at the Harveys Lake stop of the Bar-B-Q Mitzvah Tour.
The concert — featuring Stone Temple Pilots, the Butthole Surfers and the Flaming Lips — took place at the Bud Light Amphitheater on the grounds of the former Hanson’s Amusement Park.
As soon as the Flaming Lips strummed the first chords, the dancing and moshing began. The mosh pit was filled with bodies dripping in sweat from the heat and dancing. The Lips played a set filled with songs from the group’s new album, “Transmissions from the Satellite Heart,“ including “She Don’t Use Jelly,” “Turn It On” and “Superhumans.”
Stone Temple Pilots took the stage next.
“We try to display a very intense musical and emotional power, but that doesn’t mean playing as loudly and heavily as we can from the first song to last,” Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Scott Weiland told the Citizens’ Voice. “We don’t want to sound just one way. We like to paint different soundscapes to create different moods. It’s not just plug in, crank up to 10, let’s rock. Our music has more sides to it.
During the set, Stone Temple Pilots stayed true to Weiland’s statement, playing such songs as “Creep” and “Plush” and as well as tunes from the band’s debut album, “Core.”
The Butthole Surfers ended the night before the 3,500 people in attendance.
When leaving the venue, one concert-goer remarked, “and that’s rock & roll man, at its finest!”
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
