08/23/08
This is actually a two part review as it was my first journey to Atlanta's new Verizon Wireless Amphitheater @Encore Park. This particular venue is close to my house and is drawing some pretty big acts so I was interested to see/hear it in person.
The venue is comparable in size and structure to Lakewood Amphitheater (or whatever they are calling this week) on Atlanta's South side but any comparisons stop there. Verizon is so much better in almost every way.
To start with, traffic control and parking is handled very well on entrance. Even though we didn't arrive until about a half hour before show time and a half hour after the gates opened, we faced no more than a 5 minute wait getting in. Parking was organized with an over abundance of staff.
Ticket taking and concessions were just as organized. While I was more than a little disappointed that they insisted on making a huge "X" through my ticket at least there were plenty of people, concessions and bathrooms to take care of my needs. Waits were minimal throughout and there were multiple options for drinks around the grounds.
Since we had general admission in the orchestra pit, we were given armbands for ID. Unfortunately, these bands had ZERO purpose as we were always asked for our tickets at each checkpoint. It got to be a little ridiculous as the checkpoints were often just feet apart. But I prefer the extra checkpoints over having people who don't have the right tickets barging into my area.
The sound great and the setting quite good. All the seats are covered and some nice landscaping makes the grounds much more appealing than Lakewood. Two large video screens provide some extra viewing for people out on the spacious but organized general admission lawn.
The only other drawback to the site was the disorganization on exit. A little more traffic control would have gone a long way. Apparently all the staff was sent home fairly early. But because of location and road access, we still got out of there in a decent amount of time.
In the future I'll definitely return to this venue. For an outdoor setting only
Chastain Park has it beat but not by much. It'll be interesting to see if as years go by whether they can maintain the high level and quality of staffing that make it an enjoyable experience.
On to the concert. Early on there was some concern the band might not show. The night before
Stone Temple Pilots had failed to show in Tampa. The band blamed the weather but there was some who thought it was tension within the band.
Well, after two decent opening bands,
STP did show but it was pretty obvious there was some tension on stage. While the performance was really good, some words and actions were exchanged between Scott
Weiland and other members of the band.
Their set list included almost exclusively hits. I guess this was somewhat expected considering the band is
soliciting requests for songs via the web site. All the songs sounded great but I would have preferred at least a sprinkling of less popular songs. I really don't like crowd participation as I'm there to hear the band, not the fans. But I took the good with the bad and there was plenty of good to go around. Sound was great and energy was good. Only the
light show was pretty bland.
I don't think I'd put this up there with the last time I saw the band at the Tabernacle during their tour for the album "4" but it was certainly a concert well worth attending. Props must go out to friend, Matt who bought me the tickets as a birthday present!
Next up is a trip to New York to see Icelandic band,
Sigor Ros.
