The Amphitheater at the Wharf

The Amphitheater at the Wharf Orange Beach has been a huge boost to the Alabama Gulf Coast at a time when it really needed one. The amphitheater has been a big success, albeit one that hasn't been without bumps in the road.

Just a few years ago, most of us could have never imagined big name acts like Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, and Crosby, Stills and Nash playing Orange Beach. It took the 10,000 seats of the amphitheater to make that a reality.

Hank Williams Jr. opened the Amphitheater at the Wharf on May 27, 2006 to a full house. This was the second time that I had seen Hank, and though I appreciate his music, two hours with his rowdiest fans is about two hours too long for me. My wife and I wanted to see the first show at the Wharf though, and for the sake of the inebriated girl that I caught before she tumbled down off the bench she was standing on, it was probably a good thing that we were there. I can't complain about the show. It was great.

Some of those "nostalgia" acts can outperform 99% of current acts. Three Dog Night comes to mind. That was a great show, better than the show I saw them headline in Birmingham's Legion Field in the early 70's when they could fill stadiums.

Other shows at the Amphitheater at the Wharf, like the "All American Jam" with The Marshall Tucker Band, Georgia Satellites, Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Mickey Thomas were pathetic. I really wanted to see headliner Marshall Tucker, but we barely made it through ARS. We left during Mickey Thomas. It must have been 98 degrees that August afternoon, but I think the show was more boring than the weather was hot.

John Kay (front man for 1960's group, Steppenwolf) is another show from that first summer than comes to mind. John Kay did an admirable job with his signature hits, and he held the crowd's attention through the lesser known songs. I only mention this show, because of the contrast between the first show with Williams'. During Hank's show, the management had no control of the crowd. During this one, the ushers ruled with an iron fist. It wasn't very hard considering the crowd at this show was mostly middle aged couples, with their children, who left their rowdy ways long ago. At this show, no dancing allowed unless it was in the area between the front two legs of your chair. Not even during "Born to be Wild."

I think the 2006 concert season illustrated that acts geared to baby boomers at venues like the Amphitheater at the Wharf better be huge, or else the gate is going to be meager. Occasionally that isn't a big deal, but basing a concert season around acts that had their best days 30 - 40 years ago isn't going to pay off.

I would guess the big news at the Wharf for the 2008 concert season was the return of American Idol winner Taylor Hicks to the Alabama Gulf Coast, where he was once happy that anybody was listening. That and the 147 arrests at the Widespread Panic shows.

The Amphitheater has many good shows ahead of it. I'm looking forward to seeing who's coming this year.

If you are visiting the beach during the concert season, check for shows during the time that you are town.