Grass Roots concert has baby-boomers hopping

By Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff Writer

Lead man for the Grass Roots, Rob Grill, signs an autograph for concert-goer Karla Benefield Saturday night at the Grass Roots concert at Red Rock Park. Between 250-300 people attended the concert which also featured a dance afterward by the Latino band 202 from El Paso. (Photo courtesy of Armando Alvarez)

GALLUP — It looked a little like an AARP convention at Red Rock Park Saturday night.

But no, it was a concert by The Grass Roots, the popular band from the late 1960s-mid-1970s, whose popular songs, "Let's Live For Today", "Temptation Eyes," and "Don't Pull Your Love Out," had teenage hearts throbbing decades ago.

Those teenagers are all grown up now. This was evident at Red Rock Park. But it didn't stop the enthusiasm of the crowd, as Gallup baby boomers enjoyed the music by the four-piece band, which ran a little over an hour and featured favorites from days-gone-by.

It started with the group 202 from El Paso, who did about eight songs in a vague rock 'n' roll style to get the crowd warmed up. The park was all dolled up for the event, with Italian miniature lights and 45 rpm records hanging from the ceiling and decorating the tables. Tasty hors'deouvres were served and there was an open bar. Politicians, who only had a couple of more days before the election, were also there, working the crowd. Tickets were $50 for a reserved table in the front, or $25 for general admission.

Gallup resident and Park Director Bill Lee emcied the event. The Grass Roots lead man, Rob Grill, told jokes in between songs, which included a Bush joke or two.

"Hey," Grill told the crowd. "I drive all the way here to NOT tell a Bush joke." He also joked with the crowd on "how to tell if you are a child of the sixties."

One of the songs the band did was "Mamacita," which Grill quipped, "is from 1975 and by the way, this was our last hit." Grill was on hand after the concert to sign photos and sell the latest CD by the group, " Grass Roots, Live at Last."

Global Entertainment CEO Brian Kennedy, from El Paso, was on hand for the event and he estimated the crowd to be somewhere between 250 to 300 people.

"This is the first of many," Kennedy said and added that management was working on bring a metal concert to Red Rock Park "for the winter."

People who left after The Grass Roots finished missed a special treat, as 202 retook the stage and played Mexican cumbias and rhumbas for dancing. It was Latino music at its finest, and obviousley the forte of highly-accomplished band from Texas.

Planned future events for Red Rock Park include a Monster Truck event, Ultimate FIghting and Heavy Metal concert.