Ten bands rock concert

By Heather Holman
Summer Reporter

Monday night people of all ages gathered at Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, Ind., to lose themselves in the sights and sounds of the Uncle Sam Jam concert.

WZPL, a local radio station in Indianapolis, presented the concert, which featured 10 bands: Leona Ness, BB Mak, King Konga, Nine Days, Blessed Union of Souls, Hanson, Melissa Etheridge, Train, Bon Jovi and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Dan Andrews, overnight DJ for WZPL, said Uncle Sam Jam is a time to celebrate the 4th of July. "(It is) a chance for people to get together and unwind," Andrews said.

Bands performed on two stages in staggered times, starting at 5 p.m. and ending 11:20 p.m., followed by a fireworks display.

The pavilion and lawn seats slowly filled throughout the day as beach balls floated through the air.

There was also a lot of pedestrian traffic from the smaller stage to the main stage.

The crowds sang, danced, jumped, screamed and cheered as their favorite bands took the stage.

"We're here to see Hanson," Kristina Webster, 17, said. That seemed to be the main consensus among most of the teenaged girls.

Julia Durbin, a 15-year-old from Louisville, Ky., jumped up and down red faced and sweaty, singing and dancing while Hanson performed.

Margaret Durbin, Julia's mother, said she made the drive to Noblesville, "Because my daughter's so crazy about Hanson."

The older members of the audience were mostly there to see other bands performing.

"We came to see Melissa Etheridge and Bon Jovi," said Karen Wever, audience member.

As Bon Jovi took the stage, the lights dimmed and the spotlights flashed and the crowd went wild. It was like Hanson all over again, only with an adult crowd.

The crowd screamed and danced as the night sky rang out with songs like "Bad Medicine" and "Living on a Prayer."

Aside from the big names, like Bon Jovi and Melissa Etheridge, other bands who made an appearance were enjoyed as well.

"I like Leona Ness," Candy Hunt said. "She rocks!"

Sarah Lewis, 12, said she came to see BB Mak play, hang out and have fun.

"It's fun because the energy is really hype," Holly Snow, 16, said.