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The timing couldn’t have been better, as Springfield Arts Council officials estimated an even larger attendance of 11,500 for this show, the second performance for the 51st season of the Summer Arts Festival, one of the longest consecutively running such festivals in the country.
That type of energy is what made Resurrection co-founder, musical director and keyboardist Vic White and his bandmates happy to return here and inspired the video project.
“There are just some places it comes together, and this is a magical event,” said White prior to the show. “The audience is so receptive.”
Though on short notice, White grabbed a videographer whose credits include work for “60 Minutes” and National Geographic Channel. He was all over the grounds, interacting with the crowds, and on, in front of and back of the stage.
White said the key is being cued into the audience and not aware of the cameras. The audiences responded, from youngsters to Gen Xers raised on Journey to older people, the crowd never let up.
Emily Damewood, a 14-year-old about to enter Springfield High, grew up on Journey and ’80s music and was thrilled for Resurrection’s return.
She wasn’t happy when her family left last year before they played her favorite song, “Wheel in the Sky.” Emily got redemption when it was one of the early songs Resurrection played.
Arts Council board president John Wobbe said Resurrection was an easy choice to bring back, as the crowd enjoyed them and wasn’t surprised by the reaction.
“This is a venue unlike any other they go to, and they are easy to work with. This is what the Arts Festival is about,” Wobbe said.
White said to check the band's website, www.notjourney.com, in the future to see how footage of the Springfield show is used.
“This area of Ohio is a hotbed for us and what we do,” he said.
Contact this contributing writer at bturner004@woh.rr.com.
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