Free Concert At Rosedale Wal-Mart Rough For Some Kids
POSTED: 8:08 am PDT September 25,
2007
UPDATED: 5:45 pm PDT September 25,
2007
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A free concert in a Bakersfield Wal-Mart Monday night had all the fixings of a big rock concert: a huge stage, giant crowd, raucous show and overheated kids at the front of stage barriers.Video: 
Boys Like Girls Singer Asks Crowd To Step BackBakersfield Police officers and Wal-Mart security found themselves challenged when as many as 5,000 people showed up for a free concert by indie bands Plain White T's and Boys Like Girls. Numerous kids at the front of the stage barrier had to be pulled out of the crowd, a few slightly shaken up and exhausted.
Video: Kid At Plain White Ts Show Just After Pulled From Crowd Near StageWal-Mart workers threw free bottles of water to the crowd who were heated at the front of the stage. Some turned the bottles into makeshift projectiles. Others dunked anyone standing near them to help cool off. Some jumped on top of cars parked outside the store. The size of the crowd caused traffic congestion before, during, and after the concert.The group Boys Like Girls was the opening act, but even then, police found themselves overworked by the size of the audience. After Boys Like Girls performed, officers spoke to the crowd and asked them to back up from the stage or they wouldn't allow the Plain White T's to take the stage. Officers said the crowd seemed to get the message and cooperated with the request. Police officers were hugged by at least one member of Plain White T's right before their performance for allowing the show to continue.Slideshow: Wal-Mart Parking Lot ConcertA promotional spokeperson for both bands called the stop in Bakersfield "the biggest and rowdiest so far." There were reports of several fights in the area following the concert.Long lines waited to get CD merchandise signed by band members directly after the show.Just how big were merchandise sales? ABC23 has a phone call in to Store Manager, Jack Persons on just how successful CD sales were in the Wal-Mart parking lot.Three kids from Fruitvale Junior High got all-access special treatment that included a peek inside tour buses and an escort to the front of the line to meet members of the Plain White T's after the show.Related Buzz Bands Blog Article: "Have The Plain White T's Changed That Much?"
Boys Like Girls Singer Asks Crowd To Step BackBakersfield Police officers and Wal-Mart security found themselves challenged when as many as 5,000 people showed up for a free concert by indie bands Plain White T's and Boys Like Girls. Numerous kids at the front of the stage barrier had to be pulled out of the crowd, a few slightly shaken up and exhausted.|
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Kid At Plain White Ts Show Just After Pulled From Crowd Near StageWal-Mart workers threw free bottles of water to the crowd who were heated at the front of the stage. Some turned the bottles into makeshift projectiles. Others dunked anyone standing near them to help cool off. Some jumped on top of cars parked outside the store. The size of the crowd caused traffic congestion before, during, and after the concert.The group Boys Like Girls was the opening act, but even then, police found themselves overworked by the size of the audience. After Boys Like Girls performed, officers spoke to the crowd and asked them to back up from the stage or they wouldn't allow the Plain White T's to take the stage. Officers said the crowd seemed to get the message and cooperated with the request. Police officers were hugged by at least one member of Plain White T's right before their performance for allowing the show to continue.Slideshow: Wal-Mart Parking Lot ConcertA promotional spokeperson for both bands called the stop in Bakersfield "the biggest and rowdiest so far." There were reports of several fights in the area following the concert.Long lines waited to get CD merchandise signed by band members directly after the show.Just how big were merchandise sales? ABC23 has a phone call in to Store Manager, Jack Persons on just how successful CD sales were in the Wal-Mart parking lot.Three kids from Fruitvale Junior High got all-access special treatment that included a peek inside tour buses and an escort to the front of the line to meet members of the Plain White T's after the show.Related Buzz Bands Blog Article: "Have The Plain White T's Changed That Much?" Copyright 2007 by TurnTo23.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
