Downtown Silver City once again became the stage for a lengthy exposition of classic rock and pop music. Riding the coattails of our 1974 blast, but even more anachronistic, the 60th anniversary of 1964 began at noon on Saturday, August 17, and wrapped up by 7:09 that evening. I filled those seven-plus hours with surfer tunes, solid soul sounds, hot rod hits, and British Invasion selections—especially those of the Beatles.
We set up on the town’s main drag, Bullard, where it intersects 6th Street, at The Hub, originally an automobile dealership. In its southeast corner stands a plaza with a substantial roof and massive supports, but no walls. That open-airiness allowed passersby to catch notes emanating from the dance floor. My tiny Pyle amp drove two 15″ PA speakers, borrowed from KURU. On my laptop I queued the 167-song playlist. A lone vendor offered Star Wars Lego characters for sale. Stand-up tables flank the south and east edges, and sit-down benches frame the west. Beyond them stretches an expanse of gravel and boulders with picnic tables. Hub businesses include Mint Chip Creamery, Forrest’s Pizza, Diane’s Bakery, and Power & Light Press, where Linda first taught bookbinding for poets in 2022. Silver City Food Co-op sits catty-corner from there, and radio station KURU’s north windows look directly at the plaza across 6th.
The station manager announced the event on-air as it was happening. To my delight, four of my fellow radio producers came by. DJs always do best playing Name It and Win It with oft-forgotten ditties.
I kept an eye on weekend traffic, which flowed, ebbed, and picked up again as the day wore on. At one low point in the sun’s transit across the sky, I was able to lie down on the concrete for a rest, but the music never ceased. Mostly, couples grooved to the rhythms, and sometimes only myself danced. Listeners marveled at the stylistic variety of melodies filling the space.
A brief thundershower suggested I scramble to cover the equipment with plastic sheeting.
Gusty winds dealt harshly with the banner behind my control center. Monster trucks without mufflers peeled out after stopping at the corner’s four-way, adding iconic cacophony to the scene. Speaking of noise, guests paid rapt attention when I followed “Leader of the Pack” by the Sangri-Las with the Detergents’ reply, “Leader of the Laundromat.” Both songs feature a revving motorcycle.
All in all, the experience greatly satisfied everyone involved. We got to visit with our favorite Silver Citizens and meet new ones. But we’re not done yet: plans are to present 1965 next year. Stay tuned!
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