Climax

  Anderson College didn't have a lot of outside artists performing in concert.  The Marshall Tucker Band used the auditorium to practice for an upcoming tour.  A classical pianist gave a program, but no show for the students.  That all changed when it was announced that the band Climax was going to perform at our school.  

 They had a top ten record on the radio called "Precious and Few".  It was a big deal to get Climax to come to Anderson.  We sold tickets, which were like $3 each.  But for a show in 1972, that was about average.  It was a sell-out.  On the day of the show, a truck arrived next to the auditorium to unload the speakers and equipment.  The band arrived a little later and did a soundcheck.  

 At 8:00, they came on stage and the crowd went wild.  They had long hair and were from California.  They had just released an album plus their hit single.  They opened with "Precious and Few".  We sat ready for a great show.  They played all of the songs from their album including their hit single again.  During the show, they sang "Precious and Few" three times.  They also sang it for the encore.  

 A tip to any band out there who is planning a setlist:  have more than 10 different songs to play for a 90-minute show.  You don't need to play your hit four times in one show.  We got it the first time.  Even if you have to play rock and roll standards to fill up the time.  By the third time of "Precious and Few", many of the folks in the audience were laughing.  I don't know if anyone walked out having felt a little cheated, but I would have if I had thought it couldn't get worse.  The encore proved that it did.