Just because a thing is strange doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen often. So it was an odd but not unusual sight to pass Center Park in Warsaw tonight and see half of the park already filled with plastic folding chairs and camp chairs – in 85 degree heat – six hours before the main act was due to take the stage.
Left to right: Mel Schacher, Max Carl, Bruce KulickGrand Funk Railroad, a great American rock band of the 1970s, performed tonight in an incredible concert at the Center Lake Pavilion. Officer Brandon Zartman of the Warsaw Police Department estimated that six to seven thousand people were in attendance at the concert tonight, one of the highest turnouts ever for the Friday Evening Performing Arts Series organized by the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department.
Several of Grand Funk’s greatest hits were played, including “Shinin’ On,” “Rock & Roll Soul,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” and “The Loco-Motion.” The group wound up the concert with it’s well-loved single “I’m Your Captain,” followed by an audience-urged encore of “We’re an American Band,” Grand Funk Railroad’s first number one single. The concert lasted for about 90 minutes.
Grand Funk Railroad are Bruce Kulick on guitar, Tim Cashion on keys and percussion, founding member Mel Schacher on bass, founding member Don Brewer on drums, and Max Carl on guitar and vocals.
Thousands of people stand for Grand Funk’s shredding rendition of the national anthem. (Photo by Paul Morales)Also playing at the concert tonight were local northern Indiana band Funk Park Rangers, who opened for Grand Funk. They played a decent length set at about an hour, featuring both classic rock songs from such greats as Chuck Berry, as well as some of their own original material.
The Funk Park Rangers are Brad Parker on drums, Eric Brown on bass, Patrick Price on guitar, and Spencer Fisk on guitar and vocals.
Grand Funk Railroad can next be seen tomorrow night in Lancaster, Ohio, before moving on with their tour to California.
The Funk Park Rangers will be back in Warsaw in a few months, on August 17, at Spike’s Beach Grill.
Vocalist Max Carl greets the crowd. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Drummer and founding member Don Brewer. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Bruce Kulick gives a salute to the fans. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Max Carl, left, and Tim Cashion, right, wail together. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Grand Funk Railroad. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Funk Park Rangers’ guitarist Patrick Price with some sweet behind-the-back shredding. (Photo by Paul Morales)
The Funk Park Rangers. Left to right: Patrick Price, Spencer Fisk, and Eric Brown. Back, on drums: Brad Parker. (Photo by Paul Morales)
A massive crowd awaits the arrival of Grand Funk Railroad on stage. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Crystal Raye of WRSW tosses t-shirts into the crowd. (Photo by Paul Morales)
More vendors out in force. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Vendors lined the north side of the park for the concert. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Left to right: Mel Schacher, Max Carl, Bruce Kulick. (Photo by Paul Morales)
Thousands of people stand for Grand Funk’s shredding rendition of the national anthem. (Photo by Paul Morales)
