Craig Daily Press

With a magazine and his iPod in hand, Craig resident John Kinkaid was at the Moffat County Fairgrounds by 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Kinkaid was the first person in line for the upcoming festivities, featuring rock band Three Dog Night.

“It’s been a long day, and I probably could have gotten here at 3:30 (p.m.), but it was worth it to be the first in line,” he said. “Three Dog Night was at their peak when I was in high school, and they’re one of my favorite bands. I know all their songs.”

Three Dog Night and fellow rock band Firefall were the night’s musical entertainment as part of Craig’s ongoing centennial celebration. The event attracted 2,550 people, Craig Parks and Recreation Director Dave Pike said.

Tickets were on sale for $20 at the gate starting at 4:30 p.m, and the gates opened for seating at 5:30 p.m. Seats were available in the grandstands and the ground in front of the stage, where many spectators sat in folding chairs or on blankets they brought themselves.

In the time between the opening and the concert’s start, attendees bought food and beverages from on-site vendors such as The O.P. Bar and Grill, Cedar Mountain Lions Club, Brother’s Custom Processing and more. Merchandise from the two bands, such as T-shirts, hats and CDs, was on sale, along with similar Craig Centennial goods.

Firefall took the stage to the crowd’s rousing applause at 7 p.m.

Audience members Marie Reigan, of Grand Junction, and Becky Mahon, of Battlement Mesa, immediately started dancing to the sounds of the band’s music.

“We just met about a week ago at a Joe Cocker concert and decided we’d come up here,” Mahon said. “We showed up at 6 (p.m.) and couldn’t believe we got tickets. This thing has been a really good time. The music regenerates your soul.”

Seated directly in front of the stage, Kinkaid noted the band’s enjoyment of the performance.

“Firefall put on a really good show, and you could see it in their eyes that they were glad to be there,” he said. “I really appreciated that as an audience member.”

Also in the front row was the president of Three Dog Night’s official fan club, Madonna Nuckolls, of Garland, Texas, anticipating the group taking the stage at 9 p.m.

“I’ve been their fan club president for 13 years,” Nuckolls said. “I do it because I love their music and I love them.”

Nuckolls said she attends 15 to 20 of the band’s concerts every year, all with backstage privileges and choice seating.

“They’ve been very good to me,” she said. “They’ve got quite a following, and I think it’s because they’re the best stage band ever to hit the country.”

Nuckolls was at the edge of the stage when the group came out, starting their set with songs such as “One Man Band” and “Black and White.”

Much of the crowd was on its feet, singing along with the memorable songs. However, the group’s performance of a new rendition of the song “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” with a rap beat took the masses by surprise.

“Doing it as a rap just kind of evolved one day,” drummer Pat Bautz said. “We wanted to do something different, and we’ve all been saying that we should record it. We have fun doing it, and I think it went good tonight.”

Fans still were clamoring for more after the group performed their encore, “Joy to the World.” Fireworks provided by Craig Fire/Rescue lit up the sky behind the stage as vocalist Danny Hutton wished Craig residents a “Happy Centennial.”

“It was a great turnout,” Bautz said. “We just did our thing.”

Andy Bockelman can be reached at 875-1796 or abockelman@craigdailypress.com