‘Change Rocks Concert’ with Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead supports Obama

STATE COLLEGE -Michelle and Greg Craft paraded a banner declaring "Hope on the way'' around the Bryce Jordan Center Monday night after traveling from Connecticut to support Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

The campaign sponsored a concert featuring surviving members of the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead.

A sold-out crowd of 15,000 trickled into the venue in a sea of tie-dyed T-shirts, many for the bands and a few adding Obama's campaign logo to the Grateful Dead's familiar skull logo.

Michelle Craft wore the latter. She has worked for the campaign since late last year and travels from state to state.

''This is it,'' she said. ''This is our best opportunity right here. I don't know who we can trust, but Obama, I trust him.''

Greg Craft said with the state of the world, including problems with the nation's financial system, Americans are running out of time.

''He may not be able to get us everything, but we're optimistic,'' he said of Obama.

Other concert attendees traveled to hear the music, but also to support Obama.

Mark Hamilton and Sharon Wilson came from Delaware, wearing shades of blue and purple and handing out stickers of the combined Grateful Dead and Obama logo.

The two have seen the bands "hundreds of times," Wilson said.

Hamilton called the musical and political mix a "good joining of forces," although he was surprised by the concert because the musicians are not known to get involved in politics.

"I just think it's pretty amazing," Hamilton said, praising Obama. "He's somebody who's younger and knows what's going on. It's time for a change."

As the Allman Brothers started the night, fans danced and swayed wearing glowing jewelry.

When the band finished about 8:30 p.m., a biographical video about Obama played, and Penn State University professors, Obama volunteers and quarterback coach Jay Paterno encouraged attendees to get to the polls and vote Nov. 4.

As concert-goers entered, Obama campaign volunteers collected names and contact information to increase their cause.

Paterno announced Penn State defeated the University of Michigan in a contest to register the most voters, but he said the victory must continue at the polls.

"I have five young kids," he said. "I want to be able to tell them I did something to help change the country, that I helped elect Barack Obama president of the United States."

He called Pennsylvania vital to the election.

"Barack Obama has got to win the state," he said.

Theater professor Charles Dumas said while Monday night was a time to relax and "party a little," today is the time to get involved in the campaign.

"Tomorrow, when we wake up, we need to head down to our local campaign offices and volunteer," he said. "Make sure that your dormmates vote, your housemates vote, your classmates - everybody vote."

Mirror Staff Writer Jessica VanderKolk is at 946-7465.