Minority cause problems at concert

Unruly alcohol-fuelled behaviour by a very small minority marred the first summer concert at New Plymouth’ Bowl of Brooklands.

Friday’s A Summer’s Day Live was headlined by Toto, who were supported by fellow classic rockers Dragon and Jefferson Starship in perfect conditions.

While the majority of the 8500-strong crowd enjoyed a great night of entertainment, some fans say there were disgusted by the drunken antics of a minority.

Even Toto guitarist Steve Lukather took exception to what he saw from onstage and called out a guy in the crowd for his behaviour and then restated it again at the end of the show.

New Plymouth District Council external relations manager Jacqueline Baker said the vast majority of the crowd had a wonderful time.

‘‘Although we have not received any complaints, it appears a handful of people could have behaved better and like all our major events, we review all of our operations (including security) as part of our post-event analysis,’’ Baker said in a written statement.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said she and her husband Neil were in the seated area near the front and they witnessed a lot of groping

Concert review

and pushing of women by a group of at least 20 men.

‘‘Things got a little out of control, there was some idiots that I guess had had a little bit too much,’’ she said. "As the night progressed and particularly during the Toto set it got more aggressive.

‘‘One woman, she literally had to physically fight and push these guys off her.’’

‘‘It really put a dampener on what promised to be a great night.’’

Neil said the behaviour had detracted from the night’s entertainment. ‘‘We had gone to see Toto and it was ruined by this bunch of idiots,’’ he said.

Toto guitarist Steve Lukather resorted to telling one guy to stop after he put his hands on a young girl’s behind and then even took his guitar off as if he was about to go down and stop them himself, she said.

At the end of the show Lukather told the audience it had been a great night ‘‘apart from some idiots in the front’’, Ngarewa-Packer said.

Her comments where supported by other concert goers on Facebook. Thalia Gordon said drunken people were causing so much trouble she left before Toto went on stage.

‘‘Falling on us, vomiting all over themselves, so drunk they either didn’t know (or didn’t care) they were constantly showing everyone their privates. It was disgusting,’’ she posted.

‘‘We were so worried about where they were going to land, or throw up, we couldn’t even pay attention to the music.’’

Sergeant Shane Hurliman said he had been told there was a number of incidents due to intoxicated people. ‘‘I understand that there was a bit of drunkenness and a few fights,’’ Hurliman said. It had been busy in the city due to the extra people in town for the show, he said.