May 29, 1964 - The big question at Carnegie Hall tonight was whether the followers of the Dave Clark Five could raise a more overpowering din than the Beatles’ fans did when that mop-haired British foursome appeared there two months ago.
Clark’s quintet, who appear to be the liveliest pretenders to the eminence so recently achieved by the Beatles, are, like their predecessors, British and mop-haired. They were high, tight, white collars, black jackets, and what were once known as “ice cream pants.”
In challenging the sonic inspirational qualities of the Beatles, Clark had one more man than the first group and two especially penetrating instruments — saxophone and a sort of electronic keyboard — that the Beatles lack.
The Clark group appears to play louder than the Beatles.
But with all that, a discerning ear could conclude only that even less of the Dave Clark Five was heard than the same ear heard of the Beatles.
The Clark-maddened audience, consisting almost entirely of girls between the ages of 12 and 15, did not fill every seat in Carnegie Hall at tonight’s first performance at 6 (a second performance followed at 9). As a matter of fact, hardly any seats were occupied because the girls were either leaping in the air and running down the aisles and being prodded back by 50 special guards.
Clark’s group equaled the time on stage of the Beatles to the minute — a total of 24 minutes. The display of unremitting vocal power — a massed shriek and howl combined — put on by the audience was impressive.
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