Tough week ahead for troopers on concert detail

Judging from some of our news stories and recent posts in our Forums section, alcohol abuse at PNC Banks Arts Center concerts hasn't eased up much, if at all, despite stepped-up enforcement by State Police. The next week should provide a good measure of whether the steps taken to curb underage and excessive drinking are working, or whether additional steps need to be taken.

On Saturday, Bryan Adams will appear with George Thorogood and the Destroyers, whose following is overrepresented by those who enjoy getting wasted. The band's repertoire includes "I Drink Alone," "One Scotch, One Bourbon and One Beer," "If You Don't Start Drinking (I'm Gonna Leave,)" and "The Hard Stuff."

The next night will feature "shock rock" group Marilyn Manson and thrash metal band Slayer. Marilyn Manson was a target of congressional hearings to determine the effects of violent lyrics on young listeners. Sen. Joseph Lieberman once referred to the group as "perhaps the sickest group ever promoted by a mainstream record company."

On Wednesday night, the Family Values Tour 2007 will descend on Holmdel, headlined by Korn and featuring a dozen metal, rap and hard-rock bands. Two days later, hopefully enough time to clean up the parking lots and repair the bathrooms, alt-rock band Incubus will arrive. Here's the dictionary definition of incubus: "an evil spirit or demon thought in medieval times to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women." The good news is the band espouses nonviolence.

Wish the State Police well.