Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 5, 1995 TAG: 9506060090
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Last year, James Taylor received the royal reception when he played here. John Prine, who comes to town later this month, also is always a perennial favorite.
Sunday night, Roanoke again showed its colors - this time for Dan Fogelberg.
In return, the mellow-voiced singer gave the audience of 2,108 at the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium plenty of what it likes: singing and songwriting.
The show was billed as a solo acoustic concert, meaning that it was just Fogelberg and his acoustic guitar or grand piano. This format particularly showcased his singer/songwriting talents.
Without the distractions of a band, it was Fogelberg's singing and strength of his songs that had to carry the show.
For the most part, Fogelberg delivered on both counts.
His trademark wispy voice isn't for all tastes. Few voices are as wispy. But it is something his loyal following of fans covet. Sunday night, his singing was as wispy and sweet and effective as ever.
He showed off some suprisingly strong guitar playing.
The absence of a band shined the spotlight more on his breezy, bittersweet songs, showing what a craftsman Fogelberg is in this soft pop genre.
This is exactly what has won Fogelberg such a legion of loyalists. In the acoustic format, unfortunately, it doesn't allow for enough variety from his sometimes one-note, singsong style.
For ticket prices of $40.50, $32.50 and $27.50, a longer show also would have been nice. Fogelberg was more than 15 minutes late for his 7:30 p.m. show. He didn't have an opening act and finished before 9:30.
In the end, however, neither of these criticisms seemed to matter. Fogelberg received a standing ovation.
Roanoke wouldn't treat a singer/songwriter any other way.
by CNB