Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990 TAG: 9006060336
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TRACY WIMMER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Not this time - from what I could see.
Maybe it was because her 1988 Mexican-themed tour sung entirely in Spanish left her with more than a few empty seats.
Maybe it was opening-night excitement. Tuesday's Roanoke Civic Center appearance marked the first of her 1990 concert tour. And on a couple of occasions, she broke into nervous giggles over introducing band members incorrectly.
For whatever reasons, a better performance would be hard to come by.
Throughout her hour-and-a-half show, Ronstadt emerged as a most expressive singer, one who lovingly and respectfully gave attention to lyrics, tone and the audience - though it was small.
Her speaking voice was like that of a child. Her singing voice could turn back armies. Operatic, throaty, soulful and sweet - all these qualities shone through - sometimes in one song.
Ronstadt's cover of Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou" was as clear and crisp as the day she recorded it. Her version of Martha and the Vandella's "Heat Wave" had the audience swaying and clapping in their seats. Other oldie highlights included a kicking version of "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me," the wounded sounds of "Hurts So Bad" and the sweet harmony provided by Ronstadt and her two back-up singers on "Ooh, Baby, Baby."
"Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind," her latest album, also yielded wonderful songs. Jimmy Webb, who she described as "the best of all the modern songwriters . . . comparable to Gershwin," penned her most emotionally moving numbers of the show: "Are You Still Within the Sound of My Voice" and "Shattered."
Ronstadt sang these songs alone in the spotlight with what looked like a galaxy of tiny stars behind her.
When her pared-down band played, they played tight, with little hint of this having been a warm-up concert.
Ronstadt stayed away from the album's duets she performed with Aaron Neville like "Don't Know Much." This was a concert where security guards weren't challenged. The crowd ranged from ages 17 to 70.
The most frustrating part of the show was the lack of people there. Roanokers don't mind griping over the quality of shows, but they can't seem to fill a coliseum - or in this case even partially fill it.
A mere 4,700 tickets were sold in a coliseum that could hold well over 9,000. Civic Center officials hung black floor-length curtains behind and on the sides of the stage and closed off the top six rows of every section.
Empty chairs don't look good on the kick-off night of a concert.
The Little River Band opened the concert as people continued to buy tickets. Their oldies were well-received by the audience, but the new songs off "Get Lucky," their latest release, seemed to have little punch.
Ronstadt handled the punch end of the show.
She remains the wide-eyed, round-faced, enthusiastic cheerleader she has been since starting out 20-plus years ago. Strutting on stage in a drop-waisted, black and white polka-dot number, high heels and a hair bow, she looked anything but 44 - her age as of next month.
by CNB