Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 28, 1992 TAG: 9203280268
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOE TENNIS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The band blasted on the scene with a scorching guitar storm, cranking up faves like "No Way Out" and the new "Change In the Weather."
Vocalist Jeff Keith's hoarse and scratchy vocals burst like the screech of a cat in heat over searing six-string screams from guitarists Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch.
"Wo! That's a serious head rush!" Keith hollered at one point during the concert, amazed that his rough, piercing scream could cause so much noise through the sound system.
The band's down-home brand of American rock screamed proud on "Call It What You Want," a stringy classic from the band's latest album, "Psychotic Supper."
Formed in the mid-'80s, Tesla burst on the scene with its first LP, "Mechanical Resonance," in 1986. Since then, the band built a following through constant touring and popular records like "The Great Radio Controversy" and the primarily acoustic in-concert collection, "Five Man Acoustical Jam."
The band took a breather from the electric storm Friday night to unplug its guitars and wade through acoustic versions of hits like "The Way It Is." The non-electric strumming sounded like a crisp, bubbling mountain stream and delighted the 4,683-person crowd.
Yes, that's a moderate turnout for a big-name act at the Civic Center. But it didn't mean this bunch of rowdies made any less noise or went away less satisfied than a packed house. And it seemed nearly all knew the words to "Signs," a remake the band managed to make a Top-10 hit single a year ago.
Floating around the stage like a butterfly, Keith led the band through its latest hit, "What You Give," a half-electric, half-acoustic, mega-length ballad packed with explosive passion.
Turning on a simple guitar riff, "What You Give" displays scintillating electric guitars swooping in for a landing on a springboard of acoustics. Along the way, a tuneful, well-balanced chorus builds the same brilliance the band captured to create its classic "Love Song."
Scorching hotter than ever, the band picked up the pace after "What You Give" faded away and proceeded to run through more steel-belted rockers, like the vitrolic "Edison's Medicine," a riveting and powerful nugget of noise.
Opening act Firehouse charged the crowd with a squealing, high-pitched set of melodic metal tunes like "Reach for the Sky" and "Love's Lane." The talented band scored its highest moment with the romantic ballad "Love of a Lifetime."
The strutting, punchy, rhythm-happy band served as a complement to Tesla's rock magic.
by CNB