Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 29, 1994                   TAG: 9411140023
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SAWYER BROWN: NO PHONINESS, BUT TOO LITTLE COUNTRY

Miller is no hat act. Nor is the band he fronts.

There wasn't a Stetson among the fivesome, which was refreshing but reflected an inherent weakness in the group.

It was refreshing because, unlike many of his country contemporaries who hide their retreating hairlines under conveniently-placed cowboy hats, Miller sported his shiny baldness without shame.

Also unlike many of his hat-wearing peers, he was anything but the stoic, too-cool cowboy in the spotlight. Miller wears his fast-stepping, bouncy stage persona proudly.

Where the problem lies, however, is that the lack of hats also symbolizes a certain lack of country soul. Not that a band needs hats to prove its country soul. It doesn't, but it does need country soul.

Friday night, Sawyer Brown didn't show much, even though guitarist Duncan Cameron occasionally switched to mandolin, banjo or harmonica. Instead, the group showed in its 75-minute set that it is much closer to a pop-rock act - more middle of the road than way out in the sticks.

Still, for what the group is, and with Miller out front to keep things lively, the relatively small audience of 3,416 seemed to be into it.

The openers were Toby Keith and David Ball.

Keith also strayed somewhat into pop-rock territory, but mixed in a few drinkin' and heartache songs for good measure. He handled the mix well, juggling the different tempos and attitudes with equal ease. The standout song was his hard-rocking hit, "A Little Less Talk (And A Lot More Action)."

Ball, unlike Keith or Sawyer Brown, was more straight-forward honky-tonk; decent enough, but not electrifying or particularly original.