THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 18, 1994 TAG: 9406170105
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940618 LENGTH: Medium
BlackHawk weaves back and forth with music that is good and loud. But let's put it in a positive light: Music that is loud and good.
{REST} Wednesday, they country-rocked the Peppermint Beach Club in a concert that was about 98 1/2 percent upbeat.
The lone ballad - pretty and sweet - made you wish they had more such offerings. ``I Sure Can Smell the Rain'' could be picked up by 101 Strings and send you dozing.
There will be no dozing during a BlackHawk performance, particularly during their wild, but too brief, jam sessions.
The wildest offering was ``Stone by Stone,'' one of those songs where the beat builds into a smashing climax.
It climaxed the show, which opened with BlackHawk's biggest hit, ``Goodbye Says It All.''
That offering, reprised later, is the perfect showcase for the group's perfect harmony.
In person is better than on record. BlackHawk, like many other performers, is good on CD but better on STAGE, especially when you can surround yourself with lead singer Henry Stephenson's big voice.
Incidentally, every once in a while, especially on ``Every Once In a While,'' he sounds a little like Huey Lewis.
That song title describes their movements onstage. Physically, BlackHawk is not as energetic as they are vocally. And, they do very little bantering with the audience.
Maybe it was the heat, which served as a good excuse to show a few rippling muscles; two of the guys stripped down to their undershirts.
Barbara Jean was dressed in her cowgirl finest. She and her Band of Gold - triple-award winners at last year's Virginia Country Music Association gathering - served as the opening act.
BlackHawk, one of the area's best-known, best-loved groups, gave a quality performance Wednesday night.
by CNB