THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 1995 TAG: 9501280024
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEWS
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
ALABAMA PLAYS it safe and the audience loves it.
Thursday at Hampton Coliseum, the musicians performed as many of their hits as they could manage.
There were no deviations, there was no experimentation - no getting off on a side road to try something un-Alabamaish.
That might have been interesting, but their fans seemed happy with the tried and true - happy enough to demand a double encore.
That included a double tribute to their home state - ``Sweet Home, Alabama'' and ``My Home Is In Alabama.''
Their home was Hampton on Thursday. They proclaim it one of their favorite venues.
Lead singer Randy Owen commented on the local enthusiasm: ``This is a wonderful audience. I can't hear anything up here and that's how I like it.''
The audience liked such Alabama standards as ``Mountain Music'' ``She and I'' and ``Roll On.''
The old and the new mixed. There was ``Cheap Seats,'' plus the newest single, ``Give Me One More Shot,'' a bouncer that should wind up Top-10, and the evening's emotional gift, ``Angels Among Us.''
Owen gets very wrapped up in that beauty. One of his daughter's closest friends was killed in an automobile accident and the song hits home, and heart, with him.
Behind the music there was a variety of backdrops - oversized album covers and two futuristic in-the-sky paintings that look like something out of ``The Jetsons.''
Lasers have been added this year - impressive, although used sparingly.
Audience give-and-take was also on the sparse side, unlike the group's shows at Opryland and their Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach where they, and the audience, are as one.
The Coliseum concentration was music - some exciting, some beautiful, all enjoyable.
It is not just that Alabama has been on the scene for such a long time. The concert is successful because there are so many hits and each member of the audience can drink in his or her favorites.
``The Closer You Get'' is the best showcase for their three-part harmony.
A favorite with country fans these days is Alabama's opening act, the ultra-energetic Neal McCoy, who must be taking happy pills.
He is happy to sing such hits as ``No Doubt About It,'' but seems happier offering the unexpected.
The best example is something he began doing last year - a rap version of the ``The Beverly Hillbillies'' theme song with a bit of ``The Banana Boat Song'' mixed in.
McCoy - Mr. Personality - has an infectiously good time onstage as he sings and puts the crowd to work singing with him.
The crowd had a wonderful time. Alabama and McCoy are a wonderful double feature. ILLUSTRATION: Alabama pleased the audience Thursday with hit after country
hit.
CONCERT REVIEW
Alabama with Neal McCoy. Thursday at Hampton Coliseum.
by CNB