THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 13, 1995 TAG: 9511130071
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEW
SOURCE: BY SUE SMALLWOOD, THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
It was a Boathouse turned roadhouse Saturday night as crooner Chris Isaak and his crack backing band Silvertone rolled out their country-kissed, rockabilly-inflected pop for an ecstatic, if rain-soaked, crowd.
Bedazzling in an immaculate rhinestone-studded suit, silver sequined shirt and perfectly greased pompadour, Isaak and his four-piece combo (equally resplendent in matching iridescent dinner jackets) launched their good-time set with the moody rocker ``You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love,'' from 1987's excellent eponymous LP, and the swinging ``Beautiful Homes,'' from 1993's ``San Francisco Days.''
Isaak, a sweet tenor, was in fine voice, showcasing his signature hushed murmurings and awesome sustain with lugubrious, romantic selections like ``I Believe'' and ``Changed Your Mind,'' from new album ``Forever Blue,'' and melancholy hit ``Wicked Game,'' from 1989's ``Heart-Shaped World.''
Isaak and Silvertone reached back to their 1985 debut, ``Silvertone,'' for the twangy cowboys-'round-the campfire lament ``Western Stars'' and torqued up a snarling groove for ``Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing'' from ``Forever Blue.''
An avowed fan of local '50s rock legend Gene ``Be Bop A Lula'' Vincent, Isaak copped from Vincent's ``B-I-Bickey-Bi-Bo-Bo-Go'' during the ripping rock 'n' roll set-closer ``Diddly,'' which featured snaggling solo work from saxophonist Johnny Reno. Isaak dedicated second encore opener ``Lie To Me'' to Vincent's original drummer Dickie ``Be Bop'' Harrell, who still lives in the area.
Reno was particularly impressive during the first encore's sultry read of the instrumental ``Harlem Nocturne'' and for rousing concert-closer ``Bonnie,'' joining Isaak, now clad in a glittering suit of mirrors, out in the effusive crowd.
After the show, the genial Isaak and band made themselves available for handshakes and autographs. ILLUSTRATION: MUSIC REVIEW
Chris Isaak
Saturday at
the Boathouse, Norfolk
by CNB