THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603160062
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
JUDGING BY the first 10 Virginia Beach Amphitheater shows announced Thursday, there could be more rowdiness happening in child-seat-equipped cars outside than on the stage.
Of the names announced at Thursday's press conference for the venue, which opens in May, the most promising in terms of flat-out rock! is the Who. Unfortunately, that's the Who as in ``The Who's `Tommy,' '' the touring company of the watered-down Broadway musical.
Other rock acts on the bill include such veterans as Jimmy Buffett, the reunited Eagles and Rod Stewart.
To be fair, there are few big tours to pick and choose from this concert season. Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Paul McCartney were expected to tour, but have decided to stay home until at least 1997.
And most of the younger bands don't yet have the drawing power to fill the 20,000 capacity ampitheater.
One of the most adventurous artists promised is Williamsburg singer/songwriter Hornsby, who christens the shed on May 15. His jazz-piano edge has long been threatening to overtake his increasingly adult-contemporary side.
The country music stars are top-drawer, with dates confirmed for stars like Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, and Brooks and Dunn.
It's only fair to note that only about a third of the opening season's projected gigs are set, according to amphitheater management. But boomer-centric, family-safe P-O-P is the focus for now.
Despite Cellar Door Concerts president Bill Reed's statement in praise of crossover, little or nothing on the calendar seems likely to draw much of a minority audience - there's nothing on the schedule so far to appeal to fans of hip-hop, contemporary R&B, ``smooth jazz,'' alternative rock, reggae, even Latin music.
On the other hand, it's good to know that popular acts such as Buffett and Rod Stewart won't have to skip Hampton Roads just because there's no place big enough for them to play. by CNB