THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, May 20, 1996 TAG: 9605190275
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEW
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
The Virginia Beach Amphitheater has received the Vince Gill Seal of Approval.
``I'm glad to be the first country star to play here,'' he said during his Saturday night concert at the days-old facility.
He played and sang there for nearly 2 1/2 hours, his encore numbers occupying almost as much time as the body of the show.
Gill was in good voice - what else is new? - and his guitar was a-smokin', especially during a 10-minute version of ``What the Cowgirls Do.''
When Gill concertizes, you get a little of everything - ballads, up-tempo and some excellent instrumental work. That's a fancy way of saying that he and his band really jam.
The weather may have offered some inspiration. It was as pleasant and lovely as the many ballads Gill offered, including such familiar fare as ``Nobody Answers When I Call Your Name'' and ``I Never Knew Lonely.''
The latter is a song he wrote when he was touring in Europe. He penned it to let the world know he missed his little baby.
That baby is now 14 and being pursued, as proud pop noted, ``by kids with voices deeper than mine.''
That's easy to believe, since Gill often sounds like a boy tenor.
Gill sounded especially beautiful with a lesser-known item, ``Which Bridge To Cross, Which Bridge To Burn,'' which he co-wrote with Bill Anderson.
Far more familiar was ``I Will Always Love You.'' On record, he shares it with its composer, Dolly. He performed it solo on Saturday.
Gill did have a duet partner on several songs. Patty Loveless, who spent 45 minutes as the opening act, joined him during his encore, at one point joining him for a slow, romantic dance.
After a couple of duets, Gill told his singing partner of the night, ``sing another one, baby.''
``You play it, and I'll sing it.''
He did, and she did: ``The Blue Side of Town,'' a Loveless hit.
Soon Loveless stepped back, and the tempo changed as Gill and company bid goodbye with some good, wild rockin'.
The Loveless set included such whiskered hits as ``Chains'' and such new items as her remake of Jo-El Sonnier's ``Tear Stained Letter.'' Her version is not as much fun as his Cajun offering.
A highlight of her time on stage was her current success, ``Trouble With the Truth.''
The truth is: This show was a good way to introduce country to the Virginia Beach Amphitheater, and vice versa. Gill and Loveless, though they weren't startling, at least offered a good, solid night of entertainment. ILLUSTRATION: MUSIC REVIEW
Vince Gill and Patty Loveless
Saturday at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater
by CNB