THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 3, 1996 TAG: 9606030005
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music Review
SOURCE: BY SUE VANHECKE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 39 lines
``Saturday In The Park,'' indeed. For thousands at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater, Saturday night was classic rock nirvana as Crosby, Stills & Nash and Chicago trotted out the '70s hits under the stars.
David Crosby, looking hale and in particularly sweet and expressive voice, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash opened the show this night - the bill alternates from city to city - to the adulatory cheers of the largely baby boomer-aged attendees.
Backed by organ, bass and drums, the laid-back trio battled the less-than-pristine acoustics of the cavernous amphitheater, but ultimately triumphed with the rich, enveloping vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar interplay for which they are beloved.
The group drew ovations for recharged renditions of some of their best stuff: a metal-edged ``Love The One You're With,'' transformed into a riotous roadhouse rocker by Stills' bluesy lead vocal; ``Turn! Turn! Turn!'' from the songbook of the Byrds, Crosby's former band; CS&N's first hit, ``Marrakesh Express,'' the song that compelled Graham Nash to quit the Hollies because that group wouldn't record it; and a satisfyingly revved-up ``Woodstock.''
Stills contributed some fine solo guitar work, as well, from blistering electric vamps to delicate, mandolin-like strumming on ``Southern Cross.''
For their one-song encore, the band was joined by Williamsburg native Bruce Hornsby.
The pianist, who gave the amphitheater's first concert last month, looked a bit befuddled for the first several measures of ``Ohio,'' but offered a tastefully grooving solo that again brought the crowd to its feet.
The eight-man band Chicago launched their set, predictably, with the crowd-pleasing ``Saturday In The Park.''
The group, which seems to have weathered the decades well, offered performances of romance-drenched, easy-listening hits ``Colour My World,'' ``Hard Habit To Break'' and ``If You Leave Me Now.'' by CNB