THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996 TAG: 9608040110
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Music review
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 43 lines
On a wet summer evening, Swing Town was busy and thriving at the Virginia Beach Amphitheater.
Led by its mayor, Steve ``Guitar'' Miller, the town's citizens packed into the sheltered Amphitheater area Saturday and danced to each innocuous Miller hit.
They loved it all, and Miller was happy to play them all - from ``Livin' in the U.S.A'' and ``Fly Like an Eagle'' to a bit of blues with Pat Benatar.
Miller could have unplugged his own microphone and saved his voice as the audience sang along to each lyric.
Miller, who started out in the heady days of the late '60s San Francisco music scene, has tried it all in his long career.
But nothing really stuck with the public except those '70s hits. His first Steve Miller Band featured sideman and occasional lead singer Boz Scaggs. The group produced such critically acclaimed albums as ``Children of the Future'' and ``Brave New World.'' It wasn't until the harmonica-driven ``Livin' in the U.S.A.'' that Miller finally struck paydirt.
Recently, he tried the blues with no success, and his 1993 release ``Wide River'' failed to make an impression on the record-buying public. But with the proliferation of classic rock stations, his sing-song hits are big even with teens who have parents younger than the 52-year-old Miller.
But no matter. Saturday, Miller offered his clear tenor voice and taut, twangy guitar style as he played the joker, the toker, the flying eagle and the gangster of love to an appreciative audience.
In a nod to modern times, he even presented a slightly hipper ``Fly Like an Eagle'' that soared with some hip-hop wings.
As long as there's a classic rock station, Miller will find employment. Too bad he can't convince the CD buyers that he is better than that.
The evening opened with the little lady with the big voice, Pat Benatar, as she tore up the Amphitheater crowd.
Benatar, whose recent all-blues and new-material albums flopped bigger than the Comet Kahoutec, gave the crowd her best shot as she proved she could still belt them out with the best. She plied her strong, raspy rock voice through a series of familiar hits and new material.
Benatar still has the chops. by CNB