Energetic BlackHawk performs headliner-quality country music

RATING: * * * * *

by Brian Wahlert

Houston is home to a lot of great music of all styles, but one genre that unfortunately gets neglected at Rice is country music, of which Houston is a significant home. Practically every weekend, two or three major-label country artists perform at nightclubs and concert venues in the area, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is probably country's biggest concert event outside of Nashville's Fan Fair. Many of us don't take advantage of the opportunities to hear live country music, even when it's close by and free.

Such was the case when BlackHawk performed at KIKK Radio's 15th Annual Free Country Concert at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park last Saturday. Who is BlackHawk? They're the TNN/Music City News new vocal band of the year and one of five nominees for the prestigious Country Music Association's vocal group of the year award.

And they're one hell of a live band.

Despite the fact that their first single was released less than two years ago, they already have the stage and lighting of a headline act. As the spotlights flashed around the audience at the beginning of the show, the fans who filled the pavilion and the hill behind came to their feet and began to scream and applaud with an energy that never abated through the entire show.

The fans only grew louder as the curtains parted to allow the first glimpse of the six-man band standing on risers with their backs to the crowd. They quickly ripped into "Goodbye Says It All," their first single, as many in the crowd sang along. Soon they played their breakthrough hit "Every Once in a While" and their high-energy, turn-it-up-when-it-comes-on-the-radio-and-drive-fast single "Down in Flames." Fans went crazy both times.

The back-to-back Jeff Black songs near the middle of the show -- including the big hit "That's Just About Right" and "King of the World," doubtless a future hit -- gave the audience a chance to calm down as they contemplated Black's spiritual lyrics about the freedom to blaze a new path, a central theme of BlackHawk's music.

BlackHawk is talented both vocally and instrumentally. Henry Paul's rough lead vocals and the group's strange mix of bluegrass harmonies and rock guitars make them stand out on country radio.

Furthermore, they always come up with great songs, partly because Dave Robbins and Van Stephenson were a successful Nashville songwriting team before they joined Paul. Their songs run the gamut of emotions, but after hearing all of them back-to-back, the listener is left with an overwhelming feeling of joy and hope. Songs like "One More Heartache," "Bad Love Gone Good" and "Like There Ain't No Yesterday" are about trading a lost love for something far better. Other songs, like the two Jeff Black songs and "Down in Flames" are intelligent feel-good songs about independence.

As good as their recorded music is, it's magnified in concert. Dale Oliver plays a mean lead guitar, and Stephenson's leads weren't too shabby either, especially the air-guitar lead he played while he was waiting for his guitar to be repaired.

Paul had a strong presence as frontman, although he sometimes crossed the line and became a little overbearing as he waved at the crowd for more applause. The band's stage moves, which included frequent kicking in time with the drum beat, were over-choreographed and excessive.

All in all, BlackHawk's stage show definitely worked up the crowd and kept its energy up throughout the show.

This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the October 13, 1995 issue.

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