Review: Coach Cowher helps America celebrates 50 years of hits

Few things are more enjoyable then the warmth of getting together with old friends in a comfortable environment indoors on a late winter’s night.

…Especially when that friendship goes back half a century. The reunion of ardent Pittsburgh fans with Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley (aka America) at the Byham Theatre yesterday was, as anticipated, a most special one.

It included a surprise appearance during the encore (“A Horse with No Name”) by former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher and his musician wife Veronica (known as Queen V).

An early standing “O”

The first standing ovation came before the melodic rockers, backed by a solid three-piece band, (Steve Fekete, guitar and keyboards; Rich Campbell, bass, keyboards and vocals; Ryland Steen, drums) played the first note on this, their 50th anniversary tour.

It doesn’t seem that long ago when it was fashionable for those of a certain young age to refer to musicians with career longevity as “dinosaurs.”

No one can put that label on these sons of the birth year of 1952 who performed with youthful passion and intensity all night, clearly not there to go through the motions, clearly not there to mail it in and move on to the next gig.

“We will keep playing as long as you guys keep coming,” Beckley assured the near-capacity crowd, who roared its approval.

You name it, they played it

Every song that a fan would want to hear, especially those following the group since its inception when albums were released in the manner in which God intended: on vinyl, was on the set list: “Horse with No Name,” “I Need You,” “Sister Golden Hair,” “Tin Man,” “Ventura Highway” and “You Can Do Magic,” among the familiar ones.

And there were bonus numbers that comprise America’s rich and deep musical history.

Not to be forgotten is that this is a group that one of the most respected producers in the history of contemporary music, the late Rock Hall of Fame inductee George Martin, chose to produce seven times.

Source of pride

That is an understandable source of pride for Bunnell and Beckley who referenced Martin as they performed their own homage to his work on “Eleanor Rigby.”

They traded lead vocals throughout the evening, with Beckley occasionally moving to the keyboards to play and sing.

Ryland Steen was given the honor of singing “Don’t Cross the River,” the late Dan Peek’s composition when America was a trio: “Don’t cross the river if you can’t swim the tide/Don’t try denyin’ livin’ on the other side.”

Bunnell reminded the audience, “You’ve got a few rivers here to choose from.”

Sweet nostalgia

The duo seemed to be in a particularly nostalgic mood, perfectly appropriate for a tour looking back on 50 years.

The rear screen videos and youthful photos and images of America nicely complemented the program.

“Ain’t the years gone by fast/I suppose you have missed them,” Bunnell sang in “Sandman,” his Vietnam era reflection that included images from that war, the anti-war protestors and Natrona Heights’ native and former Valley News Dispatch photographer John Filo‘s Pulitzer Prize photo from the Kent State tragedy.

Tasty jamming

The musicians rose to the occasion on the number, delivering a powerful, blistering, instrumental segment that earned a standing ovation.

After they offered another intense workout on “Hollywood,” from the “Holiday” album, with guitars wailing and drums pounding with resonance, Beckley quipped, “I know what you guys are thinking: ‘That was dangerously close to jamming.’ You are correct.” The band toured the Warhol Museum in the morning and Bunnell praised the experience.

“Andy’s nephew took us around,” he said.

As for that encore: Beckley returned to the microphone, saying, “You probably noticed we took it up a notch tonight. That’s because the coach is in the house.”

Coach in the house

He introduced Cowher and the crowd cheered enthusiastically as the Pittsburgh native bounced onto the stage in jeans and ball cap, smiling broadly and waving, accompanied by his wife, who plugged in her guitar.

Cowher rarely has looked happier, taking over the role of cheerleader as he roamed the stage, never losing his broad smile, encouraging the audience to clap along with him to the music, as his wife accompanied Bunnell and the band on “A Horse with No Name.”

Cowher has been known to accompany his wife on her tours, saying that he is her roadie.

Bunnell offered a final “Good Night” to the audience. “Pittsburgh, PA.,” he said, “America loves you!”

Coach Cowher kept smiling.