America: After All These Years

 I guess it is true that 40 is the new 20, because Music Supergroup America had the energy of a band just out of their teens at the current stop on their 2009 World Tour.

It didn't take long for Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley to have the house a rockin' during a beautiful hot Atlanta evening with America at Chastain Park Amphitheater. From the opening song, Riversideand through the entire discography America offers, young and old came to appreciate the history and pure sound of this classic rock band.

They may be one year shy of their 40th anniversay, but America wowed the crowd with their many hits, Horse With No Name, Ventura Highway, Tin Man, and Sister Golden Hair. To say they haven't missed a beat is an understatement. Other favorites, Sandman, Hollywood, and I Need You flowed off their instruments like a river raft moving downstream. The duo stated, and it appeared true that they loved Atlanta, and Chastain Park. Maybe the highlight of their performance was when opening act Christopher Cross joined them onstage to sing Lonely People. They even joked that between America and Christopher Cross they have six Grammys total. One for America and five for Cross.

Couples danced to You Can Do Magic, and a spot on rendition of The Beatles, Eleanor Rigby. Bunnell and Beckley told stories of high school, The Mamas & The Papas, and working with The Beach Boys. They played for about 80 minutes and it went fast, too fast. The duo even took time after the show to meet and greet fans for an hour or so.

America plays a full concert slate every year. Here's hoping they come back to Chastain and Atlanta to celebrate their 40th. Their website is www.venturahighway.com.