Sawyer Brown presents dynamic performance

Some bands are just meant to be heard in concert.

Sawyer Brown, which performed Wednesday at the Augusta Civic Center, sounds like an interesting, skilled country band on tape. But in concert, the five-member group becomes a dynamo.

The main reason for that is whirling dervish lead singer Mark Miller. Throughout the band’s one-hour, 20-minute performance, Miller danced, strutted, spun, sashayed and leaped around every inch of the stage. His sporadic pelvic thrusts brought shrieks from women in the audience. Clearly, this is a man who embraces the spotlight.

The group’s other members were frequently mobile as well. Lead guitarist Bobby Randall, keyboardist Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard and bassist Jim Scholten bounced along in unison with Miller. The flashing colored and strobe lights amplified this feeling of motion.

But the former “Star Search” winners weren’t just flash, as they offered plenty of substance as well. Randall, on electric guitar, fiddle and harmonica, and Hubbard on keyboard provided riveting solos, while Scholten and drummer Joe Smyth, a Westbrook native, propelled the Sawyer Brown sound along.

Sawyer Brown rocked the audience of 1,700 with songs from their seven-year career. From their latest album, “The Boys are Back,” came “Puttin’ the Dark Back Into the Night,” “I Did It For Love” and their version of George Jones’ “The Race is On.” Older uptempo blasts included “Betty’s Being Bad,” “Shakin,’ ” “Smokin’ in the Rockies” and “Step That Step.”

Miller’s voice also worked well on occasional ballads, like “Passin’ Train,” “Gettin’ Used to Blue,” and “Heart Don’t Fall Now.”

Miller frequently bantered with the crowd, updating them on the Celtics’ game and chiding a woman in the fourth row for using binoculars. About three-quarters of the way through the set, Miller invited people to come down near the stage, and it was soon surrounded. Both Sawyer Brown and opening act Wild Rose stayed afterward to sign autographs, a refreshing change in popular music today.

Wild Rose, the five-member, all-woman opening act, was underappreciated by the crowd. Their music was more traditional country than Sawyer Brown, but the strength of their musical abilities stood out. Although they’re one of the few all-women groups in country music, they’re no novelty act.

Group founder Wanda Vick played electric and acoustic guitar, fiddle, pedal steel guitar and dobro in a display of virtuoso musicianship. Co-lead singers Pam Perry and Pamela Gadd shared the vocal duties while alternating among three instruments each. Drummer Nancy Given Prout and bassist Kathy Mac contributed strong, tight harmony vocals.

Highlights of Wild Rose’s 45-minute set included “Breaking New Ground” and “Go Down Swingin’ ” along with a six-song medley of Patsy Cline songs.

A fairly new group, Wild Rose lacks a bit in showmanship, but their talent can’t be denied. This band probably won’t be an opening act much longer.