Restless Heart knows how to move audience

Early in Friday night’s concert, vocalist Larry Stewart of Restless Heart chided the near-capacity audience at the Maine Center for the Arts for being too quiet.

“I know you can get comfortable in those soft chairs, with no aisle,” Stewart said. “But we want you to sing, clap, stomp your feet and move as much as you can.”

Stewart didn’t have to tell them twice, as Hutchins Concert Hall rocked more than it has in a long while. Restless Heart comes from country’s rock side, and the band kept the audience clapping, singing, stomping and whistling throughout its 75-minute set.

After Stewart’s encouraging words, the group got the audience revved up with an up-tempo medley which included “That Rock Won’t Roll,” “Why Does It Have to Be Wrong” and “Let the Heartache Ride Tonight.”

Then, Restless Heart slowed things down with a block of ballads. While the group’s other members rested offstage, Stewart, accompanying himself on piano, churned out heartwrenching ballads, capped off by the hit “Long Lost Friend.”

Ironically, the evening’s showcase was “Hummingbird,” made popular by Ricky Skaggs. On Restless Heart’s harder-edged version, Greg Jennings on guitar and David Innis on keyboards had dueling solos, then drummer John Dittrich took center stage with an energetic, several-minute solo.

The quartet topped off its regular set with the hit “Dancy’s Dream,” then was coaxed back for the rocking encore of “We Own This Town” and “Two More Bottles of Wine,” before leaving to a standing ovation.

Although Restless Heart isn’t everybody’s idea of country, they sure know how to keep an audience moving.