Review of Lewis Clark College concert- Lewiston Morning Tribune

Aussie Women Make Music

By Cassandra Tate Tribune Staff Writer

Olivia Newton-John, just edging into a 14-cities-in-18-days college stumping tour. showed about 1,000 Lewiston area residents last night how Australian women make music.

The mostly-young crowd at Lewis-Clark College loved it.

Miss Newton-John, a pretty, delicate, 25-year-old, gave them some country rock, pop and a few good, old-fashioned love songs. She opened with her hit Let Me Be There, and wound up with If You Love Me, Let Me Know. which is a current hit.

An enthusiastic, hand-clapping audience sang along with Banks of the Ohio and The River's Too Wide.

It was a polished, professional show brought together by six casually-dressed musicians and back-up singers. There were some sound problems, almost inevitable in a college gymnasium. but the good-natured crowd went along with them.

An adequate warm-up singer, Jack Williams of Minneapolis, got the concert-seated crowd ready.

Miss Newton-John has been crooning since the tender age of 5. Her current tour is her first in the United States, and the Lewiston stop was only her third concert in this country.

The troupe including six musicians, a manager and an agent got together in Rochester, Minn. They hit Brookings. S. D., four days ago traveled 1,200 miles to Lewiston and will play Little Rock Ark.. 1,450 miles away, Monday night.

The company rode in a chartered Greyhound bus from Spokane yesterday afternoon, played the concert, and headed out immediately afterward to return to Spokane and make plane connections to end up in Arkansas.

The Lewiston Morning Tribune asked Miss Newton-John's manager where Brookings is.

Why, I've no idea, he said. A map was secured and the question settled.

Miss Newton-John was asked what had impressed her about Idaho. I thought the farmland around the airport was very nice. she said.

But that was in Washington.

Oh, it is? Why, I've been in Washington, she said. Are we near the White House?

The group had been on a plane 10 and a half hours before taking the bus ride to Lewiston. So why does anyone want that kind of punishment?

I love it, Miss Newton-John said. Audiences here are very receptive. It may be because I'm a novelty. People are used to me in England.

Miss Newton-John, who was raised in Australia, has been recording and performing in England for several years.

These college audiences, concert audiences, are so they've paid money especially much nicer than night club audiences, she said. Here they've paid money especially to see you. In night clubs, they're just there.

Lewis-Clark State College's associated student body paid just $3,500 to the performers. The concert's cost to the college also included $500 for advertising and another $500 For sound equipment. Student body spokesman Kyle Woods said they would probably break even.

Why did the tour include a stop at Lewiston? Well, the date was open, her agent said, and the kids really wanted it.

They got their money's worth.