LYNYRD SKYNYRD, BAD COMPANY DRAW CROWD

The first two-thirds of Sunday night's Halloween rock concert at the Show Me Center illustrated what might be called the Barney Syndrome: Whether children or adults, people respond to familiar sing-along tunes.

Barney conquers the world and Sesame Street wanes, the remnants of 1970s supergroup Bad Company has the near-sellout audience on its feet while innovative opening act Brother Cane works hard for grudging applause.

As for headliners Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Southern rockers were only three songs into their set at the Southeast Missourian's deadline. The three included the tightly-played 1975 hit "Saturday Night Special," and one mention of deceased former lead singer Ronnie Van Zant.

Another near-supergroup from the 1970s, Lynyrd Skynyrd unfurled a Patton-sized Confederate flag with the opening notes, bringing the crowd to attention.

As for Bad Company, the band now is fronted by Englishman Brian Howe instead of the stellar Paul Rodgers, who sang on all the hits. Howe has decent pipes but seems a bit of a lad, as they say in England -- good looking and probably plenty of fun at the pub. But can he make you care?

The band, which includes original members Mick Ralphs on guitar, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell, has been on the road for more than a year this time out and more than 20 years all told.

They played their can't-miss hits -- "Can't Get Enough," "Feel Like Making' Love" and "Movin' On," among them -- with more than workman-like pride. The problem is, these songs weren't that good to begin with.

Still, they obviously were or are part of the soundtrack of adolescence for many in the mixed-age audience.

It was the youthful Brother Cane, however, that delivered the goods to these ears. The five-piece hard-rock band from Birmingham, Ala., played with passion and features a singer/guitarist, Damon Johnson, who has the charisma and talent of a rock 'n' roll star in the making.

From the walloping openers, "That Don't Satisfy Me" and "Stone's Throw Away," they dropped into a funkier groove for "A Hard Act to Follow," a song that sprang back into a full-blown rocker at the end.

Johnson began "Make Your Play" with some tasty slide work. The band slid into a refreshingly discordant middle section, and then charged home.

There are echoes of Metallica, especially on intricate ballads like "Woman," but Brother Cane has the talent to make a name all its own.