Pablo Cruise, Mighty Surf Lords rock Carson City

Soft-rock strains from nearly four decades of Pablo Cruise brought out an overflow crowd for Carson City's latest "Concert Under the Stars" Wednesday night.

Founding members David Jenkins, Cory Lerios and Steve Price were joined by Larry Antonio, who became a member two years ago, to reprise their brand of cruisin' music that began in 1973.

The fundraiser for the Greenhouse Garden Center was sold out, attracting 600 plus at $40, $60 and $100 per head. Other folks set up lawn chairs a block behind Adele's Restaurant to hear the street sounds just outside the gate.

Among those in the paying crowd nearer the restaurant was Betsy Kosier, a Carson City resident of almost four years and a high school friend of Lerios, the Pablo Cruise keyboard player.

"In high school, he became a friend," she said. "He used to play the piano in our home. He was very talented at improvisation."

She said that Lerios not long ago had dinner with her twin brother, Geary Rea, who still lives in California. She expressed amusement over one of the fund-raiser auction items, which was dinner with the band after the show, noting that the starting bid was set at $300.

Tim Kosier, her husband, said Lerios' career in music and entertainment goes beyond the soft-rock group. For example, he said, Lerios wrote the music used on the television series "Baywatch".

Pablo Cruise started slowly in the mid-'70s but took off in the late '70s and early '80s, particularly with hits like "Whatcha Gonna Do" and "Love Will Find a Way" -- each of which reached No. 6 on charts - and "Cool Love," which hit No. 13.

The band broke up in the mid-'80s and went through personnel changes, but the original members reunited in 2004. Antonino joined the band after original member Bob Cockrell died of complications from diabetes in 2010.

Last November, the current lineup released a first-ever live Pablo Cruise album called "It's Good to be Live".

The Mighty Surf Lords, a Reno band well-known in Carson City and Northern Nevada, opened the concert as the sweltering day began to cool down. The group's set started things off with some harder rock music.

Jaime Kyle, wife of Pablo Cruise guitar player Jenkins, then took the stage, performing solo with guitar and a bright voice that captivated many in the audience.

Among the songs she performed were a couple she wrote that have been picked up by other artists: "Stranded," which was performed by Heart, and "Wild One," recorded by Faith Hill.

The fourth-annual "Concert Under the Stars" was in partly sponsored by Carson-Tahoe Regional Hospital, NV Energy and the Gold Dust West Hotel-Casino.

Officials from Greenhouse Garden Center said that the hospital and energy company each provided $5,000 for the entertainment and that the hotel provided lodging.

Greenhouse Garden Project donates produce for the needy through the Ron Wood Family Center and FISH (Friends in Service Helping) and helps young people with interest in horticulture.