POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Extreme Has Vegas Touch

While the Boston-based Extreme is, bottom-line, a rock band, there was a little touch of Vegas about the quartet’s Universal Amphitheatre show Friday, thanks to a horn section, corny interactions among the players and the theatrical demeanor of singer Gary Cherone.

The nearly two-hour extravaganza featured material from Extreme’s three albums, running the gamut from the tight, fun funk of “Get the Funk Out” to the catchy, musically multifaceted “Rest in Peace.” The three-ring circus of a show allowed newly minted guitar hero Nuno Bettencourt to shine. Solo spots showcased his dexterity, and he moved from Middle Eastern-tinged material to fast-fingered soloing and tapping, to the gentle acoustics of the group’s guitar-and-vocals hit “More Than Words” with ease.

He’s a fine foil to Cherone, whose tightly wound energy and fancy footwork often make him reminiscent of a cross between Freddie Mercury and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. Unlike hometown mates Aerosmith, however, Extreme is rarely raw or raunchy. With powerful harmony and backing vocals and stellar musicianship, the group’s carefully choreographed performance, while impressive, had the slick feel of a Broadway musical.