Steve Miller keeps on rockin’ in the U.S.A.! Miller and his band received two standing ovations from a screaming, waving, wildly elated audience. So if you didn’t see the concert on Sunday night, you missed out! But 6,500 other people rocked big time to the delicious music.

Steve Miller’s “Joker’s Choice Tour 96” celebrates the 20th anniversary of “Fly Like an Eagle,” and this concert really flew. But like any jet airliner, it first had to take off.

The Steve Miller Band began by playing “Living in the USA” with a radical harmonica solo by Norton Buffalo. This man’s harp playing only gets better and better.

Then the band played their newest songs, which will be released later this year as Joker’s Choice. The crowd was not terribly impressed with them; perhaps because it was unfamiliar material.

A lot of these songs were politically oriented — in honor, Miller said, of 1996 being an election year. “This is for the liberty bell,” he said of one song, then he shouted out, “Somebody, somewhere give me a cheeseburger!”

Some of the music during the first half of the concert was deep bluesy and southern comfort rock — a departure from the heavy rock Miller is famous for. For blues fans, this was a true feast.

Bobby Malach played his tremendous sax solos on almost half of the songs. The sax was smooth, rich and deep gold, like honey, to match Norton Buffalo’s harp.

Kenny Lee Lewis’s acoustic guitar solos were tremendous, and Gordy Knudtson’s drums became a deep heartbeat. Billy Peterson’s base and vocals were superb, as was Joseph Wooten’s keyboard.

When Miller introduced each of these band members, the audience, to their shame, did not applaud the band members, so Miller thanked his band himself to make up for it.

Next Miller began introducing his musical toys. First he played guitar, then mandolin, and several other guitars. He bought one of those guitars, he said, just two days earlier. Another guitar had red lights blinking up and down the frets.

“We’re going to go so far back in the alley they don’t even bother to take out the trash,” Miller said as he introduced what he called a “trip through Chicago.” This consisted of a song called “I Live the Life I Love.”

At least that’s what the title appeared to be. Miller doesn’t speak as clearly as he sings, so it was hard to make out the song titles at times, but the music, and Wooten’s super piano solo, more than made up for this.

Miller played T-Bone Walker’s “Mean Old World” (if that’s the true title of the song), with Bobby Malach playing a beautifully smooth sax solo. Then came an extremely mellow version of “God Bless the Child Who’s Got His Own.”

“This time we’re going to take you so far out in the country they don’t even bother to pave the roads,” Miller said as an intro to “Little Red Rooster.” The band had just started to cook when someone turned off the burner. The song came to an abrupt halt.

Next the band played Otis Rush’s “Before Your Lovin,'” with yet more sensual, gorgeous sax. After this came “Who’s Been Talking” which was again too short — and again it was hard to make out Miller’s intro, so the title is just a guess.

“Mercury Blues” was incredible, with Miller playing wild guitar riffs. The crowd began to heat up. By the time the band took a short break, everyone was hyped and hot for the best of Steve Miller.

“Fly Like an Eagle” included a sax solo and Joseph Wooten rapping an ecology promo. The audience was standing, doing the wave, clapping, screaming, shouting, singing and generally having a wonderful time.

“Take care of the earth, and it will take care of you,” Miller said.

Then he brought out an electric sitar, complete with purple simulated alligator skin, and the band played “Wild Mountain Honey.” The sitar brought back memories of the groovy 60s, especially when the distinct odor of hash permeated the air soon after the song started.

“In the Winter Time” was again much much too short, with Norton Buffalo playing super harp solos.

When “Abracadabra” was played, the audience went wild. Cigarette lighters were lit throughout the coliseum. The place looked like a thousand stars answering the wonderful psychadelic light display playing over the stage and flashing over the audience.

Miller played “Wide River” on his baritone guitar, with deep, wonderful sounds.

“Come on and Dance,” “Space Cowboy,” “Keep on Rockin’ Me Baby,” “Jungle Love,” “Take the Money and Run,” had the crowd dancing, singing and clapping along.

When Miller introduced his band members for a second time, the crowd finally showed their appreciation for these wonderful musicians. This time there were hoots, screams, cheers, waves and lighters lit.

The concert ended with “Big Old Jet Airliner.” The crowd was truly sorry to see the band leave the stage. People were dancing their way out of the building, totally hyped.

As the line of cars left the parking lot, they rocked side to side in answer to their pumped up passengers. One van was tipping so wildly that it looked as though it might rock right over.

Only one bad thing could be said about this concert — three hours was not long enough.