B-52’s rock Riverbend

The B-52’s, the band that made hits with menu names such as rock lobster and quiche Lorraine, pumped it up in their headline Riverbend act Thursday.

With a beat that can’t be ignored by music lovers of any genre, the B-52’s had the crowd tapping and rocking from minute one. The band’s hits include “Rock Lobster,” “Planet Claire,” “Roam,” “Love Shack” and “Private Idaho.”

“I had their first album on 8-track, if that tells you anything,” said Mark Lindner, 47, of Cleveland. “I just like all that Athens music. There were a lot of good bands that came out of there.”

And for a first appearance in Chattanooga for the fun college band that got its start in 1976 in Athens, Ga., there seemed to be an uncharacteristically high number of University of Georgia shirts, chairs and umbrellas in the standing-room crowd gathered to hear the band lead off its set with “Pump.”

Sitting with his family in the shade of a University of Georgia umbrella to ensure a good seat before the concert began, Tom Hull said it was just coincidence in his case.

“But I’ve been a fan for years,” he said. His wife and daughter nodded.

Fred Schneider’s eccentric lyrics and vocals, along with the sweetheart voices of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson and guitarist Keith Strickland’s pointy rock licks captivated listeners of all ages.

Dale Brown, a self-described “halfback” who moved four years ago to Whitwell, Tenn., from Florida, brought three of his grandchildren to the show.

Eleven-year-old Ciara McLaren, of Florida, fanned herself with a purple fan that matched her sundress.

“If I’m in the mood for that kind of thing, they’re pretty good,” she said of the band.

When the band was announced as a Riverbend headliner in March, Festival Talent and Production Coordinator Joe “Dixie” Fuller said the contract was one of the more involved he’d had to deal with, including the provision of a hairdresser and all-organic catering.

On Thursday evening, Chattanooga stylist Daniel DeVries of Studio La Vie in Riverview said Ms. Wilson, the blonde, knew exactly how she wanted him to do her hair, and as she flipped through a Chattanooga real estate booklet he worked.

“She said she wanted it to be silky and straight,” Mr. DeVries said. “She said when she danced, she wanted it to sling around.”