MANILA, Philippines ? We were curious to see the band Ambrosia, but ended up marveling at how one other group in the show, America, has kept its music vital and refreshing.

Friday night at the Araneta Coliseum, the three artists in the lineup were all 1970s acts?way past their prime but still active in the concert scene to see that their old fans have a good time, and maybe gain new followers.

In the United States where all three bands come from, there are kids named Ambrosia because, as bassist/vocalist Joe Puerta told the Big Dome crowd, they were conceived while their parents were listening to the group?s first big hit, the emotional ?How Much I Feel.?

Problem here

In hindsight, Ambrosia is all about baby-making music. Its other hits, ?You?re the Only Woman? (which opened its set) and ?Biggest Part of Me,? reminded us how much romantic lyrics, pop hooks and catchy vocals meant to star-crossed lovers and other anxious youth glued to the radio some 30 years ago.

The only problem was the way Ambrosia played that night. Though we came prepared to enjoy the show, something was missing.

Things didn?t get better even when John Ford Coley entered during Ambrosia?s set. It was apparent that many in the audience appreciated hearing ?I?d Really Love To See You Tonight,? ?Sad To Belong? and ?Tell Me You Love Me,? but Coley looked lost.

That Ambrosia served as Coley?s backing band only made it so glaring: Coley without England Dan was like John Oates minus Daryl Hall.

Fortunately, there was America. People who regarded the group as too middle of the road were set right on the very first number, a perky, rocking tune called ?Riverside.?

Halfway through America?s set, after ?Tin Man,? Gerry Beckley?the bespectacled one?repeated something he said at the group?s gig last year also at the Big Dome: America?s songs are classics, not oldies. Or, to be specific, classic rock. ?There?s a difference,? Beckley pointed out. ?We don?t know what it is, but there?s a difference...?

Apparently ?it? was a youthful energy and an element of surprise that Beckley and America?s other half, Dewey Bunnell, have kept close to their hearts. Beckley, 56, was still springy with legs that stomped with zest to emphasize beats and tempos. Bunnell, 58, had not lost his warm, folk-singer voice which gave identity to ?Ventura Highway,? ?Tin Man,? ?Lonely People? and ?Horse With No Name,? among others.

Tripping

The songs? contents, aside from the wonderful arrangements, made America worth watching again. They celebrated nature, enhanced the sense of freedom and adventure that the open road offered?with quirky lyrics completing the package.

For instance, hearing the infectious opening riffs in ?Ventura Highway,? following the lyrics and smiling at the part that mentions ?alligator lizards in the air,? we couldn?t help ?tripping? along to the song.

As for the element of surprise, Beckley sure had it when he did ?All My Life? for an encore, not on keyboards but on solo acoustic guitar.

The rest of the current band members had a lot to do with America?s tight and solid sound. Turned out, drummer Willie Leacox has been with the group for 37 years; lead guitarist Michael Woods for 31 years; and bassist Rich Campbell for 7 years. They were darn good in a scorching version of ?Sandman.?

Should they come back next year to present something new yet again, ?for old times? sake? would truly sound out of place.