Party Time at Irvine for Great White, Tesla

Great White and Tesla are basically bar bands with a little extra sparkle that they have managed to parlay into arena-status popularity. When the two rock groups co-headlined the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on Saturday night, they brought an intimate, party-down feel with them.

Although Tesla isn’t a particularly flashy band, the Sacramento quintet’s musicianship and songwriting skills are solidly entertaining. There’s an especially appealing quality to some of the group’s bluesier numbers, including “No Way Out,” which separates Tesla from the cliched sounds and images of most arena hard-rock outfits. The band also benefits from lanky Jeff Keith’s sensual moves--reminiscent of Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler--and his slightly ragged vocals, which give character to many of the tunes.

The more experienced Great White followed with an hour-set highlighted by singer Jack Russell’s masculine strutting and blatantly sexual patter. The rest of the L.A.-based quintet kicked back with an easy, agreeable style. While not as distinctive as Tesla, Great White’s best material--especially the older numbers--offers a combination of smoky sensuality and brute force.