gtone Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 ...and/or his music, but the man does put on a pretty good show. Mrs. G wanted to catch his act and we're just starting to get some half-decent names appearing locally since our town (35K pop.) built a new multiplex, so feel we should support as many acts as we can to keep them coming around (bought Alice Cooper tickets, passed on Honeymoon Suite). Cowboy Junkies opened, and was actually looking forward to checking them out since Margo Timmins was so smoldering hot back in the '80's. They have a series of 4 new albums they recorded in 3 months and are touring in support of their release. As such, they mostly covered their new material from those which sounds more like psychedic folk/acid roots than their older stripped-down blues/country ballad style. Cheap is How I Feel and Sweet Jane were the only songs I recognized from back in the day, but in all fairness, tough to cover much ground in a 40 min opening set. Unfortunately, Cowboy Junkies lacked a lot of stage presence and Margo came off seeming very shy and timid as a front-person. Her voice was solid throughout and has held up nicely over the years, however. Mellancamp came on with a flourish and kept the energy and pace on for his complete set, which lasted a good hour and three-quarters. While I never owned a Mellancamp album in my life (wife sure did - found plenty of his cassettes in her Camaro when we were dating in the '80's!), I gotta give it to him - he's a polished showman and has a great live presence that rare few acts have. His voice has held up well and his backup band was pretty tight (mostly Fender backline on guitars). The young female violinist and male on accordian/keys really added a lot to the performance. It goes without saying that the energy level's typically pretty high whenever you catch an act with so much popular/recognizable material, so that definitely helped his cause also. Have to admit, I had a pretty damn good time. Didn't expect a lot and was pleasantly surprised. Now, if only the Cowboy Junkies had played more of the Trinity Sessions material...hmm....
pirateflynn Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 He's one of those guys who has had a lot of radio play, but you don't really notice it 'until' you've seen him live. I spent a few days with him in Key West filming a video with Samuel Bayer. He's a real down-to-earth cool guy.
tbonesullivan Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 Eh. I've seen him live, and I just don't like the "entertainment" style show be puts on. I mean he had one girl on bongos that I am sure I couldn't even hear, and I think she was just there to dance with him on "Wild Night". Everyone has body packs on, never tunes anything. Makes me wonder if they are actually playing anyting up there, or just dancing around.I saw him with John Fogerty at the PNC, and IMHO Fogerty, who went on first, blew Mellencamp right out of the water with his level of musicmanship and songwriting.
Disturber Posted June 25, 2012 Posted June 25, 2012 I have been a big Mellencamp fan since the 80's. First time I saw him was the Lonesome Jubilee tour. I wonder if Mike Wanchic played Hamers then, can't remember.He had Kenny Aronoff whos such a monster drummer. And Lisa Germano on violin.I've hard so much about Springsteen shows where Bruce tears the roof down sending the audience home exstatic. Well every Mellencamp gig I've seen has been like that +1.Just a great artist and songwriter who know how to pic great musicians to back him up.
gtone Posted June 26, 2012 Author Posted June 26, 2012 Coupla pics (I didn't take 'em, so don't dump on me fellas):
cmatthes Posted June 26, 2012 Posted June 26, 2012 His wife was the roommate of a girl we worked with here at the beach back in the 80s. They were both models, but Elena got signed to VS the next year. She wasn't the hottest of the girls in that house either..
RobB Posted June 26, 2012 Posted June 26, 2012 Little known JC trivia: Mick Ronson produced and played on "Jack and Diane", uncredited. That acoustic riff is so slick...I also dig the guitar work on "I Need a Lover..." Melodic, in the pocket and Schenker all the way!
Frank Posted June 26, 2012 Posted June 26, 2012 I'm in the "just don't get it" camp. If JCM played a show in my front yard - I wouldn't even open the curtains.
pirateflynn Posted June 26, 2012 Posted June 26, 2012 I'm in the "just don't get it" camp. If JCM played a show in my front yard - I wouldn't even open the curtains. sprinklers?
singlehum Posted June 26, 2012 Posted June 26, 2012 His guitar player Andy York is impressive. First heard of him when he did a brief stint in the last 80s with one of my favorite bands *ever*, Jason and the Scorchers.
gtone Posted June 27, 2012 Author Posted June 27, 2012 Like many concerts, there was a fair share of diehard fans who'd come from a long distances. We had a whole slug of US-based storm chasers in attendance for this one though, which was a little unusual (never heard of them in these parts in the past 25 yrs I've lived here). Apparently, they'd been chasing tornado producing systems all the way up from OK into Canada. We've been on tornado watch/warnings for the past two days, the nearest one touched down about 5 miles SE of here an hour ago apparently.
BubbaVO Posted June 27, 2012 Posted June 27, 2012 I saw him back in the 80s at University of Illinois' Assembly Hall. Rocked the house.
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