Just saw John Mellencamp in concert last night - man was he good

Here's a review of a John Mellencamp show I saw last night - fantastic performance. No matter what you may think of him politically or otherwise, he's a terrific songwriter and excellent performer!

http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101117/NEWS/11170392

 

He's a great performer and one hell of songwriter. I saw him five or six times when I lived in Bloomington during grad school. He and his wife would come into the bar where I worked to have lunch. He signed my Mofi booklets and some albums covers for me one day. Glad you enjoyed the show!

 

I really wanted to go see him on this current tour, as it comes to the Bay Area this spring(?) - but I balked at paying $130 bucks plus fees. I like John Mellencamp, but not for that price.

 

It better be good for $130 a ticket!!

 

Cool was he leaning more acoustic or a full band sound. Sorry havent seen him live in a while/

 

Nice review, James. I really wanted to go last night, but couldn't. Too many other things going on. It sounds like it was a great show. I'm glad he is playing some of the new songs. I really like his latest album. I'm sure he sounded great at the Embassy Theater. What a nice place to see a show.

 

Saw him in the early 80's. He opened for Heart. He did'nt have enough of his own songs yet, so he covered some Stones and Humble Pie numbers. GREAT show. Heart was at the top of their game and REALLY ROCKED that place!

 

" Songs like “Rain on the Scarecrow,” about a man who loses his family farm to foreclosure, and “Minutes to Memories,” where a 77-year-old steelworker from Gary reveals the simple truths of life to a young man riding beside him on a Greyhound bus, gave Mellencamp's music a uniquely Midwestern perspective, with an urgency and passion that made him stand out from many of his contemporaries. "

Both songs masterpieces. Proud to own both the original CD & original vinyl of Scarecrow.

Thanks for sharing, glad you had fun.

 

The original Scarecrow vinyl is an awesome sounding pressing!

 

Esp. when you find one in the bins for $.49 in near-mint condition !?!?!? May be the greatest " git " I'll ever get !

 

I saw him and John Fogerty together when they toured. It was a great show. I passed on this one. The night wasn't good in my area nor the ticket prices.

 

wow, nice, psyched I bought tix for this show, sounds better than i'd of expected it to be at this point...

was a bit pricey but its a nice room, radio city, not an arena, thats worth more dough for me and i scored 20th row center, the closest i've ever been to him, so worth it for a nice night out for us...

 

Cool was he leaning more acoustic or a full band sound. Sorry havent seen him live in a while

He was leaning more acoustic - at least he was at the show I saw last night. Only the last third of the concert was full-on rock.

My favorite parts of the show were the acoustic numbers Mellencamp did by himself on guitar - great! I really loved the version of "Cherry Bomb" he did that way. I have always loved his acoustic demos and wish there was a complete collection of his demos on CD.

 

I didn't become a true fan until i saw him live for the first time on the ''Lonesome Jubilee'' tour back in 87, i've seen him ''and his great band/bands'' more than a dozen times since, and never been disappointed.

His 2002 performance at what is now Comcast Center in Mansfield, Ma two days after 9/11, where he opened with a cover of The Stones ''Gimme Shelter'' was truly inspiring, maybe the best single concert i've ever attended.

 

Very nice review. Thanks for posting.

 

One of the few performers I have never seen live. Maybe this time in the bay area.

 

his MFSL's of "scarecrow" and "big daddy" sound wonderful.

 

Add John to my list of people i haven't seen as well. Since i live in the bottom of the world (louisiana), no one comes here anymore. If he would come to Texas, then i might have a chance to see him. I Don't recall him coming in my near vicinity since the Lonesome Jubilee tour.

chad

 

He's got three shows in Texas coming up.

Grand Prairie - April 1st
Austin - April 2nd
Houston - April 3rd

 

No MFSL CD of "Big Daddy" - just "Scarecrow" and "Lonesome Jubilee"...

 

Bold statement.

 

i want to see him but its so pricey...bummer...

 

I saw him at Farm Aid this year. Oddly, I wasn't too excited about the fact that he was playing going into it, but it turned out to be one of the highlights of the day!

 

i saw this after i got off these forums. i'm thinking of going to the houston show, but am going seeing sammy hagar in late april and night ranger on may 6th. i'll see if i can afford it.

chad

 

I believe the Austin show is an ''Austin City Limits'' taping.