![]() ![]() In preparation for the show and this review, I spent the last week revisiting Mellencamp’s extensive and prolific catalog. “I was 26, and I spent the better part of an afternoon writing that second verse. ![]() He rounded out this interlude of acoustic songs with a stripped down sing along of “Jack & Diane,” but had to stop when the crowd skipped the second verse and went headlong into the chorus. Rather, he encouraged us to focus on the important things and people in our lives, because as the lyric states: “life is short, even in its longest days” - a song he performed masterfully. “Don’t give a fuck about the stuff that’s not fuck worthy,” he said. Using his platform on stage, Mellencamp urged this audience to not sweat the small stuff. He shared another story, this one about when he was 35, lying in bed with his then 93-year-old grandmother, who admonished him for his frequent cursing. To date, the organization has raised more than $70 million “to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture.” Over the years, he has been a generous supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, Fulfillment Fund (helping disadvantaged students graduate from high school, attend college and transition into the working world), Population Services International (a global health organization), Project Clean Water and the Special Olympics among others. It’s commonly known that Mellencamp created Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and Neil Young in 1985. Whether or not the story is 100% fact, it nicely set up “The Eyes of Portland,” a seething and plaintive narrative about the problem of homelessness in America.įor many years now, Mellencamp has been an outspoken activist calling attention to the plights of the outcasts and the downtrodden, and even more importantly has worked to correct the issues and put his money where his mouth is. She said she wanted to go home, but was unwanted there and had nowhere to go. He approached her and asked if he could help. ![]() He spoke of sitting at a table near the window where he noticed a young woman manically pacing back and forth outside. It was seven songs into the show before Mellencamp dismissed the band and performed what would be the one and only song from his recently released - as in 10 days old - “Orpheus Descending.” As the band exited, Mellencamp began the “storytellers” portion of the show, recalling an incident he experienced at a restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Mellencamp eased them into what would be a career-spanning, two-hour set with a deep track - ”John Cockers” off 2008’s “Life, Death, Love and Freedom.” After that, the hits followed one after another: “Paper and Fire,” “Minutes to Memories,” “Smalltown,” “Human Wheels,” “Jackie Brown” and “Check it Out.” When he did - with red lights and wailing siren -the purgatory of the last 30 minutes was quickly forgotten, and the crowd sprang (as much as an older crowd can spring) to their feet. Impatience permeated through the theater as guests called for the main attraction to come to the stage. Instead of an opening act, concert goers were subjected to the movie clips. That was after they had to sit through a 30-minute collage of vintage movie clips from old black-and-whites like “Fugitive Kind,” “The Misfits,” “Grapes of Wrath” and “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Turns out Mellencamp’s Live and In Person Tour, which wrapped up with the June 26 and 27 make-up dates in Milwaukee, has been sponsored by Turner Classic Movies. It’s been said good things come to those who wait, and good things came to the Riverside audience Monday night. Mellencamp was originally scheduled to perform at the venue in April, but an illness within the touring group forced the postponement to the end of the tour. ![]() Monday’s first of two shows at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee was a near sell out. So here’s what I’ll say: he keeps coming back for more, and he just keeps delivering. He’s been both praised and condemned a thousand times over. The guy has been making music and touring for nearly 50 years. What can I say about John Mellencamp that hasn’t been said before. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |