chris cameron photo
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 25, 1988
By Steve Newton
Some guys have it and some guys don’t. A great band, that is. Springsteen had one when he played here in 1984. And the latest hero of the American heartland, John Cougar Mellencamp, had one at the sold-out Coliseum last Saturday (March 19). Mellencamp was definitely the star of that show, but without such a killer band he would not have shone nearly as brightly.
The shrieking fiddle intro to “Paper in Fire” kicked the concert off, and the lights went up to show Mellencamp and his eight-piece outfit spread out over a beautiful, multi-level wooden stage. In the middle was a raised platform on which drummer Kenny Aronoff, accordionist John Cascella, fiddle player Lisa Germano, and backup vocalists Pat Peterson and Crystal Taliefero did their thing. Guitarist Larry Crane was up front at stage right, co-guitarist Mike Wanchic and bassist Toby Myers over to his left, and Mellencamp somewhere in the middle.
That’s how the show began, but before long every part of the stage was open territory, and the band members (particularly Crane) shucked and jived to wherever they wanted. While his musicians and backup singers spun around and leap about, Mellencamp played the dancing (American) fool, drawing great cheers for his efforts (especially when he did the splits).
Mellencamp and his band kept the wild pace up for over two hours, taking a break midway through to catch their breath. The band stole the show from Mellencamp on the real rockers like “Authority Song” and “Rain On the Scarecrow”–drummer Aronoff losing drumsticks left and right as he walloped out the latter tune’s beat. Mellencamp was clever enough to fire up his most boring song, “Play Guitar”, with liberal doses of “Gloria” and “Wild Thing”.
At one point he pulled off the Springsteen trick of lifting a young lady up on-stage and twisting with her. But the biggest crowd response came during “Crumbling Down”, when one of his shapely background singers somersaulted across the stage to do a little of the old bump-and-grind with John. The last song of the regular set was “Pink Houses”, a tune that does nothing for yours truly, but went over very well with most of the crowd.
During his encore, Mellencamp took a shot at the exploitation of great rock songs in commercials, particularly Nike’s use of “Revolution” to sell shoes. “I don’t know about you guys,” he shouted, “but music to me has always been more than a TV commercial.” Then he headed into Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone”, which showcased the incredibly powerful lead vocals of Pat Peterson. The lights came on as the band ended off with the nostalgic toe-tapper, “Cherry Bomb”.
To hear the full audio of my interviews with John Mellencamp and Kenny Aronoff subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can also eavesdrop on my one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1996
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Edgar Winter, 2005
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Randy Hansen, 2001
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Doe, 1990
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Doyle Bramhall II, 2001
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Randy Bachman, 2001
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
…with hundreds more to come