San Jose Mercury News Concert Review
Review: Mellencamp's classic tunes connect with audience
BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
Lucinda Williams opens up for John Mellencamp at the Greek Theater on Saturday,
Aug. 2, 2008, in...«12345»John Mellencamp's classic version of the American
Dream, where two young lovers can share a "chili dog behind the Tastee Freeze"
and no problem is so big that it can't be handled with the right truck, looks
pretty appealing in 2008.
Indeed, it looks a heck of a lot more appealing than the American reality, where
a gallon of gas costs almost $5, the economic outlook seems bleak and political
unrest is all around. Perhaps that's why Mellencamp's older songs connected so
solidly with the crowd during the singer's show on Saturday night at the UC
Greek Theatre in Berkeley.
Many of Mellencamp's best-loved tunes, such as "Pink Houses," "Small Town" and
"Jack and Diane," evoke warm, Heartland-heavy images of what was perceived to be
a simpler time. Whether it was actually less complicated, or that's just
nostalgia doing the talking, is another question entirely.
What was not to be questioned was the effect these nostalgic pieces had on the
audience. These tunes had fans singing along, pumping their fists in the air
and, in general, taking four-minute breaks from reality. What more can you ask
for from a pop-rock star?
To be fair, the 56-year-old Indiana native is a more complicated character than
some of his hits might suggest and his massive songbook cannot be pegged to one
particular theme or vision. Those who have failed to really listen to his lyrics
often pigeonhole the crooner formerly called Cougar as a flag-draped
cheerleader.
The fact is, however, Mellencamp has a long history of addressing in song the
things that he believes must change in this country.
He performed a number of those protest songs in Berkeley and he even used the
stage as pulpit to preach about some issues. Surprisingly, those things hardly
put a damper on the festivities. To the contrary, delivered in tandem with the
more uplifting numbers, these political messages seemed to cast Mellencamp as a
hopeful, yet realistic patriot, one who believes in his neighbors and who is
willing to fight for change.
Following an opening set by singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams, whose
performance was highlighted by fiery versions of "Joy," "Righteously" and the
AC/DC cover "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll),"
Mellencamp took the stage and throttled through a double-shot of the hits "Pink
Houses" and "Paper in Fire."
Mellencamp, dressed in a black top, blue jeans and boots, was on top of his game
from the start, both as a vocalist and as an entertainer. He quickly wiped away
lukewarm memories of his last Bay Area performance, a modestly appealing
co-headlining date with John Fogerty back in 2005 at the Shoreline Amphitheater
in Mountain View, as he led his six-piece band through a superbly paced and
passionate night of Americana rock.
What accounted for the change? Well, as a cynic would point out, there were no
camera crews at Shoreline, and there was one in Berkeley, there to capture the
performance for an upcoming segment on "60 Minutes." Yet, there were other
factors to consider, such as his induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
earlier this year and the recent release of his 23rd album, the T Bone
Burnett-produced "Life, Death, Love and Freedom."
Whether he was singing a new protest tune like "Jena" or an upbeat oldie such as
"The Authority Song," Mellencamp always came across like a man who's very
comfortable living in his own skin. All things considered, that might be the
true meaning of living the American Dream.
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