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John Mellencamp in Concert
John Mellencamp has been bringing his brand of American heartland rock to fans since the late '70s, when his raw, rootsy sound set him apart from the arena rockers in vogue at the time. The Midwestern twang that adds to his signature vocal style also informs his songs, as he details the ups and downs of the everyday working folks he grew up among. The rough-and-ready roots-rock sound he perfected on milestone '80s albums like ‘American Fool’ and ‘Scarecrow’ has remained a crucial touchstone for Mellencamp's concerts, regardless of where he falls in the roots–rock spectrum at any given phase. And when he delivers classics like "Jack & Diane," "Pink Houses," "Small Town," or "Hurts So Good," he digs deep for a gritty, from-the-gut delivery that connects with his audiences in an immediate, visceral way. From his 2017 Sad Clowns and Hillbillies tour with guests Emmylou Harris and Carlene Carter to his 2018 Other People's Stuff tour, Mellencamp's latter-day outings have shown that the veteran road dog only gets tougher and more determined.
John Mellencamp Background
John Mellencamp was born in Indiana in 1951, and worked with a series of bands throughout his teens, but in the mid '70s he managed to hook up with David Bowie manager Tony DeFries, which led to his first record deal, under the name Johnny Cougar. He scored his first hit, the rocking "I Need a Lover," in 1979, but it was his 1982 album ‘American Fool’ that really broke him through to the big time. The massive hits "Jack & Diane" and "Hurts So Good" made him a bona fide rock star. On subsequent '80s albums like ‘Uh-huh’ and ‘Scarecrow,’ Mellencamp (finally working under his own surname) developed the sharp, sociopolitical side of his lyrical sensibilities. On songs like "Pink Houses," "Small Town," and "Scarecrow," he sang of and for the working people who are the heart and soul of America, and Mellencamp became an American icon in the process. But despite his Grammy award, his mega-Platinum record sales, and his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame membership, Mellencamp has never lost sight of the people who put him where he is, and they're still the focus of his music.
The opening with 15 minutes of old film clips was less than exciting, and actually, boring. He did not perform a few of his really big hit songs, instead he did a some newer music that was unfamiliar to the audience. I would not pay to see him again. It was a much different experience from a performance I saw in the 90’s.
John Mellencamp gave a fantastic performance Saturday evening in Columbia, SC!! His band was incredible, which he acknowledges humbly. The stage set was so cool! Mr. Mellencamp’s interaction with the audience and his storytelling speaks to his sincerity and thankfulness. I loved watching the movie clips, and seeing some of the actors who inspired him. Thanks John!! Since I purchased my first album Uh-Huh! in 1983, I have been a huge fan. I consider him to be one of the best song-writers ever. His lyrics are often profound and even prophetic. His championing of the “common man” is heartfelt and continual. I saw him at Farm Aid in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1987. I hope to get to the Outlaw Music Festival event this summer.
I knew we were in for a unique performance when the classic movie clips started to roll. John performed every song I wanted to hear! His tribute to Natalie Wood is so unique and put another spin on his emotional lyrics. The Township Auditorium was the perfect venue to hear Mellencamp & his talented musicians. Thank you for coming to SC!
John was great, he sounded fantastic. the venue is stuffy, seats are cramped, and concessions closed before he even came on stage, so you couldn't even get a water during the show. the bathrooms are downstairs which is inconvenient and causes you to miss more of the show.
Great night….everyone was singing along to his hits.
He still has it but, smoking is taking its toll on his voice. Overall, a great show. Hearing the classics live is always a good time! The energy from the other fans makes it that much better.
Could have done without the old movie clips at the beginning (what was that about?) Other than that, great show. They played most everything I expected to hear, and they played it well. Great musicianship by the entire band.
Music was great, venue moved our seats, could not even see 1/2 the band!
I’m was disappointed as it was not a good concert. Low energy, too much talking and not enough singing
I love the small venue. Feels closer to the artist, a more intimate setting. John Mellencamp always puts on a great show!
John played a few new songs I wasn't familiar with, but he played a ton of the old songs I grew up listening. He was interactive with the audience and told a few stories which were funny and heart warming. Overall it was a good experience seeing him.
John's thoughts and experiences are echoed in his music and he still knows how to put on a great show. He talks to the crowd in such a down-to-earth way, I'm sure it's a big part of why he is still so popular today. His voice and the band sounded great!
Didn't really understand the relativity of the video clips at the beginning of the show, but when Mellencamp began playing, didn't need to spend time thinking about them anymore. John Cougar (Old school) is the rocker he was decades ago. Voice strong, great musician, great singer, wonderful band- was a real treat to see him in person again.
We had great seats, could really see John, he sounded great and did new songs we really liked and of course old favorites we sang along too. Loved the band and the girl on the violin was fantastic! Really wished he had've performed "I need a Lover"but hey, he couldn't sing them all! It was a great time at the Township Auditorium in Columbia, SC!
John performed for at least 90 minutes. He sounded great, was active on the stage and had a wonderful interaction with the audience. Honestly I had a low expectation because of other reviews, his age and reports of him being grumpy but I didn't see it. Would love to see him again.
Great venue. Good concert. A blast from the past. The vulgarity isn't necessary. That was a big turn off for me.
My wife and I truly enjoyed the John Mellencamp Concert at DAR Constitution Hall on the 18th! Seats were nice, great view of the stage and acoustics were pretty good!! We enjoyed the format of his show, made you feel as if it were more of a private show versus larger venues. The only issue I would mention is the seats, while very comfortable they are a bit narrow and I'm not a large person. I'll definitely keep an eye out for other shows here.
Loved his performance! John still sounds awesome and put on a great show, which is not always the case with musicians "of a certain age"lol. The stage setting was very cool and reminded one of an "unplugged"vibe. My only issue was the 25+ minutes of old movie clips at the beginning of the show. I get that a certain mood was being set, but that was way too much. I know that lots of other fans sitting near us felt the same. Please use most of that time to add to the set list! We didn't even get to hear some major hits...
John did a great job of bringing a "play"type of atmosphere. Chattanooga was sold out and the crowd was involved! I came away being glad to have seen one true artist still in his prime...GO John Mellencamp!
He made the venue (DAR Constitution Hall) close all of the bars when the show started and wouldn't let them serve anything during the entire show. Started the concert by playing 15 minutes of black-and-white (1950's) movie clips.
