No Better Than This- An Evening With John Mellencamp

I first saw John Mellencamp in 2002. He was doing the same show he had been doing for nearly 30 years. It was in your face rock and roll with a purpose. It started loud and ended loud; it was exactly what people wanted. But nowadays John is singing a different tune; a tune so different that some casual Mellencamp fans may assume that John has finally lost his mind, but it’s on the contraire, he’s finally found it.

I bought these tickets with the original purpose as a night out for Audrey and I, but as fate would have it, Audrey, still a student, has a hell week of exams, reports, and papers ahead of her. Thus, I was the holder of an extra ticket. So I called upon the faithful to join me. We’re a musical family so my mother took up the open invitation to go see the concert at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA.
For this tour, John is billing the evening as three-part show. Part one is him with a rockabilly band; part two is him solo; and part three is electric rock and roll. While it strayed slightly from that rundown, the three parts were still quite distinct.

Instead of an opening act, John has decided to show a movie documenting the making of his latest album, “No Better Than This.” The movie was interesting and I enjoyed the commentary, but I honestly just wanted to see John on stage.

The show opened up plainly with curtains revealing a five piece band with John center stage. “Authority Song” was very rockabilly but had enough of the original in it to get the crowd into the show. A stand-up bass and percussion kit was used instead of the bass guitar and drum set for the first two parts of the concert; they sounded great. In fact, the sound was phenomenal. The Fox is one of the most beautiful theatres I have ever seen and the sound matched the visual aspect.
The stage was set up very simply. There was a country scene back drop that looked like and antique piece of art. That was the only set. The stage was bare. It fit the music of the night.

Opening- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxykDgTDTgM&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

All during the first part of the show, John was conjuring up the lost souls of rock and roll’s royalty. The rockabilly sound resembled Elvis Presley, the fret to body guitar playing was pure Johnny Cash, and the attitude was straight up Jerry Lee Lewis. It was clear what John drew on while making this latest album; he wore his influences on his sleeve all night. “Check It Out” concluded part one of the show and then John took the stage by himself.

Check It Out- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBG71RJm_ik&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

The new song, “Save Some Time To Dream” opened up part two. This is my favorite song off the new album. It, along with “Longest Days,” just seem to be so rich lyrically. Not that John’s lyrics have ever lacked meaningfulness, but these just seem to really hit home. The writing on this new album reminds me of Bob Dylan, which makes sense considering John was touring with Dylan while making the record.

Fans responded well to the new stuff but the a capella version of “Cherry Bomb” was the real crowd pleaser of part two. The band rejoined John for a couple of songs during part two but it still felt like it was just us and John.

“Jackie Brown” was haunting. That’s the only way to describe it. John, of course, was vocal all night about his political opinions and he was uncensored every time he spoke, but that is to be expected at a John Mellencamp show, whether it’s 1991 or 2011.

John claimed “Easter Eve” is about women’s liberation, but I tend to think there is a little more significance to it than that. While a woman is freed from her cruel husband at the end of the song, the beginning with the father and son’s deep discussion and the fact that it happens the night before Easter most likely has some meaning. But, I haven’t done my homework and don’t quite know what all the connections are. But there has to be some, right?

“Jack and Diane” dropped by for a visit next. They sure have grown up from the American Fools we all knew them to be in to mature, society contributing adults. And the music showed that. It wasn’t the impactful, forceful “Jack and Diane” that we all met in the 80’s (or 90’s if you’re my age), but rather a middle-aged (or older) “Jack and Diane” who instead of trying to force you to hear their message are just letting it out and giving you the choice whether or not to embrace it. The music was country reggae instead of rock, and instead of wailing drums and claps we welcomed folk fiddle and stand-up bass runs. Long gone is the music you can fist pump to and now we welcome the smooth dancing that reminds you that life is actually worth living.

“Small Town” concluded part two as John sang solemnly, alone on stage with just his guitar. He recently just got divorced for the third time and commented during the song that he wasn’t sure “if it’s the small town or it’s me.” It’s you John, it’s you. John seems to be one of those people who writes one thing but then just can’t seem to live up to what he sings. He’s not the only one though, most rockers are the same way. But I’m not here to judge John as a person, I’m just here for the music.

A musical duet of “Minutes to Memories” transitioned us into part three as a high energy “Rain on the Scarecrow” kicked off a chronological voyage from the summer of 1985 (“Scarecrow” release) to the economical no-man’s land of 2010 (“No Better Than This” release). “Paper in Fire” started slow as a smolder of ashes and exploded into a nuclear blast. “The Real Life” echoed the trials of most middle-aged Americans. “ What If I Came Knockin’” and “If I Die Sudden” (the song that is still stuck in my head mind you) tore the roof off the joint in a praise of high powered rock and roll with a gospel like purpose that gave way to the content in “No Better Than This,” the title track of the new album.

The Real Life- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsI_apMMmDY&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

John closed the show with a new version of “Pink Houses” that had some new guitar and drum parts and the classic, untouched “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” John pulled a girl on stage to dance with him during the finale and even let her sing the bridge. She was awful but she will never forget her experience that night. With one loud Crash Boom Bam, that was it. The band waved goodbye, John hung around for a few more minutes to soak up what Atlanta had left, and then ran off the stage. And that was it. No lights down and wait for the planned encore, no fireworks or pyrotechnic display, just the songs and the end. The show was over, but the effects are still lasting. Suddenly we all seem to be thinking about things just a little bit more. I think that’s exactly what John wanted.

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc27kDOoLVs&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL


John Mellencamp LIVE in Atlanta, GA at The Fox Theatre on 2/27/11
Setlist-
1. Authority Song
2. No One Cares About Me
3. Death Letter
4. John Cockers
5. Walk Tall
6. The West End
7. Check It Out
8. Save Some Time To Dream
9. Cherry Bomb
10. Don’t Need This Body
11. Right Behind Me
12. Jackie Brown
13. Longest Days
14. Easter Eve
15. Jack and Diane
16. Small Town
17. Minutes to Memories (Acordion/Violin Instrumental Duet)
18. Rain on the Scarecrow
19. Paper in Fire
20. The Real Life
21. What If I Came Knockin’
22. If I Die Sudden
23. No Better Than This
24. Pink Houses
25. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
Rating- 9/10

Notes- John called me a smartass in the middle of the show--- John started in a suit but gradually shed down to more comfortable clothing--- the Mellenheads would notice that his black girl backup singers were missing, they weren’t really needed though--- John’s voice is raspy and rough, but he still was able to hit all the notes with ease--- Mellencamp is 59, we all thought he was younger--- John was sporting some facial hair--- Decent crowd--- John, surprisingly, did NOT smoke on stage--- but he wanted to--- the links inserted are videos I filmed with my iPhone.