A diverse and rowdy crowd welcomed Hoosier rock legend John Mellencamp to a nearly full Verizon Wireless Music Center on Friday.
A roaring applause exploded from an eager crowd as blue lights illuminated the center stage about 15 minutes after the show's expected start time, 9:15.
Mellencamp commanded everyone's attention when he ran onto stage. "Love and Happiness" was his first number, and he prompted the crowd's full participation with "Peaceful World," a hit from "Cuttin' Heads," his latest of 17 albums.
The audience responded as though the song was written especially for the Indiana event, as the crowd reciprocated Mellencamp's lyrics with heartfelt gusto, "Come on baby take a ride with me; I'm up from Indiana down to Tennessee; Everything is cool as can be in a peaceful world."
Mellencamp peeled off his black, red-glittered jacket after the third song, an old favorite, "Jack and Diane," revealing his characteristic garb, a white T-shirt with blue jeans.
Though he didn't pick up his guitar until the fourth tune, "I Saw You First," the concert's string instrumentals were alive from the very first note, thanks to the band's scrawny-but-lively violinist, Miriam Sturm.
The three back-up vocalists also added vigor and a young twist to legendary songs.
Mellencamp remained verbally impersonal with the audience between songs, but the crowd was nonetheless mesmerized by his charismatic interaction with band members throughout the show.
A flickering, orange projection light appeared behind Mellencamp and the group just before "Paper In Fire," an obvious favorite among all the 30-,40- and 50-somethings, boosted the crowd's energy to the level.
Mellencamp tucked the hand-held microphone into the front of his jeans, sparking oohs and aahs from mothers and daughters alike. He proceeded to clap, stomp, wiggle and dance to the sounds of the audience shouting the well-known verses.
"Lonely Ol' Night" and "Crumblin' Down" became a raucous sing-a-long when Mellencamp yelled, "Help me now!"
One unexpected twist came, though, when "Small Town" was sung almost like a melodious lullaby, as raised cigarette lighters and even lit cigarettes waved in perfect synchronization. Another applause followed when the Seymour, Ind. native slid a harmonica from his pants pocket, wet his lips and breathed his soul into the song.
An American flag graphic radiated from behind the set, illustrating Mellencamp's loyal heartland roots.
Some of Mellencamp's 2002 Summer Work Tour memorabilia bear the words "You can not simultaneously prevent and prepare for war," which further exemplifies his passionate patriotism.
Mellencamp announced that he'd next play his favorite song by Woody Guthrie, "This Train" but finished the song by fading into "This Land is Your Land."
"When I wrote this song 12 years ago, I had no idea what we'd get into with pop music." Mellencamp said about "Pop Singer," chuckling all the while.
He rolled up shirt sleeves, revealing a tattoo on his right deltoid, and wrapped up the 20-song show with more oldies, including "Pink Houses," "What If I Came Knocking," "R.O.C.K. in the USA," "Dance Naked" and "Hurt So Good."
The crowd didn't fully expect an encore, people stirred anxiously, hoping Mellencamp would treat them with the radio chart-topper, "Wild Night."
But instead, he bowed a few times and waved, thanking the crowd for coming out to watch the concert.
"I had fun with you all," Mellencamp said in closing, "Goodnight."
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