“The John Mellencamp Show” Hit Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland on March 14, 2019
Heartland rocker John Mellencamp brought his 2019 tour to Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland in downtown Kansas City, MO on March 14, 2019 in support of his new album “Other People’s Stuff.” Entitled “The John Mellencamp Show,” the solo outing kicked off with a 20-minute docu-film highlighting his dedication to his art and featured a load of classic hits plus selections of those covers and newer tracks.
There perhaps will never be another artist quite as quintessential to small town Kansans and Missourians or Midwesterners all together as John Mellencamp. His discography truly serves as the soundtrack of our everyday lives. Those sounds conceived in the ’80s still have the innate ability to back our daily activities to the core with utter perfection. And his live performances of those staple tunes were certainly no exception. From his acoustic rendition of “Jack & Diane” to his venerated variations on “Small Town” and “Lonely Ol’ Night,” the evening resonated with the feel-good vibrations that make us proud to be from the Heartland.
Joining Mellencamp on stage was his always masterfully casted backing band featuring Mike Wanchic (guitar), Andy York (guitar), John Gunnell (bass guitar), Miriam Strum (violin), Troye Kinnett (piano/accordion) and Dane Clark (drums). Exquisitely matching his ever-endearing voice, the crew wielded its way taking us on a thrilling journey down an ingeniously-crafted set. A few of the hits were spritzed throughout before the end when a whole slew of them came crumblin’ down. Succeeding a little recollection of yesteryear, Mellencamp closed out the night with the one he felt perfectly fit the special occasion.
Setlist for John Mellencamp at The Midland on March 14, 2019:
“Lawless Times,” “Troubled Land,” “Minutes to Memories,” “Small Town,” “Long Gone (From the Bowlin’ Green)” (Louis Armstrong), “Stones in My Passway” (Robert Johnson), “We Are the People,” “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Check It Out,” “Longest Days,” “Jack & Diane,” “The Full Catastrophe,” “Overture,” “Rain on the Scarecrow,” “Paper in Fire,” “Crumblin’ Down,” “Authority Song”/”Land of 1000 Dances,” “Pink Houses,” “Cherry Bomb” and “Long Gone (From the Bowlin’ Green)” (Louis Armstrong – reprise)
