Concert Corner

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.

As the original legends of arena rock, few bands in existence put on a show quite like Journey. Anchored by singer Arnel Pineda’s thrilling vocals and Neal Schon’s unstoppable guitars, the band continues to show fans, both old and new, exactly how it’s done as they tear through marathon sets of classics like “Don’t Stop Believin'” and “Open Arms.”

After a short break from their relentless tour schedule, they’re primed to blow minds again in 2014, pairing up with Steve Miller Band for select dates that are sure to be the stuff of classic rock legend for years to come.

Special Guest Toto

They say fashion is cyclical… and they’re right. Truly amazing things never go out of style, regardless of when they first popped up. Toto’s tune ‘Africa’ is one of these things. First heard in 1982, this masterpiece of popular prog has been a staple of pop culture since release. Taken from their massive second album Toto IV, it combined their other calling card Rosanna to introduce Toto to a massive audience. That record would go on to win several Grammy Awards and establish a base from which the band grew into one of the most prolific and durable acts in modern music history. Musically mind blowing and with more hits that you can poke a stick at, there’s no doubt that people will ask “where were you when Toto played Festival Hall?” for years to come.

In the 1970s, Sammy Hagar made his first appearance in the American rock and roll scene with the band Montrose. Hagar’s success began in the mid 1970s with his solo career, which spawned some of his most well-known singles, like “Red” and “I Can’t Drive 55.” His solo career would lead to him become the replacement lead vocalist in the band Van Halen after David Lee Roth parted ways with with them in 1985. Hagar stayed in this role for the next 10 years and released singles, like “Runaround” and “Poundcake.” Hagar is known throughout the past three decades as a Rock and Roll icon, giving ticket buyers a blast from the past, as well as a look into the present during his concerts.

With Special Guest: