John Mellancamp – Overture Center

John Mellencamp’s “Live and in Person 2024″ tour has him performing one-night stands in 27 cities across America, and Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin was among those lucky few venues to grab a night on this tour. 

Fans of John Mellencamp were treated to a personal and intimate show by one of rock music’s greatest songwriters and performers at the very impressive Overture Center. With his style of heartland rock, Mellencamp was welcomed with cheers and standing ovations all night by his very enthusiastic crowd. 

He pranced and strutted across the stage with his badass attitude to show everyone he owned this night and this venue!  At 72 his voice is aged to raspy perfection. And his band hit on every cylinder and delivered the classic John Mellencamp garage heartland sound we all know and love.

His incredible 6-decade career is quite impressive having sold over 60 million albums worldwide, featuring 22 top 40 hits including 9 top 10 hits! 

John was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – class of 2008 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame – class of 2018.

Mellencamp, being from a small town in Indiana and seeing the hardships and struggles of his neighboring farmers, got together with Willie Nelson and Neil Young to organize Farm Aid in 1985. The annual event has raised over 78 million dollars of aid and relief to struggling American farmers and is still going strong. In addition, he is passionate about many causes including helping disadvantaged students graduate from high school and college and go on to join the workforce, Special Olympics, and as an advocate for the less fortunate to name a few. He has had his paintings on display, and even has his own brand of whiskey. Not only is he one of the greatest musicians but he is a true Renaissance Man and American Patriot.  

The night began With a montage of black and white classic movie scenes instead of an opening band. This 30-minute montage had a wide range of classic scenes from movies like “ Giant” with James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor, “A Streetcar Named Desire” With Vivian Leigh and Marlon Brando,

 “The Misfits” with Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe and “HUD” with Paul Newman to name a few. This seemed to be puzzling to many people in the crowd who were eager to see John take the stage. 

Then it was show time! Red police lights and sirens were going off as the movie screen was raised to expose the band! They were clustered in the background near the drum kit as they slowly walked to the front of the stage and began the show with “John Cockers.” This was followed by an impressive set list of some of his classic hits like: “Paper and Fire,” “Minutes to Memories,” an incredible performance of “Small Town,” “Human Wheels,” a heartfelt version of “Jackie Brown,” then into an accordion and fiddle rich, “Check It Out.”

Next John stripped it down to a three song solo acoustic performance set.

“The Eyes of Portland” was the first song about the homeless situation in America. This song is off of his newest album Orpheus Descending (25th studio album) which he produced and considers his most personal as it includes tracks that are about social issues near and dear to him. 

Reminiscent of early Bob Dylan, John had his harmonica strapped around his neck along with his acoustic guitar. The line in the song that stuck me was, “In this land of plenty, where nothing gets done.” Well said my friend!

“Longest Days” was the next song. Some of the lines were inspired by his 93-year-old grandmother, it was a real tearjerker. 

After this, John changed the mood right away with “Jack and Diane” accompanied by the accordion and violin. He turned this beloved song into an audience sing-along. Everyone then left the stage, except violinist Lisa Germeno. She told a story of how John Mellencamp and Paul Newman were good friends along with his wife, JoAnne Woodward. They would hang out and go to dinner. When Paul passed away, John kept in touch with her. He loved the way she spoke and asked her to record her voice reading his lyrics. Joanne Woodward’s voice was played over the speakers and was accompanied by the violin and accordion, to “The Real Life,” avant-garde and quite a touching moment. 

The full band came back on (longtime guitarists Mike Wanchic and Andy York, bassist John Gunnell, drummer Dane Clack, and keyboards Troye Kinnett) to rip through some more of John’s impressive catalog featuring, “Blood on the Scarecrow” about the plight of farmers, into a great rocking version of “ Lonely Ol’ Night.” Going further back with a killer high-energy version of “Crumbling Down!” Each song brought the crowd to its feet.

Next — he played his classic “Pink Houses!” It doesn’t get any better than this, performed to perfection by Mellencamp and company. The crowd was singing and dancing like it was the 1980’s. 

He slowed it down for the last song of the night, “Cherry Bomb.” Introducing it as a song about memories- “which are all we really have, isnt it?”  He played a beautiful version of this Mellencamp classic.  When the song was over the whole place was standing and a deafening cheer resonated throughout the hall!

As the band was leaving the stage, John walked up to the microphone and said, “Do you want to hear another one?” As the crowd cheered louder and louder, the band walked back on stage and went into a rocking version of one from his ol’ Cougar days with “Hurts so Good,” one of the highlights of the evening.  Like the old saying goes “leave the crowd begging for more.” John Mellencamp and his band proved without a doubt, the truth of this old saying.

This was one of those nights you just didn’t want to end. A beautiful venue in the heart of Wisconsin’s capital, and an iconic legend bringing us back to our younger years when life was simpler. Music has the power to bring people together and on this night it did just that. If you are lucky enough to have him come to your city, be sure to grab a ticket and be ready for a night you won’t soon forget. 

Set list for the evening:

John Cockers
Paper in Fire
Minutes to Memories
Small Town
Human Wheels
Jackie Brown
Troubled Land
Check it Out
The Eyes of Portland (acoustic)
Longest Days (acoustic)
Jack and Diane (acoustic)
The Real Life (with Joanne Woodward spoken word)
Rain on the Scarecrow
Lonely Ol’Night
What if I Came Knocking
Crumbling Down
Pink Houses
Cherry Bomb

Reviewed by Terry Giardina

For more information on upcoming events go to http://www.overture.org or call  608.258.4141