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November 7, 2007

Mellencamp hits the right note

By Amanda Dyslin

MANKATO — The crowd energy before John Mellencamp even took the stage Wednesday night made it known there was a big star in the house.

Yet, still, when the Indiana-born rocker took the stage, he seemed right at home among his Midwestern fans, singing songs about growing up in a small town and living life in simpler terms.

Mankato has seen its share of big celebs — Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, to name a couple — both of whom put on good shows during their respective stops. And this latest visitor to the Alltel Center can be counted among them.

Mellencamp had a good part of the nearly full arena on its feet from start to finish, including Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his wife, who had seats on the floor.

“Best show the civic center has had in a while,” said John Schulz, wearing a Mellencamp tour T-shirt.

The show started with a string of high-energy hits the crowd could sing along to, including “Pink Houses,” “Paper In Fire” and “Check It Out.” A solo acoustic set early in the show set the tone as Mellencamp talked with the audience like they were old friends about everything from growing older and having “senior moments” to world politics.

Throughout the show he moved back and forth from self-reflection to his world views, never coming off as preachy, but rather simply one man’s opinion about what he sees around him.

“You guys under 30, it won’t be long before you take over this world so let’s hope you know your song well,” he said.

Mellencamp kept the crowd with him during the less familiar material off of his most recent album “Freedom’s Road,” and the show ended like it began, with most of the arena on its feet and hands in the air. “Lonely Ol’ Night,” “Jack and Diane” and the encore, “Authority Song,” brought home the note Mellencamp wanted to end on. Sometimes all there is to do is dance, he said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been here before, but I think I’m gonna come back,” he said.

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