I’m on vacation this week because we’re seeing three shows in six days.
Monday night was Dionne Warwick.
Last night was Kid Rock with Peter Wolf and Rev. Run. (Hey, if you’ve been reading this for a while, you know I have fairly eclectic tastes.)
I’d heard Kid Rock’s shows were terrific, but I had no idea. Man! You really must go see him. It was one of the most energetic, most entertaining shows I’ve seen in a long time, and I am not all that much of a Kid Rock fan. I have none of his albums and only a couple of his tunes.
Here’s what our paper’s entertainment writer had to say:
“He was all over the musical map, not to mention at the turntables, behind the drums and on guitar, for a sweaty, swaggering show that seamlessly mashed honky-tonk, rap, Southern rock, Motown, gospel, country, metal, soul and just about anything else he and his 10-piece motley-looking Twisted Brown Trucker Band could think to spit out. Not everyone can pull off Sunday school staple ‘This Little Light of Mine,’ Buffalo Springfield’s ‘For What It’s Worth’ and new track ‘So Hott’ — within 10 minutes of one another, without straining something.”
Amen, sister. And amen to you, Brother Rock.
The Kid and the Rev blew the roof off the place. The Rev announced: “We’re going old school — 1983!” Then they tore through “It’s Tricky,” “You Be Illin'” and, of course, “Walk This Way.” Never mind that it was more 1986 than 1983. The Rev — Joseph Simmons — can still bring it.
When I went to watch the Packers practice today (hey, I am on vacation), I pulled up next to the photographer who shot last night’s show for the paper. He was bummed that he couldn’t stay around for the whole show.
He asked me whether it was one of the best shows I’d seen. Oh, yeah, and I’ll add this: Kid Rock and Rev. Run instantly became of my top five concert moments ever.
Now my problem is which song to serve up. I got out my vinyl copy of “Raising Hell” and gave it another listen. The only tune from that album that comes even remotely close to conveying what last night was like is one you’ve heard a million times.
Your forgiveness, please, for a million and one.
“Walk This Way,” Run-D.M.C. with Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, from “Raising Hell,” 1986. The original. The groundbreaker. The classic. Perry and Tyler aren’t too bad on this one, either.
AM, Then FM 