John Mellencamp riveting at Carnegie Hall NYC 4-20-15

Bloomington, Indiana’s John Mellencamp has been one of America’s most adored Rock musicians for almost four decades. Known for his Roots Rock sound, Mellencamp combines relatable song lyrics with a mix of Folk, Classic Rock, and Country, earning him a place in Rock-n-Roll history as a standout artist. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, winning a Grammy back in 1983, and attaining a slew of top selling records are just a few of Mellencamp’s accomplishments. Now in 2015, he is still rocking and rolling with a brand new tour in support of his twenty-second studio album released in 2014 entitled Plain Spoken. As another critically acclaimed record, Mellencamp continues to capture a soulful sound with meaningful lyrics his fans have come to love through the years. Beginning the tour in January, there will be eighty dates in total running across North America through August, hitting cities coast to coast. Luckily for New Yorkers, Mellencamp decided to take four nights of his tour in April and devote them to New York City, with two nights at Carnegie Hall and two nights at The Apollo Theater. Both historic venues in their own right, Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium / Ronald O. Perelman Stage opened the rocker’s stay in the city on Monday April 20th. Greeted by a sold out crowd, the landmark theater, which opened in 1891, was a perfect setting for such an evening as fans of all ages filled the seats on the floor and the multi-tier balconies above.

As direct support for the duration of the Plain Spoken tour, Mellencamp brought along friend and Country Music royalty, Carlene Carter. Daughter of Country star June Carter, stepdaughter of the legendary Johnny Cash, and granddaughter of Country musician Maybelle Carter, there is a storybook worth of history behind Carlene Carter’s family. Actively recording music since her self-titled debut album in 1978, Carter has released twelve studio records, including her 2014 offering, Carter Girl. Coming to the stage with an infectious smile and acoustic guitar strapped over her shoulder, Carter began with her 1993 hit song “Every Little Thing.” Addressing the audience and expressing how excited she was to be in New York City at Carnegie Hall, she went into “East From Now On” and new song “Little Black Train.” Proud of her heritage, Carter went on to tell stories of her family and engaged the audience with a bright personality. Bringing out native New Yorker, and her husband, Joe Breen, the two partook in a duet for another new track titled “Black Jack David.” With a strong harmony and chemistry with one another on stage, the couple shined bright for each moment they shared together. Following next with a very personal song, “Lonesome Valley 2003,” Carter explained the track came after the loss of her mother June, stepfather Johnny, and sister Rosie. Heartfelt, the song resonated through the air of the theater and had fans applauding loudly upon its conclusion. Wrapping up her set with songs like “My Dixie Darlin’,” The Storms Are On the Ocean,” “Me and The Wildwood Rose,” and finale “Change,” Carter put on a fantastic showcase of  good old Country music. Now a veteran in the music industry, it is safe to say Carlene is carrying on the Carter family tradition into the new millennium.

Following a brief intermission, the room began to swell with anticipation for Mellencamp’s arrival on stage. It was evident that fans of all ages were ready to experience an evening with one of the world’s most successful live performers, for their first, or possibly tenth time. As the nine o’clock hour rolled in, everyone was on their feet and whistling for Mellencamp and his band as the lights went down.

Opening the set with the closing song off Plain Spoken, “Lawless Times,” the groove had everyone dancing into the album’s lead, “Troubled Man.”  Sure to keep the set balanced, the band wasted no time to bring on the hits and went into a signature Mellencamp song, “Small Town.” Still sounding as distinctive a voice as ever, Mellencamp brought the words to life with a passion that was felt throughout each tune performed. Personable, and most of all sincere, Mellencamp addressed the audience assuring it would be a night of fun, filled with songs everyone knows, songs they may not know, and songs that will make them dance. With that said, directly after Mellencamp himself began to gracefully dance around the stage to the opening of his rendition of Robert Johnson’s “Stones in My Passway.”   Having everyone letting loose and forgetting their troubles, even for a little while, the music of Mellencamp’s band was textured, bright, and most all energetic. Guitarists Mike Wanchic and Andy York were joined by fiddle player Miriam Sturm, bassist Jon E. Gee, keyboardist/accordionist/harmonicist Troye Kinnett, along with drummer Dane Clark were a tightly knit group that did not skip a beat. Matched by Mellencamp’s illustrative storytelling, everyone listened attentively to his words of wisdom prior to going into “Longest Days.” Reminding everyone that life is short, the song hit home for each person who fixed their ears on Mellencamp under the spotlight. Picking up everyone’s spirits moments later, Mellencamp went into the classic “Jack and Diane” with just himself and his acoustic guitar. Immediately provoking a reaction, the eager audience sang the chorus one version too soon, and Mellencamp playfully told them they were a little early. Continuing the song,  the wonderful acoustics of Carnegie Hall amplified the unison singing of the audience as they vocalized the chorus, this time at the right point, loud and clear.

Already providing a nice mix of music, perhaps one of the most striking moments during the set came when Mellencamp vividly sang the 1996 song “The Full Catastrophe” accompanied only by Kinnet’s delicate piano key strokes.  Received by a roaring ovation, the full band returned to the stage along with Carlene Carter to join Mellencamp for Ghost Brothers of Darkland County soundtrack songs “Away From This World” and “Tear This Cabin Down.”  Harmonizing together, their voices fit each song perfectly, providing for a welcomed surprise at this point in the show. As a musical interlude, Sturm and Kinnet teamed up for a masterful violin and accordion medley that was fitting for the Classic music venue. With vibrant timbre, the relaxing moments of instrumentation was nothing less than spectacular. As a marker in the night’s events, the rest of the set seemed to cover many of Mellencamp’s fan-favorites such as “Rain on the Scarecrow,” “Paper in Fire,” and  an emotionally delivered “If I Die Sudden.”  Picking things up a notch once more, 1983’s “Authority Song” had everyone on their feet for “Pink Houses” and the unmistakable classic “Cherry Bomb” where Mellencamp moved close to the edge of the stage one last time to connect with his fans.

John Mellencamp continues to prove his working class approach to Rock-n-Roll and empathy for his fellow human beings are some of his most endearing qualities. This is a musician who lays his heart on the line each time he writes a song, and even more so when he performs them live. Playing an extremely lengthy set filled with a broad array of songs, there was not a dull moment from start to finish. Mellencamp, along with his band, knew exactly how to keep the spirits of the audience high, and that is why many would be returning to the second, third, and perhaps fourth night of his stay in New York City. There are still plenty of dates left on the Plain Spoken tour, so be a part of history and see this slice of Americana when he comes to town.

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