John Mellencamp Reviews

John Smith from Albuquerque

BIG LET DOWN!

My wife and I saw John Cougar in Albuquerque on April 30th, 2019. We are both 57 and we enjoyed listening to his music during HS and college. Cougar and Segar were bucket lists for us as far as seeing old rockers. We saw Segar a few months ago and he was very good. (No political views, just songs) Cougar played at the Kiva Auditorium, which is inside the Convention Center. The concert was sold out, and it appeared that most people were our age or above 50 yoa for the most part. We felt that it was very hot inside the Kiva, therefore, we were a bit uncomfortable. The show started at 8:00pm. From 8:00 to 8:30pm, we all had to sit through an intro about his life. The audio was low and it was hard to hear over the late arrivals. Not my thing watching an intro for 30 minutes. I want to hear the songs. We came to rock and hear the hits. He did not start with any hits. The first 30 minutes was non energetic and in that 30 minutes he played only "Small Town" At some point, either at the beginning or between songs, Cougar talks about fans who can be drunk and loud and there is no place for it because he wants everyone to hear the music and not hear the loud drunk fan. I would agree with him on that but I questioned it because if you are playing your music instead of talking about Black Lives Matter and other views, you would not hear that loud drunk fan. He also went into a story telling mode. He talked about his dear friend who had been rocking with him for 45 years. He talked about his friend being arrested in ABQ in the 80's. Cougar said that his friend was beat up by two females who he shared a cell with. Not true! Males and females can not share a cell. Again, not enough music and too much talking. He did not play Hurts So Good, Rockin in the USA and I need a Lover. He could have played all these songs instead of telling stories and stating his political views. These songs are part of the reason he can still tour at the age of 67. Old rockers like us want to hear those songs, not story telling, 30 minute into's and political views. Overall, I will not go see him again. We were so looking forward to seeing his concert. Big fans of his back in the 70's and 80's. A big Let Down!

DON from Chicago, Illinois

MELLENCAMP AT CHICAGO THEATER

I'll never understand why older artists don't want to play the classics we are there to hear! I enjoy hearing new music, but John doesn't have any new music. He has weird little "story" songs, mostly political. And absolutely not what anyone wants to hear. Sadly too much of that - and not nearly enough classic Mellencamp.

EAO from Chicago, Illinois

SURPRISED

So, I bought these tickets for a friend & I months ago & paid over $200 each because I was afraid of missing the chance to see him in concert before he kicks the bucket. Had a whirlwind of a day & got to the theater in time to have one more drink before the show started & we were totally revved up for a great night when the lights went down & the concert started. At first, we loved the movie clips that showed the actors & movies that influenced his life & made him the rocker he is, but then they kept coming & after 30 minutes, my wine buzz was fading & I actually wished I had a blanket so I could take a nap! I appreciate that as an artist, he shares what is important to him, but there should be an obligation felt to make sure the fans have a great experience too… When he sang & danced, it was great & I wish we had seats on the dance floor (do not buy tickets in a booth at the Chicago theater if you like to stand & dance at a concert. I didn’t know what booth meant, but will never buy tickets like that again)! I don’t regret buying these tickets even though I paid way too much, but there has to be a better way for John to share about the movies & actors that influenced him because starting off the concert that way totally zapped the electric vibe that was in the theater when we thought the concert/music was actually starting. Aside from that, he still has great rhythm & energy & I love that he’s still a rebel & has no worries about saying what he thinks!

A True Fan from Chicago, Illinois

AVERAGE AT BEST - HATE TO SAY IT - A TRUE FAN

Saw you first John in the early 80’s, Ames Iowa, you killed it. This time around, mother time and your lifestyle has take its toll big fella, your still the man, you’ve got some great songs and memories I’m sure and gave me some of my own (thank you) but the voice is gone, the attitude of being a angry old man, per your words, after all you have been blessed with ( why ) doesn’t fit your potential, its never to late by the way and the use of the F word hundreds of times displays how out of touch things have gone for the once dominating man who was born in a Small town….respectully a true fan our the Mellencamp era.

Alison Hanover from Corydon Indiana

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED

Saw Mellencamp last night in Louisville. the whole concert seemed a trifile self indulgent. 30 minutes of black and white film clips,, then 5 songs I had never heard of. At one point he told the audience, not to yell out and if they wanted to then go outside!! Kind of bizarre. Told a story about a homeless person in Portland, again kind of bizarre. Said he was bored with doing concerts and wanted this to be a show. right before playing a tape of Joanne Woodward reciting one of his songs. The best part of the concert was the last 15 minutes when he actually sang, Pink Houses, Cherry Bomb and Hurts So Good. Not really what I was expecting. I came away saying to my husband, I am not sure if he is just a total dick. Upon googling that phrase I did indeed find out that he is in fact a total dick. Still like the old hits though.

Leann from Houston, Texas

DIDN’T PLAY HIS BEST STUFF

I was so excited to hear the oldies but goodies, but he spent the first 2 hours playing his new material…. very disappointed

Drew from austin, tx

JCM CONCERT

actually just saw him in Austin. I came away disapointed and much to my not suprised googled reviews and found this. Sounds like his banter and crowd admonishment is the same at every venue. The warmup act is old movies so wait about 40 minutes after his start time to miss that bullshit. could have started with i need a lover which is a great riff with electrifying guitar solo, btw he never played it, started with i have no friends, should change the words to i hate my fans. He missed a great opportunity to storytell go through the albums and years. He has a great catalog and i didnt need to hear all the hits but some familiar bside hits would have been cool. No encore. Im more mad at myself than him for overpaying for these tickets and concert. It hurt, but not so good.

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