Thanks for your kind words Tony, wish we could have caught up! 

As I sit here with my morning coffee, I reflect on last night's sold out show in the intimate Meridian Centre, St Catharine's. I personally don't know how John and the band can play night after night and still come on stage with the same amount of energy as the first show. I guess it takes years of practise, with set and healthy routines - ??

It was an emotional night - playing on your birthday, is an interesting feat. There were 2 renditions of 'Happy Birthday' and John took it gracefully, humbled by it all, bless.

The crowd were on their feet from the moment 'Lawless Times' started and pretty much stood, sang and danced for 85% of the show. Kudos to the couple near me who boogied the night away at the front - loved it.    

Speaking to people in the crowd as I have been since arriving in Canada, many were seeing John for the first time, but last night a lot had seen him many, many times. To quote one lady "I buy tickets to John's shows, no questions asked, why, because I know I am going to have a great time, pure and simple."  As a long time fan, I whole heartedly agree. I have bought tickets to shows for 2019 and I haven't even heard the new CD yet, but I know it will be great and the shows value for money.

The show ran like clockwork, starting at 8pm with the mini doco and the crowd listened well. The show concluded at about 10pm-10.10pm mark - John plays through, with maybe a 5 minute pitstop in the middle where Miriam and Troye weave their magic on the violin and accordion respectively for the Overture. IMHO John's voice has got better with age and adds an extra quality to the songs. The show is well choreographed, as I have mentioned before, giving all the band a chance to shine and show the mastery of their instruments and talents. There is wit, cheeky banter, some political statements and some home truths that need to be said.

Songs of the night: Pink Houses, Authority Song & Crumblin' Down crowd favs with high participation etc, but the winner by far with a standing ovation from some and loud clapping of approval was 'Easy Target' - very moving.

So as the lights came up for another show's end and the people filed out, lots of happy chatter about how great the show was, where was 'Hurt So Good?', looking forward to hearing the new CD etc... I could go on, the benefits of waiting for an Uber, you can listen...

As we drove off and saw people hanging around waiting for John to come out, and the roadies so efficiently packing things up, I end by again thanking John and the band for another great show - see you on the flip side in a few weeks - Canada beckons, much to continue to see and do, friends to visit ...

Happy birthday John - blessings. 

I know you wrote about the show already and glad you had a great time - it was awesome, but I thought I'd reply anyway. I guess its hard when an act has been on the scene for so long and have a vast catalogue to choose from, as John does. I'd love to hear more off Sad Clowns, as it is a 'Sad Clowns' Tour and yeah it be cool to hear Jackie Brown.

In the end, I am happy that John still tours, has a great voice and keeps his music alive with generations to come.

Words cannot begin to express how awesome tonight was at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa. There was a certain buzz in the audience. Perhaps it was the anticipation of what was to come, could have been the beers, no matter - it was a massive party and John was the guest of honour.

People had come from near and far to be here, some for the first time and some repeat goers. Needless to say when John hit the stage at 8.30pm [after the great documentary], all systems were go.

Like all the shows so far, I believe the fans take a while to get their bearings, take some footage or photos and have their 'OMG we are here and there's John' moment. But when 'Small Town' comes on.... Oshawa, like the rest, let loose! Talk about a choir of voices - you guys were in great form - man oh man! Many goosebump moments.

I was lucky enough to be sitting to the right of the stage this time around and I must say Mike and Jon didn't disappoint. Jon, the pocket rocket, encouraging us all to participate and sing louder - such a fun and talented guy! Mike, I take back the unassuming comment, mate, you rocked the stage baby!! This man has serous skills - take some time to watch how he plays. A genius, with no time for napping! [when you see the show you will understand this comment].

John - another super performance tonight, delightfully cheeky at times - full of great stories, sang the hits, so passionate and encouraged whole-hearted audience involvement. Those overalls you wear must have some sort of superpower, as you were on fire today with all those dance moves and great guitar work!  

****The audience, all be it a day early, broke out into 'happy birthday' to John. A nice moment and a lucky fan even had a chance to hand him a card and flowers.****  

Stand out song/s for the night: - there were so many - Full Catastrophe - so dramatic, so beautiful. Lawless Times - just so funky! Jack and Diane - 2nd verse people!! LOL - we sang as one and it was GOOD!

Moment of the night for me: during Pink Houses it goes ...'Ain't that America for you and me...' instead the young lads next to me sang 'Ain't that Canada for you and me...'  
Happy Thanks Giving Canada.  

Another stand out show John and the band, thank you.
Remember this is a show not to be missed - grab a ticket if you can, tomorrow in St Catharine's it will be a special night, bring your best voices and dancing shoes!

Happy to do so - not in order, and many reworked and super funky or artistically presented
Lawless Times
John Cocker
Minutes to Memories
Small town
Paper and Fire
Rain on the Scarecrow
Easy Target
Authority Song
Jack and Diane
Lonely Ol' Night
Full Catastrophe
Longest Days
Pink Houses
Stones in My Passway
Check It  Out
Cherry Bomb
Crumblin' Down

I would love the see Grandview thrown in there and 2 of my other favs [Sweet Love and End of the World]

My reviews are really just ramblings, unlike yours which are written with great penmanship.

Kingston - what a cool place for a show.
The venue was intimate, seating was comfy, the night air - humid and the people, again a wide range of ages.
 
The audience was on a slow burn for a while - then the crowd favourites 'Small Town' and 'Jack and Diane' ignited them and it was all 'go' after that - singing and dancing to their hearts content.

For me, 'Easy Target' was by far the standout song of the night - incredibly moving and poignant, with 'Authority Song' a very close second.

If you are here reading about the John's current tour of Canada - from one fan to the other - if you don't have a ticket yet, do yourself a favour and get one! If you are lucky there maybe be a few left here and there. The ticket prices are incredibly reasonable and the venues are intimate, so win win for you. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks for another great show John and the band.

Being a fan of someone for a long period of time is a testament to their ability to write great music. Since I was about 11, I realised that listening to an artist on a record is one thing, but they really cut it for me if they can perform it successfully live. Through various circumstances over the years I haven't been able to see Mr Mellencamp, John [if I can be that bold] play live, despite having tickets for up to 6 shows, but relegated to relying only on You Tube playbacks of Farm Aid etc. My interest never waned, so when the opportunity to visit a variety of friends came up in Canada and I found out he was touring Canada at the same time, it became the perfect time to catch some shows too.

So onto my first show - Ottawa - despite being really unwell, I went along on a cold and slightly rainy night. Security was tight, but it was nice to feel safe in a venue this size. There was a buzz amongst the patrons, many were well into their beverages and I made it to my seat before the 8pm 'curfew'. The first 15 or so minutes we were treated to a glimpse into the career of John, kinda like being at the movies, without the popcorn and comfy recliner seats. A few complained about this being the "most expensive movie ticket ever" but the majority of people sat and listened with interest.

So the show itself - I will not go through a set list, as it should be something you look forward to hearing and finding out when you attend. Needless to say I found it hard to take it all in and am glad that I have more shows to see in order to be able to appreciate every band member's talent and of course, be able to further appreciate and take in the singing prowess of John.

The lighting / stage: the stage had the Plain Spoken CD backdrop, of which various colours were projected on to it, creating various moods etc. The lighting itself, was creative and and highlighted not only John, but his spectacular band members. 'Keeping it simple', but effective, makes it easy to be fully engaged with the music and the artist, not a distraction.

The music: many of the hits, reworked in some cases, which was a pleasant surprise and a few off Sad Clowns [would have liked more, but hey... its a huge catalogue to choose from ]

The band: All dressed to the nines. My favourite parts were when they all would come to the fore front of the stage, bar Dane, to start or highlight part of a song and then would move back to let John do his thing. Clever use of the stage.

Mr Mike Wanchic - singled out as a long time mate of John's, but somewhat unassuming on the stage, but clearly gifted at what he does. The banter between him and John reminded me a little of Elvis and Charlie, who used to hand him his scarves, play guitar and sing harmony with him. I look forward to being seated on that side of the stage to be able to take in the breadth of his skills.

Mr Andy York - the way he played was down right mesmerising. There were changes in guitars and kudos to the roadie who came out to fix his strap, that's team work. It was a pleasure to watch the emotions on his face as he played and clearly still loves what he does.

Mrs Miriam Sturm - the energy from this lady is amazing. At one point she was jumping up and down like at an aerobics class. The talent of this lady is a wonder to behold, her solos or time spent with various band members and John showed a passion for the music not lost on those of us watching.

Mr Dane Clark - 2 drum kits to choose from. It clear this man has unbelievable rhythm and yes 'we were diggin' them drums'. As an audience member you spend a lot of time 'hearing' not seeing the drummer, from my vantage point I could just see his head, but no matter - the beat got us up and dancing on many occasions.

Mr John Gunnell aka Jon E Gee - very much like Miriam, was getting down to the business of dance and rhythm. Despite the fact he was on the other side of the stage, I was happy when he ventured to the middle to strut his stuff - clearly still lovin' the music and time on stage.

Mr Troye Kinnett - the man of many talents. I found my gaze wandering across to him [which is easy, considering I am almost blind in my left eye]. His piano work was so passionate and yet at times, so delicate and moving. My Dad used to play the accordion so I greatly appreciate anyone who possesses the skill to do that too. Teaming up with Miriam, was to put it plainly, gold.

Last, but definitely not least Mr John Mellencamp: He sauntered on stage, smoking as usual, dressed casually in overalls - as the lady who sat behind me screamed, "damn, how can you make overalls look so damn sexy!?" - true. It doesn't matter how long he has been an entertainer, he just has the ability to move us, maybe turn us on, make us laugh, sing along or get us to dance as part of the show. His songs, if you listen carefully to the lyrics, have meaning to all of us in different ways. I was not disappointed with John's stage presence and was happy that he ventured all over the stage, doing his best to make eye contact with as many as possible. That brings the 'personal touch' to a show that will send people home happy. That man CAN dance! I enjoyed his stories and loved to watch his enthusiasm during the faster tunes and the delicate passion on his face when singing the slower ones.

I am guilty of pulling out my phone a few times to take a few shots and during 'Jack and Diane' but the drunk guy next to me streaming a good portion of the show 'live' - not cool. I can understand how annoying it would be from an artist's perspective.

To sum up - lots of singing and dancing was had. There was a wide spread in ages there, but from my observations, people exited really happy. The floor crew were quick to start packing up! The concert paraphernalia is reasonably priced and of a good quality. [Not sure about the guy trying to sell t-shirts outside - is that legal?]. Thanks for the great memories I take from this, my first show, I look forward to being able to take more in for the times to come. I thank and appreciate all the efforts from the VIP crew / roadies / sound and lights crew / management etc.  

I am happy to hear what ever he plays and i agree, his catalogue of hits and other songs is vast. I hope he mixes it up a bit between states or tours, but it is easy for me to say this, I'm not on stage remembering words and entertaining the masses. 

I'm hoping too!

I hope there is some Elvis in there too

Thanks for clarifying Tony, thought it was weird, but better check to be safe. 

I'm a little confused - the presale for the NY shows next year are on sale 26/9 - yet Vivid Seats are already selling them and there are not great seats left. How can this be?
Are you holding the best seats?

Just thought I'd ask. cheers

Thanks for answering my question.

I just received this email seems like spam , no name etc, was concerned that it said I’m from the states and I’m not. Can you please confirm that it from you guys. Secondly I would like to know what the the vip thing gets you please? I have multiple tickets that are vip for canada. Feel free to pm me Thanks Syl Hello:
 
Congratulations on your purchase of a John Mellencamp VIP Package!
 
We are almost ready to ship your VIP merchandise to you; however, we will need you to reconfirm your shipping address.
 
If possible, do you have a Canadian address to which we can ship your merchandise, rather than the US address you initially provided?
 
Please note, we cannot ship VIP packages to hotel addresses as we cannot guarantee it will arrive during your stay. If your US address is the only option then we will proceed to ship your merchandise there, however it may arrive after the date of the show.
 
Please provide us with the following information so that we may update your shipping address:
 
·         LAST NAME, FIRST NAME
·         ADDRESS
·         ADDRESS 2 (Unit / Apt. # if applicable)
·         CITY
·         PROVINCE
·         POSTAL CODE
 
 
Best, 
VIP Customer Service

Was unable to view the clip, could that be because I'm not in the states? Congrats n the award just the same.