Wow! Very impressive, I bet you have quite a collection from all those concerts! Awesome!

I started traveling to see JM in 2003, starting with his GMA appearance when he was promoting TNM. I've been a fan since 1980. 

Opening night is tonight!

Cindy, you are a true Mellenambassador! Turning strangers into Mellenfans,  great pic of you and John, thanks for posting this.
Can you name all the states you have seen John....I know NY!!!
Thanks again for taking the time!

Off the top of my head, including my Tristate area of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, also Florida, California, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, New York, Missouri, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Georgia. If Farm Aid is included, then add Kansas, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts. I've attended additional Farm Aids but some of those states were also states just previously mentioned.

I attended the night this post was written, the first night of preview week, and I guess the saying goes you can't be everywhere at once. However, I saw all the major players, including John. He did hang out in the lobby (he came right before we were asked to leave) which was about, I'm guessing a half an hour after the show ended. Stephen King was hanging out after the show, in the lobby, as well as Meg Ryan (who I also passed in the hallway during intermission, going to the bathroom as we were leaving.) I also spotted TBone Burnette in the lobby talking to some fans, also during intermission.

The play was phenomenal. I did notice a few of the microphones cutting in and out, no big deal. This is what preview week is for, to work out the kinks.

The set was amazing, as you can see in the video, the story was captivating as well as humorous at times. The Shape stood out in the show, his entrance, the first cast member to be  seen, had him appearing out of the floor with a guitar strapped behind his back - a stellar performance with great comedic timing. My favorite song was right before intermission, "Tear This Cabin Down." There were several JM references in the play, some obvious some maybe not so obvious if one isn't a fan. "Lil Bastard" was referenced at least twice, small town was mentioned, and one I haven't figured out and I am assume there is a hidden meaning - was the license plate on the car used in the set, JM 1919. I'm still trying to figure out what is significant with 1919 - or if there a significance. Would love to know the answer to that one. Fun trivia kind of stuff.

Back to the lobby. As I said, John came in as the crowd was thinning out. I approached him first, he seemed surprised to see me there, and I told him the play was excellent. He replied back "Oh, ya'll think everything I do is excellent." I then asked if he would take a picture and he stood and posed as I handed the camera to Jane. I then walked away while others were getting programs signed and what not.

 

I would love to go see it again and hope to head south one more time. Oh, and to note, I invited a friend of mine and his wife, who live in Atlanta, to come see the play. He is not much of a JM fan but was very interested in seeing the play. He just emailed me last night and told me he ordered JM's box set "On The Rural Route" he was that impressed and now wants to explore JM's music.

I was blown away by his vitality, too, i.e. opening for The Kinks in 1980. Best stage show, ever (!), but when you're singing to the choir, probably falls on deaf ears as we all know it to be true.  

Beautiful pictures!

Awesome! I named my blog, from several years ago, (only one entry  ) "Circling Around The Moon" I love this song, major props for adding it to the setlist. I hope he keeps it.

Beautiful photos!

Nice way to shake up the set list! Circling Around The Moon?!! I Saw You First?! Cherry Bomb!!

I hope John keeps these songs in the set list. It's nice to get a rarity, i.e. Circling Around The Moon and brings back a fan favorite with Cherry Bomb.

The Housing Works show was awesome! I've had so many great experiences seeing JM and meeting fans --- it's been a great run and I hope it continues for years to come!

LOVE!

It's hard for me to pick John's best, I have too many favorites!

Old news, and not sure if it was ever posted, however, Michael Young, music host at WFPK in Louisville, picked "No Better Than This" as his top album in 2010.


http://www.wfpk.org/2010/12/27/michael-youngs-top-20-americana-albums-of-2010/

1. John Mellencamp – No Better Than This [Rounder]
Not that he needed it, but this may well be John’s Nebraska moment, where he finally wins over his detractors. By making an album he wanted to make instead of one a record company wanted him to make, he charts a course for the rest of his career.

Andy with Ian Hunter

That's not Ian Hunter.  It's Robert Plant.

Apologies. Haste makes waste, and they look similar.

Stellar stuff there, Rich. Andy is phenomenal player.

Hope your blisters are healed, you've a long way to go to catch up to Andy.