Review: Kid Rock

Photos by Chris Oberholtz/The Star

Between the opening DJ and Kid Rock's opening track, the P.A. system greeted the crowd with some old-time music: Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and then John Sebastian's "Welcome Back," better known as the theme to "Welcome Back, Kotter."

A 25-year-old power ballad and a cheesy '70s TV theme might seem like lame irony for a guy who called his latest album "Rock 'n' Roll Jesus" and christened his live show a "Rock and Roll Revival Tour."

Kid Rock, 37, hasn't spent a day in the past 10 years worrying about what other people think (besides Tommy Lee, maybe). Instead of setting trends and inventing fashions, Kid Rock resurrects them -- those he grew up with and a few that preceded him (he was 4 years-old when "Kotter" aired on TV) -- and puts them into contexts that can rile and satisfy a big crowd.

Sunday night at Sprint Center, he spent about three hours stomping around the American music landscape, indulging in everything from outlaw country and classic rock to Southern rock, old-school hip-hop and his own blend of rock/metal and rap. It was lowbrow and hardcore and rock solid and it made for one of the most entertaining live shows you can see these days for less than $60.

He opened with "Rock 'n' Roll Jesus," a hard-rock anthem with a potent AC/DC vibe (the runway into the crowd, by the way, was the shape of a cross) and followed that with "Welcome to the Party." Both songs heated up a big and responsive audience (at least 11,000) that was well on its way to a state of spiritual elevation. His fans were ready all night for whatever its host threw a them, like when, on cue, they took over the Steve Goodman/David Allan Coe standard "You Don't Even Call Me By My Name."

Many were familiar with Rock's new material, too, like "All Summer Long," which cleverly mashes the piano riff from Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" with the guitar riff from Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"; and "Lowlife (Livin' the High Life)," a Southern rock anthem that celebrates bad behavior and poor choices.

Rock embedded a few sacred moments into his show. During "Amen" he coaxed the crowd into some fellowship -- what we Catholics would call the "Peace be with you" ritual: He asked everyone to greet and shake hands with the people around them. It was a very Springsteen/Bono moment.

He didn't let the mood stay too warm and fuzzy. Two songs later, during "Half Your Age," he and his drummer, Stefanie Eulinberg, traded insults involving trophy girlfriends ("she's half your age and twice as hot") and the size of a man's genitals. From the sacred to the salacious in five minutes.

This version of his Twisted Brown Trucker Band features a few new members, including Marlon Young on lead guitar and David McMurray (sax), formerly of Was (Not Was).

Rock brought two guests with him. Dickey Betts, formerly of the Allman Brothers, came out first. He reprised one of his best-known guitar instrumentals, "Jessica." Then he and Rock sang a pretty uninspired rock-blues rendition of the Allmans' "Southbound" and then Betts' biggest Allmans hit, "Ramblin' Man."

The Rev. Run was a more entertaining guest. During the second half of the show (there was a 15-minute intermission) he and Rock hauled out some vintage Run DMC ("It's Tricky," "Here We Go") before launching into the seminal rock-meets-rap version of "Walk this Way." The Rev.would return during the encore to join Rock on a rapped-up cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and then the spiritual, "This Little Light of Mine."

That was another nice moment but no way to end a show, even on a Sunday night. He jumped from that godly episode back into the heart of Saturday night, ending with his raucous rap-metal anthem "Bawitaba" --  a landscape inhabited by topless dancers, hookers, crack heads and gang-bangers. Whether it's real or just a place in someone's derivative imagination doesn't really matter. Kid Rock has figured out that the best entertainment is all about escape -- a thrill ride -- even if it's to places you've been to many times.

|Timothy Finn, The Star

Setlist: Rock 'n Roll Jesus; Welcome to the Party; You Never Met a Motherf***er Quite Like Me; American Bad Ass; Lowlife (Livin' the High Life); Cocky; All Summer Long; Roll On; Amen; Somebody's Gotta Feel This; Half Your Age; Jessica, Southbound and Ramblin' Man (with Dickey Betts); Only God Knows Why; Devil Without a Cause; It's Tricky/You Be Illin', Here We Go/Hard Times and Walk This Way (with Rev. Run); Picture; DJ interlude; So Hott; For What It's Worth and This Little Light of Mine(with Rev. Run); Bawitdaba.

Comments

[Tandy]

Love your column!

He put on his best show yet last night! I have seen him several times and his shows never get old. He definately has the talent and skill to entertain. We were lucky fans standing it the pit and had an awesome time -

[Mike A]

He was awesome. Great show. The sound was terrible! Is it Sprint Center? That was my first concert there.

[Tim Finn]

Where were you sitting? It sounded good/OK from where I was.
PS: It's a sports arena, not a music hall so the sound isn't going to be much better than Kemper or any other arena.

[Mike A]

In a suite. Back left ( if you are looking at the stage) For the big bucks people pay for the suites I was not impressed. T.V. monitors and speakers would be nice. So would a bathroom. My tix were on the lower level- I guess I should have sat in them. "Uninspired" is a great description of the Dickey Betts segment. He did seem fairly sober, which is a good thing.

[Slicky Willy]

Ever notice that John McCain looks like Paul Simons father?

[Mike A]

Put down the pipe, Willy.

[Tim Finn]

..."sober" in more ways than one.

[Alexander]

Call me shallow, but I can't get past the dumb name and ridiculous look. Ugh.