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Upon
arriving at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater it was hot and humid
for it had rained most of the day. The size of this venue in case you
have never attended is massive. The stage hands are hard at work
getting the stage ready for Kid Rock to come out and perform his sold
out show. Indeed Chicago was sold out like every other show Kid Rock
has had on this tour.
The
lights go out and I can see them raising a huge banner with the
likeness of Kid Rock on a twenty dollar bill. With words like “In
Kid We Trust” and other Kid Rock Sayings on it. As the band started
playing the first song a spotlight hit Kid Rock from behind and you
could see his silhouette shining through they Banner standing there
singing a song with his first in the air.
Kid
Rocks stage present commands nothing but respect with of chances for
the crowd to be involved and sing along to all their favorite Kid
Rock tunes.
The
music fit the setting, too, as Rock and company romped through a
high-octane, fat-free 19-song set that down-shifted just once, for
his "Picture" duet with Twisted Brown Trucker backup singer
Shannon Curfman. Otherwise Rock and his 11-member group were in
full-throttle mode, emerging from behind a curtain following a taped
"prayer" -- in which Rock promised to "do anything but
disappoint" "Man, it feels good to be Back in Chicago,"
Rock declared, giving the crowd a satisfied thumbs-up. Taking a poll
of how many had seen him play before, Rock welcomed any "newbies"
and assured that he'd "walk (them) into this slowly" --
before launching into "You Never Met a Motherfucker Quite Like
Me" that segued into "American Bad Ass" and a tribute
to the late George Jones.
The
rest of the show was populated with fresh twists on older favorites.
"Wasting Time" boasted a rootsy, rural gospel flavor, while
"What I Learned Out on the Road" emerged from "Cowboy"
as a John Lee Hooker-style shuffle. "Forever" was mashed-up
with Rush's "Tom Sawyer," complete with lasers, and rolled
into "Cocky"
Rock
took his customary turn on the turntables during "3 Sheets to
the Wind," with an abundance of product placements for sponsors
Jimmy John's, Jim Beam and Harley-Davidson (he later acknowledged
their role in helping achieve the $20 ticket price). "Born Free"
was preceded with another taped sermonette and began with Rock on
piano, while he sang "Flyin' High" sitting on
Michigan-shaped wooden deck chair. Black-and-white beach balls flew
through the crowd during "All Summer Long," and "Bawitdaba"
closed the night with its traditional storm of pyrotechnics.
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