Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Nostalgia has never been a priority for John Mellencamp, who continues to regularly record into his mid-70s, which is why it was such a surprise when the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer somewhat randomly announced “Dancing Words – The Greatest Hits” Tour.

Nonetheless, it was a welcome opportunity for the Bloomington, Indiana native to showcase half a century of heartland anthems that since have become synonymous with the joys and injustices of living smack dab in the center of America.

The Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park was the perfect meeting point for the Midwestern masses, who were greeted by the New Orleans-styled stomps and slightly reworked lyrics of 2014’s “Lawless Times” to “can’t trust the police with their guns if they’re ICE,” which earned an obvious roar from the bulk of those paying attention as the full house filed in.

Otherwise, both chronologically and topically, the nearly two-and-a-half-hour, two-act evening honed in on the era when the sole headliner had Cougar as his middle name, meaning such “Scarecrow” standouts as “Small Town,” “Minutes To Memories” and “Lonely Ol’ Night,” backed vibrantly by a veteran eight-piece band.

Though Mellencamp’s voice was noticeably deeper and raspier, the lifelong smoker, who even finished a few puffs while walking on stage, utilized the change for the better, giving a lived-in grit to the likes of “Paper In Fire,” “R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.,” “Our Country,” “Check It Out” and the solo acoustic sing-a-long of “Jack & Diane.”

After a brief intermission, the superstar revisited the rarely performed “I Need A Lover” and a classic cover of Van Morrison’s “Wild Night” alongside soulful vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Crystal Taliefero, also known for working with Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.

Like The Boss, the Farm Aid co-founder occasionally sprinkled in other social statements, lamenting corporate takeover in rural communities during “Rain On The Scarecrow” and critiquing the often unattainable promises of the American Dream throughout “Pink Houses,” cheekily emphasizing “it’s still the Gulf of Mexico,” in spite of President Donald Trump’s insistence to the contrary, following the track’s most iconic line about the affluent vacationing in that very location.

From there, Mellencamp kept living up to the promise of firing up the jukebox, turning the massive shed into the sweaty “Cherry Bomb” club and making sure this infrequent yet generous look back still “Hurts So Good.”

For additional information on John Mellencamp, visit Mellencamp.com.

Upcoming shows at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre include Summer Of ’99 And Beyond Festival (Jul. 18-19); The Black Crowes (Jul. 24); Hilary Duff (Jul. 26); Ne-Yo and Akon (Jul. 28); Guns N’ Roses (Jul. 29); Avenged Sevenfold and Good Charlotte (Jul. 30); Train (Aug. 7); Lynyrd Skynyrd (Aug. 15); Five Finger Death Punch (Aug. 19); Mötley Crüe (Aug. 22); Kesha (Aug. 29); John Fogerty and Steve Winwood (Sept. 3); Wu-Tang Clan (Sept. 4); Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson (Sept. 5); Dan + Shay (Sept. 12); Pitbull (Sept. 13); $uicideboy$ (Sept. 16); The B-52’s and Devo (Sept. 17); Breaking Benjamin (Sept. 18); Tim McGraw (Sept. 19); Iron Maiden (Sept. 22); Staind (Sept. 23); Hayley Williams (Sept. 24) and Bryson Tiller (Sept. 27). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

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