reo speedwagon tour 2023 review

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CONCERT REVIEW: REO SPEEDWAGON Rocks the Night Away with Electric Performance and Nostalgic Hits in Pompano Beach (February 8th, 2023)

Words by Jonathan Smith

Classics have a way of continuing to get better with age, and with more than 50 years now in the rearview and more than a decade since their last studio release, Chicago-born arena rock sensations REO Speedwagon have continued to rock the masses with the onset of their golden years. With a multitude of former studio and live members that could constitute a half dozen other bands, they have nevertheless maintained a core lineup that has consistently delivered one ringer performance after the next, solidifying their status as mainstays in the live circuit and winning them tours alongside such noted hard rock stalwarts as Styx , .38 Special and Journey . Yet with the onset of a new year has come some changes in the arrangement, not the least of them being the recent retirement of co-founder and songwriter Neal Doughty in a live capacity, marking the first time this iconic outfit has donned the stage with a new keyboardist no less, but the show must naturally go on, and for the audience at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater on February 8 th , 2023 it would proceed in peak form.

Photo by Joel Barrios

With favorable weather conditions and the onset of dusk, the outdoor venue was almost sold out and the level of anticipation from the waiting crowd was nothing short of palpable. The headliner’s entry would be greeted with a deafening sea of claps and cheers, with newly tapped keyboardist Derek Hilland being the lone newbie to this brand of star treatment. As the feedback of Dave Amato’ s guitar and the infectious grooves of Bryan Hitt ’s kit ushered in the opening banger “Don’t Let Him Go” , the energy level was cranked into overdrive at the very start, and though at first helmsman Kevin Cronin ’s voice came off a tad haggard, by the time the song was in full swing the high notes began to flow like the waves of the Atlantic striking the Florida beach. Indeed, for a man now well into his 71 st year, there was still a youthful zeal to Cronin ’s performance that would permeate the entire set, further buoyed by superb lighting, on-point acoustics and a highly energized and animated showings from Amato and bassist Bruce Hall . The tempo of things had a somewhat slower character relative to even their most recent performances, yet Hitt ’s kit work would prove both precise and strong, driving things along at a respectable roar throughout.

Ever the charismatic showman, Cronin ’s between song banter would be a highlight of the evening, bringing the nostalgia factor into full focus for their longstanding fans and providing a bird’s eye view into their extensive past for any prospective newcomers. Of particular note was his good natured introduction of “Building The Bridge”, which would see three members of the opening act Levon share the stage with this iconic fold in a support role, further bolstering an already dense choir of backing voices. Things would take on a more poignant character with Cronin ’s reminiscence of dearly departed former lead guitarist Gary Dean Richrath prior to a heartfelt rendition of “Son Of A Poor Man” , leaving few of their older attendees with dry eyes no doubt. Other standout moments would include a gripping performance of their smash hit “Keep On Loving You” with Cronin sitting at the piano, along with their other breakout anthem off “Hi Infidelity” “Take It On The Run” and their 1984 banger “Can’t Fight This Feeling” bringing down the house despite the lack of walls or a roof being present. Yet for those who craved a true hard rock spectacle would receive it when Bruce Hall took on vocal duties for the heavy-hitter “Back On The Road Again”, which also served as the song for member intros despite being near the end of the set.

There were many takeaways from REO Speedwagon ’s avid display of old school hard rocking brilliance on this mid-winter Florida evening, but chief among them was the sheer longevity on display by an outfit that has been bringing the thunder to the stage for better than 5 decades and still came away primed for more. Chalk it up to their brand of music being either a de facto time machine or a veritable fountain of youth, but with each member of the core fold (excepting Derek Hilland ) being either just shy of or just past the age of 70, it had little bearing on their ability to recreate anthems that were burning up the charts before many of us had been born amid a highly elaborate stage setup and stellar visual display that has always been a hallmark of the REO Speedwagon concert experience.

Having already hit much of the continental United State in the prior weeks of 2023 and with another date in Puerto Rico on deck, the road for this fold appears far from over, and while they haven’t produced any new studio material in quite some time, the legacy that they’ve built throughout the 70s and 80s alone will be more than enough to carry them until father time finally declares their touring days concluded.

REO SPEEDWAGON Photo Gallery:

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Music | thompson fire rages on, but some residents are returning home, music | review: classic rockers reo speedwagon sparkle during intimate bay area show, reo speedwagon performed at san jose civic.

“We’re going to give you everything we’ve got,” the vocalist said.

Then he and his bandmates went about making good on that pledge, continuing through an energetic and compelling 90-minute show that featured plenty of great songs and an equal amount of outstanding musicianship.

And the crowd ate it up, especially when the pride of Champaign, Illinois, would land upon a big hit like “Take It On the Run” or “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”

“Come on, let’s sing together,” Cronin cajoled the crowd.

He wouldn’t have to make that request twice, as fans eagerly backed up the singer on all the old radio favorites.

Chalk it up as further proof that REO Speedwagon — now more than a half century into a career that began in 1967 — can rock a crowd like nobody’s business.

The group — which also features longtime bassist Bruce Hall, drummer Bryan Hitt, otherworldly lead guitarist Dave Amato and new keyboardist Derek Hilland — wasted no time getting down to business, opening the 15-song show with a fantastic version of “Don’t Let Him Go.” It was one of four numbers performed from the landmark 1980 effort “Hi Infidelity,” which was the top-selling album of 1981 and has now been certified a staggering 10-times platinum.

Cronin and company then brought it back to the 1972 sophomore outing “R.E.O./T.W.O.” for a solid enough rendition of “Music Man,” before returning to “Hi Infidelity” territory for a nice take on “Take It On the Run” that included the first of several incredible Amato solos of the night.

Cronin does some of his best work when he’s encouraging listeners to persevere — to hold on, to keep going, to not give up — so it’s no surprise that the uplifting “Keep Pushin'” (the lead track from the group’s sixth studio offering, 1976’s “R.E.O.”) turned out to be a true highlight of the concert.

The singer then embraced the carpe diem mindset with a convincing “Live Every Moment” (from 1984’s “Wheels Are Turnin'”) and followed up with “That Ain’t Love” (from 1987’s “Life as We Know It”), before returning to the regularly scheduled greatest hits portion of the show with a run through “Tough Guys” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”

REO Speedwagon upped the ante during the final third of the concert, delivering fantastic versions of such fan favorites as “Time for Me to Fly” (from 1978’s wonderfully named “You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can’t Tuna Fish”) and the title track to 1973’s “Ridin’ the Storm Out.”

Then, of course, was the smash power ballad that the fans had been waiting to hear.

“This next song that we are going to play is one that quite literally changed my life forever,” Cronin said in the intro to “Keep On Loving You.”

The group closed the show in triumphant fashion with a high adrenaline take on “Roll with the Changes.”

“Rock ‘n’ roll will keep you young forever,” Cronin said during the final minutes of the set.

Not sure about “forever.” But rock ‘n’ roll is certainly working for REO Speedwagon in 2023.

1. “Don’t Let Him Go”

2. “Music Man”

3. “Take It on the Run”

4. “Keep Pushin'”

5. “Live Every Moment”

6. “That Ain’t Love”

7. “Tough Guys”

8. “Can’t Fight This Feeling”

9. “Son of a Poor Man”

10. “Building the Bridge”

11. “Time for Me to Fly”

12. “Back on the Road Again”

13. “Ridin’ the Storm Out”

14. “Keep On Loving You”

15. “Roll With the Changes”

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• **Buffalo Concert History**

REO Speedwagon Show Only The Strong Survive In Salamanca

Kevin Cronin and Company returned to the Seneca Allegany Event Center this past Saturday. It was their first time returning since 2015. The band was currently wrapping up the first leg of their summer tour leaving vocalist Kevin Cronin to proclaim that the band was gonna let it all hang out and make it a big party. A party they brought especially for the longtime, diehard fans during their 90-minute set. More on that later.

The band hit the stage with their first lineup change in some 34 years as co-founder Neal Doughty retired from the rigors of touring earlier this year. In his place was keyboardist/organist, Derek Hilland who came highly recommended by none other than Rick Springfield himself. The change marked the bands first since 1989 when drummer Bryan Hitt and guitarist Dave Amato came aboard. A very impressive feat to say the least considering all the changes during the band’s early years which saw Cronin leave for a spell only to return permanently in 1976.

The band came out firing right from the start with traditional opener “Don’t Let Him Go”. The band proceeded to play four songs in all before Cronin would first address the crowd during the introduction of “Live Every Moment”, a song until the past few years had not been a regular part of the set since 1985. I’m not sure if the band decided to slip in the all but forgotten gem “Keep The Fire Burnin” in honor of it’s forty year anniversary or what but it made for a real treat. The show zipped along as Kevin mentioned the great Gary Richrath and one of his big contributions in the intro to “Son Of A Poor Man”. Probably the lone song I could have done without was “Building The Bridge”. Yes it was great see the band play a song I’ve never had the chance to see live but I would have rather heard something like “Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight”, “Only The Strong Survive” or even “Shakin’ It Loose” which would have really set the stage heading into the homestretch of the show.

Of course what is an REO Speedwagon show without the classic “Back On The Road Again” sung by bassist Bruce Hall who has been in the band since 1977. Hall has been a steadying force and forms a solid rhythm section with drummer Hitt. The additions of Hitt and Amato in 1989 have been the key for the band to maintain their standard of putting on a solid show tour after tour, year after year. They were able to step right in and the band has never looked back.

Cronin fondly reminisced about the western part of NY state and how they accepted the band during their early days. As Cronin sat at the piano he said “this is the song that changed everything for us” as began the notes to the band’s first chart-topper “Keep On Loving You”. He remained at the piano for the closing song of the night, the aptly titled “Roll With The Changes”. If any band has rolled with the many changes over the years it was REO. They slugged it out in the minor leagues for years before striking gold with Hi Infidelity. They survived losing members and always seemed to be left no worse for wear. Sure they haven’t had any hits in years but with their deep catalog and the many hits they had throughout the years they are exactly where they should be at this point in their career. They still put on one of the best live shows from bands of their genre. If you’ve never seen them make it a point to as they are still rocking with authority.

Don’t Let Him Go Music Man Take It on the Run Keep Pushin’ Live Every Moment Keep the Fire Burnin’ Tough Guys That Ain’t Love Can’t Fight This Feeling Son of a Poor Man Building the Bridge Time for Me to Fly Back on the Road Again Ridin’ the Storm Out

Keep On Loving You Roll With the Changes

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Music and Concerts | Allentown Fair concert review: Styx, REO…

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Music and concerts | allentown fair concert review: styx, reo speedwagon deliver a rousing show on first night.

Appearing like movie silhouettes while taking their places on stage, REO Speedwagon frontman Kevin Cronin, now 72, looked almost as good as he did 40 years ago when opening with “Don’t Let Him Go” followed by the mega-hit “Take It on the Run” which were both well received by the all-age audience. A few songs later, and the entire crowd was on their feet dancing and singing upon hearing the first few opening piano notes of the fan-favorite radio ballad, “Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore.”

REO Speedwagon formed in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois and is known for its classic rock sound and commercial success in the 1980s. REO continued into the setting sun with “Golden Country,” “Time for me to Fly,” and “Ridin’ the Storm Out.” The only lasting founding member, keyboardist Neal Doughty, was also joined on stage with drummer Bryan Hitt, guitarist Dave Amato and bassist Bruce Hall. The set closed for the evening with their 1978 extended version of “Roll With the Changes” that bolstered the fans for the upcoming Styx performance.

Now that the air was alive with energy, Styx delivered the rock ‘n roll we were all waiting for, spanning for over 50 years of 39 hit singles. Opening with “In Those,” a hit off their 2021 album, “Crash of the Crown,” followed by “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) and then “Lady,” Styx brought their studio-magic straight to the stage. The band’s members, especially singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw and former member Dennis DeYoung, provided many Styx songs with themes of introspection, fantasy, and social commentary.

The band’s dynamic keyboardist and showman Lawrence Gowan took little to no time to start spinning his keys bringing vibrant stage theatrics to engage the crowd. Chuck Panozzo, the band’s founding bassist, made an appearance during the performance of “Fooling Around (The Angry Young Man),” one of my personal favorites.

This was a treat for fans as Panozzo makes more appearances with the band after fighting an illness for many years. He was replaced by Ricky Phillips, formerly of Bad English and the Babys. Drummer Todd Sucherman was excellent on the kit which I was surprised to see had a double-kick drum, but Styx is known for blending musical styles, including rock, progressive rock, pop and even elements of classical music. They are also known for its members’ musical prowess and skill which is evident in their intricate compositions and harmonies.

NIGHTCRAWLER: Allentown Fair on Wednesday | PHOTOS

“Too Much Time on My Hands,” an astounding favorite that has lasted through the decades from the album Paradise Theater, was received with a standing crowd followed by “Khedive” and then “Lost at Sea.” Newest member, guitarist Will Evankovich, and guitarist James “J.Y.” Young, also provided riveting solos and gritty vocals during the show. The last song of the set was the ever-popular 1978 former top-10 single, “Come Sail Away” where the crowd sang every lyric while lighting up the dark sky with lighters and cell phones in hand. It was one of my most appreciated songs of the night.

After 120 minutes of continual music, the crowd demanded more and Styx returned on stage for a two-song encore. Gowan started with their synthpop 1982 hit, “Mr. Roboto” leading on keys and spinning on the platform, while Shaw closed the night with the heavier sounding “Renegade.” Ending the night with such an ambitious, captivating song reminded the audience that although Styx has some of the most memorable ballads of the 1970s/80s, they are still the rock band we grew to adore and sing in our cars with, and still do after 50 years.

Jenny Talbot is a freelance writer.

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PHOTOS + REVIEW — REO Speedwagon at Ruth Eckerd Hall 2023

REO Speedwagon w/ Levon • February 07, 2023 • Ruth Eckerd Hall — Clearwater, FL • Photos by Randy Cook — instagram.com/horns_raised

REVIEW: REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon rocked Clearwater, FL for a sold out performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall on February 7, 2023. We fans were treated to a night of rocking remembrance as the band touched upon several of their releases and of course played heavily from their popular radio anthemic hits, which are still in rotation today.

It is hard for me to fathom that REO Speedwagon’s debut album was released over fifty years ago, hence the term ‘Dad Rock’ which I just discovered hearing the term for the first time as the crowd was shuffling into the venue. While the band has gone through a few personnel changes in the early years, the current lineup has been together and touring for over thirty years although with a very recent change with the addition of Derek Hilland on keyboards as long-time keyboardist Neal Doughty has retired from touring.

This was my second time seeing REO Speedwagon and they are a band I grew up listening to and watching their videos on MTV. For the nostalgic among us, I think it is interesting to note that REO Speedwagon’s hit ‘Take It on the Run’ was the ninth video ever played on MTV back in 1981. They had eight different songs play within the station’s first 200 videos, including another of their monster ballad hits ‘Keep on Loving You’, which was the first Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit to be played on MTV. It is no surprise that the band has a very strong fan base that continues to this day.

Sure I knew there would not be any mosh pits or anything as I had a couple of my metal friends turn a funny eye to me when I said I was going to this show. I think Ralph Macchio’s statement as Daniel LaRusso to William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence in the Netflix series Cobra Kai epitomizes my love for REO Speedwagon, when Johnny is surprised that Daniel could possibly like REO Speedwagon in this exchange as they ride in a car as ‘Take it on the Run’ plays on the radio:

Johnny: “You like Speedwagon?” Daniel: “What kind of man doesn’t!”

It was such a profound and true statement that even the band themselves shared the clip on social media:

"You like Speedwagon?" "What kind of man doesn't?" Only the power of REO can bring Daniel and Johnny together. #CobraKai pic.twitter.com/buF4oYMB3T — REO Speedwagon (@kcreospeedwagon) September 9, 2020

As with every show I go to I take interest in the makeup of the age demographics in the crowd and it was not unexpected that this was a multi-generational crowd given the band having a career that spans five decades. Another thought that came to mind was that the band’s inclusion into the Rock Band video game series opened them up to a completely new, younger generation of fans. This was easily a three-generation show as evidenced by the faces I saw in the crowd.

It was the same lineup as my first time seeing REO Speedwagon in that the band Levon was the opening act. In 2021 Levon played an acoustic set where this evening they were full plugged in and totally rocked the house. This is a band who is fully inspired by REO Speedwagon, as lead singer Michael David Hall took a moment to share with the crowd how proud the band was to be invited back for another tour with REO and told us in the crowd to “…follow your dreams, you never know where they will take you…one day you might just be opening for your musical idols, REO Speedwagon”. Levon played a couple of covers in their set, and shared that both of them were requests by REO band members. Guitarist Ryan Holladay handled the vocals on their cover of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ and it was so spot on they received a well-deserved standing ovation after the song was complete. We were also asked to just sit back and enjoy the show, to …”worry about your problems tomorrow, as tonight we were here to rock!”

As the lights dimmed and show time for REO Speedwagon was upon us there was a brief moment a hushed silence of eager anticipation upon the crowd but as soon as those first notes hit our ears the crowd was up on their feet and engaged as the band launched into ‘Don’t Let Him Go’ to open their set. Singer Kevin Cronin was very engaging with the crowd sharing stores that led into the next song and showing appreciation to the fans. He acknowledged that without the fans, there would be no REO Speedwagon. His vocal range may not be what it once was, and while he certainly encouraged us fans to sing along, in no way did he need us to carry the tune(s).

The set list touched upon nine different releases and played heavily from my personal favorite, Hi Infidelity which was released in 1980, coinciding with my musically formative years. This was a very sentimental show for me, as I recall being a youngster in middle school in the early 80s and I idolized (the late) Gary Richrath and his guitar playing style after seeing the band’s videos on MTV. I would use my tennis racket and air guitar the band’s gushing love songs, singing my heart out into an invisible microphone to the cute girl from my French class who had no idea I was even alive. From the faces I saw in the crowd I was not alone in my trip down memory lane throughout every song played this evening.

As the set list progressed throughout the night it was apparent just how much fun the band was having engaging and interacting with the crowd. Once their more popular hits came along it was a literal sing along between the band and the audience. It was a very touching intro from Kevin as he introduced ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’, a song he dedicated to his future wife, he just had not met her yet at the time he wrote that smash hit. It was quite apparent from what I could see many couples in the crowd considered it ‘their song’ and there was some definite slow dancing in the isles occurring.

To say that I have grown up with this band is an understatement. Their songs have been with me and on the radio for times when I have had to ride the storms of life out, as I have rolled with the changes that we all go through in life and most certainly for the times when I knew it was time for me to fly from certain situations I had found myself in. REO Speedwagon has not released any new music since 2007 and yet they are still selling out shows, which just solidifies the longevity of their music.

By the time the final notes of their concluding song ended, a standing ovation was in order and delivered for the appreciation of the musicianship and timeless rock and roll journey the band had just performed for us in attendance. As always, my compliments to the sound crew, every show I have ever seen at Ruth Eckerd Hall the sound was spectacular and the band was spot on in their musical timing (thirty years playing together will do that). Also worth a mention is just how good the lighting was as by the time I got to my seat after my three song photo allotment near the front of the stage I wished I could have kept on shooting photos from my seat. Alas, I sat back and rocked my way down memory lane alongside those next to and around me.

It was an excellent show, I highly enjoyed the experience and I encourage anyone who is a fan who have not seen this band live to do so before it is time for them to fly off into retirement. I wish I had not waited until 2021 to see them for the first time and will certainly keep my eyes and ears out for any of the future shows in my area.

REO Speedwagon is: Derek Hilland – keyboards Kevin Cronin – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards Bruce Hall – bass, backing and lead vocals Dave Amato – lead guitar, backing vocals Bryan Hitt – drums

REO Speedwagon set list for February 7, 2023 at Ruth Eckerd Hall: Don’t Let Him Go Music Man Take It on the Run Keep Pushin’ Live Every Moment That Ain’t Love Tough Guys Can’t Fight This Feeling Son of a Poor Man Building the Bridge Time for Me to Fly Back on the Road Again Ridin’ the Storm Out

Encore: Keep On Loving You Roll With the Changes

REO Speedwagon Live Concert Review and Photos by Randy Cook /// @horns_raised

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We can’t fight this feeling anymore — we can’t wait for REO Speedwagon’s 2023 Tour .

The seminal ’80s rockers are currently midway through their nationwide concert tour that will take them and their timeless anthems all over North America from January through August.

This time around, they’ll bring the hits you know and love to venues as far-ranging as Las Vegas to Puerto Rico .

And while it may seem like business as usual — we certainly expect the group to bust out the hits like “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Take It On The Run” and “Keep On Loving You” — one major component is changing.

For the first time in 35 years, keyboardist and founding member Neal Doughty will sit out this run of shows.

“I want everyone to know that it was all that traveling that finally got to me,” Doughty shared on the band’s official Instagram . “I always enjoyed playing the shows and looking out to see all the loyal fans who allowed me to do this for so long.”

So, if you want to see who will take his place — or if he surprises audiences by showing up — you can by snagging tickets now.

If you act fast, you might just score a great deal too.

In fact, we found some tickets going for as low as $38 before fees on Vivid Seats at the time of publication.

All prices are subject to fluctuation.

REO Speedwagon tour dates

A complete calendar featuring all of REO Speedwagon’s upcoming tour dates, venues and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found below.

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

REO Speedwagon special guests

When you see REO on the road, it won’t just be Kevin Cronin and co. at your show.

The classic rockers have lined up an eclectic list of performers set to open for them on the road.

Here’s what you need to know about their support acts that just might be at the concert you attend.

Sir, Please , a funky, Agoura Hills-based quartet, features Kevin Cronin’s sons Shane (lead singer, piano) and Josh (bass, background vocals) with two of their best friends. Listen closely enough to their laid-back tropical pop sound and you’ll hear REO’s influence.

John Waite was the lead singer for the Babys and Bad English but most likely you know him from his smash single “Missing You.” Most recently, he dropped his tenth studio album “Rough & Tumble” in 2011.

Levon isn’t quite what one would expect on an REO show — they’re a country band. However, they buck expectations by emulating The Eagles and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young which makes them a perfect fit for the tour.

Chris Trapper ‘s music might sound familiar if you saw the films “There’s Something About Mary” or “The Devil Wears Prada.” The American singer-songwriter has lent his music to a number of movies and TV shows over the years. His most recent album “Cold Water Waltz” was released in October 2020.

’80s groups on tour in 2023

Time really flies.

Blink and the ’80s were somehow over 30 years ago.

Thankfully, many of the greatest artists from the decade are still hoofin’ it around the country this year.

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REO Speedwagon Announces 2023 Tour

New US tour dates for REO Speedwagon have been revealed to begin in the late summer.

The trek will start on June 12 in Newkirk, Oregon, and ends on September 3 in Las Vegas. However, there’s no specific date yet for the performance at Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California, scheduled for September. Tickets will start to go on sale this coming January 27.

Looking back, Neal Doughty, the original keyboardist for REO Speedwagon, announced his retirement from touring earlier this month. The band stated:

“Keyboardist and founding member Neal Doughty has decided the time has come to retire from touring and begin enjoying the results of his years of hard work after 55 years with REO Speedwagon and having spent his entire adult life on the road.” in a declaration Doughty continued, “I want everyone to know that it was all the traveling that finally got to me. I’ve always enjoyed performing live and seeing all the devoted fans who have supported me for so long.”

Several dozen performances have been scheduled for the band this year and they are keeping their doors open for Doughty to perform with them. Kevin Cronin stated:

“It will be a major shift to glance around and not see Neal behind the keyboard. We will miss his quick wit and lively discussion on those long bus rides. But Neal needs that, and we are here to help him.”

REO Speedwagon Summer 2023 US Tour Aug. 12 – Newkirk, OR @ 7 Clans First Council Casino Aug. 13 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory Aug. 14 – Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Theatre Aug. 18 – Gilford, NH @ Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion Aug. 19 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Casino Resort Aug. 20 – Grantville, PA @ Hollywood Casino Aug. 25 – Kettering, OH @ Fraze Pavilion Aug. 26 – Toledo, OH @ Toledo Zoo Amphitheater Aug. 29 – Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre Aug. 27 – Bay City, MI @ Wenonah Park Aug. 30 – Inglewood, CA @ YouTube Theater September 2 – Lincoln, CA @ Thunder Valley Resort & Casino September 3 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fremont Street Experience (Free to the Public) September TBA – Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery

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STYX, REO Speedwagon and Loverboy Review

“Live & Unzoomed” Tour to FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California July 16 2022 By Andy J. Gordon

Southern California Baby Boomers got a nostalgic treat as rockers from MTV’s heyday STYX and REO Speedwagon, with support from Loverboy, brought their “Live & Unzoomed” Summer 2022 tour to the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California. Nearly 12,000 adoring fans enjoyed a beautiful summer evening at the outdoor venue as the three bands thrilled the audience with spot-on versions of their memorable hits.

Loverboy opened the show as the Southern California evening sun blazed down on the large stage. Lead vocalist Mike Reno said, “It’s great to be in front of a crowd again” as he led original members Paul Dean on guitar, Doug Johnson on keyboards and Matt Frenette on drums. Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve replaced the late Scott Smith on bass. The band played fine, tight versions of their songs and got enthusiastic support from the crowd.

Reno led the audience through a call and response during “Loving Every Minute of It.” Many fans could be seen dancing at their seats and in the aisles while the band played “Hot Girls in Love.” Matt Frenette played a short drum solo before the other band members joined in and got everyone on their feet for “Turn Me Loose.” Many in the audience sang along and Paul Dean ended it with a stunning guitar solo. They finished the set with “Working For The Weekend” as the crowd nearly drowned out Reno’s vocals.

STYX followed with a superb performance. The multi-Platinum rockers and longtime members – James “JY” Young and Tommy Shaw on lead vocals and guitars, Chuck Panozzo and Ricky Phillips on bass and vocals, Todd Sucherman on drums and Lawrence Gowan on lead vocals and keyboards were joined onstage by newest member, guitarist Will Evankovich. Gowan and Shaw both sounded amazing and the band’s harmonies were outstanding throughout the set.

The show included extravagant visual effects and all of the band’s hits. Gowan exceled early in the set on “The Grand Illusion” and “Lady.” He got quite a bit of dramatic use from his 360 degree, rotating keyboard setup – sometimes playing backwards, other times spinning it like a top. Gowan’s vocals and the other members harmonies were excellent on “Rocking The Paradise.” Shaw played an impressive guitar solo to end the song. Shaw then told the back story about the Panozzo brothers forming the band (drummer John died in 1996) and brought out Chuck Panozzo who had been in the wings up to that point.

Panozzo stayed for the rest of the set. Shaw played acoustic guitar and sang lead vocals for sweet sounding “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man).” He introduced “Too Much Time on My Hands” by saying “this song debuted in the first hour of MTV.” The crowd probably did not remember that historical moment, but definitely enjoyed the band’s performance of the song. 

The set ended with a dramatic version of “Come Sail Away” led by Gowan. The crowd sang along as the stage was filled with smoke, trippy lights and visual effects. Each of the musicians played beautifully during the instrumental portion of the song and Shaw capped it off with a scintillating solo. They did a two song encore that included the Gowan led “Mr. Robato” with Japanese themed visual effects and “Renegade” led by Shaw. The band showed off their great harmonies again with the slow opening as the song transitioned into a rousing climax. James Young provided an excellent solo before the band finished the song and their set.

Read the review of Styx in Boston from NOV 2019 here.

REO Speedwagon received the headliner slot at FivePoint (they alternate with STYX at each of the Summer 2022 tour stops) and thrilled the audience with their performance. The band has been fronted by vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972. The other longtime band members at the show were Bruce Hall on bass, Neal Doughty on keyboards, Dave Amato on guitar and Bryan Hitt on drums. 

It did not take long for the band to get the audience singing along. Cronin was nearly drowned out when he began “Take It On The Run.” A bit later, he quipped, “I’m 70 years old and at this point in my life I thought I would know what’s going on in the world, but I don’t know shit!” He then played acoustic guitar and led the band through a still relevant version of “Live Every Moment.” 

Cronin introduced Neal Doughty as the only band member to play on every album and at every show throughout the band’s history. Doughty sat at a grand piano and played superbly as the band started “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” The late section of the show included more big hits. Doughty played a trippy organ intro for “Time For Me To Fly” as Cronin sang and played a twelve string guitar. The crowd was swaying and waving their arms as Amato played a blistering solo with his double necked Fender strat. 

The set ended with a spectacular version of “Riding The Storm Out.” Amato played another inspired solo and instead of leaving the stage before the encore, all of the band members stayed. Cronin moved to the piano and led them through a wonderful version of “Keep On Loving You” that segued fluidly into the show ending “Roll With The Changes.” Cronin was still playing piano and he traded sophisticated solos with Doughty on organ and Amato on his guitar as they finished the performance.

Three bands who produced many hits over the years formed a pleasing lineup at FivePoint Amphitheatre. The crowd enjoyed a long night of terrific music performed by talented artists who still love to play for the audience. That love went both ways. As long as STYX, REO Speedwagon and Loverboy continue to pump out quality live versions of their hits, crowds will keep coming to relive many fond memories. 

Photos courtesy of Andy J. Gordon ©2022 

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REO Speedwagon concert reviews and tour history

• reviews: 27
• rating: 88.3% (30)

Fans' concert reviews Read all

Shubert theatre in philadelphia, us on sat, 01 jun 1974.

I was there that night. We all from south Philly had noooo idea who was reo but we knew about Mott 💪💪💪🤙. Wow. I remember that night like it was yesterday. Blessed

Effingham Performance Center in Effingham, US on Sat, 07 Nov 2015

REO Speedwagon was awesome as always! The opening band was awful!

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-barre, US on Fri, 23 Oct 2015

It was a great time in a great venue with great friends.

Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca, US on Sat, 12 Sep 2015

The show was awesome! Loved every second of it !! Hope to see you guys again if you make it back here again! :) ♡

Ho-Chunk Gaming - Wisconsin Dells in Baraboo, US on Sat, 23 May 2015

Was very impressed and had a great time.

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, US on Fri, 15 May 2015

REO Speedwagon at Cabazon Live May 15, 2015 with Jon Burk and Alicia Burk Don't Let Him Go: Hi Infidelity Music Man: You Get What You Play For Someone Tonight: Hi Infidelity Keep Pushin' On: You Get What You Play For Tough Guys: Hi Infidelity Time for Me to Fly: You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish Back on the Road Again: Nine Lives Can't Fight This Feeling: Wheels Are Turnin' Take It On the Run: Hi Infidelity In Your Letter: Hi Infidelity That Ain't Love: Life As We Know It Roll with the Changes: You Can Tune a Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish: encores Keep on Lovin' You: Hi Infidelity Riding the Storm Out: You Get What You Play For A very enjoyable set of hits and favorites. The only song I didn't recognize was That Ain't Love. The best versions of the pre 1977 hits are on their live album, "You get What You Play For" which is why I listed that.

ISU Hulman Center in Terre Haute, US on Thu, 16 Apr 2015

Amazing show, as expected. They put on one hell of a show. Very interactive with the crowd which made it that much better. Oh, and the opening band- UPSHOT, was awesome as well. their lead singer had one helluva voice!! Thanks REO Speedwagon, and please come again.

Having seen them perform on TV and knowing them for 40 yrs. they were just what I expected, well, except for three inconsiderate young ladies in front of us who thought we would rather watch them dance than see the band. Those guys know how to entertain!

The Colosseum in Windsor, Canada on Fri, 07 Nov 2014

Had a great time at the Caesars Windsor Concert. You guys were amazing, definitely would love to see you come back.

Had an awesome time at your show at ceasars windsor last night! Great set list... For an 80's band you guys rocked the house.. Only had one problem.. No band merchandise... Really hope to see you guys come back again and bring the house down!!

Rated concerts View all

• The Colosseum in Windsor, Canada Fri, 07 Nov 2014 100% from 2 ratings
• Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, US Sun, 19 Oct 2014 100% from 2 ratings
• Effingham Performance Center in Effingham, US Sat, 07 Nov 2015 100% from 1 rating
• Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca, US Sat, 12 Sep 2015 100% from 1 rating
• American Music Theatre in Lancaster, US Sun, 22 Jun 2014 100% from 1 rating
• Southland Park Gaming & Racing in West Memphis, US Sat, 18 Oct 2014 100% from 1 rating
• Shubert Theatre in Philadelphia, US Sat, 01 Jun 1974 100% from 1 rating
• Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, US Fri, 20 Jun 2014 95% from 2 ratings
• ISU Hulman Center in Terre Haute, US Thu, 16 Apr 2015 95% from 2 ratings
• North Charleston Performing Arts Center in North Charleston, US Sat, 10 May 2014 93.3% from 3 ratings

Ratings View all

• one of the best: 12 43%
• fantastic: 15 54%
• great: 1 4%
• disappointing: 0 0%
• should've stayed at home: 0 0%

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Reo speedwagon 2024 tour dates view all, reo speedwagon tour history, about reo speedwagon.

REO Speedwagon is a group founded 57 years ago in 1967.

Based on our research data, it appears, that the first REO Speedwagon concert happened 55 years ago on Fri, 17 Jul 1970 in Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, US and that the last REO Speedwagon concert was 7 days ago on Fri, 28 Jun 2024 in BMO Harris Pavilion, Henry Maier Festival Park - Milwaukee, US.

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CONCERT REVIEW: STYX and REO SPEEDWAGON Deliver Rocking Comfort to the Lincoln Crowd

BY PAM WHISENHUNT | Go Venue Magazine

It was a breath of old school 70s & 80s nostalgia this past Tuesday – May 10, 2022, at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, when Styx , REO Speedwagon and George Thorogood rolled through on the Live & Unzoomed Tour .  The show was originally set for the Pinewood Bowl Theatre, but due to weather and grounds condition, it was moved to the Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

The show opened with a local Nebraskan duo, Tom & Wes . Tom Roth & Wes Stebbins played a simple, no frills acoustic set covering a variety of 70s favorites.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers kicked off the “Rock Party” playing a full set of Thorogood’s popular songs.  There was strong crowd participation throughout. People were singing along to favorites like “I Drink Alone” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”.  Thorogood had diehard fans on their feet dancing.  His efforts to connect to the audience with local references were well received.  He referred to Lincoln as a “best kept secret”.

The crowd, mostly seasoned rock and rollers, continued to stroll in.  Almost everyone was settled by the time REO Speedwagon began, and it’s a good thing; they didn’t want to miss what was next. REO Speedwagon started with “Music Man” “Take It On the Run” and “Keep Pushin”. I found myself in full-on 80s sentimentality with “I Can’t Fight This Feeling”. 

REO Speedwagon ’s lead vocalist, Kevin Cronin announced he was 70 years old and acknowledged he doesn’t know it all, and he’s still learning. Cronin introduced his bandmates, but most notably keyboardist Neal Doughty . A founding member in 1967, Doughty has played on every REO Speedwagon album and performed at every show.  An impressive stat by any means. 

REO Speedwagon left the stage. People started leaving for intermission when moments later, the band came back for an encore.  Something I’ve never experienced before (a non-headliner doing an encore).  They wrapped up their set with “Keep On Loving You” and “Roll With The Changes”. 

Styx kicked off their set with a new song “The Fight of Our Lives” and a classic “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)”. Styx played a mix of old songs including “Lady”, “Rocking the Paradise” and “Come Sail Away” mixed with music from their 2021 album Crash Of The Crown . Vocals from Lawrence Gowan (keyboardist) and Tommy Shaw (guitar) were controlled and melodic. 

Gowan introduced the band members; Will Evankovich is the newest member on guitar. Ricky Phillips playing the five-string bass has been with the band for 20 years. Todd Sucherman , winner of nine Modern Drummer awards, has been drumming for Styx since 1995. Tommy Shaw on guitar with his “hair always in place”.  Lastly, when Gowan recognized James Young (guitar) and Chuck Panozzo (bass) as founding members, they received resounding applause and a standing ovation.  

Styx was entertaining. They effectively engaged the audience and played with the same energy they always have.  They kept the light show classy and low-key; no pyrotechnics or strobe lights. Styx closed the show with the popular “Mr. Roboto” and “Renegade”.

Veterans of Styx & REO Speedwagon shows were happy with the performance, and newbies like myself were impressed. Fans were delighted with the top tier production, enthusiastic atmosphere and premier sound. It’s no surprise why these bands are considered rock legends. 

Styx and REO Speedwagon continue their tour throughout the summer with special guest Loverboy .  You can find upcoming tour dates at styxworld.com .

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Monday 16 January 2023

REO Speedwagon

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Jessie Murph, REO Speedwagon, and the best and worst of Day 5 at Summerfest 2024

A new TikTok star and an enduringly popular classic rock band were among the musicians who thrilled Summerfest audiences in the rain Friday.

More: Tyler Childers played one of Summerfest 2024's biggest shows. He absolutely deserved it.

More: Here's the Summerfest 2024 lineup by date, time and stage for the Milwaukee music festival

Get daily updates on the Packers during the season.

Jessie Murph

TikTok has proven its ability to transform its users into commercial hitmakers. Case in point, Jessie Murph went from uploading covers while a high school cheerleader to recording radio tracks with the likes of Diplo and Jelly Roll. But it is always intriguing to see if that recorded success can translate to the bigger − and less protected − live environment.

Friday night at the UScellular Connection Stage, Murph made the transition feel seamless as her unique, beautiful and impassioned vocals carried her hyper-personal lyrics out across a large crowd of adoring fans, hearty ones who had waited out a torrential downpour minutes before Murph’s set to maintain their spots standing on the bleachers in front of the stage.

“Jessie! Jessie! Jessie!” they chanted as the singer emerged singing the hook to “Wild Ones,” her Jelly Roll collaboration, as the rain began to pour again over the rumbling western dirge that soon became the sensitive piano introduction of “While You’re at It.” Murph grasped her chest in awe at the adoration down below.

“Alright, this next song is unreleased,” Murph said, often a harbinger of disinterest from a crowd eager to hear hits. Instead, the soaked fans screamed their approval for the thumping soul-filled melody and Murph’s grooving vocals, delivered from a platform above her band.

Raindrops were illuminated by the stage lights as Murph delivered the delicate − yet powerful − lyrics of “If I Died Last Night.” It was one of those special Summerfest moments where a crowd, an artist (performing what she said was her first nighttime festival set ever) and the elements came together in a perfect way.

— Erik Ernst, Special to the Journal Sentinel

REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon’s sold-out show at the BMO Pavilion was a testament to their longevity and legacy. Every generation was represented, including some kids who may or may not have been fans.

As frontman Kevin Cronin jogged onto the fancy audio-level designed stage the entire audience leapt to their feet. He strummed the first few notes of “Don’t Let Him Go” and fans let out a collective howl. He was soon joined by the rest of the band and settled into the classic rock hits.

The band's chemistry was perhaps the highlight, shredding guitars and bass as close to each other as possible though they had a full-size stage to move around on. Their voices were stronger than ever and they moved with the agility of men half their age. They also dressed the part. Many of the '70s/'80s groups I’ve seen this year are beginning to slow down. Not these guys. Even keyboardist and original member, Neal Doughty, was getting busy on the keys like it was 1984.

The audience sang and danced into the night. “Keep Pushin’” and “Take It On The Run” garnering the most applause. Even those without tickets watching from the gates were grooving until the rain almost ruined their evening.

— Damon Joy, Special to the Journal Sentinel

Charles Wesley Godwin

Weather evidently prompted Charles Wesley Godwin to start his set a bit early at the Briggs & Stratton Big Back Yard; it was pouring on and off throughout, but a faithful crowd stood rapt on the bleachers and people continued to straggle in.

They may have been drawn, for instance, by a modest cover of the Allman Brothers’ “Midnight Rider,” but they undoubtedly stayed as it drifted into Godwin's own “The Flood,” relating a childhood story as a bridge between the songs.

Following a pensive beginning to the song, Godwin and his seven-piece band unleashed a fury on the scale of AC/DC for the breakdown. Americana unafraid to truly rage.

“This one’s for my daughter,” said Godwin, introducing “Dance in Rain.” Not even a grin to acknowledge the meteorological relevance tonight? Well, these are very personal songs; his latest album, last year’s "Family Ties," is essentially a family-oriented concept album, some of the material undeniably heartbreaking.

By the time he pulled out his prog-country centerpiece “Another Leaf,” the crowd had at least doubled, the rain still falling. As he was wrapping up his set with “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” it seemed all of Summerfest had suddenly showed up to sing along.

— Cal Roach, Special to the Journal Sentinel

The All-American Rejects

It’s been more than a decade since All-American Rejects released their most recent album, but you wouldn’t have known that from the large crowd that filled the stands in front of the Uline Warehouse Friday night. The Oklahoma-formed pop punk four-piece band (touring with an added keyboardist) rewarded the throng early with their 2002 debut single, “Swing, Swing” just as a light rain started to fall over Summerfest.

Front man and bassist Tyson Ritter laid a long sustained rumble of a note as the band walked onto the stage and the song's familiar chorus riffed over Ritter’s high-pitched but steady vocals. The crowd danced in the rain and responded to Ritter’s excoriations to “Sing it!” When the drops got bigger and more and more of the crowd donned ponchos, Ritter exclaimed “Let’s get (expletive) busy!” as the band thrashed into a syncopated “Fallin’ Apart.” “Let’s dance in the rain, (expletives)!” Ritter yelled. And the crowd did.

As he declared that he was taking Summerfest on a musical time machine, it was now pouring and he counted back to 2002 for the crunchy “My Paper Heart,” which became the soundtrack to a soaking wet yet joyous 2000s pop punk dance party.

— Erik Ernst

Hippo Campus

Summerfest was bracing for storms once again Friday night as Hippo Campus emerged onto the Generac Power Stage. Frontman Jake Luppen screamed in excitement as the St. Paul quintet launched into “Yippie Ki Yay.” Within seconds, rain began to sprinkle down.

“Everything at Once,” the group’s new single, provided an early mood lift; most in the packed crowd could already sing along. It’s yet another foray into ironic-or-is-it modern pop stylings, of the euphoric Imagine Dragons type in this case. Hippo Campus are a daring adopter of auto-tune as well, arguably still typically a joke in guitar-music circles; whether earnest or not, they’re pioneers in the dissolution of genre barriers.

Then it really started to pour. Nobody left.

“Who gives a (expletive) about rain? This is magic,” said Luppen after “Ride or Die.” Pandering perhaps; regardless, the mostly young, enthusiastic crowd never let up.

Well, except when guitarist Nathan Stocker started teasing fellow headliner REO Speedwagon’s “Take It on the Run,” only to be met with blank stares.

“Here’s one you might know,” said Luppen, and he guessed right; the crowd singing “South” nearly drowned the band out. Drenched and still dancing, some of these kids just had a night they'll never forget.

— Cal Roach

Jacksonville, Florida indie rockers Flipturn attracted a sizable Gen Z crowd to the Generac Power Stage Friday night. The show was a stop on the band's 2024 tour to promote its 2022 album "Shadowglow."

Keeping it casual in jeans and T-shirts, the young band, who opened for 9:30 p.m. headliner Hippo Campus, kept fans bouncing and bobbing to high-energy tunes such as "Chicago," "Vanilla" and "Sad Disco." At one point, something that appeared to be a drone hovered near the stage.

With grunge-rocker good looks, a big smile, just the right touch of angst, and sweet vocals, singer Dillon Basse is an affable frontman. His performance, paired with guitarist Tristan Duncan's searing, tuneful riffs and the entire band's unflagging momentum, were an irresistible combination. The crowd responded in kind, cheering loudly, waving their hands in the air, and holding their cell phones up.

"This is so cool!" Basse announced in a slight southern drawl, to the stage, before complimenting the artists that made up the Generac stage lineup, namely, Hippo Campus, which he acknowledged as a "huge inspiration" to his band.

— Catherine Jozwik

With her name visually reverberating from the screen above her DJ stand, HYO revealed a wry smile as she counted into her early evening set at Sunmerfest’s Aurora Pavilion Friday.

“1. 2. 3… Everybody jump!” she instructed a small crowd that swelled in both size and energy as the beats of Genesi’s “Push Me” bounded from the venue and out into the festival’s pathways.

The South Korea native and former member of K-Pop group Girls' Generation has transformed herself into a DJ and solo pop star in recent years. The former role brought her to Milwaukee, as she blended tracks from Shane Fontane and Max Styler early in her set, with swirling beats and thumping bass fueling the frenzied graphics on screen and her own energetic fist pumping and bobbing of the bright blonde hair and dark sunglasses on her head.

The music and club-like swirling lights probably would have lent themselves more to a more dramatic after-dark set, but both the crowd and HYO didn’t let daylight slow them down. They bounced and shouted in unison under a circling video-capturing drone as Matroda’s “Mozart” pumped through the speakers and mixed with Tyla & Marshmello’s “Water.”

Milwaukee Remembers — Celebrating Life and Music

Sure the big names are the main draw to Summerfest − but local musicians are the festival’s backbone, constituting the majority of the 600-some acts that play each year.

So Summerfest was a fitting locale for a special local music showcase at Aurora Pavilion Friday afternoon, entitled “Milwaukee Remembers,” that honored musicians who’ve passed in recent years who shared their talent on the Big Gig’s stages.

As names and photos of late local artists graced the screen − including, but certainly not limited to, Mike Hoffmann, Cecilio Negrón Jr., Keith Pulvermacher and Julie Wooldridge − a rotating cast of veteran Milwaukee musicians − including Julie’s husband Brian (the event’s chief organizer), Louie Lucchesi from Louie and the Flashbombs, and Betty Blexrud-Strigens and Damien Strigens from Testa Rosa − sweetly played songs in their honor. It culminated with all the participants sharing the stage at the end to jam through Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane” and, especially appropriate, Talking Heads’ “Heaven,” co-written by Milwaukee native and Heads member Jerry Harrison.

The music was lovely, but scanning the crowd, it was clear the reunions were even more special. “Milwaukee Remembers” was a relatively late addition to the Summerfest lineup this year, but I hope it becomes an annual event.

— Piet Levy, [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jessie Murph, REO Speedwagon, and the best and worst of Day 5 at Summerfest 2024

Latest News

The show is coming together….

written by REO Speedwagon October 19, 2023

Hi friends,

As our “Evening of Hi Infidelity …and More” shows grow nearer, and the pre-production work amps up, and the months of working up all the songs at various sound checks during our 2023 tour begin to pay off, I am thankful for the countless hours I have spent with my vocal coach of three years, Jeffrey Allen.

My son Shane graduated from the USC Thornton School of Music, Pop Vocal program, and Jeffrey Allen heads that department. Shane would tell me, “Dad, you need to work with Jeffrey …he will change your life.” And my son was right!

It was rough going for a while, as Jeffrey fundamentally changed everything I thought I knew about singing. Plus, he continues coaching me through some of the emotional hurdles which are hold-overs from the early 1970s, when I lost my spot in REO due to vocal problems.

Anyway, the challenges of singing the entire Hi Infidelity album in sequence are many. Plus, there is plenty more singing in Act Two, (the unplugged portion), and Act Three, (other deep cuts and hits). I am currently holed up in an undisclosed location, working with Jeffrey via Zoom, and practicing singing through this all-new concert presentation. “An Evening of Hi Infidelity …and More” is set to debut on November 10 and 11, at the Venetian Theater in Las Vegas. I could not do this without the support of Jeffrey Allen, another of the unsung heroes (get it?) of the REO team.

Putting together this show has been a labor of love for my friend and manager Tommy Consolo, REO lighting designer Paul Dexter, and me. We have been re-imagining this concept for years. “An Evening of Hi Infidelity …and More” is an ambitious undertaking. Our plan is to make it a totally immersive experience for the fans, as we celebrate the dawn of the 1980s through the music of Hi Infidelity, and trace the history of REO Speedwagon through the songs, and stories about those songs. We look forward to seeing you there.

Okay, back to work … kc

An Evening of Hi Infidelity …and More

39 years of hi infidelity, the story: reo speedwagon.

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REO Speedwagon at BMO Pavilion on June 28 during Summerfest

MILWAUKEE, WI (February 5, 2024) – Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is excited to announce REO Speedwagon as the headliner for the BMO Pavilion with Miller Lite on Friday, June 28, 2024.

Tickets for reserved seating will go on sale Friday, February 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. via Summerfest.com , Ticketmaster.com , or in person at the Summerfest Box Office, and includes admission to Summerfest the day of the performance.   

During Summerfest, concerts at the BMO Pavilion will once again offer seating options for all evening headlining performances, giving fans the choice of reserved seats available for purchase or free general admission seating on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For more information visit Summerfest.com 

About REO Speedwagon Formed in 1967, signed in 1971, and fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972, REO Speedwagon’s unrelenting drive, as well as non-stop touring and recording jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. Platinum albums and radio staples soon followed, setting the stage for the release of the band’s explosive Hi Infidelity in 1980, which contained the massive hit singles “Keep On Loving You” and “Take It On the Run.” That landmark album spent 15 weeks in the No. 1 slot and has since earned the RIAA’s coveted 10X Diamond Award for surpassing sales of 10 million units in the United States. 

From 1977 to 1989, REO Speedwagon released nine consecutive albums all certified Platinum or higher. To date, REO Speedwagon has sold more than 40 million albums around the globe, and Cronin and bandmates Bruce Hall, Dave Amato, Bryan Hitt, Derek Hilland, and most recent addition Matt Bissonette, are electrifying audiences worldwide in concert with hits and fan-favorites such as “Ridin’ The Storm Out,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Time For Me To Fly,” “Roll With The Changes,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Take It On the Run,” and many, many more.

More recently, REO has been featured in Season Three of the hit Netflix series, Ozark, with an episode entitled: “Kevin Cronin Was Here.” Cronin sang a duet with Dolly Parton on his number-one hit, “Keep on Loving You” for her star-studded Rockstar album, which featured a who’s who of rock luminaries including Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Sting, to mention just a few. Cronin performed on the 2022 season finale of American Idol , is a regular guest with the Jim Irsay Collection band, and is currently putting the finishing touches on his memoir, “Roll With The Changes… My Life Within and without REO Speedwagon.” REO Speedwagon launched their first Las Vegas residency in November of 2023, the sold-out “An Evening of Hi Infidelity …and More!,” with return engagements set for May, and again in October of 2024. The band is active in numerous charitable endeavors including the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Music Drives Us, and Moffitt Cancer Center. 

About Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance   Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is a premier independent music festival, hosting the industry’s biggest acts for an unforgettable live music experience.  Since its inception in 1968, Summerfest continues to distinguish itself as a top national music festival and has developed an unrivaled reputation, consistently featuring hundreds of performances across 12 stages, throughout the 75-acre festival grounds along Lake Michigan. Summerfest 2024 will take place over three weekends - June 20-22, June 27-29, and July 4-6. For more information, visit Summerfest.com , or follow us on social media @Summerfest on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.   

Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., producer of Summerfest, continues to fulfill its nonprofit mission of bringing the community together and providing a showcase for performing arts, activities, and recreation to the public, through music and special events.

About BMO Financial Group BMO Financial Group is the eighth largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.3 trillion as of October 31, 2023. Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to 13 million customers across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life , BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and inclusive society.

Note:  All performers and show times are subject to change.  

• Julie Dieckelman
• (414) 273.2680
• [email protected]

            ROCKBANDREVIEWS .COM

• May 21, 2018

Review: REO Speedwagon

Updated: Jun 21, 2018

DON FELDER, STYX, AND REO SPEEDWAGON

       nearly sell-out the perfect vodka, amphitheater. leave fans wanting more.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL-

Whenever I review a concert that takes place during the week, rarely does the venue ever sell out. You're lucky if three-quarters of the seats are filled. Last night was a first in such a long time and I should have guessed that the Perfect Vodka Amphitheater would basically sell-out with the stellar line-up playing. For a Wednesday night concert, this certainly was a Saturday night crowd, ready to rock into the night.

Legendary musicians Don Felder, REO Speedwagon, and STYX brought a trifecta of unforgettable music, both old and new, and for the young and old. I thank all three for allowing all of us to travel in their time machine and reliving the music and the moments that make us who we are today.

The fist to take the stage is Don Felder.

The legendary guitarist/songwriter responsible for one of the most recognized songs in the history of music, Hotel California, wowed the crowd with throw-backs from the Eagles. Towards the end of his set, Tommy Shaw of STYX joined Felder for a couple of songs.Highlights include Take It Easy and Hotel California. Needless to say, Felder’s guitar playing was mesmerizing and unforgettable. Vocals could not have been more on point.What an amazing performance by a man, who’s guitar playing changed the face of music in the seventies.

Kevin Cronin and his motley rockers of REO Speedwagon hit the stage hard with many of their greatest hits. Keep Pushin On, Take It On The Run, I Can't Fight This Feeling, Don't Let Him Go, and Time For Me To Fly were played to perfection and took you back to the eighties in an instant. Not sure if Cronin had throat issues last night because his vocals wavered a bit during many of the songs, nevertheless a powerful set that many in the audience could not help but sing along with.

Last, but certainly not the least, was  STYX. This band hit all the right notes tonight. With the bands new album, The Mission climbing the charts, it was certain that the band would be playing selections from this great, new catalog of music. And they did! Sharing the vocal duties with Tommy Shaw  was keyboardist Lawrence Gowan and guitarist James “JY” Young. This gave the band diversity and allowed the fans to hear songs a little differently than usual. All time favorite songs, such as Lady, Blue Collar Man, Come Sail Away, and Too Much Time On My Hands were played loud and proud and many to standing ovations. STYX was the sure favorite tonight and left the fans demanding more.

This concert was one of the best I have seen in a while. Judging by the reaction of those in attendance, I believe it was one of theirs too.

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• REO Speedwagon
• June 26, 2024 Setlist

REO Speedwagon Setlist at The Devon G. Buffett Amphitheater, Decatur, IL, USA

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• Don't Let Him Go Play Video
• Music Man Play Video
• Take It on the Run Play Video
• Keep Pushin' Play Video
• Live Every Moment Play Video
• Tough Guys Play Video
• I Wish You Were There Play Video
• Can't Fight This Feeling Play Video
• Son of a Poor Man Play Video
• Golden Country Play Video
• Time for Me to Fly Play Video
• Ridin' the Storm Out Play Video
• Keep On Loving You Play Video
• Roll With the Changes Play Video

Edits and Comments

3 activities (last edit by Kissfan76 , 27 Jun 2024, 11:40 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Don't Let Him Go
• I Wish You Were There
• Keep On Loving You
• Take It on the Run
• Golden Country
• Ridin' the Storm Out
• Son of a Poor Man
• Can't Fight This Feeling
• Live Every Moment
• Roll With the Changes
• Time for Me to Fly
• Keep Pushin'

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REO Speedwagon Gig Timeline

• Jun 22 2024 Ozarks Amphitheater Camdenton, MO, USA Add time Add time
• Jun 25 2024 Old National Events Plaza Evansville, IN, USA Start time: 8:15 PM 8:15 PM
• Jun 26 2024 The Devon G. Buffett Amphitheater This Setlist Decatur, IL, USA Add time Add time
• Jun 28 2024 Summerfest 2024 Milwaukee, WI, USA Start time: 9:30 PM 9:30 PM
• Jul 08 2024 Somerset Amphitheater Somerset, WI, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time

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Top Metro Detroit Events for July 2024

The Beach Boys

Teleport to the beaches of SoCal for a night when one of America’s most cherished and iconic rock bands makes a stop at Meadow Brook Amphitheatre. Fronted by founding member and original lead vocalist Mike Love, this incarnation of the surf rock institution also features Bruce Johnston, who has been a member of the band since 1965. July 5. $29+. Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, 3554 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills ; 313presents.com .

Whiskey Myers

The Texas-based Southern rock band catapulted into the top 10 of the iTunes country chart in 2018 after its music was featured in the hit streaming series Yellowstone. The six-piece’s genre-defying sound blends elements of blues, country, and hard rock in tracks like “Broken Window Serenade” and “Ballad of a Southern Man.” Flint-based country rockers Whitey Morgan and The 78s will open the show. July 6. $29+. Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights ; 313presents.com .

Royal Oak Outdoor Art Fair

Royal Oak’s charming Memorial Park serves as the backdrop for this annual art fair featuring displays by more than 100 local, regional, and nationally known artisans. After browsing paintings, sculptures, photography, glasswork, and more, attendees are invited to pull up a chair on the lush lawn and enjoy music from local performers. July 6-7. No cost. Memorial Park, 31050 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak ; royaloakarts.com .

Niall Horan

This Irish singer-songwriter first gained global fame as a member of the boy band One Direction. Following the group’s hiatus in 2015, Horan signed on as a solo artist with Capitol Records and released his debut album, Flicker , which went on to hit No. 1 chart spots in both the U.S. and Ireland. Expect to hear selections from the artist’s latest album, 2023’s The Show, when he makes a stateside stop at Pine Knob Music Theatre. July 10. $79.50+. Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Clarkston ; 313presents.com .

Doctor Moloch

Witness the world premiere of this new play by Carla Milarch that grapples with what it means to be human in a rapidly evolving world. Set in 2029, the play follows actress Serena Blaise as she attempts to help the world’s first robotic doctor improve its bedside manner. Directed by Briana O’Neal, the production stars Shelby Bradley, Louie Chen, and Artun Kircali. July 12-Aug. 4. $28. Theatre Nova, 410 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor ; theatrenova.org .

Summer Organ Celebration

Professional organist Lance Luce will demonstrate the wonder of the Redford Theatre’s historic Barton Organ at this evening program. First, enjoy a guided tour of the Redford Theatre, including a behind-the-scenes look at the organ’s massive chambers. Then enjoy a screening of the classic Laurel and Hardy 1929 silent film Bacon Grabbers with a live organ accompaniment — exactly the way it was intended to be seen. July 13. $15. Redford Theatre, 17360 Lahser Road, Detroit ; redfordtheatre.com .

Pat Benatar

The rock legend will be joined by her husband and longtime collaborator, Neil Giraldo, on her Funtastic ’24 tour. Best known for ’80s power ballads like “Love Is a Battlefield” and “Heartbreaker,” the 71-year-old vocalist boasts four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. July 16. $35+. Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, 3554 Walton Blvd. Rochester Hills ; 313presents.com .

Ann Arbor Art Fair

Featuring nearly 1,000 artists and spanning 30 city blocks, this summer tradition in downtown Ann Arbor is made up of three separate events: the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original; Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair. As the largest juried art fair in the country, it draws artists from around the U.S. displaying works in a variety of mediums, including paint, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and sculpture. July 18-20. No cost. Downtown Ann Arbor; theannarborartfair.com .

D.L. Hughley

Fans of ’90s and early ’00s TV may recognize Hughley as the host of BET’s ComicView or as the face of the ABC/UPN sitcom The Hughleys . Most recently, the comedian and actor appeared on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show as a guest host. He’s also appeared on Dancing with the Stars and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . $45+. Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit ; 313presents.com .

Train and REO Speedwagon

Two prolific hit machines will join forces for the Summer Road Trip 2024 tour, offering fans two full sets of timeless anthems. Pop-rock perfectionists Train first dominated American radio in 1998 with the single “Meet Virginia,” before shooting to truly stratospheric fame on the heels of its Grammy Award-winning second album, Drops of Jupiter . Arena rockers REO Speedwagon lit up airwaves in the ’80s with hits like “Keep on Loving You” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” Together, the bands claim more than 50 million albums sold worldwide and more than 32 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. July 21. $35. Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Clarkston ; 313presents.com .

Brian Simpson

This Austin, Texas-based comedian’s distinctive point of view comes from a lifetime of unique experiences — including growing up as a foster child and spending years in the Marine Corps. Named a “Comic to Watch” by Variety in 2023, Simpson uses comedy to dissect everything from racism to missing pets to the Wu-Tang Clan. His first stand-up special, Live from the Mothership , debuted on Netflix to positive reviews earlier this year. July 25-27. $30. Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak ; comedycastle.com .

Twelfth Night

Join the metro Detroit area’s best professional and emerging actors for two weekends of classic theater, performed outdoors in Royal Oak’s Starr Jaycee Park. Twelfth Night follows pirates Viola and Olivia as they set sail for the West Indies. A shipwreck off the coast of Illyria sets the scene for a silly, salty romance — an ideal treat on a warm summer’s night. July 25-Aug. 4. Cost TBA. Starr Jaycee Park, 1321 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak ; shakespeareroyaloak.com .

Orchard Lake Fine Art Show

This two-day juried fair has brought more than 100 talented local and national artists to the heart of West Bloomfield since 2003. Voted one of the country’s best art shows for 12 years in a row, the event features paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, woodwork, and glasswork, as well as food trucks, live music, and a kids’ art competition. July 27-28. $5. 6925 Daly Road (south of Maple and west of Orchard Lake Road), West Bloomfield ; hotworks.org .

Canadian performer Tate McRae got her first taste of fame at age 13, when she made it to the final round of the American reality competition show So You Think You Can Dance . She later signed on with RCA Records and achieved her first hit single in 2020 with “You Broke Me First,” which reached the 17th spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. McRae will be joined by up-and-coming pop artist Presley Regier. July 28. $274+. Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights ; 313presents.com .

Comedy Bang! Bang!

On his podcast of the same name, host Scott Aukerman and a cast of oddball regulars interview celebrity guests and compete in offbeat games. Aukerman will be joined by comedian Paul F. Tompkins and other Comedy Bang! Bang! regulars for this live, completely improvised version of the show. July 29. $39+. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. 4th St., Royal Oak ; royaloakmusictheatre.com .

This story originally appeared in the July 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on July 8.

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Classic rock group REO Speedwagon to pull into Erie's Warner Theatre in July

REO Speedwagon, known for melodic rock anthems and powerful ballads, is coming to Erie in July.

Formed in 1967 and signed in 1971, the band has sold more than 40 million albums around the world.

REO Speedwagon consists of renowned vocalist Kevin Cronin, bassist Bruce Hall, keyboardist Neal Doughty, guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt. The band will be in Erie to perform their classic hits, including “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Take It On the Run” and more.

When will they perform in Erie?

Their concert is set for July 18 at 8 p.m. at the Warner Theatre, 811 State St. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

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Check out who are scheduled to play The Erie Jazz and Blues festival lineup announced

How can I get tickets?

Tickets will go on sale starting Wednesday at 10 a.m. on Erie Event’s website, erieevents.com .

Ticket prices are $133.75, $92.50, $72 and $61.50.

VIP packages are available for $315.42 and will include one reserved seat in the first 10 rows, a specially designed REO Speedwagon shirt, bandana and enamel pin set, plus a commemorative tour laminate and lanyard and commemorative ticket.

To purchase tickets, visit the box office at Erie Insurance Arena, 809 French St.; call 814-452-4857; or go to  erieevents.com .

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at [email protected]

Tyler Childers played one of Summerfest 2024's biggest shows. He absolutely deserved it.

It was the first show announced for Summerfest 2024 − and it turned out to be one of the biggest.

Kim Kardashian may not have shown up for Tyler Childers' "Mule Pull" tour stop at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater Friday as she did for R&B superstar SZA last Saturday. But in terms of attendance, Childers may have drawn the bigger crowd, with every seat in the 23,000-person capacity amphitheater full at the start of his two-hour set.

That's quite a climb, since less than a decade ago, Childers was playing for just a couple hundred people in Milwaukee at the Back Room at Colectivo Coffee. Back then, no one, Childers himself, would probably expect he'd end up headlining some of the largest venues in the country. But a rabid thirst for the kind of authentic, traditional-minded country Childers specializes in − served with a hearty spoonful of bluegrass inspired by his native Kentucky − has propelled Childers (and other likeminded artists, like Zach Bryan) to surprise superstardom.

Friday night, Childers proved he was ready and worthy of making that leap, his showmanship far more magnetic than it was when he last played Milwaukee, at the Riverside Theater in 2019.

His show is much more polished too, in every way, kicking off with a dramatic, static-laced, channel-surfing intro on an old TV set on the center of the stage, with dramatic sound effects, spliced with sounds of crickets, swelling from the speakers. Sharp animations graced virtually every song on the handsome, living-room inspired stage − and even a drone could be seen pulling "Top Gun" like maneuvers over the crowd to film the first song.

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And that first song − a powder keg cover of Charlie Daniels' "Trudy" − showed how much more powerful Childers' band has become. It came with not one not two but three waves of tasty jams − first among guitarists James Barker, CJ Cain and Jesse Wells, then later, a more simmering but equally tantalizing series of solos from Jimmy Rowland on keys to Chase Lewis on organ to Craig Burletic on bass. But then when Rodney Elkins set fire to the kit near the end, everyone joined together for a dazzling '70s soul-funk finish, the kind of showstopper any act blessed enough to possess this kind of musical firepower would opt to save for the grand finale.

Instead, Childers and company were just getting started. That "Trudy" jaw-dropper didn't even demonstrate the band's full musical arsenal. For subsequent song "Country Squire," Barker bounced over to a twangy pedal steel, and Wells picked up a fiddle, to really get fans' boots a scootin'. More musical textures would further emerge for "Percheron Mules" via Burletic's jazzy stand-up bass, Cain's plucky mandolin and, best of all, Rowland's zydeco-seasoned accordion. And while Childers let his bandmates do much of the instrumental flexing, he got in on the fun with a mean mug-flashing, soulful fiddle solo coming out of "Purgatory" − part of a mind-altering extended instrumental outro that began with alien-like electronic ambience, and culminated with Lewis' hands a stupefying blur as he dazzled with super-human speed on the keys − before somehow, ending the solo playing even faster.

Great as the band was, there were a couple moments where indulgence got the best of them. A winning "Whitehouse Road" deep in the set morphed into a momentum-draining psychedelic jam − complete with Rowland chiming "Hare Krishna" on a vocoder − that was more than a few people's cues to head on out and beat the traffic. And impactful as Elkins drumming was for "Deadman's Curve" − channeling the oft-sampled beat created by late, great longtime Madison-based drummer Clyde Stubblefield − the revved-up rock rendition of that song squandered the subtle, emotional devastation from that tune, with Childers' singing about a loved one, tragically addicted to drugs, he's unable to save from themselves.

But Childers, as a singer and showman, was far more engaging than his last (fatigued) time in town, aided by underhand lights that accentuated his expressions and enhanced his bristling, bluegrass holler for "Creeker," and he essentially transformed into a spirited Sunday preacher for "Rustin' in the Rain," the title track of his latest album. But Childers also proved that he could still accomplish spine-tingling intimacy − even in a packed venue with more than 20,000 people − excusing the band for four spellbinding solo acoustic songs that spanned from the swooning "Lady May" to the crushing "Nose on the Grindstone."

"There are 110 things that you can be doing right now, and this is the one thing you chose to do," a gracious Childers said Friday. "I appreciate that."

And out of some 600 artists that will perform at Summerfest this year, this show will go down as one of the best.

More: Jessie Murph, REO Speedwagon, and the best and worst of Day 5 at Summerfest 2024

More: Here's the Summerfest 2024 lineup by date, time and stage for the Milwaukee music festival

S.G. Goodman, Adeem the Artist opened for Tyler Childers

Tyler Childers earned praise for telling a gay love story via the music video for his 2023 hit “In Your Love.” His LGBTQ+ advocacy continued Friday with a gay country artist and nonbinary country artist as his openers (plus some sharp soul and traditional country tunes and remixes from DJ Charlie Brown Superstar).Childers’ fellow Kentuckian S.G. Goodman dryly joked Friday that as an opener her obligation was to upset or bore the audience so they’d be elated when the headliner took the stage. With simmering originals like “Old Time Feeling” she failed that obligation, although anyone who happened to feel bored likely perked up when her song “Supertramp” slid into a sly version of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer,” and when she leant her piercing voice to her starry-eyed signature “Space and Time” that Childers covered last year.Sporting black lipstick, cool shades, fingerless gloves and blue fingernail polish, Knoxville, Tenn.-based Adeem The Artist (minus some folk apparel flourishes) looked the part of an ‘80s rocker. But their songwriting, especially in this solo mode Friday, was more evocative of John Prine’s expansive spectrum, from the crackling wit of tongue-in-cheek tune “Womyn Who Bartend” to “Rotations,” a clearly personal heartstring-tugger about the passage of time written for their 6-year-old.

And both artists made return appearances during Childers' set - Adeem first for "Whitehouse Road," then Goodman for "Triune God."

Tyler Childers’ Summerfest setlist

• "Country Squire"
• "I Swear (To God)"
• "Deadman's Curve"
• "Percheron Mules"
• "Rustin' In The Rain"
• "All Your'n"
• "Purgatory"
• "In Your Love"
• "Shake The Frost"
• "Nose on the Grindstone"
• "Follow You to Virgie"
• "The Old Country Church"
• "Whitehouse Road"
• "Honky Tonk Flame"
• "Triune God"
• "House Fire"
• "Universal Sound"

More: Here's what you need to know about Summerfest 2024 tickets, parking and bag policy

More: Summerfest 2024 in Milwaukee: 27 must-see acts, from SZA to Tyler Childers to Lil Uzi Vert

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or  [email protected] . Follow him on X at  @pietlevy  or Facebook at  facebook.com/PietLevyMJS .

Entertainment | Odesza at Folsom Field ushers in a new concert…

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Entertainment, entertainment | odesza at folsom field ushers in a new concert era for cu boulder.

The renowned Buffs football stadium will turn into a vibrant musical venue on Saturday night when electronic musical duo Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight — aka Odesza — will perform a sold-out show to 40,000 fans from all around the country.

For the first time since 2016, Folsom is welcoming music that isn’t Jerry Garcia-inspired and tie-dye laden, with a subculture of rabid fans. In 2016, Dead and Company cracked a 15-year hiatus from live music at the stadium, bringing back live shows for the first time since Dave Matthew’s Band played in 2001 with Wyclef Jean. Dead and Company kept the shows rolling for seven years (minus the pandemic’s 2020-2021) until the band hung up touring in 2023.

This year, Odesza is sliding into that slot with its The Last Goodbye Finale Tour. (The band is also bidding adieu to touring for the foreseeable future.)

To those who don’t know, Odesza is a big name. The musical duo has more than 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, has three Grammy Award nominations and consistently performs headlining slots at festivals like Governor’s Ball and Bonnaroo. In years past, the pair performed many sold-out shows at Red Rocks and Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater — a spot where fans assumed the two would perform again this year.

However, in a tour lineup that also includes locations like the Gorge Amphitheater, Madison Square Garden and BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, fans were surprised — but excited — to learn that the Colorado tour stop would take place at Folsom Field in little old Boulder.

According to Ryan Gottlieb, CU Boulder senior associate athletic director, all 40,000 tickets for the concert sold out in 24 hours — the only concert to do so on Odesza’s “The Last Goodbye Finale” tour.

“To be one of four cities on their tour, that was a really big win for us,” Gottlieb said. “I think it proves how phenomenal of music fans we have in the state of Colorado — but more specifically, in Boulder. And then, to sell that amount of tickets in just a couple of hours … that’s special. That’s extraordinary, big time.”

Folsom Field has a knack for attracting big-time names and numbers.

In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Folsom hosted concerts each summer with legends like Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, and REO Speedwagon. But the stream of summer concerts tapered to a trickle in the ′90s with a lone Paul McCartney concert in 1993, followed by the 2001 Dave Matthews show and then the string of Dead and Company shows.

Gottlieb said having Dead and Company perform was a revival for Folsom — the excitement around another large musical act performing live on the field was widespread. Local businesses enjoyed the increased revenue that the concerts brought in. With the capacity to safely manage large crowds and a keen interest from renowned performers, the question arose: Why not host more concerts?

“The idea was, we have this beautiful stadium in an incredible setting, but we had only been using it about 10 times a year — six or seven home football games, graduation ceremonies, the Bolder Boulder, and maybe Fourth of July Fireworks,” Gottlieb said. “When we were looking at summer 2024, we knew Dead and Company wouldn’t be coming back, so we decided we had to do something new to fill our calendar, and frankly, keep us relevant as a concert venue.”

After Odesza performs Saturday, acclaimed country songster Tyler Childers — known for his traditional country sound with a modern, introspective twist — is scheduled to perform at Folsom on Aug. 17, marking the first summer since 1986 that the stadium will host more than one concert from multiple artists.

“I think this is the start of something big,” Gottlieb said, noting that CU staff is excited to see what will happen in the next few summers.

And while Folsom is ushering in an exciting, young and hip new era, many readers are probably wondering how the local Deadheads are faring now that Dead and Company halted touring (and since picked up residency at Las Vegas’ new Sphere arena).

According to one local Grateful Dead fan Stoney Williams, it was about time that Folsom Field ushered in some new talent.

“We all knew last year was going to be the final ride for Dead and Company at Folsom,” Williams said. “So for me, I’ve mourned that and come to terms. I’m just happy that they are still jamming on, and truth be told, I went to the Sphere a couple of weekends ago, and that was mind-blowing.”

Williams added: “I’m glad [Folsom] is opening up to new acts. And, who knows, maybe some of these newcomers will strike a chord with people like me down the road.”

Since the Odesza show is sold out for Saturday, some good news is that the CU ticketing office has released several “limited view” tickets for sale at $85 each, plus a $37.60 fee per ticket. The view may not be the most pristine, but at least you’ll be able to hear the magic. Visit cubuffs.evenue.net for tickets.

Official parties around town

Special Delivery – Official Odesza finale kickoff event:  Start the weekend off with a celebration of Odesza’s “The Last Goodbye Finale” tour with an exclusive kickoff event featuring artists from the independent record company Foreign Family Collective, a lineup curated by Odesza, as the duo is the co-founders of the Collective. 8 p.m. Friday, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder; $35, Sold out; z2ent.com .

Liquid Sky Odesza at Fiske Planetarium:  Sit back and relax at this signature Fiske Planetarium laser light show, set to Odesza’s most sonically stimulating music from the past decade. 10 p.m. Friday, Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Drive, Boulder; $10-14; colorado.edu/fiske .

CU Rave Club and DV8 Present Odesza pre-party: Partake in the ultimate concert pregame with other Odesza superfans at DV8, which will be offering buy-one-get-one-free drink specials and tunes from DJ Pulse Ctrl and other local artists.  2:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday; DV8 Distillery, 2480 49th St., #E, Boulder; $10-15; dv8.fun .

ODESZA Folsom Field After Party at The Fox:  Head to the Fox Theater post-show for the ultimate Odesza after party. Dance the night away with sets from artists Spirit Motel, Rizzy Rails, Kvndyce Rose, Hammerhype and Murra. 11 p.m. Saturday; The Fox Theater, 1135 13th St., Boulder; $20-25; z2ent.com .

Special Delivery — Official Odesza after party: This show features a secret lineup of Foreign Family Collective Artists who will perform after the big show at Folsom Field — also curated by Odesza. 11 p.m. Friday, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder; $35, Sold out; z2ent.com .

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