It was 7 p.m. on a Friday night in Des Moines and I was driving to meet friends L, M and S at Wells Fargo Arena where I would see one of my favorite bands, Los Lobos, open for John Mellencamp. The sound of my phone ringing pierced the interior of my car. It was the Edwards campaign. I was advised that John Edwards might appear on stage with Mellencamp. So, after my brief interlude of enjoyment of all that is Los Lobos, it was back to work typing on the blackberry. Here is what transpired, according to my notes:
Mellencamp came on stage at 8:55 p.m. The woman standing in front of me raised her beer in salute as Mellencamp opened with "Ain’t that America" to open. The second song, Paper & Fire, featured (mostly) women in the audience screaming as Mellencamp slung his guitar over his back and danced. It was during the third song — I’m on My Way — that Mellencamp shed his jacket and many of the women screamed again. In the midst of the fourth number, Understanding, Mellencamp caught a white bra in his left hand as it was thrown onto the stage.
The band members left the stage at the conclusion of song number four. Mellencamp grabbed an accoustic guitar and started talking with the crowd. He talked about how "his generation" had failed in doing many of the things they’d set out to do — like legalizing marijuana. Mellencamp then told the crowd the last time he’d smoked was in 1972. Mellencamp next asked the crowd about "The Golden Rule" and after he said, "Do unto others," the crowd responded with the rest of it. Mellencamp, standing alone on stage with his guitar, then launched into Tough It Out and Be the Best You Can followed by Jesus Can You Give Me a Ride Back Home? and another song about youth and love. The crowd erupted as he started Small Town and sang the lyrics as though Wells Fargo Arena were one of those sing-along piano bars.
It’s at this point Mellencamp gestures and John Edwards walks on stage. After a few cheers boos overtake the hall. "I’ve been in your small towns," Edwards said as Mellencamp stepped aside to give Edwards a place behind the microphone. "…You didn’t come here to listen to me," Edwards continues as he winds down with a "thank you," waves and walks to the darkened edge of the stage.
The crowd is mostly booing at this point. "I came for a concert," one man behind me yelled. "Refund. Refund," another chanted a few rows back. One person in the crowd made this observation: "Are they booing Edwards specifically or booing because they don’t like politics?" Mellencamp tells the crowd he’s "had a lot of fun with that guy," and begins playing his guitar and singing Small Town again. The crowd slowly begins to sing along again. Edwards stood on the darkened edge of the stage until the song was over, then exited. Mellencamp didn’t say anything at the song’s end, and there was a swell of chatter among the audience members. Mellencamp then launched into a rehash of Farm Aid — mentioning Willie Nelson and others involved — and then the music began again — with the full band — by about 9:36 p.m. (according to my Blackberry).
Mellencamp a little while later talked about the song he wrote in response to the Jena, Louisiana, case, and offered up a two-word expletive to lambaste that city’s mayor, who had criticized the song. Mellencamp’s final number was "Authority."
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the networkâs news director. Sheâs a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Televisionâs âIowa Press,â and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
I can understand the crowd being annoyed by the political commercial interruption but otherwise, it sounds like a terrific concert. The performers really gave the audience something for their money.
Thanks for that run down, I appreciate it. Makes me want to go play some old albums now. I appreciate when artists speak up for what they believe in.
Poor John Edwards. đ
What the hell is wrong with those people? Obviously Mellencamp invited Edwards onstage, it’s not like the guy stormed the stage and ripped the mic out of Mellencamp’s hands. What has happened to politeness here in America?
And Mellencamp has been a political activist as well as a musician for years. His songs reflect that. Maybe some of his fans need to read the lyrics of his songs and limit themselves to Toby Keith’s pablum.
I was at the concert and I booed because I’m tired of seeing John Edwards ad that basically says “vote for me because my wife has cancer.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvjHPxJ3o_s
It sure doesn’t sound like booing on the video, perhaps it was just a close by dissatisfied customer.
Interesting post. But it’s called “Pink Houses” not “Ain’t That America.” That’s like calling “Satisfaction” “Can’t You See I’m On A Losing Streak.”
The YouTube video contradicts the report. There’s a lot of cheering and some booing. Big deal.
I watched the video and the boos were drowned out by cheers. A lot fewer boos than I’d expect when a popular song is interrupted in the middle.
And when Edwards exited, he was practically pulled into the crowd when shaking hands.
Also, not bad for a Presidential candidate to be called a fun guy and an old friend by a well respected rock star in front of 9,000 paid fans.
Hillary Clinton would “plant” a Mellencamp concert for praise like that. But he won’t be endorsing her, except against a Republican.
I would have gone for Los Lobos. Would have left on that high. The two Johns are a bummer. Better to hear LL on their own, with a dance floor.
I know and dislike Edwards’ brand of rich-guy socialism. But who the heck is John Mellencamp?
It was a commercial plain and simple. Maybe his next album can have an Edwards commercial between tracks 4 and 5. People are bombarded with commercials all day long, is it too much to ask to pay concert ticket prices and get a few hours of uninterrupted music?
maybe post the video?
It seems to have a lot more cheering than booing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvjHPxJ3o_s
You’re not painting an accurate picture. I’ve seen the video. Edwards was cheered when he came on stage. He was cheered again when he said he wasn’t speaking and that he wanted to let the audience get back to their show. Don’t inaccurately describe things that can be verified.
Really inaccurate story. Thank goodness for YouTube. You can’t get away with that kind of biased reporting anymore. Boy, are you in need of a refresher course in “journalism,” if you ever had one to begin with.
Wow, this is totally dishonest post. Watch the youtube video. Maybe there were a handful of boos, but I heard only cheers.
I was at the concert – it started out with a few cheers for Edwards, then there were more and more boos mixed in. Pretty equal amounts of cheers and boos overall, I’d say. In my opinion, I was rather dismayed that I paid to see a concert and I got a political ad along with it. I don’t know why entertainers think we want to know their political views.
Good job Vallone on the ball bust. Proud of you, and who the hell wrote the article at the top of this. How the hell does someone (at the top) write a bust chops (being polite) article on John Boy and/or Edwards and not even know the names of the the song “Ain’t that America?), not to mention it’s “Suck it up and tough it out, and be the best you can…” (Minutes To Memories). John Edwards checked out today with class, and gave people something to believe in as far as caring immensely (sorry you can’t spell, or know what that means). By the way, my husband and I, from Canandaigua, NY (can you pronounce it?) flew out to St. Louis and drove to Columbia, MO, a few years ago, to the Blue Note, to see a band called Pearl Doggy… ever heard of them?? Sweet Jane was great.
Good job Vallone on the ball bust. Proud of you, and who the hell wrote the article at the top of this. How the hell does someone (at the top) write a bust chops (being polite) article on John Boy and/or Edwards and not even know the names of the the song “Ain’t that America?), not to mention it’s “Suck it up and tough it out, and be the best you can…” (Minutes To Memories). John Edwards checked out today with class, and gave people something to believe in as far as caring immensely (sorry you can’t spell, or know what that means). By the way, my husband and I, from Canandaigua, NY (can you pronounce it?) flew out to St. Louis and drove to Columbia, MO, a few years ago, to the Blue Note, to see a band called Pearl Doggy… ever heard of them?? Sweet Jane was great.
The video is a little big controversial… maybe you need put some more information to made a good justification
Well, “authority” is a good way of closure your article. i think you need show the point about not all the things are completely bad.