John Mellencamp w. opener Tom Cochrane (CAN)
Calgary Saddledome
February 15, 2008
Opening act Tom Cochrane was eager to take the crowd down memory lane, and the Canadian veteran knew exactly how to fire up an audience the old-fashioned way. Life is a Highway, White Hot, Sinking Like a Sunset, and Big Leagues were all familiar enough to the classic-rock contingent of Mellencamp’s fans to spark plenty of excitement.
But the sound? I was shaking my head. Honestly, it was nothing short of terrible. The mix was so flat and muddy it was impossible not to wonder if this was deliberate. Three years ago, when John Fogerty opened in the Saddledome, he nearly blew the roof off the place—only for Mellencamp’s set to fall flat afterward. Was this payback? Did “Johnny Cougar” really need to undercut Cochrane just to look good?
Then came The Boy Inside the Man. Suddenly, the arena lit up and, for the first time, the sound was crisp and powerful. For one brief moment, Cochrane was granted the clarity he deserved. The result was bittersweet—proof of what could have been, and a gut-punch reminder of how unfairly he’d been treated. It was hard not to feel sorry for him. For an artist of his caliber, that felt like no less than an embarrassing kick below the belt by the main act.
Setlist Tom Cochrane:
Victory Day
Sinking Like a Sunset
Big League
The Untouchable One
I Wish You Well
White Hot
No Regrets
Life Is a Highway
Lunatic Fringe
Boy Inside the Man
Mellencamp
John Mellencamp opened his set with Pink Houses, his American dream–deflating anthem that, despite often being mistaken for flag-waving patriotism, still packs a punch. Even if his new work tends to slip under the radar, Mellencamp remains capable of filling stadiums, leaning heavily on the portion of his ’80s songbook that still dominates FM radio.
By the time he began to weave in acoustic renditions of more challenging material Friday night, he had already satisfied the hit-hungry crowd with Pink Houses, Paper in Fire, Check It Out, and Lonely Ol’ Night. He knew exactly how to balance the familiar with the unfamiliar: offer enough classics and the audience would happily indulge a few tracks from his yet-to-be-released album.
Backed by a tight, professional band, everything sounded clear and polished—casting an unfortunate, forgettable shadow over Canadian opener Tom Cochrane. The night’s highlights included an intimate acoustic version of Small Town, a fiery Rain on the Scarecrow, and a high-energy run through Human Wheels.
By the time Mellencamp rolled out the pre-encore crowd-pleasers—Crumblin’ Down, Jack and Diane, and R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.—it was obvious the audience had come to sing along to the hits. Mellencamp delivered an excellent show, no doubt. But the decision to undercut his opening act left me with a bitter aftertaste that lingered long after the last chord.
Setlist John Mellencamp
Pink Houses
Paper in Fire
I’m Not Running Anymore
Lonely Ol’ Night
Check It Out
Minutes to Memories
A Ride Back Home
Young Without Lovers
Small Town
Rain on the Scarecrow
Troubled Land
If I Die Sudden
Jena
Human Wheels
Crumblin’ Down
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60’s Rock)
Jack & Diane
Authority Song
(photo for illustration purpose from Wikimedia Commons by FotoPhest)
