- Home
- News
- Opinion
- Letters
- Sports
- Prospecting
- Essentials
- Obituaries
- Real Estate
- Comics
- Gallery
- Classifieds
- Advertisers
- Coupons
- Contact Us
Share Article
460
504460504
MEMBERS OF REO SPEEDWAGON jam at Thunder Valley Casino's amphitheater recently. Photo by Randy Miramontez
LINCOLN — Reo Speedwagon lead singer Kevin Cronin admits he and fellow rocker Ted Nugent agree on most topics of discussions — except for the greatest love song.
Cronin said Nugent feels “Cat Scratch Fever” is the greatest love song of all-time. But Cronin is biased and feels the band’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” is the ultimate love song. Right after he’s finished talking about the song, Cronin segued into the band’s signature power ballad by belting out the notes on his piano in the middle of the band’s show at Thunder Valley Casino’s amphitheatre recently.
Most of the women at the concert, ranging in ages early 20s to early 70s become sentimental when Cronin lent his vocals to the 1984 hit song off the band’s “Wheels Are Turnin’” record that was the 10th record in the band’s history at that time. Men held their significant other’s hand, put their arm around them or whipped out lighters and weave in motion left to right.
The pop-rock band jammed for 90 minutes in front of an estimated 7,000 fans at the amphitheatre. The band had been touring with Nugent throughout most of the summer, but was the main act on this comfortably warm and light windy night.
One by one, Cronin, keyboardist Neal Doughty, bass Bruce Hall, drummer Bryan Hitt and lead guitarist Dave Amato walked onto the stage and immediately started the concert with their 1980 hit “Don’t Let Him Go” off their 1980 smash record “Hi Infidelity.”
The quintet played a variety of hits; “Music Man,” “Take It On The Run,” “Find My Fortune,” That Ain’t Love,” “Like You Do.” Of course, what would an Reo Speedwagon concert be without playing the hits that included “Keep The Fire Burning” and continuing with “Time For Me To Fly,” “Roll With The Changes” and the popular concert ending songs of “Riding The Storm Out” and “Keep On Loving You.”
In the early 1970s, Reo Speedwagon started off as a hard rock band that released nine records throughout the decade with limited success. In 1980, the band changed its tune and switched to a pop sound that found success in selling records and selling out most shows throughout most of the decade.
Contact Mike Bush at 530-344-5079 or mbush@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @MBushMtDemo on Twitter.
Discussion | No comments
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy