I Went to a Mets Game and an REO Speedwagon Show Broke Out

Erik, Sean, Rebecca and I recently had the pleasure of seeing REO Speedwagon perform after a Friday night Mets game.

Some thoughts and highlights on the EVENT:

- Their hair was fabulous. Singer Kevin Cronin had a manicured Church Lady kind of thing and a couple of the other dudes had bitchin' lion's manes.

- They walked out to I Want to Hold Your Hand. You know - because they are the modern day Beatles.

- They played like they f-ing meant it. It was no joke. 

(from some 2010 show)

- Rebecca commented, "I saw my friend's dog die as a kid and this might be the second saddest thing I've ever seen."

- The show was even more memorable than the Damn Yankees show I saw after an Orioles game in 1993. Then again, I can't remember if I even stayed for any of that show. 

- Erik's air guitar sylings and his lighter app were great. At one point, Sean was trying to get us to chip in 5 bucks to convince Erik to run onto the field. Unfortunately, no dice.

- There was an almost fist fight a few rows in front of us. Upon further review though, it seems that it was more of a drunk REO fan trying to get another fan to sing with him which led to an REO misunderstanding. The beefy security guard had no trouble breaking it up. I was impressed by the tenacity of the security guard's sprint from his comfortable perch on the field to the box seats to break up the REO shenanigans.

- I was reminded by hearing their big hits how much I didn't like them back in the day. And they haven't had a PT Anderson moment to make me not hate them. Although they did brag about how one of their songs was in Rock of Ages and how they weren't sure they'd ever be able to sing it again in the same way because of the way it was used in the movie - nudge, nudge, wink wink. Apparently,  it's used by Alec Baldwin to woo Russell Brand.

- Kevin Cronin let us all know that they used to be just a bar boogie woogie band back in Champaign, Illinois. At another point, he exclaimed, "I'd say Rock and roll and baseball go together great!" I can't remember if he said this before or after he boogie woogied on over to home plate and rocked out like a Beatle at Shea.

- It was so strange that they only let a few people up in front of the stage. Either let more or none. 

This guy was not happy to be there. 

After the show, I insisted to Erik that they had done More Than a Feeling. It took him a few moments to realize that REO didn't even sing that song. We then realized that there were many songs that we thought were REO songs but were really Air Supply, Supertramp, or Styx. On the subway ride home, we all came up with the idea that the band should go on tour singing all their hits plus all the hits that you thought they sang. It would be huge!

The glory days.


The recent incarnation.