Concert Review: REO Speedwagon at Talking Stick Resort, 5/17/2015

If you were under the age of 40 you probably didn't enjoy REO Speedwagon show last night at Talking Stick Resort. With that said if you were over 40 and attended last night's show you had a blast watching Kevin Cronin and company execute a well constructed blast from the past. This one wasn't for the kids but it was a celebration of some of the best rock/pop songs from the late ’70s/early ’80s.

The Speedwagon was on fire from the opening notes of "Don't Let Him Go" and despite Cronin feeling a bit under the weather the singer/guitarist didn't let his illness put a damper on a great show. It also should be noted that the poolside venue at the poolside at the Talking Stick Resort is one of the best places to enjoy a show this time of year.
Despite the classic rock status the band now enjoys they were in shape, and though Cronin's silver hair showed his age his slender build and vocal prowess during their set was impressive. He spoke of an early meeting he had with music mogul Clive Davis who panned his demo taped, which included "I Can't Fight This Feeling," which when played live had all the soccer moms in the crowd reliving their heydays.

The band sounded like a well-oiled machine. There is something to be said about a band who can go out and perform older material and still do it justice, and on tracks like "Time For Me to Fly" and "Back On the Road Again," featuring bassist Bruce Hall on lead vocals, they did just that.

Though the band's catalog is stocked full of hits, they ended the night with covers of Ted Nugent's "Strangle Hold" and Van Morrison's "Gloria" to a crowd full of fans who danced and sang along to every word, just like they did all night.
Critics Notebook:

Last Night: REO Speedwagon at Talking Stick Resort.

The Crowd: It was definitely an older, classic-rock loving crowd.

Personal Bias: Hi Infidelity was in heavy rotation in my household as a kid.