Kid Rock was a gregarious, bold and energetic performer bouncing regularly across genres - always with an intense enthusiasm.
After finding his first career success as a rock-fueled rapper, Kid Rock has turned his focus toward the sounds of country and Southern rock in recent years.
Sunday night at the Marcus Amphitheater, Rock blended all aspects of his career into a high-energy show of bawdy and rebellious proportions.
On a saloon-themed stage topped with a gold eagle that looked like the world's largest belt buckle and flanked by two giant rifles, Rock (real name Bob Ritchie) ferociously rapped the opening "American Bad Ass" as green lasers shone through the venue. Introducing the country party anthem "God Bless Saturday," the Michigan native confessed to missing church in the morning. Scantily clad dancers writhed around stripper poles above the eight-piece Twisted Brown Trucker Band on "Cowboy" and the raunchy "So Hott."
Rock was a gregarious, bold and energetic performer bouncing regularly across genres - always with an intense enthusiasm. A classic rock song like "Slow My Roll" would have fit easily onto any Bob Seger album. Rock's gritty vocals were emotive as he played the piano on the solo "Care." A medley featuring "Somebody's Got to Feel This" and "Fist of Rage" blended rap and heavy metal.
Later, Rock had the crowd chant his name as he thrust his fists in the air and moved from DJ decks to guitar and drums.
The crowd cheered as Sheryl Crow joined Rock for an upbeat duet of Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With" before they performed their collaborative hit, "Picture."
Deadlines prevented review of Kid Rock's entire set.
The breezy, soulful pop that filled Crow's hourlong set played well with the crowd, which stood, danced and sang along. Crow stepped behind a keyboard for the opening "Our Love Is Fading," grooved across the stage as she sang "A Change Would Do You Good," and grabbed an electric guitar and joined former Eric Clapton guitarist Doyle Bramhall II at the front of the stage to jam at the end of "Steve McQueen."
Much of the set focused on Crow's first decade of hits. Her first big single, 1994's "All I Wanna Do" led into 1996's "If It Makes You Happy" and "Everyday Is a Winding Road." Crow's long hair blew in the wind of an onstage fan as she urged the crowd to sing the feel-good pop of "Soak Up the Sun."
The tight rock trio of Leroy Powell and the Messengers started the evening with a 30-minute set of country, rock and roadhouse blues. Powell, a former Shooter Jennings guitarist, laid his gritty rock vocals and impressive fretwork on the opening "I Ain't Human" and "Lovin' Machine."
Photo Credit: Jeff Sainlar
SOURCE: Eric Ernst / Journal Sentinel
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