Three hours before he took the stage at what would be a sold-out Midland theater, Kid Rock sat at a table, flanked by representatives of two Kansas City charities and facing a small assembly of cameras and reporters.
His concert Tuesday was a benefit for El Centro and Helping Hands Ministries. Rock (Bob Ritchie) agreed to appear at the press conference to spread the word about the virtues of each benefactor, with some reluctance. “This is the last thing on my list of things I like to do,” he said.
He was much more at ease later that evening as he took the stage with his 10-piece Twisted Brown Trucker Band. Rock graduated many years ago from theaters the size of the Midland to amphitheaters and arenas. In February he drew about 15,000 fans to the Sprint Center. On Tuesday nearly 3,000 fans packed the Midland (at $50 a person).
They were not shortchanged. He gave them a show that lasted as long as an arena show — nearly two hours — and comprised more than 20 songs. It lacked some of the lavish visual treats of the arena show, but it compensated for that by being inherently more intimate. (And though the sound was fine on the floor, it got weaker as you moved upstairs, especially in the top level).
The set list included most of his standards and hits: “Devil Without a Cause,” which opened the show, “Cocky,” “Cowboy,” “Bawitadaba,” “All Summer Long” and “Only God Knows Why.” It also showcased his versatility.
Read the full review at KansasCity.com.
Comments
Was first row for this show,