By KATE DARBY, Courier & Press correspondent
A crowd packed sold-out Roberts Stadium on Friday night to see Kid Rock and his Rock and Roll Revival Tour. Featuring a couple of special guests, music from multiple genres, and an energetic live show, Rock and his band were able to evoke the feeling that he was preaching to the audience.
Rock started the show by going straight into Rock N Roll Jesus, the song that his latest album is controversially named after. Even though it was new material, the audience was already on their feet, and they stayed standing for the rest of the show.
Though Rock N Roll Jesus set a high level of energy for the show, it also highlighted the downside to the show; the volume was so loud that sometimes, the vocals were lost. Most of the fans seemed unbothered by this, though, as they already knew every word.
The tickets advertised a special guest, and rock fans were not disappointed when Peter Wolf, lead vocalist of the J. Geils Band, made his entrance. His voice is still powerful enough to reach the back rows of the stadium with ease, and he did sing his classic hit, Centerfold.
Kid Rock is a performer in many ways; not only is he a singer and a rapper, but he plays multiple instruments, and he is a DJ. While all of these talents were fun to watch for a little while, he crossed the line between being a showman and a showboater when he commandeered all of the instruments onstage.
However, his energy while he was rapping and singing was infectious; he jumps, throws the mike, and dances constantly, which made the show feel even more like a revival.
While there was a healthy representation of rock and roll, Rock also played several country songs, including You Never Even Called Me by My Name, made popular by David Allan Coe.
Later in the show, he began to incorporate rap. Reverend Run from the group Run DMC made a special appearance during this time of the show. Rock even ventured into Motown, singing, Aint Too Proud to Beg, and gospel, singing, This Little Light of Mine.
Classic Kid Rock songs like Cowboy, Only God Knows Why and Bawitdaba made appearances between his lengthy set of covers and new material, but no matter what he was singing, legions of Kid Rock fans were on their feet, yelling and singing back in support.