STL Today Review The Rock N Rebels Tour With Lynyrd Skynyrd/Kid Rock live in Maryland Heights, MO 7/21/09
Twenty years into a career that's inexplicably linked country, rock-rap and pop music, it seemed fitting that Kid Rock opened his concert Tuesday night at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing."
From that point on, no matter what genre he and his band played, it was a rock show.
A white curtain lifted to reveal Rock in a black-leather jacket and jeans with a big belt buckle while flames shot up from both sides of the stage. He tore into "Rock N Roll Jesus," the title track off his 2007 CD, and then right into "Son of Detroit" and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice."
Rock continually thanked his St. Louis fans between songs, saying there were 21,000 people in the amphitheater. At one point he flashed a picture of Albert Pujols on the projector screens, drawing huge cheers.
"It's nice to be back in St. Louis," he said. "Times are tight. Thank you for spending your money to come see us tonight."
The songs poured out seamlessly, and Rock worked the stage like a true showman while his nine-piece band, Twisted Brown Trucker, kept the beats. Longtime Rock drummer Stefanie Eulinberg was the group's backbone, picking up vocal duties throughout the night.
Fans responded to Rock's enthusiasm during a call-and-response routine and when he sidled up to the DJ table to show off his spinning skills (and throw back a shot of Jim Beam). At another point, Rock played piano on "Cowboy."
Rock and his audience members were all smiles when he teased covers like Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever," the Georgia Satellites' "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" and Sly & the Family Stone's "Everyday People." It's clear that this is where Rock excels playing other people's appealing songs and making them his own.
Roadies replaced an American flag at the back of the stage with a confederate flag before the start of "All Summer Long," Rock's 2008 summer anthem that became his biggest hit to date. Backup singer Stacy Michelle came to the front of the stage for a duet on "Picture," the country-flavored ballad he recorded with Sheryl Crow.
The mellow mood was only momentary, and soon the rock show was back in full force with pyrotechnics and strobe lights as Rock closed his set with his throbbing rap-metal hit "Bawitdaba."
SOURCE: STL Today
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