Kidrock Blog

Kid Rock performs during Friday's show at Van Andel Arena.

Posted by Chronicle News Service February 02, 2008 01:11AM
Categories: Grand Rapids




Here's how you know you're at a real rock show. During the ballads, people still hold up lighters rather than cell phones.


That's how it went Friday night, as Michigan man Kid Rock made his much-hyped return to Grand Rapids for a sold-out concert at Van Andel Arena, which turned into an old-fashioned galaxy of Bics and Zippos during Rock's hit "Only God Knows Why."


Review: 3.5 out of 4 stars
Kid Rock, Rev Run, Peter Wolf
Set length: 31 songs, 2 hours 45 minutes
High point: Kid Rock's mini-set Rev Run of Run DMC brought some old-school hip-hop gravitas.




No coincidence, then, that Kid's calling this the Rock N Roll Revival Tour. The nearly three-hour show had the spirited atmosphere of a big-tent shindig, with Rock, entertaining as ever, acting as ringleader, preacher and consummate showman.


Didn't hurt that he had an...

The Grand Rapids Press
Thursday, January 31, 2008
By Troy Reimink
GRAND RAPIDS -- Kid Rock's latest album is called "Rock N Roll Jesus." While that's the type of braggadocio we've come to expect from Kid Rock, one wonders if there's not some truth to it.
In other words, is Michigan native Bob Ritchie the man who will save rock and roll?

You never know. His show Friday at Van Andel Arena is sold out, which is no small feat for a rock act these days.

"The guy's got amazing drawing power," said Michael Grey, program director for rock station WKLQ-FM (107.3). "Even if you're just an armchair fan of a couple of songs, he's one of the few people in rock music that absolutely is a must-see in person. He's better on a live stage than in any other form. People don't realize he plays every instrument. It's an impressive show."

Doubly impressive is Kid Rock's career trajectory in recent years. After the phenomenal success of 1998's "Devil Without a Cause," sales dropped considerably. But he experienced...

Kid Rock's video for "Amen" debutes at #19 on VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown this weekend. Help get Kid Rock to number 1! Click here to vote now for "Amen".

By Ron Rollins | Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 11:38 PM
Love the guy or hate him, you have to give Kid Rock credit for at least one thing: In a world of copycats and bland pop wannabes, there is absolutely nobody else like him.

Now, depending on where you fall on that love-hate spectrum, you may or may not find comfort in the idea of the guys utter originality. But an original is what he is, and the sold-to-the-grungy-rafters crowd that packed Hara Arena Tuesday night knows what Im talking about.

I mean that Ive never seen a performer pay sincere homage to so many different kinds of music, acknowledge so many influences, and incorporate as many varied genres into a single act and pull it off. Not ever. And the way Kid Rock does it, with good cheer and effortless charm for lack of a better word makes for one darn entertaining rock concert.

Motown? This Detroit boy had it in there. Honky-tonk? Yessireebob. Rap-metal? Without a roof-shaking doubt. Old-school hip-hop? Mos def. Eagles-style...