Could there possibly be a better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than an unabashed flag-waving, fist-pumping, beer-swilling rock n’ roll party in the Ozarks? The answer, undoubtedly, is no as 10,000 freedom patrons ascended upon the spacious Ozarks Amphitheater for an unforgettable night of hits with classic rock Mount Rushmore members Reo Speedwagon.
With rock stalwarts Head East in tow, Reo Speedwagon would unleash hit after hit on a receptive crowd, many of whom were likely attending their concert show in quite some time. The themes of the night were that of triumph and freedom as Reo’s understated frontman Kevin Cronin frequently referenced the celebration at hand. It was a celebration, not only of Independence Day, but that of a decisive victory over COVID and the dire state of the previous year-plus.
It is always a pleasure to see Cronin and bassist Bruce Hall together on stage as they have represented the heart of Reo Speedwagon for the past 44 years and with original member Neal Doughty on keyboards, you fee like the band has done more than maintain its integrity over the years. Cronin’s unmistakable voice shone brightest early int he set during songs like “Don’t Let Him Go” “Take it on the Run” and “Can’t Fight this Feeling.” While Cronin more closely resembles a meager book salesman than giant rock star, his voice and presence cannot be understated in the annals of the band’s chart-topping history.
While the middle of the set would take fans way back to the genesis of Reo’s 50-plus year lineage with songs like “Son of a Poor Man,” the pace of the show never waned. As the opening chords of “Time for Me to Fly” rang out to a thunderous ovation it was clear that the audience would be in for quite a finale as the show reached its crescendo.
A closing trifecta complete with ample sing-along moments during “Ridin’ the Storm Out,” “Keep on Loving You,” and “Roll With the Changes” would send the 10,000 in attendance back to resume the remainder of their Fourth of July lake activities.
It was a night that makes you wonder how we ever went without live music for long to begin with. For many, these songs harken back to simple days of Summer’s gone by and this magical feeling of nostalgia is difficult to replicate. After all, that is exactly what this music is about, right? Taking all of us back to a different time and place where we had varying life experiences with these songs as the background of our lives. In that respect, we should all be thankful that bands like Reo Speedwagon are still functioning at such a high level.
