Click here to subscribe today or Login.
By Brad Patton
For Times Leader
Perhaps even Kid Rock was surprised the nasty weather didn’t keep his fans away on Saturday night.
“I thought you all would be like, ‘Tickets were only 20 dollars, we’ll see him another time,’” he said. “But since you’re here, and I’m here, I’m gonna turn it up a little tonight!”
Despite the torrential downpours and unseasonably cool temperatures, a massive crowd turned up at The Pavilion at Montage Mountain for the Detroit-bred singer and rapper’s “First Kiss: Cheap Date” tour.
Kid Rock sure gives you a whole lot for that 20-dollar bill: a near two-hour performance of hits with an 11-piece backing band and an hour-long opening set by arena-rock legends Foreigner. The “Cheap Date” also included low-priced beer, souvenirs at about half the going rate and his new CD for 10 bucks (which also included a chance at an autographed guitar) with proceeds going to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Foreigner, still with band founder and lead guitarist Mick Jones, revved the crowd up nicely with 60 minutes of its biggest hits, starting with “Double Vision.”
Kelly Hansen, the band’s lead vocalist since 2005, looks more like Steven Tyler than original singer Lou Gramm, but he has perfected the sound of songs like “Head Games,” “Cold As Ice,” and all the others played on classic-rock radio since the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
“It’s (expletive) cold and wet and we don’t give a (expletive),” Hansen said following the second song. “Ain’t nothing gonna stop this show tonight!”
As pictures of Elvis, Brando and James Dean lit up the huge video screen, Foreigner followed with “Dirty White Boy” and “Feels Like the First Time.”
The band’s utility man, Thom Gimbel, played some wicked saxophone on “Urgent” from the group’s massive-selling 1981 album “4,” and Foreigner capped the main set with that same album’s “Juke Box Hero.”
For the encore, the band was joined by the Wyoming Valley West Middle School Concert Choir for the ever-popular “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Acknowledging the choir after its performance, Hansen said, “Our future looks beautiful, doesn’t it?”
Foreigner then wrapped it up with “Hot Blooded,” making many in the crowd feel like they already got their money’s worth.
Making his second appearance in three years at the amphitheater in Scranton, the now 44-year-old Kid stormed out of the gate with “First Kiss,” his latest single and title track of his latest album. Wearing a black track suit, a black fedora and sunglasses, Rock then led his band through the new album’s “Good Times, Cheap Wine” before turning his attention to 2002’s “You Never Met a (Expletive) Quite Like Me.”
Not slowing down one bit, Rock then moved on to 2000’s “American Bad Ass” and “Devil without a Cause,” the title track of his 11-times platinum fourth album from 1998.
Kid Rock and one of his female background singers delighted the crowd with some “Justin Bieber bullshit” moves on “Wasting Time,” and followed with a spirited take on the anthem-like “God Bless Saturday.”
He then gave the crowd a 12-minute overview of his career, explaining how and why he switches genres from hip hop to rock to country on songs such as “Care,” “Fist to Rage,” “Blue Jeans and a Rosary” and his big hit “All Summer Long,” which he said came about when he was just “screwing around in the studio.”
Rock followed with “Johnny Cash,” a cool song from his new album, and went back to the “Rebel” album for “Cowboy.” Background singer Stacy Michelle did a fine job filling in for Sheryl Crow (or Allison Moorer) on the hit ballad “Picture” from 2001’s “Cocky” album.
Rock showed off his skills at the turntables and on electric guitar before taking over the drum kit for a bit of Ted Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever,” then ended the main set with 2007’s “Rock n Roll Jesus,” 1999’s “Only God Knows Why” and 2010’s “Born Free” (stopping to thank tour sponsor Chevrolet for helping to keep the ticket prices low).
Following an encore of “Bawitdaba” (another hit from the “Rebel” album), Kid Rock thanked everyone for staying during the rain and said, “We’ll see you again when the weather’s a little nicer.”
Brad Patton has been reviewing concerts and writing about music for the Times Leader and Weekender for more than five years. He also hosts a two-hour radio show on 88.5 FM-WRKC (Radio King’s College) every Tuesday at 7 p.m.