Every show on the Willie Nelson/Bob Dylan/John Mellencamp ballpark tour will be great, but nothing will top the show on the 4th of July in South Bend — because Willie Nelson and Family closed out the show. We got treated to two hours of Willie Nelson singing and playing his heart out for us fans. It was a wonderful way to celebrate.
It started raining just as the opening band, Wiyos started their set, and rained hard through John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan’s performances. No one seemed to mind, though. Then just as Willie was set to come on stage, the sky cleared and the rain stopped, and rainbow sightings were reported, but I never looked back to see.
Coveliski Park was packed, I heard they broke all their records for a concert attendance with almost 9,000 tickets sold. Fans started lining up before dawn to get in line for the show. Each of the artists offered early entrance tickete to their fan club members, and it was intense down front, battling for that precious real estate in front of the stage. I held my own with those Dylan fans, though. Some had been up all night, and they were tired and it was raining and I didn’t begrudge them wanting to be close to their hero. I did miss my Texas friends being up there with me; there’s safety in numbers. But I went out and bought drinks for everyone around me, and we all became good neighbors soon. Everyone was there for a good time.
John Mellencamp opened with Little Pink Houses, and sang a few songs off his new album, but mostly sang greatest hits. His son came on stage and played guitar and was so cute, maybe a little shy when his dad pulled him up to the mic to sing the chorus on, ‘I fight authority; authority always wins!” John Mellencamp is so entertaining, engages the crowd, and his music is so familiar and good. An Indiana boy himself, there were lots of fans around me who came just to see their local hero.
Pictures weren’t allowed to be taken of Bob Dylan. They had snipers perched on rooftops to take out people who tried… no, nothing like that, but it was a zero tolerance for taking photos of Bob. That’s his prerogative. He opened his set with, “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and sang some of his greatest hits, too. He started out on guitar, and played several songs on guitar, before moving to organ and harp. His organ faced the audience, and we got eye contact and some smiles, too. His set was so good. His band is great, and what a songwriter he is. I loved his show.
I look a million pictures of Willie and Family; I can’t help myself when I get to be up close like that. Who could resist? He’s so photogenic.
Great Pictures….Thanks.
Great pics, Super review!! Wish I could have been there w/ you to hold down the fort!
Wow, great! Thanks for sharing.