A night with the 'he-man woman hater's club'

Happy REO Speedwagon Day! Our favorite rockers from the early 80s are in town here in Tampa Bay to play a gig tonight at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall. Stuck in the 80s will be there, of course. We're just upset this day hasn't been designated a state holiday.

(Sadly, my orchestrated attempted to pull a Ferris with the clammy hands was rejected by the bosses, so I'm at work until showtime.)

If you haven't heard our interview with lead singer Kevin Cronin, click here to download it now. Or click here to get all our great podcasts for free via iTunes.

Now that I've whipped you into a frenzy for tonight's show, you might be wondering how many of the old hits REO will be playing. The answer: Nearly all of them. Here's a quick look at what we believe is tonight's setlist:

• Don't Let Him Go: Perfect song to open the show with.
• Music Man: Great version of the sing available on Youtube.
• Take It on the Run: Reminds me of a bad breakup. Will use this moment for bathroom break.
• Keep Pushin': I'd swap this for something like "That Ain't Love" or "157 Riverside Avenue."
• Needed to Fall: First single off new album. Fantastic tune.
• Tough Guys: Possibly my favorite REO song. Love the "Lil Rascals" intro. ("Hey, Romeo, what about your promise to the he-man woman hater's club...")
• Dangerous Combination: Another song off new album.
• Can't Fight This Feelin: Theme to my senior prom. (My date was able to fight my feeling.)
• Smilin' in the End: Another good choice from new album.
• Time For Me To Fly: If you listen closely tonight, you'll hear Sean Daly and I singing along -- poorly.
• Back On the Road Again: Might be better played higher on the set list.
• Keep On Lovin' You: A song nobody can butcher in karaoke. I've proven this time and time again.
• Roll With the Changes: One of the all-time great songs live.
• Encore: Ridin' the Storm Out: A perfect ending to a perfect night, I'm hoping.

Moment of serendipity: Tonight's concert is 26 years -- plus one day -- since the first concert I ever saw -- Journey on their Escape tour, Oct. 22, 1981, at the Lakeland Civic Center. Come back, Steve Perry! Come back!

[AP photo]

Comments

[Marissa]

I am sooooo JEALOUS! Have enough fun for me, too.

[Douglas Arthur]

REO always made me cringe. Not my cup of tea at all. However, I really enjoyed the podcast interview! Kevin seems like a nice guy with a lot of enthusiasm and energy, and it made for a great listen, even if I wasn't 100% into the material. great job Steve-o!

On a completely unrelated note, I just found out I was added to the guest list at the Robert Fripp and League of Crafty Guitarists show here in Albany next week! How cool is that??

Duty now, Steve-o

[Jeff in Cuba]

Believe it or not, the theme to my senior prom was "Time For Me To Fly". I'm not sure why the prom committee brain trust settled on a break-up tune. Nothing says "romance" quite like: "I've had enough of the falseness of a worn out relation, enough of the jealousy and the intoleration."

[Spears]

I love how Cronin strings out "in-tol-er-a-tion" when he sings that song. Took me YEARS to figure out what he was singing there.

And that's one more thing I dig about REO Speedwagon.

[Marissa]

Ha! Jeff in Cuba, my sophmore homecoming dance was themed "Time for me to Fly." We all wondered what was in the minds of those who chose that.

I remember making this HUGE banner with that title all in silver glitter. I was covered with the junk. I didn't go to homecoming. I was just part of the "decoration committee" Story of my life! lol

[Tom]

At least, you guys had a cool REO song and not "Looks like we made it" by Barry Manilow like we did. Talk about cringe music, yuck!

[Jeff in Cuba]

It never ceases to amaze me how some people get so locked on to a song's title that they ignore the song itself. As far as they're concerned, "Time For Me To Fly" is about a teenager leaving the nest, "Born In The USA" is about jingoistic flag-waving, and "Beds Are Burning" is about the dangers of flammable PJs.

[Bassnote]

Have a great time at the show Steve (& Sean). I just saw Springsteen last night, and I have to say it was the best E Street Band show I have ever seen. He played "Tunnel Of Love", and Nils Lofgren played a guitar solo that brought the house down.

[Tom]

I agree Jeff, look at the title and not the content, but I guess if you're the popular crowd, you don't have time for details or reading for that matter.

[Jeffrey (aka Marqueeman)]

What a nostalgia kick I've been on thanks to the Kevin interview...other than my subscribed podcasts, REO is all I've been listening to...Great band, superb heartfelt tunes and just plain fun. Take It On The Run was a mainstay in the setlist of my second garage band back in my early days and I still sing it at the top of my lungs whenever I hear it (and Kevin, if by chance you're reading, I hear 'ya about carbon copies, dude...I sing it my way, but I keep it close to the original without freaking people out :-)

Have a great time at the show, guys and please give the boys my best....Looking forward to a great review.

Best,

Jeffrey

[Karin]

Wow, the Journey Escape tour at the Lakeland Civic Center was my first concert too - Loverboy opened for them.

I remember buying REO Speedwagon's 'Hi Infidelity' around the same time as AC/DC's 'Back in Black'. It was the first time I'd really heard anything from either band though they both had been around a while.

Like many bands that were popular then, other than AC/DC and a few others, I didn't realize REO were still recording and touring.

[Spears]

Yep, Loverboy opened for Journey. At that time, I think MAYBE I knew one of their songs -- tops. I just remember thinking -- "this is the loudest thing I've heard in my life." Of course that would be eclipsed a few months later when I saw AC/DC in Lakeland on the "For Those About To Rock" tour.