Heartland Rocker and Indiana native John Mellencamp will play Nov. 13 at South Bend's Morris Performing Arts Center, as the Grammy Award winning artist embarks on his "No Better Than This" tour. Tickets that were previously on hold have recently been made available.
Mellencamp is best known for ‘80s hits like "Jack and Diane" and "Small Town," and was part of a wave of back-to-basics rockers that include Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. Mellencamp has put his rock star days behind him but has remained active in recording and touring with the likes of John Fogerty, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. His roots rock sound and his stories about everyday folks earned him a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.
His South Bend show will feature old favorites as well as cuts from his latest album, "No Better Than This," which was produced by famed artist and producer T Bone Burnett and released to positive critical reception. The album, which Mellencamp has described as "folk", was recorded at a number of historic locations on his last tour, including Sun Studios in Memphis and San Antonio's Gunter Hotel, where famed blues musician Robert Johnson recorded.
As a special treat for this tour, audiences will get to view the documentary film "It's About You" before the show, which chronicles his baseball stadium tour with Bob Dylan as well the recording sessions for the "No Better Than This" album. The film, made by famed photographer Kurt Markus, offers a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into Mellencamp's writing and recording.
His shows usually include both solo acoustic and full band sets, with something to please everyone. The concert is a great opportunity for students interested in music, or even parents in town for the Utah game that same weekend, to see a living legend perform.
