REO Speedwagon Rolls into Rosemont

REO Speedwagon returned home to the Chicagoland area for a sold out show at the Rosemont Theatre over the weekend.

Originally formed in downstate Champaign, IL in 1967, REO still has a passionate following over 50 years later and their attendance numbers prove that.

Percussionist Bryan Hitt pounded away behind the drums for the intro of “Don’t Let Him Go” to start the show, progressively leading into “Music Man” after that, followed by “In Your Letter” and “Keep Pushin”.

Lead singer and Oak Lawn, IL native, Kevin Cronin, then took a break from his guitar to slow things down for the love ballad, “Can’t Fight This Feeling”.

A number of other deeper cuts made up the middle half of the setlist, including acoustic renditions of “Golden Country” (with Kevin praising those bravely serving our country prior to starting the song) and “Building the Bridge”.

“Take It On the Run” was next on the musical agenda with the entire band back on stage at this point, followed by “Time for Me to Fly” after that, with guitarist Dave Amato bringing out his double-neck guitar for that song and solo.

Bassist Bruce Hall took his turn on lead vocals for “Back on the Road Again” which then led into “Ridin’ the Storm Out” to end the main set.

Shortly after leaving the stage for a moment, the group returned and their encore started with chart-topping “Keep on Loving You”, followed by Neal Doughty’s talent on the keyboard during “Roll with the Changes”, and then “157 Riverside Avenue” to finish things off for good before seemingly-endless applause.

REO Speedwagon will be returning to the area on Saturday, November 9th for a show at the Silver Creek Event Center at Four Winds Casino in nearby New Buffalo, MI.

Tickets for that show go on sale August 9th and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

See below for the full setlist from the August 3rd show.

Photos by AJ Roccaforte.

Setlist:

Don't Let Him Go

Music Man

In Your Letter

Keep Pushin'

Can't Fight This Feeling

Tough Guys

Son of a Poor Man

Someone Tonight

I Wish You Were There

Golden Country

Building the Bridge

Take It On The Run

Time For Me To Fly

Back on the Road Again

Ridin' the Storm Out

Encore:

Keep On Loving You

Roll With the Changes

157 Riverside Avenue