Year after year (since 1971), REO Speedwagon continues to rock the world with their concerts. They are a class act and one live concert I highly recommend (and I have seen many).

REO and Styx were in Billings, Montana, on Wednesday night on their swing through the Western states. They started doing some shows together in 2000 which led to the Arch Allies album being released, which is very good, as is the DVD.

I was able to attend (what the hell is vacation for anyway?) their concert in Billings and was lucky enough to have front row seats with my exceptionally talented guitar-playing son for the concert. (EB-U-da star man!) I’ll be your roadie any day!

Being in the front row gives you the opportunity to see the band up close and also collect a few guitar picks, a couple towels and a few high-fives (not to mention the set lists from both REO and Styx -thanks to a couple of nice Roadies). It was very much worth the price.

During this swing, REO opened the concert and played many of my favorite songs from the past. The crowd was a mixed bag of old rockers and young rockers. It was a blast being up front getting to interact with the band and party with the audience. A little live classic rock music, a few beers and some new found friends – what else do you need?

REO also “teased” the crowd with one of their new songs (Smilin) slated for a new album which will be released sometime in early 2006. I like it and look forward to hearing the new album.
Here’s the set REO played:
Don’t Let Him Go
Take it on the Run
Music Man
Keep Pushin’
Smilin
Can’t Fight This Feeling
Like You Do
Time for me to Fly
Back on the Road
Keep on Lovin’ You
Roll With the Changes
The Encore was….you guessed it,
Ridin’ the Storm Out
The Billings Gazette carried a nice story about Neal Doughty a few days before concert. Click HERE to read it.
The Billings Outpost did a review of the concert. Click HERE to read it.
My favorite REO Album is: Live – You Get What You Play For (1977). In 1976/77 I saw REO for the first time live in Kansas City during a Summer Jam series with about 10 other bands. I was sold on them that day and I still am today.
Keep Pushin….