Home | Links | News | Newsletter | Pictures | Guitars | Tour  | CD's

Welcome to the kC Newsletter!

Join the kC mailing list today !

Click here  for details.

 " kC Newsletter " - 07/14/2010

Howdy Strangers,

I know, I used to be so much better at keeping in touch with you all. Believe me, I appreciate you guys supporting our various internet sites...I just wish I were better equipped to navigate them by myself. But alas, I remain fluent only in the art of emailing, and the occasional word processing task.

So I am pecking this letter into my laptop, and will later send it off to our staff for proper vetting, (making sure I haven't put my foot too far into my mouth, nor misspelled any easy words. I usually get the big ones right, it's those everyday common nouns that get me every time. I would have won my third grade spelling bee if I had remembered where the "u" goes, in buisness...er, business), but I digress.

We are three-ish weeks into the "Love On The Run" tour, with the Benatars. Patty's voice is stronger than ever, and Neil plays such great guitar. Add original drummer Myron Grumbacker, and bassist, (and Dave Amato ex-roommate), Mick Mahan, and you have a rock solid rhythm section. I feel lucky that I get to hear their show through the walls every night.

Singer-songwriter, and our good young friend, Keaton Simons, has been warming up the crowds with his soulful voice, nimble acoustic guitar work, and beautiful songs, and is a real treat...so get to the concert on time so you don't miss Keaton.

Meanwhile, REO Speedwagon had one of those gigs for the ages in St. Louis on Saturday night. We always work hard, every night, no matter what, but some shows everything just clicks. Bryan laid down the perfect tempos. Dave, Bruce, and Neal all played with such passion. Riverport Amphitheater was packed, and the audience was so into it. It was just a great night, in the city that really gave our band its start. We headlined a sold out concert at St. Louis' Busch Stadium in 1979...before the Hi Infidelity album came out....

Speaking of which, our nightly tribute to that ubiquitous record is turning out to be so much fun every night. The whole Bob Coburn radio ramp-up gets the crowd ready, the video screens explode with Hi Infidelity images, and then we play side one. (For those of you who missed the whole LP thing, music used to be delivered via 12 inch black plastic disks, with music content on both sides...five songs on side one, then you got up, and flipped the record over and listened to the songs on side two. Kind of a hassle by today's standards, but a ritual that holds nostalgic value for those of us who grew up with it.). We snuck "Like You Do" into the set list, and it was so powerful that we are keeping it in the show for the rest of the summer.

I don't mind saying that you should not miss this tour, and I'm not just saying that because I want to sell tickets to the concerts...well, maybe I am, but you guys really do need to come out and celebrate with us. This is a very special time, commemorating 30 years since we recorded Hi Infidelity, and we are having a total blast!

Now, on a totally different, but equally exciting subject...I am going to be joining my friend, Rick Springfield, on his annual Caribbean concert cruise this coming November. You guys are all invited to grab a ticket to ride, hop on the boat, and rock out with Rick, and your old buddy, kc.

There will be concerts by each of us, and a bunch of other activities, and opportunities to hang out with our friends and fans, as we sail around da Islands in an awesome ocean liner. I need as many REO people as possible to come with me, in case there is a tug-of-war, or a Mojito drinking contest! We need to take those Springfielders down ;-) It is gonna be a lot of fun, and plus, what else are you doing in November anyway? Check the link for more details and ticket info. All Aboard!!

Okay, the bellman just showed up to haul my luggage down to the bus for a night trip to Council Bluffs, Iowa. We are recording our show at Moondance Jam on Friday for Direct TV, then a show in Minneapolis on Saturday, and sweet home Chicago on Sunday. Four in a row...are you ready to go?

keep pushin',

kc