Some of the well-known songs performed were appropriately and slightly reworked as was the case with an extremely stark version of "Rain on the Scarecrow."

This was not John Cougar Mellencamp of the mid to late 1980s at the height of his popularity (which included the high-octane enthusiasm of acclaimed fiddler Lisa Germano and back up singers Pat Peterson and Crystal Taliefero) but the energy in the crowd was still evident.

The highlight of the night? That was when Mellencamp asked fans during "Jack and Diane" to pull out their cell phones and make a call to a family member or a friend. He patiently waited as everyone scrambled to find their phones. Once people were ready, the crowd sang in unison, "Oh yeah, they say life goes on long after the thrill of livin' is gone" as Mellencamp himself sang into someone's phone, "Little diddy about Jack and Diane two American kids done the best they can."

Original and fun stuff.

The only slightly perplexing (irritant for some I imagine) aspect of the evening was Mellencamp playing just one song - "Authority Song" - for his encore.

No Hurts So Good. No Cherry Bomb. Heck, no R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. which struck me as the perfect songs to play on a night where the aura of the night seemed to be predicated on rebellion, nostalgia and the itch to dance. Of the three omitted, 'Hurts So Good' was the one that left me really confused.

Oh well. Mellencamp will have to answer to the rock gods on that one.

Overall, this was classic, raw Rock'n Roll with no glitz. It was Americana as Mellencamp saw it.