There are seminal moments in every person’s life that are recalled with crystal clarity. Moments that might have occurred even decades before and might have seemed just part of everyday life when they took place. In truth, many of them were just that. But when you look back at them, you realize that they represent points in your life that, while not necessarily monumental, nonetheless influenced the path your life would take.
For me, one of those moments occurred in the early 1970’s, when I stumbled across a live music video for a song called “Sophisticated Lady”, by a (then) little known band called REO Speedwagon. That song came from their self-titled, debut album, which was released in 1971. I remember being awestruck as I watched guitarist Gary Richrath tear up that song’s guitar solo. I was hooked.
Five decades later, I found myself covering REO Speedwagon as they played the closing gig on their 2023 Wheels Are Turnin’ tour, at Loveland’s Blue Arena (formerly the Budweiser Events Center). For all the concerts I have attended over the years, there’s a handful of classic rock era bands I never had the opportunity to see live in their heydays. REO is one of those bands. To have the opportunity to see them, and for that matter to be able to shoot and cover them, was a definite bucket list item for me.
No, they did not play “Sophisticated Lady.” As much as that song means to me, more than fifty years after its release it is not one of the most prominent songs from this iconic band’s immense catalog. And no, Gary Richrath was not on-stage playing guitar. Richrath left the band in 1989, and unfortunately passed away in 2015. Truth be told, there is not a single member remaining from the lineup that recorded that debut album in 1971.
The REO lineup that took the stage last night included Kevin Cronin on lead vocals, guitar and piano, Dave Amato on lead guitar and backing vocals, Matt Bissonette on bass guitar and backing vocals, Bryan Hitt on drums, and Derek Hilland on keyboards and backing vocals.
Although he has long been considered the voice of REO Speedwagon, Cronin was not the band’s original lead vocalist. That honor goes to Terry Luttrell. Luttrell only stayed with REO for their first album and was replaced by Cronin for 1972’s R.E.O. T.W.O. (an exceptional album that this writer includes on his list of the top twenty-five albums of the Classic Rock Era). Cronin’s initial stint with the band was short-lived. He was replaced while the band was recording their third album, 1973’s Ridin’ the Storm Out. Michael Bryan Murphy took over lead vocal duties for that album, and for two additional albums released in 1974 and 1975. In 1976, Cronin returned to the fold, and has been the band’s front man since.
The final song of REO’s set for last night’s show was their 1978 hit “Roll With The Changes”. It is fitting because that is exactly what this band has had to do. Founding members Neal Doughty (keys) and Alan Gratzer (drums), plus original bassist Gregg Philbin and guitarist Richrath are all gone. Philbin was replaced by Bruce Hall in 1977. Gratzer and Richrath left the band in 1988 and 1989, respectively, and were replaced by Hitt and Amato.
Through the beginning of 2023, the REO lineup consisted of Doughty, Cronin, Hall, Amato, and Hitt. But at the beginning of the year, after announcing his retirement from touring, Doughty was replaced by Hilland. And only ten days prior to the Blue Arena gig, Hall announced that he was taking a leave of absence from touring to prepare for and undergo back surgery. Stepping in for Hall on bass and vocals would be Bissonette, who had been touring with Elton John for the past 12 years.
All that being said, and despite the recent losses of Doughty and Hall, the current incarnation of REO Speedwagon delivered exactly what the crowd at Blue Arena came to see. REO’s list of hits cover a lot of genre territory, ranging from base-level rock and roll to power pop ballads. Friday evening’s setlist, which included nineteen songs and had a total running time (encore included) of an hour and forty minutes, was put together to make sure everyone in attendance, regardless of which REO style they lean towards, heard what they came to hear.
Early in the set, Cronin took to the mic to let the crowd know that they were going to be doing something different on this final show of their 2023 tour. They were going to play their 1980 album Hi Infidelity in its entirety. Although it might have been 1973’s Ridin’ The Storm Out that put REO on the map, it was Hi Infidelity that turned the band into international superstars. That album became the best-selling album of 1981, eventually being certified ten times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, spawning six songs that charted on the Billboard charts, including “Take It On The Run” (number five on the charts) and “Keep On Loving You” (their first ever number one hit).
The first ten songs of the night were from the Hi Infidelity album, played in their original order, beginning with “Don’t Let Him Go.”
Even with the new players, the music delivered was REO at their best. Cronin’s distinctive, signature voice was in fine form. Amato’s been playing with REO long enough that he’s managed to mix his own style with one that stays true to Richrath’s own signature sound. Hitt was outstanding on drums… I was not aware of how good a player he is until seeing him perform live. Hilland, who is twenty years Doughty’s junior and grew up listening to REO, managed to remain faithful to Doughty’s style, while injecting new energy. And even though he only joined the band less than two weeks ago, Bissonette fit in seamlessly, and was exceptional both on bass and with backing vocals. He is also more animated than many bass players, moving back and forth across the stage, and interacting with members of the crowd.
In addition to the opening ten-song thread from Hi Infidelity, the evening’s setlist included all the hits, plus an unexpected gem or two. At the conclusion of the Hi Infidelity segment, all the members of the band except Cronin left the stage, leaving Cronin to play “Music Man,” from the R.E.O. T.W.O. album, solo acoustic. Cronin introduced the song with a story of how he played it for Richrath the first time the two met, and it effectively became his successful audition for the band.
Cronin mixed in a lot of stories between songs, delighting long-time fans with looks into what was happening within the band at various points over its five plus decade history. As well as the other members of the reformulated band fit in, it is really Cronin who holds the band together. As the sole remaining link from the band’s glory days of the 70’s and 80’s, he is the reason the band remains REO Speedwagon. At age 72 he amazes with his energy, enthusiasm, sincerity, and the strength of his voice.
As the evening was winding down, and as REO was blazing through “Golden Country,” “Keep Pushin’”, and (of course) “Ridin’ The Storm Out,” I turned around to look at the capacity crowd. They were all on their feet (as they had been most of the night), transported back to the era that is referred to as “Classic Rock” for good reason. After the briefest of breaks, the band returned for a two-song encore, beginning with “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” and ending with “Roll With The Changes.” Here’s to hoping this iconic band continues to roll with whatever changes might (or might not) be ahead of them for a long time to come.
Story and photos by Rick Witt www.rickwittphotography.com
