Legendary John Mellencamp to Perform in East Lansing Tuesday

Legendary rocker John Mellencamp is slated to perform the first of his two 2024 Michigan shows at MSU's Wharton Center on Tuesday, March 19.

East Lansing is one of 27 one-night-only stops on Mellencamp's "Live and In Person 2024" tour, which kicked off earlier this month in Rochester, New York, and is currently slated to conclude April 23 in Savannah, Georgia.

Photo via Marc Hauser

Best known for his string of Top Ten hits from 1982 to 1994 including "Hurts So Good", "Jack & Diane", "Pink Houses", "Small Town" and others, Mellencamp has regularly been recording and releasing music since the mid-1970s. His most recent album, Orpheus Descending, is the star's 25th studio release - lauded by critics as one of his most personal records thus far.

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He is expected to include several selections from the new album during his March 19 performance at the Wharton Center, including standout tracks "Hey God" and "The Eyes of Portland" - pointed and poignant personal reflections on the singer's views on gun violence in America and homelessness, respectively.

All of these homeless, where do they come from?
In this land of plenty where nothing gets done
To help those who are empty and unable to run
Your tears and prayers won't help the homeless
~ chorus of John Mellencamp's "The Eyes of Portland"

Mellencamp is due back in Michigan for his second 2024 visit to the state on September 15 at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston as part of the Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Nelson & Family - also slated to feature Bob Dylan and Southern Avenue.