Grand Funk Railroad at Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, IN 06-APR-2019

April 17, 2019 Michael Deinlein Concert Reviews, US Comments Off

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It’s a nostalgic evening of good times and good music as Grand Funk Railroad rocks Indiana.

There is no arguing Grand Funk Railroad’s importance or position in the history of American Rock and Roll. 2019 marks a milestone for the band that few achieve as this year marks the Grand Funk Railroad’s 50^th Anniversary. Grand Funk is “Celebrating 50 Years of Funk” with a series of shows billed as “The American Band Tour 2019”, While the lineup has changed a little from the band’s inception, the current line-up features two original members, drummer/vocalist Don Brewer (also from Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band) and bassist Mel Schacher along with singer/guitarist Max Carl (38 Special), lead guitarist Bruce Kulick (who spent a dozen years with KISS) and keyboardist Tim Cashion (Bob Seger, Robert Palmer). This lineup has been together since 2000.

This evening’s show at the Belterra Casino Resort was one few will quickly forget. The buzz in the lobby before the show was electric and it only escalated from there once the house lights dropped and the guys took their places on stage. Grand Funk Railroad wasted no time getting right into their set starting off with “Rock n’ Roll Soul” along with “Foot Stompin’ Music” and “Shinin’ On” and had the venue up and dancing in the aisles.

It’s hard to tell who was having a better time, the guys on stage or the exuberant crowd but a rousing rendition of “Locomotion” settled that issue as the whole venue clearly out sung the band. Over the next almost 60 minutes Grand Funk Railroad gave fans everything they could ask for plus more. A frenetic Don Brewer drum solo, Bruce Kulick with a well-received rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, and of course those great hits including “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home).”

Grand Funk Railroad closed out the evening as you would expect, with a high voltage performance of “We’re an American Band” leaving a room full of fans more than satisfied!