Mellencamp slated to perform at JACC
Maria Smith
News Writer
Tickets for John Mellencamp's concert at the Notre Dame Joyce Center on November 8 go on sale today.
John Mellencamp will be the latest in a series of famous musicians to perform in the JACC, which has hosted performers such as Billy Joel, Elton John, Bob Dylan and more recently groups such as Matchbox 20 and U2.
The concert will be the fifth in Mellencamp's solo tour featuring songs from his latest album "Cuttin' Heads," released in October 2001. Mellencamp's latest performances have been a hit with fans.
"I just saw Mellencamp at Farm Aid in Pittsburgh a week ago," said sophomore Justin Halls. "It was a great show."
Though Notre Dame has many Mellencamp fans, the concert has received little publicity. Even loyal fans have been unaware of the impending sales. "I'm shocked this hasn't received more publicity," said sophomore Jan Vijayaraghavan. "I had no idea he was coming. I'll definitely be there, it'll be a good concert."
Many student fans of John Mellencamp are excited. "We play a lot of '80s, and John Couger Mellencamp is at the top of the list," said seniors Matt LaFratta and Chris Huebner of the L Train and Factor Show on WVFI. "We're really excited Notre Dame could get him."
The concert has special meaning for Notre Dame, since Mellencamp was born and raised in Indiana. "He's a great hometown hero kind of guy," Halls said. "Midwestern guys can relate to small town life. He just stands for a lot of what America is about."
Students who are less familiar with Mellencamp's music are still likely to recognize some of his hits, especially famous songs like "Small Town," "Jack and Diane," and "Rock in the USA."
"I think this is one of those things where a lot of people don't realized how many songs they know," Vijayaraghavan said.
"It doesn't get any better then when he sings `Hurts So Good,'" senior Sarah Henry said.
Purchasing tickets is not expected to be nearly as difficult as for last year's U2 concert. "I waited pretty much all day for U2 tickets," Henry said. "It was awful."
Though the concert is not as high profile as U2, many students are more excited for Mellencamp, and find the prices more reasonable.
"U2 was a little out of our price range," said LaFratta and Huebner. "This show might not be as popular as U2, but we're as fired up as for the Michigan game, maybe more so. We're huge fans."
Tickets will be sold at the JACC starting at 10 a.m. Prices range from $33 to $41. Tickets purchased online or at Ticketmaster outlets will have an extra service charge.
All News Stories for Friday, September 27, 2002
