Home | Links | News | Newsletter | Pictures | Guitars | Tour  | CD's

Welcome to the kC Newsletter!

Join the kC mailing list today !

Click here  for details.

 " kC Newsletter " - 07/14/09

Can’t Stop Rockin’ Journal
July 14, 2009

Last night in Omaha was the final show of the summer “Can’t Stop Rockin” tour, and a perfect example of the CSR spirit. The band and crew members of REO and Styx gathered backstage, formed a conga line, and danced across the stage while 38 Special attempted to play “Caught Up In You”, without totally cracking up.

All three of our bands take the performances quite seriously, but do not take ourselves seriously in the least. The entire “Can’t Stop Rockin” project, beginning with Tommy Shaw and I co-writing the title song, to the bands recording together, to each band taking turns in the closing spot, has been a total “leave your ego at the door” type of experience.

All of the travel, the performance schedule, and being away from home so much, does take it’s toll, but the total absence of drama, the camaraderie of all three bands and crews, and the power of our combined set lists, more than makes up for it. Nobody on the tour is ready for it to end…so we are going to keep it going!

Tickets are about to go on sale for the fall “Can’t Stop Rockin” tour, kicking off in Charlestown, WV, on October 29. Our buddies in 38 Special have prior commitments, and we will sure miss those guys, but Night Ranger will be joining REO and Styx for the October/November shows. We played a show with Night Ranger earlier this year, and that band has a bunch of hit songs, and their live show rocks. Night Ranger is a great band, and a cool group of guys. They will fit right into the CSR vibe.

The final four shows of the summer tour, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, and Council Bluffs/Omaha, on four consecutive nights, all sold out, brought this leg of the tour to a triumphant finale.

We have been doing it for a long time now, but I can honestly say that this has been the best tour I have ever been a part of…and that is a sentiment shared by everyone else I talk to as well. CSR was the first tour for Ellie Archer, our “I love all access” meet and greet coordinator. She heard from everyone, including me, that she is ruined for life…spoiled by the friendly, yet hard working atmosphere of this tour. Steve Allen, our set carpenter, told me last night that he has never seen the kind of co-operation he has experienced on the CSR tour…Dale the rigger, and Rick the truck driver, both help Steve put our stage together every night. It is not part of their job; they just pitch in to help out the team. Those quick set changes would not be possible without everyone helping each other out.

Tour production manager, Tim Rosner, had organized a tour photo day earlier in the run…to the chagrin of many. But last night, when each member of the touring team received their personalized group photo, we were all smiles. It is a very cool tradition.

I can’t mention everyone; although everyone deserves mention for the amazing job they did….from band members to truck drivers. This is a big team, and it only works when each member does his or her job well. I thank all of you for making “Can’t Stop Rockin” the extraordinary experience it has been.

And of course, none of this would be possible without you, our fans. You all allow us to come out here and do what we love to do, and we appreciate every single one of you. We can’t stop rockin. You can’t stop rockin. So let’s just never stop rockin….okay?!

See you in the Fall….

kc

ps. REO will be playing shows throughout the rest of the summer and early fall, leading up to the OCT/Nov "Can't Stop Rockin" tour. A few will be with Styx, and others will be REO headline shows. So come on out and see us...okay

Also, our not so secret recording project is moving ahead at full steam. We will be announcing details of an NBC television special to coincide with the late November release. Stay tuned!

kc