For most college students, Tuesday nights are spent doing homework, chilling and watching Netflix or sports practice. For my Tuesday night this past week, I spent it like it was a Saturday night in 1984.

I attended the REO Speedwagon and Loverboy concert down at the Amsoil. Of course, I didn’t go by myself. Who else would I go with than my mom and my high school Spanish teacher.

L to R: My Spanish teacher, mother and I at the REO Speedwagon and Loverboy Concert. Photo by Benjamin Carpenter

If you don’t know who the bands REO Speedwagon and Loverboy are, then you live under a rock. Even though these two bands formed over 40 years ago, they’re still touring and rocking out like they did in their “heydays.”

About two weeks ago, my mom randomly called me to know if I’d be interested in attending this concert with her and my Spanish teacher. My mom works at my old high school, and my Spanish teacher asked her if she’d attend the concert with her, and if I’d also be interested in going.

To my mom’s surprise, I said “yes” to going, only because she figured I’d be busy on a Tuesday night and couldn’t go with them. I have already seen REO and Loverboy once two years ago at the Amsoil when they, and the band Styx, came here on their tour. I figured why not take the opportunity to see them again, especially since REO is probably my favorite rock band.

We got to the concert right on time. The moment we sat in our seats, Loverboy came on stage to start the concert. With the flashing of colored lights, the projection of smoke and the spotlight hitting the stage the crowd roared with excitement and applause to welcome the band.

Loverboy performing at Amsoil Arena. Photo by Benjamin Carpenter

It was great to have an iconic classic rock band, like Loverboy, start off the concert and hype up the audience for REO afterwards. I’ll admit, I don’t regularly listen to Loverboy, but their classic rock sound is something that I still can rock out to.

To end their time on stage, Loverboy finished with their two hits “Turn Me Loose” and “Working for the Weekend,” respectively. These two songs really got the audience singing along, like they were back in 1984.

“Working for the Weekend” is the song of theirs that I know the best, word for word actually. Their 1981 album “Get Lucky,” which that song is on, was one of the first vinyls I had collected when I found it at a thrift store in Ely, MN.

After Loverboy’s performance, there was a break until REO performed, so I took that opportunity to go and buy a REO Speedwagon shirt. I always like to buy shirts from the concerts I attend, even if I have already seen the band in concert.

After the break, it was finally time for REO to take the stage. REO was the main reason I came to this concert, so I was really excited for it to be their turn. When they took the stage, the audience went even more wild for them than Loverboy.

REO started off strong with their 1980 hit “Don’t Let Him Go” from their number 1 album “Hi Infidelity.” Despite the band members’ older ages, they played with the energy of youthful 20-year-olds.

I enjoyed REO’s performance better, mostly because I’m familiar with more of their songs than I am of Loverboy’s. Something I noticed that the members of REO did that Loverboy didn’t was that after every song, the guitarists threw their picks into the audience and would use new ones for each song.

L to R: Lead vocalist Kevin Cronin, bass Matt Bissonette and lead guitar Dave Amato rocking out to an REO song. Photo by Benjamin Carpenter

Since I’ve seen REO in concert before, I knew what to expect as far as their setlist for the concert. Of course, they played their hits such as “Can’t Fight this Feeling,” “Ridin’ the Storm Out,” “Time for Me to Fly,” “Take It On the Run,” amongst other hits.

Ben Carpenter is the writer behind Ben There, Done That — a column dedicated to reviewing fine art shows at UMD and around Duluth.

There were a few songs, though, that I didn’t know too well, but I think it’s still great they played those because I believe a concert should be more than just playing your top hits.

For all the songs I did know I had to sing along outloud. REO for me is nostalgic because it’s the kind of music my mom would play on aCD when driving me around as a kid. Classic rock is a genre that has had such predominance in my life. Even though I was born decades after these songs were released, I still feel a connection with the 1980s when I listen to these songs.

To end the concert with an encore, REO performed their hits “Keep on Loving You,” and “Roll with the Changes,” respectively. These were two great songs to end with because they have such great messages and meaning behind them. The whole audience was standing up and singing along.

What was great about going to a concert with bands like these is that it brings people of all ages together. People who remember when these songs first came out 40 plus years ago, people who’ve seen them in concert before, and young people, like me, who just really enjoy classic rock music from that era.

I’m sure that the next time REO, or any other classic rock band, comes back to Duluth, I’ll be there, rocking out, like it’s the 1980s all over again.

Ben There, Done That: REO Speedwagon & Loverboy