The artist formerly known as Johnny Cougar wasted no time in cranking it up last night for the Marcus Amphitheater crowd. Mellencamp knows what his audience wants and he delivers.

Backed by a tight band that included a rockin’ violin and accordion, Mellencamp displayed why he’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and one of the most beloved American songwriters of all time.

One of the great things about a Mellencamp show is that he delivers many of his songs with updated arrangements, instead of just replicating the studio versions. That was delightfully evident on many of his classic tracks, including Small Town, Rain on the Scarecrow, Little Pink Houses and my personal favorite, Authority Song.