In the summer of 1981 I was a HUGE fan of REO Speedwagon. I practically wore a groove in my copy of High Infidelity by playing it on repeat on my turntable. I knew that album so well that when one song ended I could start humming the first chords of the one that would play next. Serious. Fan.

So, when I heard that my favorite band was going to be in town that summer, it was imperative that I go see them. Now, the only concert I had attended up to that point was Shawn Cassidy at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock when I was 13. With my mother. She may have been clueless when she gave me permission to see REO Speedwagon. In fact, I was clueless as well.

You see, this was not just a simple two hour concert. And it was certainly not a Shawn Cassidy concert. REO Speedwagon was headlining at the Texxas Jam – a day-long music festival held at the Astrodome. Five bands were performing, and thousands and thousands of people would be attending. They served beer at this event. My friend Shanna and I were 15-year-old girls who had no idea how naïve we were, and were just precocious enough to get ourselves into trouble without trying too hard. It was July in Houston, so I have to assume that the heat and humidity affected my mother’s reasoning ability.

Shanna and I bought concert shirts as soon as we got into the stadium, and immediately decided we should wear them without bras. (Precocious, remember?) I’d like to blame that on Shanna, but I really can’t be sure. We spent the day wandering the stadium as Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult and Heart (all of whom I seriously undervalued at the time) played their sets… we strutted around like the Lolitas-in-Training we were. Bless our hearts.

After a full day of music and precociousness and observational introduction to recreational drug use, REO Speedwagon took the stage. Shanna and I had worked our way up to the front of the general admission section on the floor. We were so close to the stage that we could clearly see the laces that ran from ankle to waist on the red leather pants Kevin Cronin was wearing. I was scandalized!!! MTV hadn’t hit the airwaves yet, so the sight of my favorite band performing my favorite songs made a big impression. I’ll never forget those pants. Ever.

Fast-forward to 2014: When I heard that REO Speedwagon is coming to Little Rock on May 8th, and I was offered an opportunity to get my hands on some tickets, I was ALL about it. I listened to a lot of music in the 1980s that defined my generation, but my REO Speedwagon experience is one I don’t have to apologize for. ‘Don’t Let Him Go’ is one of my all-time favorite rock songs to this day, and it wasn’t even one of their big hits.

Here’s a little video to show you why. I mean, come ON. Gary Richrath, on lead guitar, made me all swoony.

If you are ready to ‘Take it on the Run’ and get into some ‘Good Trouble’ your own self, join me!! You can use the code MOMSROCK, (because they do!) to order online right here and receive a discount on your ticket prices. If your family is never sure what to get you for Mother’s Day, tell them you have it taken care of. Grab your girlfriends and come out on the town! Pack yourself into your tightest jeans, scream until you lose your voice, and rock your socks off. Maybe Kevin will wear lace up red leather pants! Whether or not you decide to wear a bra under your concert shirt is completely up to you.

This #ad post was written to promote the upcoming REO Speedwagon concert scheduled for May 8th in Little Rock, Arkansas. In exchange for sharing my love for REO and offering you a discount code, I am receiving tickets to the show. It seems like a fair trade, but the law says it’s only fair if I let you know about it. Thanks Arkansas Women Bloggers (#ARWB) for the opportunity!! Moms ROCK!!!