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John Mellencamp<\/a> played a special open rehearsal in Evansville, Indiana last night, a precursor to his upcoming Dancing Words tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n The performance was free to attend for any fans arriving with a nonperishable item to donate to the Evansville Rescue Mission.<\/p>\n While promoting his upcoming summer trek, Mellencamp promised he\u2019d be bringing back many of the classic hits he’s omitted from recent tours. If the warm-up show was any indication, fans can expect a set overflowing with beloved tunes.<\/p>\n Mellencamp\u00a0began the rehearsal gig with his 2014 single \u201cLawless Times,\u201d followed by his beloved 1985 hit \u201cSmall Town.\u201d Later, Mellencamp delivered an assortment of tunes that he hasn\u2019t performed in concert in over a decade. Among them, \u201cR.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.\u201d (first time since 2015), \u201cLove and Happiness\u201d (first time since 2012), \u201cOur Country\u201d (first time since 2008) and \u201cI Need a Lover\u201d (first time since 2009).<\/p>\n READ MORE: Top 10 John Mellencamp Songs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Still, the most exciting return also happened to be the hit Mellencamp had abandoned the longest. For the first time in over 20 years, the rocker performed his version of Van Morrison<\/a>‘s \u201cWild Night.\u201d The cover was Mellencamp\u2019s last top 10 song, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994, yet he hadn\u2019t played it live since 2005.<\/p>\n The full set list from Mellencamp\u2019s open rehearsal show can be found below. The singer\u2019s Dancing Words tour officially launches July 10 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is scheduled to conclude Aug. 12 in Mountain View, California.<\/p>\n 1. \u201cLawless Times\u201d A pre-fab pop singer turned heartland rocker turned rootsy moralist, John Mellencamp has had almost as many career turns as names.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat Did John Mellencamp Play During His Open Rehearsal?<\/h3>\n
John Mellencamp — July 8, 2026, Dancing Words Tour Open Rehearsal Set List<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. \u201cSmall Town\u201d
3. \u201cMinutes to Memories\u201d
4. \u201cLonely Ol’ Night\u201d
5. Paper in Fire\u201d
6. \u201cHuman Wheels\u201d
7. \u201cWalk Tall\u201d (First time since 2012)
8. \u201cR.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.\u201d (First time since 2015)
9. \u201cLove and Happiness\u201d (First time since 2012)
10. \u201cOur Country\u201d (First time since 2008)
11. \u201cCheck It Out\u201d
12. \u201cKey West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)\u201d (First time since 2012)
13. \u201cJack & Diane\u201d
14. \u201cI Need a Lover\u201d (First time since 2009)
15. \u201cThank You\u201d (First time since 2008)
16. \u201cYour Life Is Now\u201d (First time since 2002)
17. \u201cWild Night\u201d (First time since 2005)
18. \u201cAin’t Even Done With the Night\u201d
19. \u201cPop Singer\u201d
20. \u201cRain on the Scarecrow\u201d
21. \u201cWhat If I Came Knocking\u201d
22. \u201cAuthority Song\u201d
23. \u201cCrumblin’ Down\u201d
24. \u201cPink Houses\u201d
25. \u201cCherry Bomb\u201d
26. \u201cHurts So Good\u201d<\/p>\nJohn Mellencamp Albums Ranked <\/h2>\n