Live Review: Kevin Cronin (of REO Speedwagon) @ Jiffy Lube Live — 7/12/25

Bristow, Virginia, July 12 — thick summer air, a wall of heat pressing against your chest before you even make it through the gates of Jiffy Lube Live. There’s a different kind of buzz tonight, though. Maybe it’s all the bands on the Brotherhood of Rock Tour, but the vibe felt locked in from the jump. Like flipping a radio dial and landing on the one station that still gets you.

We’re talking about a crowd here that’s been riding this wave since the Carter administration. The ones who spun Hi Infidelity until the grooves gave out. And now here they are — dads in REO tees from the ‘80s, moms who still crush “Can’t Fight This Feeling” like it’s prom night, and teenagers dragged along but slowly giving in to the charm. It wasn’t just a concert, it was a revival and Kevin Cronin, with that damn-near ageless grin, was the preacher.

At Jiffy Lube Live, the band opened with “Don’t Let Him Go,” and the place popped like someone lit a fuse. That opening riff is one of those instantly recognizable DNA-level things — gets in your bones whether you want it to or not. Cronin walked out with the casual confidence of a guy who’s lived a dozen musical lives and still knows exactly how to win a crowd.

Then came “Keep on Loving You” and the lighters — sorry, phone flashlights — came out like fireflies. Cronin didn’t even need to sing the chorus; the crowd handled it like muscle memory.

Watch the official music video for “Keep on Loving You” by REO Speedwagon on YouTube:

Although REO Speedwagon has retired as a band, lead singer Kevin kept their flame alive in this solo show. “Follow My Heart” and “In Your Letter” kept the retro groove rolling — breezy, heartfelt, tight as a drum. The band behind him didn’t miss a beat. No gimmicks. No filler. Just straight-ahead rock and roll with enough polish to reflect the stage lights and enough soul to keep it honest.

Now here’s where things got interesting. “Take It on the Run” came early in the set, and it hit like a freight train. That opening line — “Heard it from a friend who…” — triggered a collective cheer that you could probably hear halfway to Manassas. And yeah, it’s been played to death on every classic rock station on the East Coast, but live, it still stings.

“Tough Guys” followed, and you could almost see the smirk in Cronin’s delivery. It’s a tongue-in-cheek strut of a song, and the band leaned into it. Felt like a playful middle finger to aging — like, yeah, we’re still here, and we’ve still got teeth.

Then the band went deeper: “Out of Seasons” and “Shakin’ It Loose” — not exactly the songs you’d expect casual fans to belt, but you could feel the diehards lighting up. These were for the real ones. The fans who didn’t stop at the greatest hits. And the band rewarded that loyalty with performances that felt intimate, almost reverent.

“Someone Tonight,” originally sung on the album by REO’s bassist Bruce Hall, was power pop goodness as sung by Kevin.

And then came “I Wish You Were There.” Cronin stood with guitar in hand, spotlight tight on him like it was 1981 all over again. There’s something kind of haunting about it live — those cascading keys, that slow-burn guitar. It felt less like a performance and more like a quiet conversation with 20,000 people.

Then came the fire.

If the first half of the set was a warm hug, the back half was a jolt to the chest. “Keep Pushin’” came with this real undercurrent of defiance. Cronin’s smile turned just a little bit mischievous, like he was daring the crowd to get back up off their seats.

Then came “Time for Me to Fly.” The anthem with the glorious full-throated chorus. People hugged. People sang. It was beautiful.

Watch the official music video for “Time for Me to Fly” by REO Speedwagon on YouTube:

And just when the wave felt like it might crest too soon, Kevin brought out “Ridin’ the Storm Out.” And that was the moment. Red lights swirling like sirens, guitars wailing and Cronin snarling those opening lines like he’d just walked out of a tornado shelter. It was raw, loud, and glorious.

Kevin and his band left the stage for maybe a minute before they came back with two songs the band played at the Live Aid festival in Phillie back in the ’80s. First up was “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” and it was pure catharsis. People slow danced on the lawn. It was cheesy. It was sentimental. But the ladies loved it.

And finally, “Roll With the Changes.” As far as closing numbers go, this one’s a manifesto. Cronin leaned into it with everything he had. The band hit that final chorus like they were riding lightning. And when it ended, when those last notes rang out into the warm Virginia night, there wasn’t a single person who looked ready to leave. We were all a little younger. A little louder and a little more in love with rock and roll.

Setlist

1. Don’t Let Him Go (REO Speedwagon)
2. Keep on Loving You (REO Speedwagon)
3. Follow My Heart (REO Speedwagon)
4. In Your Letter (REO Speedwagon)
5. Take It on the Run (REO Speedwagon)
6. Tough Guys (REO Speedwagon)
7. Out of Seasons (REO Speedwagon)
8. Shakin’ It Loose (REO Speedwagon)
9. Someone Tonight (REO Speedwagon)
10. I Wish You Were There (REO Speedwagon)
11. Keep Pushin’ (REO Speedwagon)
12. Time for Me to Fly (REO Speedwagon)
13. Ridin’ the Storm Out (REO Speedwagon)

Encore
14. Can’t Fight This Feeling (REO Speedwagon)
15. Roll With the Changes (REO Speedwagon)

Here are some photos of Kevin Cronin performing live to open Styx at Jiffy Lube live on July 12, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Michael Sprouse/ Odd Rocker Photography.