You grew up with these easy-flowing, harmonious songs. These songs were (and still are) listened to on a hot summer’s night, driving down the highway, or in front of a cozy winter fire. You sing along to these timeless rock and soft-rock classics. You know so very many of them but you might not know they’re all from this 1970 iconic band. These songs play on your hometown classic rock station or, the hundreds of movies, TV shows, or other musicians, and more have used, covered, or sampled (as a 7-minute intro video displayed).
As the sky turned to desert gold during the setting sun, the band America was taking the stage with the same hues shining on a simple backdrop at The Factory in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield. The tried and true songs all came together in this glorious 90-minute concert to the delight of fans.
“You’re going to get your legal limit of ’70s songs tonight,” joked Dewey Bunnell, the only original band member on stage this Sunday night (Gerry Beckley is still with the band but no longer touring).
And he was right, the band performed classic hit after classic hit of theirs as well as a couple of covers. The harmonies were tight and the musicianship stellar as the band performed favorites such as “Tin Man,” “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” and “California Dreamin’.” Throughout, fans clapped along and hooted and hollered—the majority from their seats although a few of the mostly 60+ crowd were dancing all night.
A quick aside: as I was gathering updated info on America this video popped into my feed from comedian Leanne Morgan about being older and attending a concert.
The quintet folded the night with the ever-popular “A Horse With No Name” a little before 9 p.m.
With the free wind blowin’ through their hair, fans left the show nostalgic and humming along to their favorite tunes.
America’s setlist https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/america/2025/the-factory-chesterfield-mo-5b5f03a4.html
In my work life, I help nonprofits and small businesses with media and public relations. In my what I love to do life, you can typically find me photographing either wild horses or concerts.
