REO Speedwagon and Train Performs Classic Mashup On Jimmy Kimmel Live
via Jimmy Kimmel Live / Youtube
REO Speedwagon and Train teased their upcoming Summer Road Trip tour as they performed a mashup of their hit songs “Keep On Loving You” and “Drops of Jupiter” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night.
Train singer Pat Monahan led the performance by singing the opening lines of their 2001 Top 5 hit “Drops of Jupiter.” REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin then followed with the familiar chorus of their 1980 smash “Keep On Loving You,” joined by his bandmate Dave Amato on guitar.
In a previous interview, Cronin shared about the collaboration:
“It was a great idea — and I wish I could say that it was mine.
“But it wasn’t. You know, that came from Patrick — and their musical director and keyboard player, Jerry Becker.”
Talking about how they combined their hit songs, Cronin continued:
“The mashup of ‘Drops of Jupiter’ and ‘Keep On Loving You,’ at first, you’d go, ‘Wait, how’s that going to work?’.
“But luckily, they’re both in the same key and they’re both piano-based. I’m going to stay away from the piano and leave it to the professionals. Jerry’s going to play the whole thing on piano and Patrick and I are going to pass the baton back and forth on the lead vocal. We’ll get together before the performance and just sit around the piano to smooth out the transitions.”
Kevin Cronin On Working With A Vocal Coach
The REO Speedwagon lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist admitted that he has been working on his vocals in recent years. He shared:
“It feels good, that I feel confident to be able to walk on stage and hold my own — with security and confidence that I kind of know what I’m doing now.
“I’m not just walking out on stage hoping for the best.
“I’m sharing the stage with Patrick, who’s just such an amazing singer.
“His phrasing, texture and his whole trip, I’ve always really been drawn to it. I think the tour’s gonna be a kick, man. I think it’s gonna be awesome.”
Their Summer Road Trip 2024 kicks off on July 8 in Somerset, Wisconsin, and concludes on September 11 in Phoenix, Arizona. Artist presales start on January 31, with general on-sale beginning on February 2. Watch their Jimmy Kimmel performance below.
