March 28, 2024

Grand Funk Railroad ready to rock Iowa Speedway Friday

Turn on any classic rock station and the music of Grand Funk Railroad will rock the radio, something the group’s songs have been doing for more than 40 years. Come Friday, Grand Funk will be rocking the Iowa Speedway as part of the NAPA Auto Parts Concert Series.

Don Brewer, a founding member of the band, said audience members can come ready to hear their favorite Grand Funk tunes like “We’re An American Band,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “Locomotion,” “I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home” “Walk Like A Man” and Shinin’ On.”

“It’s a high energy Grand Funk Railroad rock-n-roll show and we put in a couple of extra songs but really it is the one’s everyone knows from Grand Funk,” said Brewer, who has provided lead vocals and drums since 1969. “We like to give them the hits. (The show) is a get up on your feet, sweat and smile and have a fun time.”

As vinyl makes a resurgence and with radio play on classic rock stations and Sirius XM, younger generations are attending Grand Funk shows. Brewer said he believes there was more feeling put into music from the ‘60s and ‘70s and that is what continues to attract new listeners.

“We were in a time period when you didn’t spend eight years working on an album, you spent three or four days,” Brewer said. “It came down to making great music and then capturing it in a short period of time. I think that is what is missing. (Music) has become too homogenized, too overproduced. Music doesn’t need to be perfect, it needs to have feeling and it that feeling and emotion needs to be captured.”

Brewer said people come up to him and fellow band members Mel Schacher (original member and bassist), Max Carl, Bruce Kulick and Tim Cashion to share stories of bringing friends, children and grandchildren to Grand Funk shows for the first time.

“We were just having fun. We were doing things that felt good,” he said. “And I think that what gets passed on to people when they hear this music. There is a feeling there and you capture that moment and people tap into that moment and pass it on and share it.”

Concert goers of all ages can share in the music when Grand Funk Railroad takes the stage following the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Casey's General Stores 150. Tickets start at $15 and are available at Iowa Speedway office, 3333 Rusty Wallace Drive, by calling 641-791-8100 or at www.iowaspeedway.com.

After nearly five decades of touring and playing the hits, Brewer said the audience keeps bringing him back for more.

“Watching an audience light up never gets old,” he said. “To know it is your music and your performance that is putting that light in their eyes and making the audience light up, that feeling just will never get old.”