'Live by Request' recorded at Buskirk

For a musician, there's no greater satisfaction than returning home to give a sold-out performance -- unless of course that performance also happens to be broadcast live on national television.\nAs John Mellencamp took the stage Thursday night at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater with a cigarette in one hand and a guitar in the other, more than 650 fans cheered on their hometown hero as he broke into an a cappella rendition of his 1985 hit "Small Town."\nAlthough Mellencamp wrote the song 19 years ago, he clearly hasn't "forgotten where it is he comes from," as the lyrics suggest. In fact, Mellencamp pushed to have Thursday night's concert in Bloomington.\nThe performance was part of A&E's "Live By Request" show, an Emmy-award-winning series developed in 1996 to give artists an opportunity to give their fans an interactive experience.\n"Bloomington is pretty much Mellencamp central," said Andy Kadison, executive producer of "Live By Request." "It was really important for John to perform in his backyard, giving his fans the feeling of his artistry and song writing relating to his inspirational background."\nIn his songs, Mellencamp often references the Hoosier state and what it was like for him to grow up in Seymour, Ind.\n"No I cannot forget where it is that I come from/ I cannot forget the people who love me/ Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town/ And people let me be just what I want to be," he sings in "Small Town."\nBarbara Berrones, a Highland, Ind. native, drove three-and-a-half hours in her car with the license plate "MELLNCMP" to see her idol perform Friday night.\n"He has so much energy and his band is phenomenal," said Berrones, a member of the John Mellencamp Fan Club. "He always puts on a fantastic show."\nThroughout the show, viewers and fans from across the country, Canada, Mexico and Latin America were encouraged to call and e-mail in their requests. \nOne caller from Venezuela, who requested to hear "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A," told Mellencamp the first CD he ever purchased was Mellencamp's 1982 album "American Fool." Since then, he said every time he visits the U.S., he buys another Mellencamp album.\nMellencamp also got an e-mail request from a father in Illinois who thanked him for the great music he was able to pass on to his 9-month-old son, whose favorite song to fall asleep to is "Jackie Brown."\nSenior Chad Motsinger, who grew up in a town outside of Seymour, Ind. said he has been a huge fan of Mellencamp's music since he was little.\n"I am thrilled to be here," Motsinger said, who enjoyed the show from the front row. "This is a huge opportunity."\nA "truly unbelievable" dream came true for another Mellencamp fan - Shelbyville, Ind. resident Blake Sandman. Because of Sandman's enthusiasm during the show, Mellencamp reached out into the crowd and pulled him on stage to perform with him during "Hurts So Good." \n"I've been a fan since I was just a kid growing up," Sandman said. "Now my kids listen to his music."\nSandman said he is glad Mellencamp performed in Bloomington - although he would have traveled anywhere to see his favorite musician.\n-- Contact campus editor Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.