Buckeye Randy
Member
Who: Mark Farner’s American Band
Where: Robins Theatre (Warren, OH)
When: June 20, 2026
What’s most important thing when seeing a ‘70’s retro band like Grand Funk Railroad? Having the original vocalist? Majority of original members? The actual name of the band on the marquee? In this case, only one box is checked. Mark Farner was the vocalist of Grand Funk Railroad back in the day. Vocalist is probably the preferred box to be checked but I really don’t care. I just want to hear some great songs by Grand Funk Railroad.
This is my second time seeing Mark Farner and the fifth time seeing some iteration of Grand Funk. I have never seen Mark, Mel and Don share a stage which I suppose is disappointing on a certain level. The whole story of GFR is borderline tragic with corrupt management disrupting the band in their heyday and apparently bad feelings between members persist to this day. I don’t overthink this because as I said, I just want to hear some great songs by Grand Funk Railroad.
The Robins Theatre has a story shared with many midwestern theaters. This 1400 seat theatre was built in 1923 and had a 50 year run before shutting the doors. The theatre sat vacated for 40 years with the expected deterioration but here is where the story takes a twist. Instead of demolition, a rebirth started in 2017 with ambitious ownership and the theatre has been restored and updated and I must say is simply beautiful. Highly recommended if ever in Warren, Ohio. Fun fact, Dave Grohl is from Warren and a nearby alley has drumsticks cut from telephone poles in his honor. It is claimed that they are world’s largest drumsticks. Google it up!
As is usually the case when travelling to Warren for a concert, a room is booked in the nearby town of Niles. Nice to have some quiet time with Mrs. Buckeye plus we both like to avoid an hour plus drive home after the show. Ever have the misfortune of trying to book a room when other events are taking place? Originally, the hotel was asking triple the normal price due to an international baseball game AND a gun convention going on the same day within ½ a mile of the hotel. I booked a room but checked regularly over the ensuing weeks and jumped at a reservation that was only $100 over the normal price. A day before the arrival date, I received an email that informed me I had been automatically upgraded with the cost being $150 more! The original price was restored after sharing a printed copy of my original confirmation email during check in. Rock n Roll should not be this difficult. I just want to hear some great songs by Grand Funk Railroad. Off to the show!
The atmosphere on the sidewalk before doors open is certainly part of the concert experience. Some fun conversations about Pat Travers, Foghat, Starz and Angel plus plenty of others. It’s times like this that make you realize that you are not alone! There really are people from your planet.
The lights dim and the video screen comes to life with the music from 2001 Space Odyssey. A montage of Mark Farner pictures cycle with an accompanying introduction. “Two number one hits…four top five hits…nine top 40 hits…10 consecutive platinum albums…twelve gold records…40 million records sold…brothers and sisters are you ready to rock…Mark Farner’s American Band”! This might be the most egotistical and bombastic intro I’ve ever witnessed and I absolutely love it!
The band is a four piece; bass, keyboards, drums with Mark Farner out front. Mark served as a guitarist and vocalist but sometimes exchanged his guitar for playing keys or simply just holding a microphone. He did it all.
This evening was the first show of the 2026 summer tour and the setlist was much better and more focused than previous setlists I had looked at from previous tours. When I say focused, I mean for a fan like me that grew up hearing GFR on the radio. The setlist was not heavy on deep tracks as on some tours.
I like when bands do raw renditions of songs in a live setting I gotta tell ya, Mark Farner plowed through some of the most popular songs and I totally approve. The ones that come to mind are “American Band” and “Bad Time” but there were others. A couple other classic anthems were performed to perfection and were chilling. Specifically, “Heartbreaker” was worthy of goosebumps as was “Mean Mistreater”.
Besides the music, Mark was very engaging with his between song banter. He talked about a few different things and all seemed relevant. He wondered aloud why Grand Funk were not in the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame. He shared how corrupt management affected the band in the ‘70’s and he talked about his relationship with Jesus. I’m usually bored by meaningless rambling but all this seemed to add and not detract from the show. Mark Farner commands a stage.
OK, I can’t stop before I make comparisons between seeing Mark Farner’s American Band playing Grand Funk songs and seeing Grand Funk Railroad with Mel and Don playing basically the same songs. I’m going to say it simply. I enjoyed both but the current Grand Funk Railroad with Mel & Don is a tribute to Grand Funk. Mark Farner is a rock star. Well Done!
Are You Ready
Footstompin' Music
We're an American Band
Rock 'n Roll Soul
Bad Time
Shinin' On
Heartbreaker
Mean Mistreater
Hooked On Love
Ohio
I Can Feel Him in the Morning
The Loco-Motion
Some Kind of Wonderful
I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)
Where: Robins Theatre (Warren, OH)
When: June 20, 2026
What’s most important thing when seeing a ‘70’s retro band like Grand Funk Railroad? Having the original vocalist? Majority of original members? The actual name of the band on the marquee? In this case, only one box is checked. Mark Farner was the vocalist of Grand Funk Railroad back in the day. Vocalist is probably the preferred box to be checked but I really don’t care. I just want to hear some great songs by Grand Funk Railroad.
This is my second time seeing Mark Farner and the fifth time seeing some iteration of Grand Funk. I have never seen Mark, Mel and Don share a stage which I suppose is disappointing on a certain level. The whole story of GFR is borderline tragic with corrupt management disrupting the band in their heyday and apparently bad feelings between members persist to this day. I don’t overthink this because as I said, I just want to hear some great songs by Grand Funk Railroad.
The Robins Theatre has a story shared with many midwestern theaters. This 1400 seat theatre was built in 1923 and had a 50 year run before shutting the doors. The theatre sat vacated for 40 years with the expected deterioration but here is where the story takes a twist. Instead of demolition, a rebirth started in 2017 with ambitious ownership and the theatre has been restored and updated and I must say is simply beautiful. Highly recommended if ever in Warren, Ohio. Fun fact, Dave Grohl is from Warren and a nearby alley has drumsticks cut from telephone poles in his honor. It is claimed that they are world’s largest drumsticks. Google it up!
As is usually the case when travelling to Warren for a concert, a room is booked in the nearby town of Niles. Nice to have some quiet time with Mrs. Buckeye plus we both like to avoid an hour plus drive home after the show. Ever have the misfortune of trying to book a room when other events are taking place? Originally, the hotel was asking triple the normal price due to an international baseball game AND a gun convention going on the same day within ½ a mile of the hotel. I booked a room but checked regularly over the ensuing weeks and jumped at a reservation that was only $100 over the normal price. A day before the arrival date, I received an email that informed me I had been automatically upgraded with the cost being $150 more! The original price was restored after sharing a printed copy of my original confirmation email during check in. Rock n Roll should not be this difficult. I just want to hear some great songs by Grand Funk Railroad. Off to the show!
The atmosphere on the sidewalk before doors open is certainly part of the concert experience. Some fun conversations about Pat Travers, Foghat, Starz and Angel plus plenty of others. It’s times like this that make you realize that you are not alone! There really are people from your planet.
The lights dim and the video screen comes to life with the music from 2001 Space Odyssey. A montage of Mark Farner pictures cycle with an accompanying introduction. “Two number one hits…four top five hits…nine top 40 hits…10 consecutive platinum albums…twelve gold records…40 million records sold…brothers and sisters are you ready to rock…Mark Farner’s American Band”! This might be the most egotistical and bombastic intro I’ve ever witnessed and I absolutely love it!
The band is a four piece; bass, keyboards, drums with Mark Farner out front. Mark served as a guitarist and vocalist but sometimes exchanged his guitar for playing keys or simply just holding a microphone. He did it all.
This evening was the first show of the 2026 summer tour and the setlist was much better and more focused than previous setlists I had looked at from previous tours. When I say focused, I mean for a fan like me that grew up hearing GFR on the radio. The setlist was not heavy on deep tracks as on some tours.
I like when bands do raw renditions of songs in a live setting I gotta tell ya, Mark Farner plowed through some of the most popular songs and I totally approve. The ones that come to mind are “American Band” and “Bad Time” but there were others. A couple other classic anthems were performed to perfection and were chilling. Specifically, “Heartbreaker” was worthy of goosebumps as was “Mean Mistreater”.
Besides the music, Mark was very engaging with his between song banter. He talked about a few different things and all seemed relevant. He wondered aloud why Grand Funk were not in the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame. He shared how corrupt management affected the band in the ‘70’s and he talked about his relationship with Jesus. I’m usually bored by meaningless rambling but all this seemed to add and not detract from the show. Mark Farner commands a stage.
OK, I can’t stop before I make comparisons between seeing Mark Farner’s American Band playing Grand Funk songs and seeing Grand Funk Railroad with Mel and Don playing basically the same songs. I’m going to say it simply. I enjoyed both but the current Grand Funk Railroad with Mel & Don is a tribute to Grand Funk. Mark Farner is a rock star. Well Done!
Are You Ready
Footstompin' Music
We're an American Band
Rock 'n Roll Soul
Bad Time
Shinin' On
Heartbreaker
Mean Mistreater
Hooked On Love
Ohio
I Can Feel Him in the Morning
The Loco-Motion
Some Kind of Wonderful
I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)
