After an eventful family weekend, the event that got parents reminiscing about the good old days was REO Speedwagon.

Lead singer Kevin Cronin and his band rocked the stage at the Convocation Center on Sept. 15. Although Cronin was fighting a cold, his unique voice kept the walls ringing and the moms swooning.

The audience poured in with their Pepsi cups and french fries as the stage lights came up at 7:45 p.m. All eyes focused on four men from Milwaukee, Wis., who came to open for REO.

Steve Grimm and his Legendary Bad Boys got the fans cheering with the classic rock and roll song “Run From Yourself.”

“The Legendary Bad Boys have been playing for over 25 years, and, like the Bunny, we just keep on going,” said Grimm before slipping into a rendition of “Midnight Love.”

As the crew revamped the stage to make way for REO, the excitement rose along with the amount of fans.

When the last crew member finally hopped off the stage, while the song “Born Country” blared, fog machines produced a silky haze, and purple lights added a mysterious feeling.

Suddenly the country song was ended by a rock ballad calling the crowd to their feet. REO got the crowd moving and the contagious energy flowed from the stage and filled the audience.

The stage surrounding REO was certainly a site to see as a giant clock gave the illusion that it was protruding through the center of the stage forming the front for the drummer’s center stage platform.

With uniform collared shirts and tight pants, REO Speedwagon had the crowd singing “Take it on the Run” the entire time.

Lead singer Kevin Cronin, who resembled Jon Bon Jovi with better hair, announced that even though he had a cold, he was still ready for action.

“REO Speedwagon gives 100 percent and we came to party!” said Cronin.

Appropriately enough, the band then played one of their hits “Keep Pushin'” from their new album “Find Your Own Way Home.”

Breaking through the applause REO reached out to the few younger members of the crowd with their song “Dangerous Combination.”

“I was sitting at this bar in the hotel one night, just thinking and drinking Tequila,” Cronin said. “I realized the two don’t mix very well, and so I wrote the song ‘Dangerous Combination’ about what may or may not have happened that night.”

Playing a few rock ballads that got the cell phone lights waving and the moms swaying, lead guitarist Dave Amato helped to bring in the romance with the song “Keep on Loving You,” and keyboardist Neal “Diamond” Doughty added to the experience with his captivating piano playing.

REO exited the stage and the crowd clapped and chanted for an encore. Coming back onto the stage drummer Bryan Hitt and bass player Bruce Hall got the crowd cheering again.

Hall put his heart into playing a gong as Cronin, Amato and Doughty joined in to please the fans.

Finishing the three-song encore REO rocked out the Convo with the song that put them on the map in 1973. “Ridin’ the Storm Out” was the perfect conclusion to the night of rock.

Although Cronin’s voice was completely shot, he took the time to address the audience with a bit of ranting.

“We are not even close to reaching our peek. I am still just as creative, intellectual and sexual as ever,” Cronin declared to the older generation.

Concluding with a blues form of scat singing, Cronin fought through one last song and left the audience more than satisfied. Overall the five rockers put on a stunning performance.

The REO Speedwagon concert was certainly the highlight of Parents’ Weekend and the band’s new album is a must-have.