Kid Rock opens at Cruzan Amphitheatre (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post) | More photos

Where: Cruzan Amphitheatre

When: June 27

Our take:

It’s tough to list everything Kid Rock does in a live performance.

He sings, screams and raps. He plays piano, guitar and drums. He gets on the turntables to scratch. He gears up the audience. He jumps from genre to genre. He even performs a skit!

So let’s try this:

His name is Kid Rock. His occupation, crowd-pleaser.

It seemed that no matter what Kid Rock did, the crowd at Cruzan Ampthitheatre went right along with it.

Now there were times when his genre-hopping style may have come off a little jarring — at one moment singing his hit duet ballad “Picture” with backup singer Stacey Michelle standing in for Sheryl Crow, kicking out an old-school rap jam the next. But Kid Rock had the audience along for the ride.

Kid Rock at Cruzan Amphitheatre. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)

For all of the sides Kid Rock shows during the concert, he’s at his most winning when he leans toward 1970s AM rock. At those points, Kid Rock really shows that he’s basically a sponge, taking classic songs and either covering them directly — feeling at home with Sly and the Family Stone’s “Everyday People” or Ted Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever” — nicking pieces like he did from Warren Zevon and Lynyrd Skynyrd for his smash “All Summer Long” or just using it as an influence.

It was when he saluted his influences with songs like “Amen” and “Blue Jeans And A Rosary” that the show really soared. And it showed that likely one of his strongest influences is fellow Detroit native Bob Seger.

It helps that Kid Rock continues to have a strong, fantastic band behind him — and if you don’t, you’re in trouble no matter how many pyrotechnics you have (and Kid Rock had a TON of stage effects as well). Led by drummer Stephanie Eulinberg (basically thunder in human form) and keyboardist Jimmy Bones, the Twisted Brown Trucker Band keeps up with Kid Rock no matter where he takes the show. Eulinberg even came out from behind her kit to turn “Half Your Age” into a duet — girl can sing!

By the time Kid Rock had finished his two-hour set with his first major hit, “Bawitdaba”, he had done his job. The crowd was pleased.

Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd at Cruzan Amphitheatre (Allen Eyestone / The Post)

Lynyrd Skynyrd: There were more than one fan who expressed a little confusion that the Hall of Fame band was opening for Kid Rock, but it sure seemed that the Southern rock kings were OK with the arrangement.

The Rock ‘n’ Rebels Tour is allowing Skynyrd to bring their live skills to a new generation of fans, and giving newer fans more of a chance to see the band play what have been radio staples for decades.

Johnny Van Zant shows he is a consummate front man — at this point, he has the kind of command older brother Ronnie was well-known for. His stirring work on “Simple Man” — dedicated to soldiers overseas — was a genuine highlight of the show.

Many of Skynyrd’s songs continue to take on an added poignancy as members are taken from them — the band recently suffered the deaths of original pianist Billy Powell and longtime bassist Ean Evans. Whether it was the brand-new song “Still Unbroken” or the mainstay “Freebird”, there was an emotional power to Skynyrd’s set.

The fans speak:
Macie, DeLand
What did you think? “(Kid Rock)’s my future husband!… I loved the whole show!”

How about Skynyrd? “They were great. The first CD (my sister and I) ever owned was by Lynyrd Skynyrd, so this was great.”

(Sadly, Macie, who didn’t give her last name, also didn’t want her picture taken.)

Mark Hannah, Royal Palm Beach

Mark came down to see Lynyrd Skynyrd, having seen them more than 20 times, he estimates: “I see them every time they come down.”

What did you think? “Skynyrd didn’t play long enough, but I know it’s because they opened for Kid Rock.”

How about Kid Rock? “I thought it as a great show. I didn’t think he’d do that much, but I’m a Kid Rock fan now.”