Rock star John Mellencamp brought Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on stage during a concert Nov. 9 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Neither Edwards nor any other politician appeared on stage during Mellencamp’s show Thursday night at the Tullio Arena.

While Mellencamp didn’t play up politics in Erie, he touched on racism and other social issues. But mostly what Mellencamp did was rock out in a killer show.

You might recall that four years ago, Mellencamp and other big rock stars — including Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M. and Dave Matthews — participated in the Vote for Change concert tour. At the Vote for Change show in Erie, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and Keb’ Mo’ performed at the Warner Theatre.

— John Guerriero