By Ken Davis
The South Bend Tribune | February 2, 1992
One of the highlights in John Mellencamp’s shows here is the performance of violinist and Mishawaka native Lisa Germano.
At least Monday’s concert, “Love and Happiness,” from Mellencamp’s album “Whenever We Wanted,” offered saucy solos from Germano and saxophonist John Cascella in place of the startling trumpet of the record.
Germano was spotlighted frequently, with a poignant closing solo on “Martha Say,” originally on Mellencamp’s 1989 album “Big Daddy.”
In a quick interview before a series of concerts in Detroit, Germano noted that she loved “being back playing with John and the band. The crowds have been incredible—they’re up on their feet from the very first song.”
Two of Germano’s songs are included on the soundtrack for the movie “Falling From Grace,” the new drama featuring Mellencamp to be released later this month. Both are instrumentals she offered to Mellencamp before she recorded her first solo album, “On the Way Down from the Moon Palace.”
The soundtrack’s title track was actually a refined version of Germano’s “Little Children,” while “Buddy’s Theme” was written expressly for Mellencamp’s character in the film, Buddy Parks.
In addition, Germano noted that she recently signed with Capitol Records for her second album. She said she 28 new songs ready to take into the studio.
In the meantime, sales of “On the Way Down from the Moon Palace,” her self-released album on the small Major Bill label, have exceeded 5,000 copies.
