REO Speedwagon, a ’70s rock band from Champaign, will return for its second Family Weekend concert on Saturday.

The hour-and-a-half concert will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Lantz Arena.

Neal Doughty, one of the founders and the keyboardist for the group, said the group is excited to be coming back.

The five band members are Kevin Cronin, lead vocals; Dave Amato, lead guitar; Bruce Hall, bass guitar; Doughty; and Bryan Hitt, drums.

“It’s all in the area we started in, and we played at Eastern a lot,” Doughty said. “We got our start playing colleges.”

Doughty said they got their start by playing in bars on the weekends in college before getting a bigger fan base and turning it into their career.

Doughty said he is happy to be performing for Family Weekend because it is a big event in Charleston.

“We couldn’t even get a hotel in Charleston, so you have a big event going on there,” Doughty said. “We always like being a part of a big college event like that.”

Ceci Brinker, the director of the Student Life, said they chose this band because their music is relatable.

“They are one of the premier bands of their era of music,” Brinker said. “Their music connects with people from all backgrounds.”

Doughty said they will perform some of their biggest hits from all of their albums, but he also said they will play some of their less popular songs.

“It’s basically trial and error over the year,” Doughty said. “We know what songs people want to here, and I think we got the set about right now.”

Brinker said the concert will be one where the audience will not sit still.

“It’ll be a show that’ll have them up standing and dancing,” she said.

REO Speedwagon performed at Eastern on Oct. 6, 2007, in Lantz for Family Weekend.

Doughty said they are honored Eastern asked them back for a second time in five years.

“It’s flattering to be invited back so quickly because usually you’ll play some city and then you just don’t see again for a few years,” Doughty said. “It takes a while for the interest to build back up.”

Brinker said the group will be performing for about 3,000 people, and the tickets are sold out.

“They know how to pack a house and how to have a good time with people, and people feed off their energy,” Brinker said.

Brinker said both young and old people have told her they are excited about the concert.

“This band has been around quite a while but the enthusiasm and love for their music doesn’t get old,” Brinker said.

Doughty said he hopes to see people from all demographics.

“We are one of the lucky groups that our music is still popular with younger generations so that way we can still go out and do this,” Doughty said.

Brinker said one reason people like REO Speedwagon is because of their stage presence.

“This band will bring a lot of energy,” Brinker said. “They will make this a fun time.”

The doors will open at 7 p.m.

Doughty said they have heard audiences sing louder than them.

“They will know every song, and I bet they will leave with no voice left,” Doughty said.

He said they make their concerts lively.

“We will use all of our energy— and we still have plenty of it— and we are turning the whole thing into a sing-a-long because they’ll know our songs,” Doughty said. “It’ll be a party.”

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].