VIENNA, Va. — Legendary 1980s girl band The Go-Go’s rocked Wolf Trap with their "Ladies Gone Wild!" tour during a Friday, June 10th appearance.
The group had to cancel the majority of their 2010 farewell tour, including a stop at the Filene Center, after guitarist Jane Wiedlin blew out her knee in a hiking accident. Getting rid of any "farewell tour" indications, The Go-Go's made up for that cancelled date - and then some.
The Go-Go's, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin (Image: Arnold Neimanis)
To the cue of “The Stripper,” Miss Wiedlin , drummer Gina Schock, bassist Kathy Valentine, lead singer Belinda Carlisle and lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey took the sparse stage and jumped right into the lead track from their 1982 album "Vacation."
Through a 16-song set, mostly celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1981 debut album “Beauty and the Beat," the band treated the near capacity crowd to a steady diet of vintage 1980’s L.A. New Wave pop (how’s that for a niche), occasionally exposing its punk roots.
Lead warbler, Miss Carlisle could not have sounded better in tunes such as “Tonight” and “Lust to Love” as her characteristic and saucy vibrato kicked in throughout.
She also did her best Mary Tyler Moore dance moves (that’s "Dick Van Dyke Show" era Mary, Daddy-O) to keep the male audience members riveted.
The band attacked fan favorites all night with solid harmonies from Miss Wiedlin, Miss Caffey and Miss Valentine accompanying dead on versions of “Get Up and Go,” take that B-52s, and, personal favorites, “This Town,” and “The Whole World Lost It’s Head.”
Belinda Carlisle and Kathy Valentine (Image: Arnold Neimanis)
The Go-Go’s also played a few tunes from some of the member's solo efforts featuring an energized version of Belinda Carlisle’s “Mad About You” and Jane Wiedlin’s “Cool Places.” Remember, "Cool Places?" It was that quirky collaboration with Sparks from back in 1983. Miss Carlisle sang Russell Mael’s part and joined Jane for some Mod stomping.
Unexpected moments of the night included Belinda defiantly declaring “what a drag it is getting old” before the Go-Go’s ripped into the Rolling Stones classic “Mother’s Little Helper” and Baltimore native Gina Schock (the “thumpiest” drummer in the world according to Miss Wiedlin) walking to center stage to announce that her parents and siblings were in the house.
This was a good thing as she was buried deep behind her drum kit all night with only an occasional grin letting the audience know she was not a drum machine. Yeah, workmen like precision, and Miss Schock was that solid all night.
The Go-Go’s two mega hits “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat” were saved for the dance party at the later part of the set with an exhausted crowd getting a second wind.
Go-Gos guitarist Jane Wiedlin (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
An encore began with a visit from the opening act The Dollyrots (think Disney Channel punk rock) to offer dance support on the too cool “Surfing and Spying.”
That led to the keyboard infused “Head Over Heels,” a clapping, toe tapper written by Miss Caffey and Miss Valentine. Extended for the show, the 1984 hit punctuated with Miss Wielding running and jumping around the stage.
And, just to let the audience know all sides of the Go-Go’s history, a second encore starred the hard edged, version of Miss Wiedlin’s 1978 chord-loaded, punk song “Fun With Ropes.”
Not bad for a bunch of ladies all comfortably in their fifties. For the entire 75 minutes or so, the Go-Go’s could not have delivered a more enthusiastic and professional performance for the appreciative crowd.
Read more Riffs at the The Washington Times Communities.
The Go-Go's Charlotte Caffey and Kathy Valentine perform at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle and drummer Gina Schock performing at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's lead singer Belinda Carlisle performs at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle and Gina Schock perform at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock and Kathy Valentine perform at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's drummer Gina Schock and bassist Kathy Valentine perform at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's guitarist Jane Wieldin dances at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's perform at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle, Kathy Valentine and Gina Schock rocked Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's guitarist Jane Wiedlin performing at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
The Go-Go's lead singer Belinda Carlisle performing at Wolf Trap's Filene Center in Vienna, Va. (Image: Jacquie Kubin)
This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com. Written permission must be obtained before reprint in online or print media. REPRINTING TWTC CONTENT WITHOUT PERMISSION AND/OR PAYMENT IS THEFT AND PUNISHABLE BY LAW.
