THE GO-GO’S TAUT, SOLID MUSCULAR POP ROCK SOLD-OUT SHOW AT THE ROXY NEVER MISSED A BEAT
PHOTOS BY ALEX KLUFT
As a “warmup” for Coachella and Cruel Fest, The Go-Go’s returned to their club roots, so to speak, with an incredibly exhilarating sold-out show at the Roxy on April 9th. Most importantly, the proceeds went to the Pasadena Humane Society and relief for L.A. wildfires.
The high-energy, electric performance was a straightforward affair. The genre-defying rock and roll famers played their greatest and groundbreaking hits and more, with over 20 songs in depth, including “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” “How Much More,” “We Got The Beat,” “Head Over Heels,” and many, many more.
“Tonight” and “Lust For Love” are always revelations because they are personal songs that are insightful. They have staying power to this day and have never sounded dated or lost their potency. The Go-Gos always wrote perfect songs with plenty of hooks.
The show opened with Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin, and Gina Schock bouncing onto the stage comically to Ethel Merman’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” The humor and irony were not missed or lost, as The Go-Go’s thirty-year career has been marked by very storied highs and lows.
But tonight was a total celebration of the music and a love letter to the many multi-generational fans in the beyond-capacity audience, including the LBGTQ community, who gathered together to share their memories of seeing their favorite band live.
This reviewer tried to get as close to the stage as possible and then admitted defeat and went way to the back and later was pushed to standing in the lobby but luckily for good ears and great instincts realized what was being heard was pretty terrific and sensational.
I got to review The Go-Go’s way back in the 1990s, and I vividly recall the night. As great as that was, the show at The Roxy was even better. Seeing a band in a smaller venue, at that proximity, and experiencing that intimacy makes a world of difference. Even with the venue's challenges, there is something undeniably special and magical about it.
During the encore, The Go-Gos reminisced about their early days, their paths crossed, and how they met. Belinda and Jane met on the burgeoning L.A. punk scene in 1977. Charlotte Caffey, born and raised in L.A., said she plans to live here until she dies. Finally, they thanked the fans for loving and supporting them all these years.
Also, there was a loving tribute to the iconic musician and drummer of Blondie Clem Burke that passed away on April 6th after a private battle with cancer. Burke sat in for drummer Gina Schock when she had surgery on her thumb and to fuse three vertebrae in her neck. Kathy Valentine had known Clem Burke for many years as they lived together at one point and had remained close friends and shared a love and passion for music.
The Go-Gos personify female empowerment and the ultimate DIY aesthetic. Decades later, they remain at the peak of their musical powers. The chemistry and camaraderie are ever present and at the forefront of a band that has seen and done it all, being in the trenches of life and the entertainment industry together and still standing strong.
They are a significant influence and an essential source of creative inspiration to artists and bands everywhere. The Roxy show, which lasted over an hour, showed all the kids how it’s done.
