They were the first musicians to prove that an all-female band could chart with originally written songs. On a night dedicated to the talents of multiple generations of female musicians, The Go-Go’s proved they could still triumph after nearly four decades.
The Go-Go’s danced onto the Comerica Theatre stage on Aug. 25, ready to prove that age doesn’t defy a rock star heart as they launched into “Vacation,” complete with Belinda Carlisle’s solid vocals, air guitar and fresh energy.
As the band played its power anthem “Tonite,” it proved its ability to meet class with power in a tastefully rebellious performance. The song highlighted the group’s effectiveness in interacting with each other and the audience and showcased drummer Gina Schock’s unerring instrumental skill.
“This Town” followed with pure rock instrumentals and hauntingly good harmonies, which melded with a brilliant guitar riff. It was the perfect introduction to older, grittier songs from the band’s start, back when they paved the way for the Los Angeles punk scene and female musicians to prosper. The edgy “Fun With Ropes” and sardonic “Good Girl” showed off The Go-Go’s ability to transition from a drum-heavy sound to a balanced, melodic tune with genuine ease.
RELATED: METROnome: Our columnist’s top 8 artist picks at the Indie 500
Before long, guitarist Jane Wiedlin led the band in covering “Cool Places,” a song she released with Sparks in 1983. Singing and dancing alongside Carlisle, Wiedlin’s wild, energetic spirit was well-emphasized with the song’s drum solo, heavy bass and keyboard melodies.
Soon after The Go-Go’s brought audience members onstage for a funky cover of “Cool Jerk” by The Capitols, they ended their set with their massive hit “We Got the Beat.” The classic was polished with perfected vocals and guitar and bass transitions for an ultimate performance. As each of the women sang in pristine melodies, they strengthened each other’s skills in a truly symbolic display of feminism.
Unfortunately, there was an encore.
The band returned to cover Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball,” perplexing the audience. Imagine it: a pioneer punk band sings a relatively unchanged cover of an ultra modern pop star’s song to a primarily middle-aged audience. It’s not the smartest choice. While Carlisle’s vocals were beautiful, the band’s skills were left behind (bassist Abby Travis only appeared shortly to sing a few notes) and The Go-Go’s failed to make the song their own.
The group ended the night with its hit single “Head Over Heels.” Despite strong guitar parts and upbeat, reminiscent vibes that redeemed the encore, it was hardly the fire that should have ended the show. During a farewell tour that should have been all about the barrier-breaking musicians, original music and loyal fans, The Go-Go’s left with a less than satisfactory encore.
Luckily, Phoenix fans can remember the legendary band with the rest of the show, which was nearly impeccable — something only The Go-Go’s (with 38 years under their belt) could accomplish. This remarkable show was enforced with more than noteworthy performances by pop singer Kaya Stewart and indie sensation Best Coast.
Stewart, a 16-year-old with a natural knack for performing, was energetic throughout her set. Combining her pop songs with her powerful rock voice, she proved her potential for wide appeal. While Stewart’s set would have more effect in a crowd of young fans of pop stars — or, even better, in the pop punk era of Avril Lavigne — her performance of “Sleepover” strengthened her place as an up-and-comer who could, with work and time, rise to the likes of Pink.
Best Coast brought the most flawless vocalist of the night, with singer Bethany Cosentino delivering note after note without wavering. Opening with “When I’m With You,” the band showed how the sound of a live performance could surpass the quality of a recorded album.
However, with little energy, the group was simply boring to watch. This slowly improved with the intriguing “California Nights,” but everyone remained rigid until “Who Have I Become,” when Cosentino finally stepped out of her bubble and showed a more energetic side with her tambourine in hand.
Best Coast stayed strong for the rest of the set, despite a persistent lack of eye contact with the audience. “Feeling Ok” and “I Don’t Know How” were complimented with solid movements and natural transitions, while “Boyfriend” was heartwarmingly dedicated to a young fan. Ending with “When Will I Change,” the L.A. punk band built a high-quality path for their predecessors to amaze once again.
Contact the columnist at Emily.Liu@asu.edu.
