Monday, May 22, 2006

The Go-Go's have still got the beat
This made me smile.

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Here's a fact to make music fans of a certain age cringe: The Go-Go's debut release, "Beauty and the Beat," has just turned 25.

To celebrate the occasion, the hugely popular female pop group has joined forces for yet another tour. As several previous reunions (most recently in 2001) proved, there is no shortage of fans eager to either relive their youthful memories or see what the fuss was about.

While there was no new material on display (or apparently in the works), the group proved at least two things. First, that they still look damn good. As guitarist Jane Wiedlin put it, "We may have some junk in our trunks, but we think we're hot." And second, that their new wave-era pop holds up remarkably well.

Beginning with their classic hit "Our Lips are Sealed," the Go-Go's first performed "Beauty and the Beat" in its entirety. Any initial skepticism -- the album is not exactly "Exile on Main Street," after all -- was quickly dissipated by the procession of sterling numbers that followed. In addition to the propulsive "We Got the Beat," such songs as "Lust to Love," "Automatic" and "Skidmarks on My Heart" demonstrated that the album is indeed well worth celebrating. At the conclusion, singer Belinda Carlisle wryly commented to the wildly cheering crowd, "Not bad for a bunch of old broads, huh?"

Anyone who has seen them live knows what a great rock band they really are. I was skeptical walking in when I first saw them back in '82- moved by their powerful performance, I bought a guitar soon after. The rest is history...