Review by Alex Jacard
Having seen both REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar in their heyday, I wasn’t quite sure if they were nearing the end of their shelf life. Historically, the Greek Theatre has inspired many artists to deliver memorable performances. And so it was this night.
Pat Benatar came out at 7:45 and kicked in with “All Fired Up.” The crowd was on its feet, welcoming the singer and her band to the nearly sold-out venue. My first impression of the sound was a little disappointing with a mix that did not adequately suit the band. The crunch of Neil “Spyder” Giraldo’s guitar could be heard, but the much anticipated bottom end of drummer Myron Grombacher and bassist Mick Mahan was a little muddier.
On “Shadows Of The Night,” Giraldo played some nice riffs to accentuate Benatar’s vocals, almost like two cooks in the kitchen, each adding distinctive flavors. Meanwhile, Grombacher, who returned to the band after being away for some years, developed a strong thunderous beat that rolled effortlessly into the chorus.
Benatar talked about being on tour with REO Speedwagon and touched briefly on her new best-selling book, Between ARock And AHard Place. During “If You Really Knew How To Love Me,” the predominantly female audience was singing and swaying with every syllable. Benatar dedicated “Invincible” to “our men and women overseas protecting us,” as Giraldo embellished the song with some real nice guitar licks.
As a guitarist, songwriter and producer with an impressive resume, the underrated Giraldo with his melodic and rhythmic fills complements his singing wife so well it’s not difficult to guess why their marriage has endured. Later, Benatar brought up the fact that she and her guitar-playing husband have been together for 29 years. The union definitely shined in their performances.
On “Promises In The Dark,” Giraldo played the intro on a grand piano as Benatar intoned an emotionally soulful rendition with great dynamics. For “You Better Run,” whose video was the second clip ever aired on MTV in 1981, Benatar and Giraldo rolled out an acoustic adaptation. You could sense these two have a very close relationship as they coyly looked at each other. This continued on “I Don’t Want To Be Your Friend,” from the 1997 album, Innamorata. The crowd roared their approval.
The crowd waved their cell phones in unison during “We Belong” before “Hell Is For Children” and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” burned up the intensity meter. The encore of “Let’s Stay Together” and “Heartbreaker” capped a set of blistering rock and roll from a pioneer.
One can only wonder about the next generation of Pat Benatars. Taking into consideration her vocal presence and catalog of work, it’s hard to imagine any of the American Idols would ever be able to replicate the same kind of success. This is why Benatar remains an inspiration to up and coming female artists looking to match or surpass her accomplishments.
A short intermission later, REO Speedwagon was on. The video screens on each side of the stage displayed a montage of stills from the group’s history, highlighted by the 30th anniversary of their epic album, Hi Infidelity.
Singer Kevin Cronin welcomed the crowd and off they went with “Don’t Let Him Go.” The band sounded full and tight. Longtime bassist Bruce Hall and the very percussive drumming of Bryan Hitt stood out. During “Keep On Loving You,” the crowd got up and swayed to the choruses in unison, many with beverages in hand as the band played this famous AOR hit. Cronin informed the audience that that Hi Infidelity has sold 10 million copies.
Another sing-along accompanied “Take It On The Run,” guitarist Dave Amato filling in the gaps. A member of REO since 1989, Amato has established himself as his own player with hints of the Gary Richrath era in his ascents. The band looked like they were having a great time, with the crowd and each other on stage.
Things kicked into high gear with a great, crunchy sound during “Keep Pushin.” As they went into “Golden Country,” more video of the band in the early days 1971 came up on the screens. Cronin’s voice sounded assured and Hitt’s drumming stood out. “Can’t Fight This Feeling” got everyone on their feet again, and then Cronin played an acoustic version of “Time For Me To Fly,” providing another opportunity for a sing-along.
Afterwards, REO reverted back to more upbeat tunes. “Back On The Road Again” featured Hall taking over on lead vocals. Cronin worked the crowd, clapping their hands in unison with the beat before a blistering drum solo finished out the song and slowly vamped to a screaming lead guitar then a thunderous end. “Roll With The Changes” was driven by Amato’s guitar, who retains the flavor of the original Richrath solos while adding flourishes of his own.
At this point, some of the band’s family came on stage to help sing backups. Then original keyboardist Neal Doughty got down on his Moog and played the intro of a longtime concert staple, “Riding The Storm Out.” It made for a great finale.
Tonight, both REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar exceeded all my expectations. It’s amazing to see groups who have been around this long sound as good as they do. Their longevity and dedication to their fans is why they have truly achieved immortality in the world of vintage rock.
