June 29, 2010 - “Love is on the Run” this summer, as two superstar arena rock acts have teamed up on the road to spread a little love along with the music. REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar became smashing successes 30 years ago, but the energy and passion from those early days has yet to leave the scene. Playing to a tightly packed crowd at the Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia, Pat Benatar used her razor sharp vocals to rip her own songs to shreds, while her male counterparts in REO Speedwagon left the crowd stammering from a performance that could only be described as a flawless rock party.
As the stage’s impressive lighting rig and lit screens were unveiled, it was evident that an explosion of sound was due at any minute. To a roar of cheers, the fiery red-haired Pat Benatar emerged on stage with husband Neil Giraldo at her side. Sporting a tremendous vocal range, great looks, and seductive dance moves, the same elements that originally gravitated fans and critics alike to Benatar were immediately present.
The opening selection of “All Fired Up” indeed had the effect of an ignition on Benatar, who quickly went from sporting a casual smile to screaming with aggression into her microphone. Yes, she’s still got it, and all that husband Giraldo could do was grin and play.
The familiar quality and style of Pat Benatar’s delivery stirred up the crowd, and her genuine presence – the sense that every lyric mattered and was tied to memory – was icing on the cake. Her words during the keyboard-laden introduction to “Promises in the Dark” sounded remarkably full of emotion and pain, not a terrible feat when singing a song written long ago.
The back and forth interaction between the unique wife-and-husband pair of Benatar and Giraldo produced several memorable moments during the show, particularly during the acoustic portion. It during this part of the set when the chemistry between the two was at the forefront as jokes were traded about daily life in their household. Undoubtedly rockers for life, both musicians appeared right at home while seated next to each other with a guitar in hand.
The acoustic session also brought out the full purity of Benatar’s voice. Although straining high notes are sometimes avoided, the rich yet rough timbre of her voice was more than enough to send chills through the amphitheater during her emotional delivery of “We Belong“.
Love and chemistry were two elements brought to the forefront during the set (this is the Love on the Run tour, after all), but there was more than enough straight-up rock to be had, and it was all done in the classic Benatar-Giraldo style. Yes, although Pat is the main attraction, the show’s axeman can’t be forgotten either. Trading licks with his wife’s lyrics, Giraldo had his own moments of stardom when tearing through guitar solos and familiar riffs.
Benatar’s one of a kind rock attitude emerged on “Hit Me With Your Best Shot“, despite being reluctant to even perform the classic.
“I’m 57, and this song is so old that I’m only going to sing it if you fill in on the chorus,” she bargained. Fans happily obliged, and as expected, Benatar kicked it. From the arena-filling yells to the struts on stage, her stamina was nothing short of incredible.
Not to be outdone, REO Speedwagon packed a huge flow of energy along with their massive catalog of hits. Making a pronounced entrance for themselves with “Don’t Let Him Go“, Kevin Cronin and the rest of the gang were on the move from the start. Stuck in 1980 for the first group of songs, the concert was initially a 30 year celebration of Hi Infidelity, the smash album that spawned songs like “Keep on Loving You“.
With an immaculate sound and youthful stage energy, the trio of ‘Infidelity’ songs likely brought a big flash of high school memories back to much of the crowd. REO Speedwagon is an act that has truly perfected the formula of the classic rock concert, seizing nostalgia and using it to their advantage in the creation of a party from the past.
The hits were literally stormed through by the five-piece as the benefits of retaining the same lineup through over a decade of touring paid off fast. Harmonies were crisp and the rhythm section tight, with the familiar voice of Kevin Cronin singing high above it all.
Despite the rigor, Cronin’s energy was uncontainable from start to finish, strumming away at his guitar with a wide smile and sharing his free spirited attitude with fans in the process. Looking fantastically fit for his age, his voice retains its famous flair, and if anything his stage moves – from air leaps to wild guitar swinging – have only intensified over time. The enthusiasm on display suggested that Cronin and the rest of REO Speedwagon retain a strong pride in every song.
The band may take flack in some rock circles for its ballads, but make no false assumptions. When push comes to shove, REO rocks hard. “Back on the Road Again” featured bassist Bruce Hall at the microphone, along with smoking guitar work from Dave Amato.
“This is the classic rock heavy artillery, people!” screamed Cronin during the song’s introduction. But in reality, the band’s entire set was heavy artillery with few breaks. One of those rare exceptions was a new acoustic track, “Can’t Stop Loving You“, written and performed by a solo Cronin. It didn’t quite pack the memorable chorus of the band’s finest work, but its genuine lyrics and familiar storyline resonated with the Wolf Trap crowd.
REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar have never given up performing, and some might find that to be unusual. But perhaps there’s no reason to abandon one’s natural element. The sparks that Pat Benatar still generates on stage are real. And REO Speedwagon? Their claim that they’ve never stopped rocking is accurate. For some, there’s no place quite like the stage, and these two acts won’t be leaving it anytime soon.
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Great pics Matt. Congrats on the REO deal.
Good work!