Two years.
That’s how long it’s been since we’ve enjoyed live music.
We couldn’t have known that the Aug. 24, 2019, Sammy Hagar concert at Northern Quest would mark the beginning of our live-performance desert, as a global pandemic wiped clean our event calendars.
Thursday night the first drop of musical rain fell for us as Billy Idol wowed a sold-out crowd at Northern Quest.
Sporting more leather jackets than a motorcycle club, Idol and his amazing band brought back my high school memories with a vengeance and reminded me just how much I’ve missed the joy of live music.
Black leather isn’t really my thing, but if I could rock it when I’m 65, the way Idol does, I might reconsider.
After glancing around the dancing crowd, Derek nixed that idea.
“I’m pretty sure Billy’s the only one who can squeeze his 60+ body into his ‘80s clothes and look OK.”
Actually, when Idol first broke into the music scene with Generation X, I was still in middle school wearing culottes with matching vests, handmade by my mother. So, yeah, I was definitely more One Hundred Dorks than “One Hundred Punks.”
By the time he launched his solo career, I was more than ready to give a “Rebel Yell.” Uh, as long as I kept the volume down, so my mom didn’t know I was listening to the “devil’s music.”
One afternoon I thought I was home alone and blasted “White Wedding” on MTV. Let’s just say Mom didn’t believe me when I told her the song was about every girl’s dream wedding.
“Why is he wearing more makeup than the bride?” she asked. “And why isn’t he wearing a shirt?”
Speaking of, evidently, Idol hasn’t added many shirts to his wardrobe since the 1980s. That delighted the Thursday night crowd when he showed off his still youthful abs and flexed his biceps to the accompaniment of the screams of his enthusiastic fans. Out of deference to my husband, I clapped politely and did my screaming on the inside.
His music probably doesn’t make sense to everyone. After all the lyrics to his version of Tommy James’ “Mony Mony” are still pretty incomprehensible.
“Cause you make me feel (like a pony)
So good (like a pony)
So good (like a pony)
So good (Mony Mony)”
Even so, it’s impossible not to dance a bit when that song plays on the oldies station. Yes, I’ve made peace with the fact my high school soundtrack has been relegated to the oldie channels, or worse played in supermarkets and on elevators.
By the way, Idol is a grandparent now, just like many of us who came of age during his prime.
That’s not to say his work is dated. At the concert, he sang his recently released “Bitter Taste.” Recorded during the pandemic, the song reflects on his near-fatal 1990 motorcycle accident.
“Hello, goodbye
There’s a million ways to die
Should’ve left me way back
Should’ve left me way back
By the roadside.”
The contemplative song gave way to more upbeat tunes like “Rebel Yell,” and he ended the show with “White Wedding.”
All in all, Idol’s concert was a fun return to all the things we’ve missed during the pandemic, and it sounded a hopeful note that better days are still to come.
Cindy Hval 