August 12, 2016
The Go-Go’s — perhaps the most perfect concoction of pop, rock and punk — made a stop at The Fillmore on Thursday as part of their farewell tour. The original four of Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey and Gina Schock were joined by Abby Travis.
They opened with “Vacation,” and early technical difficulties did not derail the night. Carlisle urged the crowd to ask questions, and later on, Schock came out from behind the drum kit to revel in her Baltimore accent (which sounds quite Philadelphian, honestly).
Carlisle dusted off a favorite solo song for the full-band treatment in “Mad About You.” Wiedlin, in her blue hair and "Star Trek" guitar strap, was pure fun to watch and listen to. Brave audience members were summoned to the stage to dance during a spirited cover of “Cool Jerk” (originally by The Capitols; Carlisle and company covered it on the “Vacation” LP in 1982). Their main set closed with the one-two punch of “Our Lips are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat” — and they felt like musical epiphanies. Long live The Go-Go’s.
The night began with teenage pop songstress Kaya Stewart, who delivered her single, “In Love with a Boy,” and new material from a self-titled debut that drops today, Aug. 12.
L.A. alt-rockers Best Coast followed. Lead singer/guitarist Bethany Cosentino, guitar/hair-thrasher Bobb Bruno and the rest of the band were in fine form.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
The Go-Go's play The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Best Coast plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Best Coast plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Best Coast plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Best Coast plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Best Coast plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Kaya Stewart plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Kaya Stewart plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Kaya Stewart plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
Kaya Stewart plays The Fillmore on Aug. 11.
