The Go-Go’s, whose 2013 Vancouver gig was cancelled last-minute, made it up to their fans by coming through town to play a New Year’s Eve show at the River Rock Casino Resort.
Armed with my husband and point-and-shoot camera in hand, we ventured to the River Rock, where by mid-evening, the crowd was in full New Year’s Eve party mode, with music in the lobby and folks dressed for the big night of the year.
Groups of concert-goers were already on the dance floor, enjoying classic 80’s dance tunes being pumped out by the house DJ.
The girls came on at 11 as billed (the lower seating area was cleared for a dinner buffet seating, available as a dinner and show package for $189.50), with all original Go-Go’s excepting Kathy Valentine (who left the band after 30 years due to irreconcilable differences).
Solo recording artist/bassist Abby Travis (of LA band The Lovedolls fame) did a good job of filing in those shoes. Travis has also toured with bands such as Beck, Elastica, The Bangles, and KMFDM. The four original members of the 80’s pop sensation include Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, and Gina Schock.
“Get Up and Go” led the 90-minute, fun-filled party atmosphere of a set that included a balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight.
“Vacation”, “Tonight”, “Automatic”, “This Town”, “Skidmarks on My Heart” — all their well-loved tunes were included. The band did a rousing version of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black”, and invited some of the “best dancers out there” to come up on stage and join them for “Cool Jerk”.
Belinda’s big hit, “Mad About You” was also part of the set. Just before midnight, “Our Lips Are Sealed”, then a table brought out on stage with bubbly, so that the girls could count down to the new year with the audience.
Drummer Gina Schock engaged the crowd, making merry by asking the rest of the band to state their resolutions for the new year. Gina’s? Ever the clown, she responded, “selling husky petite underpants on the QVC”.
[Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock]
Jane Wiedlin’s still got that girlish voice that fans have come to know and love; she too started to toast and greet some of the crowd at midnight, before the band tucked into “We Got The Beat”. The evening’s two encores were “Lust to Love” and “Head Over Heels”, rounding out a fun time for all.
Lead singer Belinda Carlisle’s still got that trademark voice and as for the rest of the band, after over 30 years together, they’re a lasting testament to a wonderful decade fading too fast out of our memories (to quote one of their songs).
I saw their 1981 We Got the Beat tour in Los Angeles, and remember the sleeveless t-shirt purchase donning their first album cover graphic — designed by one of my former design teachers — that of five ladies with their bodies and hair wrapped up in sky blue towels. The iconic group continues to entertain to this day while seemingly having a blast doing so.
Disclaimer: Our tickets were provided for the purpose of this review.