While most of Phoenix was at the Foo Fighters concert, I checked out Billy Idol at the Arizona State Fair. Each year, the fair offers a pretty decent concert line up. You can see any show by paying fair admission, so for a measly ten bucks, you can check out Billy Idol, Snoop Dogg, and/or Judas Priest. Weezer was scheduled to play the fair, but the band canceled a month or two ago.
Low prices set low expectations, but Billy Idol blew mine away. The 55 year old rocker only played for an hour and a half, but made full use of the time by playing his best hits, some Generation X songs, and a few bluesy songs.
Idol stole the show as much as his guitarist, Steve Stevens, who wowed the audience with his guitar that had blue glowing LED lights embedded in the neck and a few acoustic songs. State laws be damned, Stevens kept a lit cigarette in his mouth for most of the band’s performance.
Idol looked like not a day had passed since 1977- he had his signature bleached spiky blonde hair, leather jacket covering shirtless, sculpted abs, red plaid pants, and his signature sneer. In spite of being on the road since 1972, Idol still rocked like he was at his prime. It was a memorable show well worth the ten dollars. Plus, now I can say I got to dance to “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding” in Billy Idol’s presence.
Setlist:
Ready Steady Go
Dancing With Myself
(Do Not) Stand in the Shadows
Postcards From the Past
Flesh for Fantasy
Too Far to Fall
Eyes Without a Face
Kings and Queens
L.A. Woman
Love Like Fire
King Rocker
Running With the Boss Sound
Blue Highway
Rebel Yell
White Wedding
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