The Go-Gos – Sept 21st – Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
I had a crazy one-two-three punch of a weekend ahead with events in DFW and down in Austin. The first one was to go see the Go-Go’s in Fort Worth at the unlikely venue of country music planet, Billy Bob’s Texas (though they told me later they had actually played here before almost 30 years prior) – .
I might have made it out to the show anyway given its proximity and novel venue, but my reason for tonight was to visit with my friend Abby.
Long-time Go-Go’s bassist Kathy Valentine had recently broken her wrist and Abby was filling in her for her on the tour.
Besides being just all-around awesome and a total badass, Abby has most likely lived out one of your musical fantasies and even more awesome, probably more than one. She toured with Beck back in 1995 and through that landed a gig with Elastica. Then the floodgates opened from there and she had toured with The Bangles, The Meat Puppets, Earthlings?, Spinal Tap .in addition to releasing her own solo records. She recently did some solo coast dates with Claude on drums and that is our connection. We had been working on putting some more dates together and were trying to find time to sit down whenever we were in the same city before this opportunity with the Go-Go’s came about. So while on this tour I happened to be in Fort Worth when they came through and it was decided that we would meet there.
I get to the venue and Abby is waiting for me by the backstage door and she graciously welcomes me to the back. She wanted to grab a smoke from the dressing room before we headed outside to talk/smoke. I was welcomed briefly into the inner sanctum and it was very generous of Abby to give a sweeping introduction of me to the other girls in the band. I had to laugh in spite of myself of after Abby points to me and says “Hey everybody, this is my friend Roy” – that was followed by a chorus of Go-Go’s saying hello to me in unison.
Leaving a quickly as we entered, I’m closing the door behind me when I hear Belinda Carlisle, say “Hey, he was really cute” – Now, I have zero evidence that she was referring to me, but I didn’t see any other dudes around so I’ll take it 🙂
I had the biggest crush on her growing up so that was awesome.
Abby and I grab a quick smoke before she has to get back, to talk and catch up. Soon after I’m in the main area in preparation for the show.
I understand the appeal and the pride invested in Billy Bob’s but if you have ever been to a show here than you know that the “seating” is anything but ideal.
It’s just a series of long cafeteria tables and sliding chairs that inhumanely seated too close to each other from all sides. Once you are “seated” getting up or making any gesticulation for that matter is next to impossible and very uncomfortable.
I purposely took a seat toward the back just so I could have more personal space.
Finally the show starts, and despite this being an odd venue to host this concert, the turnout was surprisingly large –
More than anything, the show was fun. Belinda and rhythm guitarist Jane Wiedlin danced and spun, hopped and ran across the stage at various intervals. Gina Schock, drummer, also left her kit several times and walked to the edge of the stage to greet fans and tell jokes. Abby impressively filled in for Kathy and added a taut energy to the set, wasn’t the shy hired hand and even told a few stories of her own.
Though a potential target for scrutiny, they started the encore with a cover of that teen pop song you heard everywhere this summer Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen which was actually fun and fitting with a note from Belinda jokingly stating of their attempt to compete with a younger generation, when it was obvious that just simply like the song and thought it would be fun to play (and it was).
Setlist –
This Town
Vacation
Tonite
How Much More
Get Up and Go
Mad About You (Belinda Carlisle solo)
Lust to Love
Let’s Go Free
Automatic
Cool Places (Sparks cover)
Unforgiven
Skidmarks on My Heart
We Got the Beat
Our Lips Are Sealed
Cool Jerk (The Capitols cover)
Encore:
Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen cover)
Head Over Heels
They had a long drive ahead of them so they decided to bolt right after the gig so I barely had time to thank Abby for having me before they had to take off. I was calling it an early night myself as I was headed to Austin the next day.
