FAINT WAVES

Some (not very) high quality photos from last night’s Billy Idol show. Wasn’t super interested in being chained to the phone the whole time, but did want to snap a few, as I’ve been meaning to see Billy for a very long time now and it was sort of a momentous occasion for me.

My introduction to Billy was largely (and unceremoniously) his greatest hits record, which my mom played regularly and proved central to my childhood. Simultaneously, Billy was played regularly on the rock radio stations in my hometown growing up. I’d go on to become an even bigger Billy Idol (and Steve Stevens) fan than my mom or anyone else I really knew. By 18 years old, I was well versed in his entire discography. I was (and am) even a staunch defender of his largely maligned Cyberpunk album. I missed Steve’s presence on Charmed Life and Cyberpunk but I still found those to be great albums. Regardless, the two men clearly make magic together and are musically better together, I’m glad they reunited and have worked together regularly since the 00’s. It’s a Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora situation, the two bring out the best in each other musically, the only difference is I have far more of a love for Billy and Steve and that things have obviously worked out differently for the latter men than the former.

Speaking of which, Billy and Steve were brilliant, even in this far future year of 2024. Billy’s voice has aged gracefully. Knowing he’s well near 70 now and hearing him sound as good as he did, it’s really quite impressive. I think he puts many of his contemporaries to shame. He sounds a bit older, sure, but the fact that he can open-with and perform a vintage track like “Dancing With Myself” (recorded around 44 years ago) without missing a beat or having a single bum note? Few could do that. One of my favorite things, is when older individuals show people that they can still do it, that age does not make you obsolete. This notion that you are “washed up”, “played out”, “over-with”, or a “has-been” just because you’ve gotten older? It’s fucking bullshit. You know what I think? I think you can stop exactly when you want to stop and not a moment sooner, you go as long as you want to go, you do what you want. Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too old to do something, to hang it up, because it’s not over until you say it’s over. I think Billy and Steve have exemplified that because I’ve seen younger performers and I’ve seen older performers and these two are still giving it everything they’ve got.

If you can’t tell by now, I thought it was a wonderful show. It was a tight setlist, about an hour and a half. I would’ve liked to hear one or two songs that didn’t make the cut; “Sweet Sixteen” would’ve been really nice to hear, Billy’s cover of “L.A Woman” would’ve been nice to hear, a lesser known track off Rebel Yell (like “Crank Call” or “Daytime Drama”) would’ve been nice to hear (especially since the 40th Anniversary Expanded Edition just came out). Nevertheless, great set, great concert. Billy was enthusiastic and engaging, it looked like he was still having a lot of fun with it all. Steve Stevens had his moments to shine too. Rightfully so, the terrific and evocative player that he is. He did a wonderful guitar interlude featuring some of his terrific flamenco work and a segue into “Over The Hills And Far Away” by Led Zeppelin. There was also a beautiful moment, during a performance of Billy’s “Blue Highway”, where Steve performed a guitar solo and then proceeded to launch into the Top Gun Theme. It was truly remarkable, unexpected, and a great way to combine Billy’s work with the work Steve had done outside of the Billy Idol catalogue. It might have been my favorite moment of the entire show, great as it was to hear the hits. It was a lovely show and I’m just sad I waited as long as I did, because I should’ve seen Billy ten times over by now. Even so, I’m glad I finally saw him and given the chance, I know I will again.

In conclusion; seeing someone you consider a hero and inspiration to you (or heroes, plural, in this case), is always risky. We run the risk of setting impossibly high standards and forgetting that those we consider icons and heroes, are just human beings. Billy and Steve, in addition to being central to my life as a music lover, have inspired some of the music I’ve made myself. My own ultra mellow rip-off of “Sweet Sixteen”, Coral Blush, for instance. Or more recently too, City Of Night, an Italo Disco inspired single that also drew on more typical inspirations of mine (like Billy Idol and Steve Stevens, among others). My point is, even with all this said, I was not let down. Instead, I was reminded what drew me in to begin with, and that nothing has changed. The two men delivered. The music is still there, the magic is still there, and it was beautiful. With two EP’s in the last few years in the rear view and an an all-new full length record coming in October, Billy Idol is still doing it and on his own terms. I love that. Look forward to that new record and see Billy Idol, you will not be disappointed.

~FW.