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Concert review: No regrets for Scottsdale crowd loving JOAN JETT
from: examiner.com
by Ted Hansen
"It's hard to grow up" sang JOAN JETT midway through her set list as she and her band, the BLACKHEARTS, tore through a seventy five minute set at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale on Friday night, July 6, 2012. Although Jett may lament that she's "too old to be acting like a child," those in the audience were glad she still does. Childhood for JOAN JETT meant forming the band, The RUNAWAYS, and writing and performing such songs as "Cherry Bomb" and "I Love Playin' With Fire." For those in attendance this night, they got to turn back the clock with Jett and bounce, sway, clap and sing like they did in their childhood, or at least early adulthood.
But for the improvements in sound and lighting plus the graying of the majority in attendance, the Ballroom at the Talking Stick Resort in 2012 could have been New York City's CGBG's in 1980 as Jett took the stage opening with "Bad Reputation," and "Cherry Bomb." The crowd was up and bouncing and Jett looked like she's barely aged, sporting a black vest with red pants and maintaining her punk attitude. If anyone thought Jett wasn't punk enough, then a look at lead guitarist DOUGIE NEEDLES and bass player Acey Slade should have been enough to be convincing.
With drummer THOMMY PRICE pounding the familiar beat, it didn't take much prodding by Jett and her fellow band mates to get the crowd to sing "yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah," as the BLACKHEARTS launched into "Do You Wanna Touch Me." From then on Jett gave the appreciative audience some of the old, "I Love Playin' With Fire," some of the new, "TMI," and some of the familiar, "Fake Friends."
As a testament to the energy Jett and the other BLACKHEARTS were bringing, few in the audience ever sat down, which for a middle-aged, Scottsdale crowd is something of a rarity. Equally impressive was that all the material being played was well received. This wasn't just your "I'm here for the four JOAN JETT songs I know" crowd. These were loyal fans and JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS didn't disappoint.
Just in case one had sat down, the finishing regular set flurry of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," "Crimson and Clover," and "I Hate Myself For Loving You," brought everyone to their feet with hand clapping, fist pumping, head bobbing and dancing pretty much universal. Jett can still growl out the necessary "ows" in final song and when the house lights went up on occasion, she made sure everyone was singing along.
As a change of pace, Jett chose a rather quiet song, "Little Liar," to begin the encore, with initially just guitarists Dougie and Joan playing together. The tambourine of long time JOAN JETT collaborator KENNY LAGUNA (he also contributed to keyboards throughout the night) joined in and soon the full band was back. The night ended with two more cover songs, Sweet's "A.C.D.C." and Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People." Whether original tunes or covers, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS put their own original rocking spin on every song they touched.
Much is made of how JOAN JETT is a pioneer among female rock artists. As proof, one thing that has changed since CGBG's circa 1980 to Scottsdale, 2012, is that JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS is no longer a punk rock band being fronted by a girl. Today, the BLACKHEARTS are a punk rock band. Their talented lead singer and rhythm guitar player just happens to be female.
Watching JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS was reminiscent of the days in high school when a rock band from the student body would sometimes be allowed to play at a school assembly. With their stripped down sound, they would play both cover songs and original works, jump around stage and remind us just how cool it would be to play in a rock and roll band. Yes, growing up may be hard, but for one night, JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS let us all be kids again.
Set List: Bad Reputation | Cherry Bomb | Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah) | Victim of Circumstance | I Love Playin' With Fire | The French Song | Love Is Pain | TMI | Hard to Grow Up | Naked | Fake Friends | Reality Mentality | I Love Rock 'n' Roll | Crimson and Clover | I Hate Myself For Loving You | Encore: Little Liar | A.C.D.C. | Everyday People |
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