ELECTRIC YOUTH: BILLY IDOL AND JOAN JETT DEFY TIME
Billy Idol and Joan Jett at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Billy Idol’s August 17th show at the Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center was proof that 66 is the new 24. He didn’t just perform – he roared back into the spotlight with the same swagger, snarl, and seductive energy that made him a legend. A performance that defied age and time. He proved that time hasn’t dulled his edge – it’s only sharpened it.
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts opened the show in full punk glory, setting the tone for an evening that celebrated raw energy, and enduring charisma. From the moment she stepped on stage, Jett commanded it with a fierce set that included “Bad Reputation,” “Hate Myself For Loving You,” and “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Her voice was gritty and defiant, her band tight and relentless. The crowd was alive, singing every word, dancing with abandon, and soaking in the nostalgia. She didn’t just warm up the crowd, she ignited it.
Then came Billy Idol, strutting onto the stage like no time had passed and we were still living in the ‘80s. The site of him caused the atmosphere to shift from anticipation to eruption. His voice was shockingly unchanged, raw and powerful. He moved with energy and command of someone half his age – seductive, magnetic, and utterly in control. In that moment, he defied time, transporting us back to the thrill of our youth.
The setlist was a perfect blend of old favorites alongside fresh cuts from his new album Dream Into It, including the high-energy opener “Still Dancing.” He launched into the first notes of “Cradle of Love” with a grin that dared you not to dance. “Eyes Without a Face,” cast a hypnotic spell, its haunting melody floating over the crowd like a memory. “Dancing With Myself” turned the amphitheater into a pulsing wave of movement, and “Flesh For Fantasy” simmered with tension and allure.
When “Rebel Yell” hit the crowd exploded – voices raised, fists pumping, bodies moving in sync with every beat. And “White Wedding” delivered with theatrical flair and vocal bite, reminded everyone why Idol’s music still hits like a lightning bolt decades later. One of the night’s most unforgettable moments came courtesy of his longtime creative partner and lead guitarist, Steve Stevens. Midway through the set, Stevens stepped into the spotlight and transformed the stage into his own playground.
His solo was a genre-bending spectacle – starting with delicate, Spanish-inspired fingerwork that shimmered with elegance, then erupted into a storm of distortion and speed. It was less a solo and more a soundscape: cinematic, unpredictable, and utterly captivating. It wasn’t just technique, it was storytelling. The flamenco flourishes gave the solo elegance; the rock riffs gave it bite. By the end the crowd wasn’t just impressed, they were spellbound.
For me, this wasn’t just a concert, it was a return to something deeply personal. Billy Idol was my first live show as a young girl, and that night, I felt that same magnetic pull. My parents once feared his influence – his look, his lyrics, his erotic energy – they all carried a rebellious edge that stirred something in me back then.
My parents had reason to be concerned: once I saw him live, I was hooked. And now, all these years later, that same spell was cast again. His voice, his presence, the sheer force of the music – it transported me back in time. It wasn’t just a show – it was everything that made me fall in love with music in the first place. It was rebellion, freedom, and the thrill of being young.
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