Blondie/Garbage concert review

[Macfan4life]

I have always been a casual fan of Blondie but never saw them live. I did see one of their concerts on HBO around 1982 during the time HBO filmed all those concerts including Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. Garbage opened the show and sounded really good. Although they were extremely skimpy in playing their hits and only played a few at the end of their set.
Blondie was sensational. Debbie Harry looks and sounds great for 72. She can almost hit every high note that she used to be able to do. They opened up with One way or another and just exploded on stage. Blondie was always part punk sound and live they are off the chain. Their guitarists really buzz. Debbie came out with 2 fuzzy bees on her head along with a cape that read on the back "Stop F*cking with the planet." Their latest album is called Pollinator and Debbie is an environmentalist and cares about the bees. The set list was the perfect match between all their giant hits and new songs. Their live sound is so explosive and Debbie sounded almost like it was 1978. She even could still rap at age 72. They closed the set with Heart of Glass, The Tide is High and Dreaming. My highlights were Call Me and Rapture. I used to own both those 45's (you millennials don't know what those are).
Always remember Dreaming is still free!
If you have a chance to check out this tour, definitely do it!
I saw the show at the Hollywood, FL Hard Rock Casino. Nice venue and it was mostly full. Great perk was free parking at the casino. Very cool!

Gargage Stupid Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWy0rDne9TM

One way or another (check out the bees on her head)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0YrOF-AYxU

Call Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s_b6T7VhuU

Rapture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zpHFygHXBA

Dreaming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLz4D8Asbfs

[kak125]

thanks so much for this review and the videos. excellent! i would have loved to have seen this tour. too bad they arent coming to pittsburgh. :(

[JohnL]

I love Blondie. I saw them back in the late 1990s at the Tampa Performing Arts Center. It was a great show. Thanks for the videos. I havent heard of them coming around this area either lately. I have never seen Garbage but I love Shirley Manson.

[Macfan4life]

I love Blondie. I saw them back in the late 1990s at the Tampa Performing Arts Center. It was a great show. Thanks for the videos. I havent heard of them coming around this area either lately. I have never seen Garbage but I love Shirley Manson.
They just played Orlando the day after on August 9.

[JohnL]

[QUOTE=Macfan4life;1215144]They just played Orlando the day after on August 9.[/QUO

I had no idea. Bummed I missed it!!

[Macfan4life]

[QUOTE=Macfan4life;1215144]They just played Orlando the day after on August 9.[/QUO

I had no idea. Bummed I missed it!!
Debbie mentioned how much she loved this tour and said they go out again with another band (but I forget the name).
The tour was announced so long ago. I had my tickets for about 6 months :eek:

[MikeInNV]

Hey guys, always excited to meet other Blondie fans. I'm a Blondie fan from way back in the day, but I never got to see them live until their 1999 comeback. I went to the Vegas show on July 8 and had a blast. The new album is one of the best of their modern-day records, and the tracks they performed from it sounded incredible. I played it for a friend the other day, and he thought it was great too. Now I've got one of their 70s CDs on repeat in my car.

[Macfan4life]

Hey guys, always excited to meet other Blondie fans. I'm a Blondie fan from way back in the day, but I never got to see them live until their 1999 comeback. I went to the Vegas show on July 8 and had a blast. The new album is one of the best of their modern-day records, and the tracks they performed from it sounded incredible. I played it for a friend the other day, and he thought it was great too. Now I've got one of their 70s CDs on repeat in my car.
Cool
My only minor disappointment was that Blondie did not do their 1999 hit Maria. I loved their set and it was just about perfect but I wanted to hear Maria live. It was a minor hit and comeback for the group in 1999. But I was surprised to learn it went to #1 in England. I don't see Blondie retiring anytime soon. It appears they love the road and still can attract a good crowd.

[MikeInNV]

Cool
My only minor disappointment was that Blondie did not do their 1999 hit Maria. I loved their set and it was just about perfect but I wanted to hear Maria live. It was a minor hit and comeback for the group in 1999. But I was surprised to learn it went to #1 in England. I don't see Blondie retiring anytime soon. It appears they love the road and still can attract a good crowd.

I heard "Maria" was the first encore on the first night of the tour. I don't know about the second show, but I saw the third show and by then it had been replaced by "Union City Blue." Then apparently at some point that one was swapped out for "The Tide Is High."

[MikeInNV]

Check out their latest video. "Doom or Destiny" is a track from Pollinator that features Joan Jett.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI2z27Ufy8k&feature=youtu.be

[MikeInNV]

Rolling Stone named "Pollinator" the 10th best album of the year:

Not every band can sound fresh 40 years into a career, but not every band is Blondie. On Pollinator, the vets find common ground with the contemporary rock bands and pop acts that wouldn't exist without them, sharing writing credits with Dev Hynes, Charli XCX, Sia and the Strokes. The final product is a refreshingly fun pop gem that traverses New Wave, electro-disco and dance-pop – an update from punk's original genre-hoppers. B.S.

[Macfan4life]

Rolling Stone named "Pollinator" the 10th best album of the year:

Not every band can sound fresh 40 years into a career, but not every band is Blondie. On Pollinator, the vets find common ground with the contemporary rock bands and pop acts that wouldn't exist without them, sharing writing credits with Dev Hynes, Charli XCX, Sia and the Strokes. The final product is a refreshingly fun pop gem that traverses New Wave, electro-disco and dance-pop – an update from punk's original genre-hoppers. B.S.
Blondie rocks.

[FuzzyPlum]

I've always found it bizarre bands like Blondie are less of a draw than Fleetwood Mac. Blondie had arguably more hits than Fleetwood Mac and yet these days they play to significantly smaller crowds.

Btw, Maria was a monumentally massive hit here in the UK. In fact, I'd say it was one of their biggest in the UK which is amazing coming so long after they were first big.

[Macfan4life]

I've always found it bizarre bands like Blondie are less of a draw than Fleetwood Mac. Blondie had arguably more hits than Fleetwood Mac and yet these days they play to significantly smaller crowds.

Btw, Maria was a monumentally massive hit here in the UK. In fact, I'd say it was one of their biggest in the UK which is amazing coming so long after they were first big.
Blondie had a pretty good crowd when I saw them but nothing compared to the Mac. Some groups have a spiritual connection with fans and they can sell out venues without new music for decades. Here in the states The Steve Miller Band is a 70's hits machine...anywhere at anytime they can fill an arena still today.
Pat Benatar sold way more albums than Stevie in the 80s. During the mid-90's Benatar once played a club in my hometown. She still plays very small theaters while Stevie can still fill arenas. Some bands have very loyal fan base and Stevie is a big draw for the Mac.

[Macfan4life]

I've always found it bizarre bands like Blondie are less of a draw than Fleetwood Mac. Blondie had arguably more hits than Fleetwood Mac and yet these days they play to significantly smaller crowds.

Btw, Maria was a monumentally massive hit here in the UK. In fact, I'd say it was one of their biggest in the UK which is amazing coming so long after they were first big.
Blondie had a pretty good crowd when I saw them but nothing compared to the Mac. Some groups have a spiritual connection with fans and they can sell out venues without new music for decades. Here in the states The Steve Miller Band is a 70's hits machine...anywhere at anytime they can fill an arena still today.
Pat Benatar sold way more albums than Stevie in the 80s. During the mid-90's Benatar once played a club in my hometown. She still plays very small theaters while Stevie can still fill arenas. Some bands have very loyal fan base and Stevie is a big draw for the Mac.

[FuzzyPlum]

Just looked up their discography out of interest. I really had no idea Blondie were a bigger act in the UK relative to the US. 16 top 20 hits compared to just 4 in the US. 7 top 10 albums against just 2 in the US. Wow. I always thought Blondie were a massive band (which they were in the UK) but not so big in the US it seems.