Raleigh was a great trip – too short! Since I missed Benatar here (and the local book signing, too), we decided to trot up to Raleigh and get her bio signed and see her live. EXCELLENT!
The book is Between a Heart and a Rock Place and it’s really good. The signing was in an independent bookstore (Quail Ridge Books) and it was SO not crowded. I even managed to not fangirl Ms Benatar! Yay me! Illicit phone photo:
We went to downtown Raleigh afterwards to check out the Natural Science Museum, which was very nice. Their static displays are cool! They also have quite a few aquariums like these seahorses:
We walked a few blocks to have lunch at a local brew pub called Natty Greene’s. WOW! Probably the best brew pub beer I’ve ever had. Seriously. If you’re in Raleigh, GO THERE. Mike Morris is the Brewmaster and he is teh awesomest!
The show was at an outdoor venue in Cary (Koka Booth), which is SW of Raleigh just a few minutes. It’s a nicer version of Chastain. We were 4 rows back and had a great view. The opener was Tyler Bryant and let me tell you: those boys ROCK. Go join their email list and buy their upcoming first record. It’s good solid rock and roll.
Pat and Spyder put on a good show. I didn’t like the set list particularly, but I’m not one for hearing “the hits”. I’d rather hear a whole show of B sides than the hits, but that’s me. Here is her set list:
All Fired Up
Shadows of the Night
If You Think You Know How to Love Me (YAY! I was thrilled to hear this live!)
Invincible
Promises in the Dark
You Better Run (also thrilled to hear)
I Don’t Want to Be Your Friend (Innamorata – I’d have preferred Dirty Little Secrets)
We Belong
Hell is for Children (she belted it, too!)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot (ugh)
Love is a Battlefield (ugh x2)Encore
Heartbreaker (natch)
And a pic:
The set was too short, IMO, for a “co-headliner” ticket. REO played for 1.5+ hours! We left after a few REO songs because we’re not huge fans. Who replaced Kevin with a drag queen? And why was Mickey Rourke playing guitar with flowery pants on and pointy white boots?? Pic:
Yah, no, I really don’t need to hear all their hits played exactly the same as they’ve been played for the last 30 years. Pass. Why do fans always want to hear the same old songs? I’ll never understand it. MOVE ON. I’m interested in what they’re up to now, not hearing Take it On the Run for the 1000th time. Or Hit Me with Your Best Shot, for that matter. I like hearing older stuff, but not necessarily the hits. As Benatar said, “I’m going to sing some of the more obscure songs for you.” Right on!
I’d like to know why in the hell Benatar is NOT in the Hall of Fame? What, MADONNA gets in but the Queen of Girl Rock does not? WTF? The Hall of Fame is so political. Grrr.
On the drive back we stopped at this crazy discount place called JR Cigars.
It’s like a really huge Big Lots. We got some books and other random stuff. We finally got home around 10:30pm Friday night. Dragon*Con was next and that will be the next post. :)