CHARLESTON, WV- 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are back on the road for a headlining spring tour, making a stop at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV. The duo has spent the last 45 years as one of rock’s most enduring and prolific songwriting partnerships. Since bursting onto the scene in the early ’80s, they’ve scored 15 Billboard Top 40 singles—four of which cracked the Top 10. I’ve always loved Pat Benatar’s voice and the music she and Neil created, so to experience it live in 2025—with the same thunder they brought in their heyday—was a special treat.
Opening the night was a “new-to-me” rock/blues/soul outfit from Youngstown, OH: The Vindys. Led by Jackie Popovic, they delivered a high-energy six-song set culled from across their catalog. Popovic’s dynamic, powerful voice was the undeniable centerpiece—charming, commanding, and deeply engaging. That said, she’s backed by a top-tier group of musicians: drummer Owens Davis, bassist Brenden Burke, keyboardist Nathan Anthony, and guitarists John Anthony and Rick Deak, the latter of whom lit up the closing number, “Chasin’,” with soaring guitar solos—punctuated by a killer snippet of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”
Every song in their set hit hard with thumping grooves and connected instantly with the crowd. As this was my first time seeing them live, the standout tracks for me were “Electric,” “Save Me,” and “Morning Light.” They were fun, they were brilliant, and they left a lasting impression. I’m looking forward to diving deeper into their music and seeing them live again. They’ll finish this tour on June 1 and have additional dates scheduled from June through August.
As we waited for Pat and Neil to take the stage, my anticipation grew. I’d never seen them live before, so I was amped. They opened with “All Fired Up”—my favorite song of theirs and the perfect choice to ignite an unforgettable night. Pat’s voice? Still razor sharp. It hasn’t aged. It still has that bite and growl, along with the subtle, vulnerable whispers that give her voice its signature persona. She hits every note. Neil, meanwhile, remains the glue of their sound, his guitar work laying the foundation of each track. Honestly, they wouldn’t be who they are without each other.
They were joined by longtime bassist Mick Mahon and drummer Caesar Griffin—recruited by Pat from Taylor Dayne’s band. The quartet played with tightness and fluidity, gliding through every groove and nuance. Pat sang her heart out, proving why, even after 45 years, she’s still the Queen of Rock and Roll—with Neil as her beloved King. Their banter, their shared stories, and their genuine affection for one another pulled us into their world. They are the definition of consummate professionals.
Their 16-song setlist spanned beloved hits like “Invincible,” “Promises in the Dark,” “Shadows of the Night,” “You Better Run,” and, of course, “Love Is a Battlefield.” (I was kinda hoping for the dance routine from the music video, but I digress.) Jackie Popovic returned to the stage for duets on “In These Times” and “We Belong”—a standout moment in the show. One surprise for me was learning just how many of their iconic songs are actually covers. But like Bauhaus with “Ziggy Stardust,” they’ve made these songs wholly their own.
They dug deep into their discography too, with cuts like “Ties That Bind,” “River of Love,” and “Disconnected.” They also performed “Together,” a song they released in 2020 during the pandemic. But the emotional peak of the night was their haunting rendition of “Hell Is for Children.” It was gut-wrenching, heartfelt, and absolutely unforgettable.
This isn’t some nostalgia act going through the motions for kicks. Pat and Neil are still relevant, powerful, and emotionally resonant. They shared stories from the road and the challenges Pat faced early in her career. They closed the night with a fiery medley of “Heartbreaker” blended seamlessly with Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”
There was no phoning it in. Pat and Neil are still just as exciting, just as fierce, and just as romantic as they’ve ever been. Their spring tour continues through June, followed by an appearance at Bourbon & Beyond in September, before they join Bryan Adams on tour as special guests through November. If you get the chance to see them, take it—it’s an unforgettable show.
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LIVE CLIPS
