The B-52s still got it.
They practically hosted a close to sold-out dance party at Pechanga Friday night—with no real fancy moves necessary, just quirky motions and unexplainable levels of uninhibited-ness—proving that even with a 30-year plus catalog, the adored new-wave, pop-punk band remains energized, sounds and looks even better than ever.
Members Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson kept the crowd at Pechanga, both young and old, on their feet. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Jewel)
And the B’s didn’t disappoint.
Members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson and Keith Strickland kept the crowd, both young and old, at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula on their feet for 90 minutes.
Some of the dedicated sported Wilson’s and Pierson’s old-school beehive-dos, while others kept it modern with updated versions of pink wigs. Whatever the style or garb, the “honorary members of the Deadbeat Club,” as Pierson dubbed the crowd of fans, mash potato-ed and twisted along in Pechanga’s Showroom aisles to all-time favorites like “Roam” and “Private Idaho.”
Their sound was far from dated. Pitches were perfect and harmonies were tight. The B-52s were playful, carefree and made everyone live in the moment.
The ultra red-haired Pierson belted out her signature siren-like wails during sets, while the platinum-blonde Wilson tore through “Give Me Back My Man,” singing the ballad so crowds outside the Showroom envied those who scored tickets inside.
Kate Pierson of the B-52s at Pechanga Resort & Casino. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Jewel)
It was a battle of the babes as the two strutted on the stage: Pierson in black sequined pants and a black and gray bottom-ruffled corset laced up with red ribbon and Wilson in a glitzy, silver-shimmered and sheered-back black long dress.
Schneider, in a patterned collared shirt and shiny gold-tinted jeans, kept his unshakable pokerface during his overstated enunciations in sets, while playing cowbells, whistles and the glockenspiel, which all give the B-52s their unique sound.
The B-52s performed “Mesopotamia,” “Whammy Kiss” and “Deadbeat Club” from their 80s albums along with newer sets like “Ultraviolet” and “Love in the Year 3000” from their recent 2008 album, “Funplex.”
Synchronized air-knocks filled the air during “Love Shack” and after a two-minute standing ovation with cheers, chants and whistling included, “Rock Lobster” finally happened. The song sent the crowd into a frenzy. Fans went “down, down, down in the aisles and even did the crabwalk. While it was a flashback to the days of high school and college for some fans, the B-52s’ songs proved the joy of psychedelic musical mayhem is still timeless.
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