Blondie and Pat Benatar rip the audience to shreds during a classic set in Highland Park, Illinois

August 17, 2009, at Ravinia Festival

By Selena Fragassi & Leah Urbom
Published: August 20th, 2009 | 2:45am

Though the rain had been on and off all day, skies decided to clear just in time for the concertgoers at Ravinia Festival where many had begun to find a place on the lawn. While people set up their portable picnic tables, mini-candelabras, and baskets of wine and cheese, the Donnas stormed the stage as the opening act for the evening.

Among all the hustle and bustle, the Donnas were largely ignored by attendees. Powering right through it, lead singer Brett Anderson was still appreciative — if not semi-facetious in a badass sort of way. As she reminded the crowd at intervals who they were, the Donnas played a short, 15-minute set comprised of only four songs. It wasn’t until they ended with their hit, “Take It Off,” that the audience began to recognize the tune and nod along.

Pat Benatar graced the stage earlier than expected in a black dress and blazer, her red-tinged ringlets bouncing as she marched up to the mic and started with “All Fired Up.” She was backed up by her husband and longtime bandmate, Neil Giraldo, whose red guitar blended right into his sleeveless shirt. Rainbows began to appear behind the clouds, and Benatar transitioned into “Shadows Of the Night,” after which she greeted the audience in her gravelly voice.

Benatar stood solidly and belted out her catalogue until halfway through when Giraldo sat with her and told the story of the band’s formation that celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. Bassist Mick Mahan’s story was the most interesting; as Giraldo told it, “We saw a guy on the side of the road with a sign that said ‘Will play bass for free.’” Giraldo then slipped over to the piano for a small solo and then back to his guitar. Benatar began singing “Hell Is For Children,” and the audience’s cell phone screens waved wildly in the night air.

Giraldo switched gears, saying, “I bet there’s a lot of Guitar Hero players out there!” as he switched over to a bright green guitar and the band dug into “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” “You’re gonna have to sing the part I hate to sing!” Benatar called as she flung her mic toward the audience when the song neared the bridge, “Before I put another notch in my lipstick case / You’d better make sure you put me in my place.” The crowd complied excitedly and then continued on with the chorus.

Benatar followed up with “Love Is a Battlefield” before the band exited the stage to resounding applause and returned for a two-song encore, closing ironically on “Heartbreaker,” her first hit single from the ‘79 album, In the Heat Of the Night (EMI).

The stage lit up with a graffiti-themed Blondie background, and Debbie Harry walked on stage in a matching flowing, red dress, lightweight jacket, red Converse, and black sunglasses. Her blonde ponytail trailed down to mid-back and swung around as Blondie began playing “Call Me” and then “Hanging On the Telephone.”

Blondie’s set was a virtual journey through the group’s Best Of compilation, but the audience wasn’t complaining during songs like “Maria” and “Atomic.” “The Tide Is High” inspired much crowd interaction as Harry made her way through the island-inspired jam, which bled into a cover of the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There.”

Harry had a virtual temper tantrum onstage during the frenzied “You’re Too Hot,” from her ‘07 solo album, Necessary Evil (Eleven Seven), and it was a big crowd pleaser until the band cast its spell with “Rapture.” Harry’s rap break was seamless — and a testament to how far Blondie has traversed through music history.

As Harry encouraged the audience to sing along during “One Way Or Another,” she commented, “You have experience, I can tell.” The band exited briefly and returned for an encore that began with a cover of the Ramones’ “Havana Affair,” blended into “Heart Of Glass,” and ended on Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” leaving crowds with one of the most memorable evenings to grace the bourgeois fields of Ravinia.

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Pat Benatar MySpace page
The Donnas MySpace page