TVD Live Shots: The Go Go’s and Best Coast at the Warner Theatre, 8/5

For the third stop on their current “Farewell” tour, The Go Go’s choose the lovely Warner Theatre for a landmark moment—the band’s last Washington, DC appearance. In tow was LA’s Best Coast.

38 years since their debut album Beauty and the Beat arrived, the LA based new wave outfit has had more than their share of success and are among a small club of musicians who can claim legendary status. The fact is, The Go Go’s have pioneered the way for countless all-female bands.

Their ’81 release sold more than 3 million copies and achieved triple platinum awards, as well as retaining the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 for 6 consecutive weeks in a decade full of great music. Their follow up album, 1982’s Vacation, was certified gold in the US and the album’s title track was another top 10 Billboard success. A year later Vacation was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Packaging for the LP’s iconic cover.

After another full length album, a few more successful singles, a full blown break up in 1985, and numerous solo successes most notably from Carlisle, Schock, and Wiedlin, The Go Go’s reformed in 1999 to record their most recent full length album, God Bless The Go Go’s in 2001. After numerous tours since the reunion, The Go Go’s are alive and well and sounding just as stellar as they did at their inception—for their farewell tour.

The Go Go’s perform at Warner Theater in Washington, DC on August 6, 2016(Photo by Richie Downs).

The band came to the stage to a standing ovation and wasted no time getting things going with a very melodic and snappy version of “Vacation.” Their performance was full of energy and upbeat. The set list included: “Vacation,” “How Much More,” “Mad About You,” “Fading Fast,” “Cool Jerk,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “We Got The Beat,” “Wrecking Ball,” and “Get Up & Go.” For their second and final encore the band ended with “Head Over Heals.”

Alt-rock outfit Best Coast provided support for the evening and really lit the stage up with their melodic and heavy tones. The musical duo of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno are no strangers to fine songwriting themselves, yet during their set Cosentino thanked the members of The Go Go’s and noted, “Without them, I probably wouldn’t be standing here for you today.” Their latest release, California Nights is available in standard and deluxe vinyl editions.

THE GO GO’S