The Go-Go's at Crypto.com Arena

The most successful female Rock group the Go-Go’s played the Crypto.com Arena (Formerly Staples Center) Wednesday night (3/30). The show was originally scheduled for December 29th across the street at the Microsoft Theater. Just two days before this show the Go-Gos played an intimate show at the House of Blues Anaheim. The Go-Gos formed in 1978 and were originally more of a punk group. The group still consists of its classic lineup of lead vocalist Belinda Carlisle, lead guitarist Charlotte Caffey, rhythm guitarist Jane Wiedlin, drummer Gina Schock, and Bassist Kathy Valentine who rejoined the group in 2018 after being away for six years. Just seven years after the group formed, they disbanded in 1985 and did not do a full tour again until 1999, only playing a few one off shows in between.

The group had planned a farewell tour in 2010, but ended up becoming a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of their biggest album Beauty and the Beat. The Go-Gos did have a highly successful farewell summer tour in 2016 ending at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA. Just two years later the Go-Go’s reunited to play three nights at the Hollywood Bowl for the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular shows. However Schock was absent from these shows. It also marked the group’s 40th anniversary. The Go-Go’s documentary was released June 30th, 2020 in the U.S and an 11-date tour was planned around the release, but had to be postponed from the Covid-19 Pandemic. In October, 2021 the Go-Go’s were finally inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame which was 10 years after they received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Go-Go’s played an historic show at the Whisky A Go’ Go’ December 14, 2021 as part of Sirius Xm’s Small Stage Series. All dates after had to be postponed due to a member testing positive for Covid-19. Schock was present and joined her bandmates onstage to announce that Blondie’s Clem Burke would be filling in for the show. Burke has been filling in for these shows as well. This tour of just six shows began March 24th in San Francisco, CA. and ended the following night after L.A. in San Diego.

The Go-Go’s opened with “Beatnik Beach” and the 22-song set included all the hits like “Vacation,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” and “Head Over Heels.” Following Vacation which was the third song, Schock came out to greet the audience. The last song before the encore was “We Got the Beat,” which Fast Times at Ridgemont High fans know as the opening song of the movie. During “We Got the Beat,” Carlisle led the sides and middle of the arena in a sing-a-along to see which side was the loudest, and Schock came out again at the end. Before the three song encore began, Schock announced the band members. The encore consisted of Elvis Presley’s “Let’s Have a Party,” The Shangri-Las “Remember (Walking In the Sand), and Can’t Stop the World. The stage was a simple set up with no video screens and just a big curtain behind.

The Go-Go’s will resume touring in June for another six shows, but with Billy Idol this time across the U.K.