Concert review: Benatar unforgettable

Kevin Blevins, Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, August 21, 2008
REGINA -- Halfway through her set Wednesday night at Casino Regina's show lounge, in a moment of onstage humility, Pat Benatar simply asked the soldout crowd, "Have we ever played here before? I can't remember if we have played here before. ..."
She couldn't remember.
I couldn't forget.

She had played Regina before, but just once, 1980, on the tour for the second album, Crimes of Passion.
I was about 12 years old, standing in awe, stage right, at the Centre of the Arts (the perks of a privileged childhood that included my best friend's father being the theatre's stage manager), when during one of her husband's brilliant guitar solos, Benatar walked off stage, took a swig of water, and danced with me. Yes, grabbed this then-freckle-faced 12-year-old redhead by the hand, swung me around, shook her hips, and sauntered back on to stage.
Lasted about 15 seconds, maybe 20, but I have always remembered, one of the most joyful rock show memories from my youth and I saw more shows than most kids who grew up in this prairie berg.
I hadn't seen Benatar perform live since then, but after Wednesday night's stellar performance, I walked away from the casino wondering why it took me 28 years to see her again.... more