Richmond, VA – Pat Benatar came into my life in late 1982. This small town country boy, who grew up with 4-channel TV, 5-channel if you turned the antenna, in rural Wisconsin and had very limited exposure to the world outside the sticks (the country). Having been shocked into reality, spending eight weeks of near isolation in Navy boot camp, I was ready to explore the world and see what it had to offer.
I remember going to the lounge area of the barracks. Perched high on a wall mount was a 19″ television with music blaring out the small speaker. I learned it was a channel called MTV (at a time when the M stood for music). I was addicted at first note. The music, the theatrics, the whole package. In the middle of it all was Pat Benatar.
I can’t remember the first song I heard of hers, at the time she was a dominating MTV force. All I knew is some day I had to be able to catch her live. That day came on May 6, 2025 at the Altria Theater in Richmond, VA when Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo performed to a near sold out Richmond crowd. Ironically, Richmond could be considered the starting point of Benatar’s live performance journey, as she quit her job as a bank teller in Richmond to pursue a music career. I was getting the chance to catch one of the idols of my youth in the city where she played her first gig.
The night started with “All Fired Up” from her 1988 album, Wide Awake In Dreamland. For anyone who would dare to ask, she still rocks it! They brought back memories of a time when we were all “Invincible“.
After “Promises in the Dark” we were blessed with the return of the opening act’s (The Vindys) vocalist, Jackie Popovec, as she joined Pat for “In These Times” and “We Belong“.
When Jackie left the stage, Pat and Neil performed a new, yet to be released, song, “Come Together” followed by a song dedicated to the generation of love, “River of Love“.
“Go“, about that relationship that drove you nuts, but in the end you just wanted them to… go, preceded a unique version of one of my favorites, “Shadows of the Night“. Pat told us that one thing she enjoyed was turning a song upside down and this was their choice.
Rounding out the set was “Hell Is for Children” which led into “You Better Run“, before “Love Is a Battlefield“. Many people know what the first video to grace the cable waves of MTV was, but how many know the second? Here is a hint, it was “You Better Run“! I need my MTV!
A last note and a thank you brought the audience to their feet for a well deserved standing ovation. Of course we were ready for one? Maybe two? Make it three songs as the encore.
Starting with “Disconnected” followed by “Everybody Lay Down” it was almost like a new show had begun. Wonderful. Neil and the rest of the band played it up a bit before going into the final ‘medley’ consisting of a mix of “Heartbreaker” and “Ring of Fire“, which appeared to be a dedication to each other. The crowd roared!! Good night!!
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo Gallery
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Pat Benatar Neil Giraldo Setlist
All Fired Up
Invincible
Ties That Bind
Promises in the Dark
In These Times (With Jackie Popovec)
We Belong (With Jackie Popovec)
Come Together (New song)
River of Love
Go
Shadows of the Night
Hell Is for Children
You Better Run
Love Is a Battlefield
Encore:
Disconnected
Everybody Lay Down
Heartbreaker / Ring of Fire / Heartbreaker
Show Date: May 6, 2025
