Billy Idol is loaded. That is, his name carries an excess of images and connotations.
You might think he’s cheesy and sings weak punk rock coated in pop. Or, like the packed Pier Six crowd Friday, you worship his glistening bare chest, lip-curling, fist-pumping enthusiasm and signature bellowing growl, especially clear Friday during “White Wedding” when he unleashed an impressive, pitch-perfect “Start Again!”
Billy’s solid performance proved he really is “Billy F%$#@ Idol,” as he called himself. But the concert also proved:
- Rock the Cradle of Love” can be castrated. During Friday’s opener, a 1990 hit and video classic, Idol, 52, was stiff and slow. He was crooning, not rocking. I had to agree when my date justified Idol’s dazed look with “the old man needs a warm-up.”
- Give Billy an arm, he’ll sign it — even if he’s mid-breath on “Dancing with Myself.” Give him a single white rose, he’ll shove it down his pants and pass it to another squealing groupie. Yes, he still commands a legion of long-haired women in Lycra trying to seduce their idol by shimmying slowly during “Eyes Without a Face.”
- I can pick which bouncing fanatic will break past security, storm the stage and press her body against Billy’s taut muscles and run her hands through his spiky blond hair. I found the girl an hour before Billy even took the stage. I knew she was the one because she was thrashing about like I do when I’m listening to Billy’s greatest hits. The only difference is I’m usually alone.
- “Rebel Yell” must be sung shirtless. I almost whipped off mine.
- “Mony, mony” is still a silly pop song that saw its hey day when little girls in shiny electric pink leotards and blue tights like myself and other Heart Light Aerobics Dancers grapevined to it for a Columbia Mall audience in the late 1980s.
- “L.A. Woman” should not be changed to “Baltimore Woman.” Likewise, “Hot in the City” is fine as is. No need for “Hot in Baltimore City.” Billy, you’re too good for that gimmick and the easy, instinctual applause that follows.
From Ellicott City to Hollywood
Does the world need another teen comedy? Yes, says Howard County homegirl and Hollywood director Deb Hagan, whose first feature-length film “College” opens Friday.
“Everybody loves a college movie, I happen to love teen comedies and coming-of-age stories, and I tried to slice and spin “College” in a different way,” she said. “I did an extensive rewrite, and what I tried to do is separate it from other movies by giving it heart. You can relate to the relationship between the three leads. I wanted to put them on a strong emotional journey. And all along the way there’s comedic twists and turns. I thought if you cared about those kids from early on that it would help define and shape this movie.”
“College,” starring Drake Bell and former American Idol contestant Kevin Covais, follows three high school seniors, on a weekend trip to a prospective college.
Hagan’s decision to direct “College” was “about getting that first movie made and also finding something that I could believe in.”
The quintessential ’80s soundtrack … for 2008
If you were devastated when you had to kiss your legwarmers, big hair and Molly Ringwald tapes goodbye once 1990 rolled around, relax. Baltimore-based E. Joseph and the Phantom Heart has the cure for all your ills, in the form of “All The Medicine in the World…” their newest release.
Guitarist/vocalist E. Joseph, a.k.a. Edward Neenan, belts out Elvis Costello-esque vocals amid power-pop melodies reminiscent of bands like Echo and the Bunnymen and The Church. The Phantom Heart consists of drummer Nick Porcaro, keyboardist Snuttock and bassist Mia Regalado.
Be sure to check out catchy “Drifting,” the danceable, upbeat “Selfish,” and ballad “As Long As I’m Not Here.” If you don’t want to wait until the CD officially drops on Sept. 9, toss on your ripped sweatshirt and rock out to the band’s CD release party at the Talking Head on Friday at 9 p.m.
Athletes have edge on ‘Dancing’
The Examiner’s business reporter — and our cubicle-mate — Andrew Cannarsa is not ashamed to admit that his guilty pleasure is kicking back with a cold drink and watching … reality TV. This week he proves that real men like dance.
If we’ve learned anything from “Dancing With The Stars” history, it’s that professional athletes join the show with a natural advantage.
They compete for a living, and they bring that competitive spirit to the dance floor. Figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, auto racer Helio Castroneves, speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and football star Emmit Smith waltzed and jived their way to the last four dancing titles.
What does that mean for the upcoming season? Look for Olympic stars Maurice Greene and Misty May-Treanor to wow the judges, but watch out for Maryland native Toni Braxton and “Hannah Montana” star Cody Linley as possible surprises.
— Andrew Cannarsa
