NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
Shot for QRO Magazine. You can also view the gallery here.
After seeing the crowd at the Sea Hear Now Festival (see my coverage here) singing along to every Billy Idol song just this past weekend, I kinda knew what to expect as I drove up to Port Chester for his headlining show at The Capitol Theatre. The line was already down the block and around the corner when I arrived an hour before doors. Unlike Sea Hear Now, fans were dressed to rock out with their leather jackets, chains, and hair-dos. The 80s were back with a vengeance!
I’ve been listening to Billy Idol’s recently released EP “The Roadside” and find that it does bring Idol’s sound into the 2020s yet has a firm foot in the 80s. The eerie “Bitter Taste”, my favorite track, does a great job using Idol’s older and deeper voice. His set at Sea Hear Now was abbreviated although he did play “Rita Hayworth” off the new EP. I was definitely looking forward to hearing “Bitter Taste” live.
The opening act, Liz Cooper, was another that I had seen at the Sea Hear Now Festival. Her new album “Hot Sass” was just recently released on September 3rd, a follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut album “Window Flowers”. I think the sound on the new record reflects her move from Nashville to Brooklyn, NY. While many hung out in the bar area during her set as people often do during opening band performances, they really missed out on her quirky voice and some excellent music.
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The fans at the barricade had never stopped attending Billy Idol concerts. When Steve Stevens stepped onto the stage and started cranking the guitar intro to “Cradle of Love”, they went nuts! Idol sang and moved around the stage, acknowledging his fans as he went. The first three songs were Idol at his best; “Cradle of Love”, “Dancing with Myself”, and “Flesh for Fantasy” with plenty of guitar and bass solos thrown in. As a photographer, I love shooting Idol since it feels like the band is always posing for a photo op! They really know how to please their audience!
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I do have to admit that after shooting the first 3 songs, I felt a bit uncomfortable, even though I was wearing an N95 mask and all patrons were either vaccinated or had a negative covid test. It was still an incredibly packed floor. I did watch and enjoy the rest of the show on the large projection screen in the bar area. After all these years, Billy Idol (et al) still know how to put on a great show. I have no doubt that no one left the venue disappointed that night.
Click on photos to enlarge
Click on photos to enlarge
Setlist
Cradle of Love
Dancing with Myself
Flesh for Fantasy
Rita Hayworth
Scream
Bitter Taste
Eyes Without a Face
Mony Mony
100 Punks
Blue Highway
Top Gun Anthem
Rebel Yell
Encore
Born to Lose
White Wedding