A VERY INTIMATE EVENING WITH PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO

SPECIAL GUEST: TUCKER STERLING JENSEN

VENUE: MUSIC IN THE ZOO / WEESNER FAMILY AMPHITHEATER

JUNE 13, 2018

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Link to MUSIC IN THE ZOO SHOW SCHEDULE

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Review written by: Madison Rude

Photo by: Patrick Dunn

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Benatar & Giraldo Crush It At The Zoo

 

You couldn’t ask for a better night at the Minnesota Zoo to sit back and watch Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo knock it out of the park! Perfect weather, perfect sound, and a perfect crowd.

 

The Beginning

 

They started things up with the classic, “All My Love” and the acoustic setup played remarkably well in the intimate zoo setting.

 

But more than that, the energy on stage was incredibly relaxed and Pat even remarked that it was nice that they could see the audience’s faces thanks to the setting sun and lack of spotlights.

 

The Sound

 

The duo is simply a well-oiled machine, and it could be argued that their sound and style is even better now than in the 80s.

 

Neil captivated the entire crowd with his fully-rounded and rhythmic guitar while Pat’s vocals electrified classics and deep-tracks alike.

 

The Spirit

 

Each time the couple reminisced about the origin of a song, you could tell the energy in the crowd was elevated. People listened more intently, singing along to the familiar notes – maybe with a newfound perspective on the story behind the lines.

 

But above all, it was obvious that the duo loves performing together and putting on a great show.

 

The Close

 

As the night came to an end, they whipped out the two classics – “We Belong,” and “Love Is A Battlefield”—and the crowd went crazy!

 

Not only did “We Belong” garner a standing ovation, but they brought the evening home as Neil took to the piano and doled out some musical wisdom.

 

He said, “My musicians in the crowd: What’s the saddest key?” To which a straggling few shouted, “D!”

 

Then Giraldo walked through a melancholy chord progression, stood up, and said, “And that, turned into this,” as he hit the pedal to cue the iconic opener to “Love is A Battlefield.”

 

The iconic pair definitely knew how to round out an amazing performance and they certainly left the crowd wanting more.