Who doesn’t love Billy Idol? It is clear that he is well-loved in D.C. because the Lincoln Theatre was packed on a Tuesday night, full of eager fans waiting to see this iconic rock and roll musician! The audience was up on their feet for the entire show!

The evening started right out of the gate with the hit, “Dancing With Myself,” a song which started off as a single for Idol’s old band, Generation X, but that ended up as a hit with his first solo album.  And it sounded great with that famous Billy Idol scream as strong and vital as ever as guitarist, Steve Stevens, laid down that blistering riff (which sounded powerful even on an acoustic guitar).  In between songs, Billy told the crowd how back in 1981 when he moved to New York City he found himself in a bar, well, dancing with himself because the place he ended up in was so packed, he couldn’t make it onto the dance floor itself! 

Idol and Stevens then started off “Catch My Fall” as a drum machine sounded off. And while Stevens played those arpeggiated lines, Idol crooned, not missing a beat. And afterwards, as Idol mused about the old songs that influenced him, he struck up an acapella version of the Eddie Cochran tune, “Twenty Flight Rock,” before then launching into the Generation X number, “Kiss Me Deadly.” As he explained later, Idol told the crowd that back in the late 70’s in London there were a lot of polarized sections of society, which led to tension on the streets and much of that was translated back into the music.

Billy Idol described moving back to England when he was young in time to discover the Beatles and Stones as he performed another cover of the Kinks tune “I’m Not Like Everybody Else.”

Throughout the set, Billy Idol and Steve Stevens created a very warm atmosphere. And even though this tour was the first time they played this way – acoustic, without a backing band – it seemed like the duo was very comfortable, and the audience loved it! Playing a spirited set of older hits and newer tracks, like “Ghost in My Guitar,” there was plenty for everyone in this packed theater.

Billy Idol and Steve Stevens wrapped up this tour, but I’m hoping they’ll be back soon. For more information and further dates, check them out here.