Before the most raucous and enthusiastic crowd I’ve ever seen at the Fox Theatre, Pat Benatar kicked ass with some good ol’ hard rock, and man oh man, was it ever refreshing to hear. Benatar chose this night to look back over her 20 year career and focus more on her old hits than on her new material. Capital/EMI records is releasing a three disc box set called "Synchronistic Wanderings" in celebration of her music. Also Pat was interviewed extensively in VH-1’s recent special about the 100 greatest women in rock. (Pat came in at 39th.)

She brought with her to Foxwoods a four piece band featuring her husband Neil Geraldo on lead guitar. Seconds before the curtain rose they were already cranking out the first chords of "Treat Me Right." Pat surprisingly had longish blond hair tied into two ponytails. She wore black pants and a black tank top with a man’s button down white shirt over that. Her voice was as strong as ever as she easily matched the high voltage power of the band. It may be cliche, but I can’t begin to tell you how much they rocked the place. They were simply awesome.

Some of the songs performed that evening included "You Better Run," "Shadows Of The Night," and an acoustic "We Belong." The only song played from her most recent disc "Innamorata" was a rocking love song called "Only You."

Highlights included the title cut of Pat’s fourth album "Get Nervous" which, according to Pat, was played live for the first time since 1984. They also did the title song from Pat’s 1991 foray into blues "True Love." This was the record Pat had Roomful of Blues backing her on. During this tune Neil took his wireless guitar through the audience all the way up to the back row of the balcony - not something you normally see at the Fox Theatre!

Needless to say, everyone there was totally pumped when songs like "Love Is A Battlefield," "Heartbreaker," and "Hell Is For Children" were played. And, oh yes, during the encore Pat sang "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" after candidly telling her audience how she’s sick of that song. "Fire And Ice" was the final tune of the evening.

Pat Benatar has recently signed with Portrait Records, a subsidiary of Sony. She and Neil will be back in the studio soon enough working on a new record. She promised everyone she’d be back again next year to celebrate her 21st year in the biz.

- Bill Harriman