All photography in this and all my live-event posts by me.

I went to Chicago and Evanston to visit my mom and my sister, brother-in-law and niece, but always the multi-tasker, I also used the trip as an opportunity to see The Go-Go's since I'd missed them in NYC while traveling.

My sis swears this was her first concert in like four years

My sister and I trained out to Ravinia (pictured), a mostly outdoor venue with a huge lawn and a tiny covered pavilion. I was shocked how packed the lawn was, but my sister told me people go no matter who's playing—in this case, it was The B-52's and The Go-Go's (both could stand to lose those apostrophes)—in order to picnic and get drunk on beer and wine. The ride back was a reminder why I hate alcohol, and hate that people love it so.

We weren't all that early, yet our tickets to the "dance area" in front of the stage got us at the very front of the barrier. The dance area never filled up or even got crowded, so it was great for us and probably sucked for the bands, who had to face two and a half rows of happy maniacs in front of a gaping pit of nothingness before the seating started.

Met some nice people, all of whom were there for The Go-Go's primarily, and who had similar experiences with them in the distant past (negative run-ins at parties, chilly live shows). We love them but don't expect the world at this point, and yet I'm sure anyone with those feelings was as blown away as I was.

First up were The B-52's. I've seen them once before, but it was a kick seeing them up close and we each even got a Michelangelo fingertip-touch from a bouncy, colorful Kate Pierson (she's 63 years old, y'all!).

I was bouncing off the satellites

This in spite of the venue's ridiculous claim that the artists wanted all of us a chair's width apart from the barrier, like that was ever going to be enforced.

Their tin roofs still have yet to rust

They have a great catalogue but as long as they did "Roam" and especially "Give Me Back My Back" and "Rock Lobster," I was going to enjoy it—and they did. We were right in front of Cindy Wilson (a year older than Madonna, 53), who looks great (much better in person than in my unflatteringly-angled photos, I think) and who was sauntering around suggesting movement with utter coolness. Or she was high. But either way, she looked hot and sounded good and had a lovely little smile on her lips throughout, even while singing.

Better off Fred (and yes, that's his crotch—an accidentally arty shot)

Fred (two weeks away from hitting 60) seemed mad, but that's not a bad thing considering his vocal style—it helps him spit out those words. He came out at one point in a pink fright wig that almost felt like a tribute to Debbie Harry's onstage, on-head antics of recent years. Keith (pictured) looks impossibly young (he's 57) and was definitely on point.

Fab Freddie was in the pink

I now realize how identical "Planet Claire" is to "The Peter Gunn Theme," but it was a highlight of the show for me, along with the aforementioned crustacean-oriented foot-stomper.

Hey, Mrs. Tambourine woman...

There was only about 15 minutes between The B-52's and The Go-Go's, and the ladies were played on by a kitschy video offering to teach us how to dance like Belinda Carlisle. I wasn't so into it because it wasn't even her signature Ann-Margret wiggle but a more generic '80s kick-step.

The girls came kicking out and never let up with the playfulness, one example being Belinda accepting a cheap plastic ring from a fan and modeling it for half the set—in fact, the performance was a revelation both in terms of their persona as a band and their musicianship.

Belinda looked radiant! She was almost impossible for me to shoot, drowning in a (good) white light that seemed to work against my occasional renegade flash. I prefer not to flash and to video anyway. (Sidebar: The tickets NEVER stated no photography but the venue had signs up as we entered. I quizzed people around me and all said they planned to shoot—and they all did. Yet during "Mad About You," I was the only person tapped and told, "Cameras down—no cameras," by a roaming security guard, not by the one who stood six feet away from me and witnessed everyone shooting non-stop. It inhibited my ability to shoot stuff after that, though I did get plenty. And it pissed me off.) She was in a sequined top and comfy mom pants but kicked off her slippers to do the whole set barefoot.

More after the jump...

Ladies gone wild

I am more obsessed than ever with Belinda's mesmerizing approach to movement...she has segued into a complete '60s shimmy that verges on belly dancing.

She's still got the beat

They all looked good, healthy and younger than their years. Jane looks like she did when I met her recently and Kathy has really matured into an exotically beautiful chick.

See Jane's guitar runs

I'm pretty sure (correct me if I'm wrong) the set list was: "Vacation," "Tonite," "How Much More," "Get Up and Go," "Mad About You," "Lust to Love" (a fave of mine, I missed shooting it due to the photo-killjoy), "Mother's Little Helper" (Rolling Stones cover), "Automatic," "Fading Fast," "Cool Places," "This Town," "Unforgiven," "The Whole World Lost Its Head," "Skidmarks on My Heart," "Our Lips Are Sealed," "We Got the Beat" and then a finale of "Beatnik Beach" and "Head Over Heels."

For me, it was an absolute joy to hear them perform so much of their first album, Beauty and the Beat, which is now 30 years old (gasp! sound of arteries hardening—mine, that is). Get the anniversary edition here. The only songs left unplayed were the "eh" tune "You Can't Walk in Your Sleep (If You Can't Sleep)" and "Can't Stop the World." Belinda sounded fantastic and was extremely game, prancing in front of us and touching many in the front row. Kathy gave me (or someone) a little "hi!" with her finger.

"It's all...automatic..."

Probably a highlight for me was Belinda duetting with Jane on "Cool Places," a song that might be my favorite song by The Go-Go's or any of their members. They parodied the big '80s dance style but actually sounded good together, Jane's vocal delivered as a growl.

"Bet you'd live here if you could and be one of us..."

I'm not sure I would have ended on "Head Over Heels," a wonderful single but not as mind-blowing a song as some of their other signature hits, but the show was pretty much flawless, even with a few blown cues. (I think Jane's solo on "Our Lips Are Sealed" was weirdly delayed and there was another spot when I thought Belinda messed up and bemused glances were exchanged.)

Fantastic experience and I would love to see them again before this—tour? band?—ends.