Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo recently rolled through Richmond, Virginia, like it was 1983 all over again — except somehow it felt even better this time around. The Altria Theater, tucked right into the heart of downtown, lit up with a crowd that came ready to sing, sway, and let some old memories out to stretch their legs. It wasn’t just another Tuesday night. It was a rock n roll moment.
The second the house lights dimmed, a wave of anticipation rippled through the room on May 6. Not the kind of nervous, edgy buzz you get before a festival set. This was warm, electric, personal. Like everyone in the place had history with Pat and Nei l– because honestly, most of us do. Those songs aren’t just classics; they’re landmarks.
They kicked it off with “All Fired Up,” and just like that, we were off. No preamble, no easing into it. Neil came out wielding his guitar like it owed him money, and Pat walked onstage like she had something to prove — which is hilarious when you think about it, because she really doesn’t. But maybe that’s why she’s still got that fire.
Her voice doesn’t age — Seriously, What’s her secret? You expect legends to sound good. You don’t expect them to sound exactly the same. Pat’s voice hasn’t just held up — it’s still got that rasp, that roar, that whisper that slips into your bones. She hit every note like she was still recording the tracks for the first time, and Neil? That man’s guitar tone could slice through granite. Together, they’re not just tight — they’re telepathic. Forty-plus years of playing side-by-side will do that.
They gave us the hits — “We Belong,” “Heartbreaker,” “Shadows of the Night,” “Love Is a Battlefield” — but mixed them with some deeper cuts and even new music, a song called “Come Together.” It never felt like they were going through the motions. Each song landed with fresh weight, like it had something new to say.
Watch the official music video for “We Belong” by Pat Benatar on YouTube:
One of the coolest parts of the night was the between-song banter. They shared stories — quick ones, personal ones. Pat got candid about the early days, the radio battles, the “you can’t do that” moments. And the crowd? We ate it up. It wasn’t just about nostalgia. It felt intimate, like we were all in on something special.
Let me say this: The Altria Theater is criminally underrated for rock shows. Sure, it leans theatrical, but that makes every light cue pop and every note feel like it’s bouncing off velvet. The sound was clean, powerful, and loud without being muddy. The whole night had that warm-blanket vibe. You could feel the music in your chest but still hear every snare hit and backing vocal.
And Richmond showed up. Lots of couples. Lots of lifelong fans. A surprising number of younger folks too, who probably grew up with these songs echoing through their parents’ car stereos. Everyone sang. Loudly.
Something about hearing “We Belong” live, in a room full of strangers who somehow all felt like friends, just hit different.
This wasn’t a nostalgia trip with dusty edges. It was sharp, powerful, and emotionally real. Pat and Neil didn’t come to remind us of who they were — they showed us who they still are. And who we still are, too. Loud, tender, complicated, romantic. Still full of fight.
If you’ve got the chance to see them on this run, don’t even think twice; get the ticket!
Setlist
1. All Fired Up
2. Invincible
3. Ties That Bind
4. Promises in the Dark
5. In These Times
6. We Belong
7. Come Together
8. River of Love
9. Go
10. Shadows of the Night
11. Hell is for Children
12. You Better Run
13. Love is a Battlefield
Encore
14. Disconnected
15. Everybody Lay Down
16. Heartbreaker/Ring of Fire
Here are some photos of Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo performing live at the Altria Theater on May 6, 2025. All pictures by Michael Sprouse/Odd Rocker Photography.
