The evening opened with the powerhouse husband-and-wife duo of Pat Benatar and guitarist-producer Neil “Spyder” Giraldo, a partnership that has defined American rock radio for over four decades. Benatar - one of the most decorated female rock vocalists in history with four Grammys, 15 Billboard Top 40 hits, and a 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - still commands the stage with the same authority that fueled her 1980s dominance. Giraldo, widely credited as one of rock’s most inventive and influential guitarists and arrangers, remains a force, the architect behind the riffs, arrangements, and production that shaped Benatar’s signature sound.
From the opening notes of “All Fired Up,” it was instantly clear how well-preserved their chemistry is. Benatar sounded ageless - crisp, powerful, and still unmistakably Benatar - while Giraldo tore through his parts with the swagger of a guitarist who knows he helped define an era. Their setlist was a tour through their shared history: “Invincible,” “Promises in the Dark,” a blazing “Shadows of the Night,” and a gorgeous rendition of “We Belong” that had the arena singing every word. Benatar has for years refused to perform “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” in protest of rising gun violence in the United States, but she didn’t need it; her catalog is so strong that the omission barely registered.
The emotional gut-punch of “Hell Is for Children” still hits as hard as it did in 1980, and “Love Is a Battlefield” turned the arena into a time capsule. They closed with a thrilling fusion of “Heartbreaker” and Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” capped by Giraldo unleashing one of the night’s most jaw-dropping solos - shredding with a precision and ferocity that proved why he remains one of rock’s most under-celebrated guitar titans. It was a masterclass from two artists who continue to evolve while honoring the legacy they built together.
After a short reset, the lights dropped, and Bryan Adams appeared not on the main stage, but alone on a small B-stage at the back of the floor, silhouetted in a single spotlight. The Canadian rocker - now more than 40 years into a career that produced some of the most enduring love ballads and rock anthems of the last half-century - opened with an intimate, acoustic “Straight From the Heart,” instantly electrifying the crowd. Adams looked and sounded almost eerily unchanged over the years, the same raspy warmth and effortless stage presence that made him an international superstar in the mid-1980s.
What followed was a two-hour set packed with nostalgia, surprises, and creative production touches. Fans were given LED wristbands that lit up in sync with the music, turning the arena into a massive sea of shifting color. During “Roll With the Punches,” the title track from his latest album and tour, a gigantic boxing-glove drone hovered over the floor in a surreal bit of theatrical whimsy. Adams joked, flirted, shredded, and commanded the stage like someone who still genuinely loves performing - his energy undeniably vampiric, his voice remarkably untouched by time.
After a short reset, the lights dropped, and Bryan Adams appeared not on the main stage, but alone on a small B-stage at the back of the floor, silhouetted in a single spotlight. The Canadian rocker - now more than 40 years into a career that produced some of the most enduring love ballads and rock anthems of the last half-century - opened with an intimate, acoustic “Straight From the Heart,” instantly electrifying the crowd. Adams looked and sounded almost eerily unchanged over the years, the same raspy warmth and effortless stage presence that made him an international superstar in the mid-1980s.
What followed was a two-hour set packed with nostalgia, surprises, and creative production touches. Fans were given LED wristbands that lit up in sync with the music, turning the arena into a massive sea of shifting color. During “Roll With the Punches,” the title track from his latest album and tour, a gigantic boxing-glove drone hovered over the floor in a surreal bit of theatrical whimsy. Adams joked, flirted, shredded, and commanded the stage like someone who still genuinely loves performing - his energy undeniably vampiric, his voice remarkably untouched by time.
The romance was palpable during “Heaven,” “Please Forgive Me,” and of course, the show-stopping “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,” which sent couples swaying and arm-in-arm nostalgia hanging thick in the air. On the rock side, “Run to You,” “Somebody,” “Cuts Like a Knife,” and “It’s Only Love” were electric. His raucous rendition of “You Belong to Me,” complete with a rockabilly swing-your-shirt moment, unleashed a wave of shirtless enthusiasm throughout the crowd - including our very own SanDiegoVille representative. One of the peak moments of the night came with an explosive cover of “Twist & Shout,” followed closely by the eruption that accompanied “Summer of ’69,” which felt like the entire arena suddenly turned seventeen again.
The night ended the way it began - simply and intimately - with Adams returning to the back platform for a solo acoustic “All for Love,” the 1993 ballad he originally recorded with Sting and Rod Stewart. On his walk back from the B-stage, he even took the time to fist-bump fans along the railing, including one very thrilled San Diegan who will be bragging about it for the rest of the year (me!).
The night ended the way it began - simply and intimately - with Adams returning to the back platform for a solo acoustic “All for Love,” the 1993 ballad he originally recorded with Sting and Rod Stewart. On his walk back from the B-stage, he even took the time to fist-bump fans along the railing, including one very thrilled San Diegan who will be bragging about it for the rest of the year (me!).
Seeing Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, and Bryan Adams share a stage in 2025 didn’t feel like a nostalgia act - it felt like a celebration of musicians who still have the chops, the artistry, and the hunger to deliver unforgettable shows. These are performers who shaped the soundtrack of multiple generations and somehow remain as sharp, agile, and engaging as ever. San Diego was lucky to witness it. Nights like this remind us why live music endures, why legends become legends, and why some voices - and some guitar solos - simply never fade.
Let us know what other shows you want covered next, San Diego. We’ll be there, shirts or no shirts!
Let us know what other shows you want covered next, San Diego. We’ll be there, shirts or no shirts!
