United Hits of Benatar

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

With all the middle-of-the-road county fair and casino appearances Pat Benatar makes, it’s hard to remember just how edgy this four-time Grammy winner once was.

In the days of leg warmers and smoke machines, Benatar jazzercised her way through a string of early MTV mega-anthems including “Love is a Battlefield,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “We Belong” and “Invincible.”

A trailblazer, ’80s fashion icon and inspiration, Benatar combined the new wave of Blondie with the hard rock of Heart, paving the way for artists your son and daughter might’ve heard of — namely Pink and Katy Perry.

Since her heyday, Benatar has far from faded into obscurity. In between appearing alongside other legends from the ’80s like Loverboy and Rick Springfield, Benatar has built a very successful touring career with her husband and longtime musical collaborator, guitarist and songwriter Neil “Spyder” Giraldo.

Together, the duo blazes through standards from Benatar’s catalog (many of her classics were co-written with Giraldo) as well as new music from the couple’s 35-year career working together; her singing voice is as powerful as it ever was.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo play 8 pm Saturday, July 26, at the Lane County Fair; prices vary.