Berlin / GoGos show, Phoenix, AZ - July 13, 1999 concert

(courtesy of Anthony Miano)

It had been 15 years since I last saw Berlin at the Orpheum Theatre in 
Phoenix and was excited when I learned they'd be opening for the Go-Go's.  
I picked up my tickets early and faced the month wait leading up to the show 
with great anticipation.  It wasn't "The Go-Go's with Berlin" to me.  I was 
there to see Terri Nunn and dressed the part, wearing my "Love Life" T-shirt 
from the '84 tour.

I looked at the band taking the stage and was a bit taken back.  Where's John
Crawford?  What happened to David Diamond, Matt Reid, Rob Brill and Ric Olsen?
I had really been out of touch with the group, other than reliving the 80's 
with my complete Berlin collection.  Then the stage lights brightened and I became 
a college student again.  A familiar face appeared on the Celebrity Theatre 
runway while the opening for "Masquerade" began.  Terri was back and my wait 
was over.  She sang with the same passion as during my final exam days and was 
outfitted in a pink dress that ended in a clear veil.  The group was given a warm 
greeting by the desert crowd. 

The intimacy of the venue proved to be a good match for the personal performance
Terri gave during the 40 minute set.  While stopping in between her more widely
known tunes, Terri recognized the audience, complementing the enthusiastic
reaction she received while comparing it to the hot climate outside.  She later
candidly spoke about her divorce and joked about her new found sexual peak as a
woman in her thirties.  "I'm like a guy now," resulted in roars of laughter.  
Terri's marital break-up was the basis for a song that was new to my ears.  It was 
the weakest part of the set though, turning out to be closer to the hard to 
understand ramblings of "The Lunachicks," an all female band that started the 
night off.  Two other songs I hadn't heard before were more to my previous 
claim of "never hearing a Berlin song I didn't like."  What I did appreciate 
during Terri's nuptial break-up anthem was her ease at coming off the stage and 
into the audience.  She was the only performer to leave the revolving floor and 
get close to the crowd.  

Terri repeated this during the Oscar winning "Take My Breath Away," her best known
hit.  It's a nice enough ballad, but lacks the Berlin signature.  It didn't surprise 
me when I later found here that the band at the time had no part in the 
recording.  The sight of Terri enjoying the song as she shared it with lucky 
seat holders did contribute to a memorable evening.  Regretfully, I wasn't 
part of that fortunate gathering and my vision of Terri noticing my old T-shirt 
didn't pan out. 

"Leave them wanting more" is an old adage in entertainment and the new Berlin
certainly did that for me.  It was great to hear "Sex, I'm A..." and "The 
Metro" live again, especially with Terri's playful performance of the former and 
the crowd's clapping of the beat throughout the latter.  I longed to hear my lesser 
known personal favorites, such as "World of Smiles," "In My Dreams," and "Pleasure
Victim," the only song that was curiously left out of the "Love Life '84" 
show.   Terri did make room for "Touch Me" and did an intense rendition of 
the song that seductively states "You can take me home and tear my clothes off."  

The band that makes up the 90's version of Berlin allowed me to get over my
earlier surprise and enjoy the set without missing a beat.  Scott Warren's
keyboards continued the synth sound of the 80's hits, Rodger Carter's drums
gave Terri's passion strong support and Dallan Baumgarten proved to be an
accomplished guitarist.  He also proved to be a good sport, getting doused 
with whipped cream by "The Lunachick's" during "Sex."  His "I'm a man" retorts 
could use more emotion, but the song that put Berlin on the map is more a 
tribute to Terri's ability to have fun.  Nowhere was that more apparent when 
she laughingly shouted "We're all sluts!" at the song's conclusion. 

Terri had asked the crowd earlier if they were "enjoying girls' night out," 
referring to the bands she was sandwiched between.  It was Terri Nunn's night to 
this Berlin fan.  It was not only a memorable trip back to the 80's, but a hope 
to a future of more music and further concerts in Phoenix."



Anthony Miano