Thu, Jul 15, 1999 (4:54 a.m.)

"We need Tampex, too, while you're at it," Belinda Carlisle said to the person who tossed a t-shirt onto the stage at the Go-Go's reunion Saturday night. The fans who packed the House of Blues to hear ear candy like "Our Lips are Sealed," " Vacation," and "We Got the Beat," probably don't know that The Go-Go's' roots date back to L.A.'s punk scene, and even if Belinda Carlisle was never as cool as Patti Smith (or even Chrissie Hynde) she at least did time in the Germs which is why the hideous treacle of her solo years (remember "Heaven is a Place on Earth" ) is even more unforgivable than say if she'd been in Bananarama. In fact, Carlisle still hasn't been able to shelve her diva role entirely and become just a member of the band; she made a late entrance an early exit and even called a roadie on stage to light her cigarette. But if you could ignore the spectacle of Carlisle sipping red wine and prancing about like a den mother in red pajamas and slippers, the Go-Gos can still pack a punch as a live rock band.

Jane Wiedlin in particular has become a much sharper guitar player over the years (she also entertained the audience with her illicit desires for Siegfried & Roy). Of course, in the end the crowd wanted the hits and the band played them all including their cover of "Johnny Are You Queer." The Go-Go's may not have a future but they are better than most at re-living their past, and on Saturday that is all that the audience wanted.

Richard Abowitz can be reached at abowitz@lasvegasweekly.com

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