Debbie Gibson

A Pittsburgh Pride Saturday with my cousin Julie, and the headliner was Debbie Gibson — half-assed childhood crush, one of my favorite pop artists, and somehow a name I'd never managed to cross off the live list until tonight. We sprung for the VIP option, which, on its own, is usually a fine deal, but the kicker on this one was the open bar set up directly across the street from the stage. Free drinks, perfect weather, full view of the show — sometimes you just say yes.

The crowd was as locked in as you'd expect. Debbie has long been a beloved artist in the LGBTQ+ community, and her Pride shows have a particular kind of energy that you don't get at every stop on a regular tour — everyone in front of the stage was there to celebrate, sing along, and have a blast.

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A great chunk of the show's personality comes from the Bookend Baldies, Eddie Bennett and Buddy Casimano — two bald male dancers who have been part of Debbie's live act for years. Buddy actually went to high school with Debbie, and the chemistry between the three of them is half choreographed dance routine and half lifelong friendship. They flank her in matching outfits, hit every step, and have a few segments that are basically theirs alone. They came back out for the bigger numbers like "Shake Your Love" and "Electric Youth" with the full coordinated production. They are the kind of detail that makes a Debbie Gibson show feel less like a packaged nostalgia act and more like getting invited to hang out with a group of friends who happen to put on a great show.

And the hits — she gave us all of them. "Only in My Dreams," "Out of the Blue," "Shake Your Love," "Foolish Beat," "Lost in Your Eyes," "Electric Youth," "No More Rhyme" — every one of them landed exactly the way they should. She sat at the piano for the ballads, danced through the up-tempo numbers, played a little drums, told some stories between songs, and worked the crowd like the seasoned pro she is. She also folded in newer material from The Body Remembers and a few unexpected covers, all of which fit right in.

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For my first time seeing her after years of being a fan, this could not have been a better setting. Good crowd, open-bar VIP, great weather, and Debbie Gibson playing all the songs I grew up on with the Bookend Baldies cutting it up next to her. Julie and I had a great time. An excellent way to finally check off a childhood favorite.