She sneered like Billy Idol, wiggled like Madonna and rocked the jailhouse just like a cat named Elvis.
It was all part of Petrina’s raucous, hot and sometimes wild sold out concert Saturday night at American Legion Post 347 in Lady Lake. This was billed as a “video music show” and the packed house along with Petrina Amsden and guitarist Tony Orlando, were feeling the heat.
Petrina opened things up with a version of “We Will Rock You,” that would have made Freddie Mercury proud. She seemed to reincarnate the late lead singer of Queen, wearing a mustard-yellow vinyl jacket, white slacks and black boots to go with her trademark spiked platinum hairdo. A huge screen behind the stage was flashing video scenes throughout the show.
“This is my Freddie Mercury jacket so I’ve got to sing more from Queen,” she said. Petrina then burst into a jiving , hipster version of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” During the song, fans in the audience were jumping up and dancing in the aisles.
So, Petrina quickly joined in, racing from table to table, shaking hands and doing a little jig. “I want to thank you,” Petrina said to her followers, like a preacher speaking to his flock. “You are the Villagers who made me, me. This show is all about you.”
Barb Kajda was one of the true believers.
“Petrina isn’t as stuffy as some singers,” Kajda said. “She loves the people and she makes everyone feel a part of the show.”
“Her energy never stops or even slows down,” added Mary Hockett. “She gets involved with the audience and makes it come alive.”
During a performance of “Runaway,” Petrina pulled three guys out of the crowd: Howard Klein, Roger Newkirk and Nick Bouboulis. “These guys look like they sing in the shower,” she said. It was like fun at summer camp as she put baby bonnets on their heads and they sang a chorus of “I wonder, wah, wah, wah, wonder,” to the old rock song.
“I don’t feel silly because it’s all in fun and Petrina makes us feel good,” Bouboulis said after leaving the stage.
Tony Orlando (not that Tony Orlando) joined Petrina on stage for a stinging version of the Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Orlando helped Petrina give the song a soulful and psychedelic blues feel.
Petrina showed her versatility on more contemporary songs such as Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason.” She turned the place into a hard rock delight with a head-banging cover of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine.”
Petrina dashed off backstage, and returned wearing a black and white striped blouse and cut off black shorts. She then proceeded to morph into Elvis with a hip-shaking “Jailhouse Rock.” Then came another costume switch and Petrina pranced about the stage in another revealing tight, black outfit for a tribute to Madonna. Before long, Petrina was dancing throughout the audience leading a sing-a-long on “Like A Virgin.”
Petrina, though, saved the best for last. Near the end of the show she came out in her wedding dress (“I haven’t worn it in almost five years, I hope it still fits”) and rocked the house with Billy Idol’s “White Wedding.”
It was tough dancing in the wedding gown, but Petrina jumped and bumped about the stage as if doing a polka in the mosh pit. A picture of Billy Idol gazed down from the video screen and it seemed just like 1982 all over again.
All during the song, colorful video images were reflected off Petrina’s white wedding dress. She became her own video screen. “This girl can do anything,” Barb Kajda said.
And in this concert, Petrina did it all.
