Though he made a convincing punk rocker while fronting London’s Generation X in the late 1970s, Billy Idol had his eyes on bigger, brighter prizes. He swiftly reinvented himself stateside as a glossily produced MTV staple with a string of hits (including “White Wedding,” “Mony Mony” and “Eyes Without a Face”), yet punk echoes lingered beyond just his signature curled-lip sneer and spiky white ’do. As well as being a naturally compelling performer, Idol’s enduring appeal lurks in the niche he cunningly created –– somewhere between hard rock, classic rock & roll and quasi-soulful pop, with sufficient bad-boy swagger and street-level hoarseness to sound dangerous without alienating mainstream listeners. He’s touring behind a new album, Kings and Queens of the Underground, but still playing most of the old hits. Also Thursday, Feb. 19.

Feb. 18-19, 7 p.m., 2015
(Expired: 02/19/15)

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