by Diego Donamaria

The Moody Center was the place to be on Sunday night as Billy Idol brought his “It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again!” to Austin, with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts opening the show. From the start, the crowd was ready to sing along with the two iconic lead singers, listen to all the well-loved hits, and just maybe discover new songs they had not heard before.

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts: Setting the Tone

Joan Jett kicked things off with a set full of her best-known songs. She and the Blackhearts sounded tight, running through hits like “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Bad Reputation,” and “Crimson and Clover.” Watching Joan Jett perform is a reminder of why she is considered a rock legend. She commands the stage with her signature black leather look, gritty vocals, and tight rhythm guitar. Backed by the Blackhearts, she moves effortlessly from punk to rock and roll, getting the audience singing along and feeding off her energy. 

Even after decades in the business, Jett’s presence feels fresh and powerful, and her set is a mix of nostalgia and genuine rock spirit that makes her live shows both enjoyable and memorable.

Billy Idol: Classic Hits and Crowd Favorites

Billy Idol took the stage with his distinctive punk-infused rock sound and rebellious image to a big welcome from the Austinite crowd at the Moody Center. He played all the songs we wanted to hear, including “White Wedding,” “Hot in the City,” and “Rebel Yell.” His signature sneer, punk-rock attitude, and unforgettable hits make it easy to see why Idol continues to have a lasting influence in rock music, with a career that’s thrived for more than four decades.

Idol’s band, featuring longtime guitarist Steve Stevens, sounded great, and Stevens’ guitar solos were a definite highlight. Alongside the classics, Idol performed a few newer tunes that meshed very well with the rest of his set list. Idol chatted with the audience between songs, sharing a few stories and keeping the mood light. His signature gritty vocals sounded as strong as ever, and the crowd was more than happy to help out on the big choruses.

Fans of all ages had a great time on Sunday, and both Joan Jett and Billy Idol delivered the kind of performances we needed from rock legends. There were no big surprises, just a night of great music and good vibes. If you’re a fan of either artist, this tour is definitely worth catching. Both Joan Jett and Billy Idol reminded everyone why their songs have stood the test of time.

Check out all our photos from this show and past shows on Austin 101.

Set list:

1. Still Dancing
2. Cradle of Love
3. Flesh for Fantasy
4. Too Much Fun
5. Eyes Without a Face
6. Steve Stevens Guitar Solo / Over the Hills and Far Away / Stairway to Heaven / Eruption
7. Mony Mony(Tommy James & the Shondells cover)
8. Love Don’t Live Here Anymore(Rose Royce cover) (with Kitten Kuroi)
9. Dream Into It
10. Ready Steady Go(Generation X song)
11. Blue Highway
12. Rebel Yell (start of encore)
13. Dancing With Myself(Generation X song)
14. Hot in the City
15. People I Love
16. White Wedding(with band introductions)
17. Happy Birthday to You(Mildred J. Hill & Patty Hill cover) (sung to Steve Stevens)