Bangles Blow Away Windy City

September 27 -- CHICAGO — With pristine harmonies, a slew of hits, and some new songs to boot, the Bangles reunion tour rolled into the Windy City Tuesday night and sent forth the message that it may be time to walk like an Egyptian once again. During the first show of a two-night stand at the House of Blues, the quartet — singer-guitarists Susanna Hoffs and Vicki Peterson, drummer Debbi Peterson, and bassist Michael Steele — ripped through a 90-minute set before an exuberant capacity crowd. Roaring out of the gate with their hit version of Simon & Garfunkel's "Hazy Shade of Winter," they played with take-no-prisoners energy.

Memory lane was the choice path of the night, of course, as the Bangles — aided by a male keyboard player — delivered well-worn hits such as the Prince-penned "Manic Monday," Jules Shear's "If She Knew What She Wants," and a rocking version of "In Your Room." "Hero Takes a Fall" closed the main set with a furious guitar jam that culminated with Hoffs playing Vicki Peterson's guitar from her knees.

Hoffs also belted out a cover of the Seeds' 1967 garage rock classic, "Pushin' Too Hard." The group even segued a bit of Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" into the encore performance of their No. 1 hit "Walk Like an Egyptian" before closing with "Eternal Flame," which brought the smell of butane into the House of Blues air.

But part of the message of this tour is that there is a Bangles future, and the group had a few new songs to share with the fans. The Peterson sisters shared vocals on the psychedelic-tinged "Stealing Rosemary," while Hoffs offered a passionate reading of "I Will Take Care of You." And judging from the audience response, there was little doubt that the Bangles' will be one comeback that's greeted with an enthusiasm that rivals the excitement they stirred up the first time around.