Before seeing Blondie live for the first time, one's liable to feel a certain worry creep in. The legendary New York City band features one of rock 'n' roll's grand dames, Debbie Harry, and given that she's been at it since the '70s, it's only natural to think, "What if she’s not the same as she used to be?”

More specifically, what if the blonde with ruby bee-stung lips and dead-on stare has lost her luster, her swagger, her utter Blondie-ness? The excitement of catching the band in action could explode in a matter of seconds. The moment of truth comes as the divine Ms. Harry grabs the mic and croons the first line of the first song.

Luckily, when Debbie and the gang took the stage last Friday (Oct. 4) at NYC's Roseland Ballroom, and Harry let the opening line of 'One Way or Another' roll off her tongue, all worries disappeared. Her hair is just as white-blonde as it used to be, the lips just as red, the stare as icy and perfect. Harry remains everything she was, and backed by still-kickin' guitarist Chris Stein and drummer Clem Burke, as well as newer members Leigh Foxx on bass, Tommy Kessler on guitar and Matt Katz-Bohen on the keys, she leads a group still brimming with life.

Blondie rolled through Roseland as a part of the No Principals tour, a U.S. trek with fellow punk legends X. On Jan. 24, Blondie drops a new album, 'Ghosts of Download,' and their Roseland set included such new tunes as 'Take Me in the Night' and 'Rave.' The latter came during a five-song encore with gender-bending rocker Miss Guy.

Of course, Blondie also served up the hits, among them an energetic 'Hanging on the Telephone' -- their Nerves cover from the unparalleled 'Parallel Lines' album -- and a slamming rendition of the luscious 'Call Me,' from the 'American Gigolo' soundtrack. The evening finished with an extended version of 'The Tide is High,' on which brass ensemble What Cheer? sent the crowd into the night with a blast of blazing horns.

If anybody’s wondering whether Blondie’s still got it, they do.

Check Out More Exclusive Photos of Blondie at Roseland Ballroom in NYC

Elyssa Goodman
Elyssa Goodman
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Elyssa Goodman
Elyssa Goodman
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Elyssa Goodman
Elyssa Goodman
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Elyssa Goodman
Elyssa Goodman
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