Blondie and

the Prodigy, the two most eagerly anticipated

acts to perform at Saturday's (May 31) eighth

annual HFStival in Washington, D.C. had tall

orders to fill. On one end of the spectrum, Blondie, once New York's new wave flavor of the

moment, had to demonstrate no loss of chops after 16 years of separation; at the other, Britain's

Prodigy had to prove to techno-phobic American rock audiences that their band is worth the dose

of this year's hype that they've been given. Moreover, each band had agreed to fulfill its mission

at what is said to be the largest alternative music festival in the U.S.

Sponsored by Washington, D.C. radio's modern rock big gun, WHFS, the festival sold out

R.F.K. Stadium in a mere hour and a half--that's 60,000 seats, about twice what Lollapalooza

draws here. The $20 ticket (or a buck per participating band) benefited Tori Amos' Rape, Abuse,

& Incest National Network (RAINN). In short, the HFStival ain't no Mud Club or CBGBs--this

ain't no fooling around.

Blondie drew the early anchor position, hitting the main stage at 1:15 P.M., after opening sets by

Jimmies Chicken Shack, The Cardigans, and Kula Shaker (the last of whom, incidentally, turned

in a decently funky version of Deep Purple's "Hush"). Although Blondie had only a half hour

with which to re-establish their relevance, they surprisingly eschewed such hits as "Rapture,"

"The Tide Is High," and "Dreaming." Instead, they opened with a half-hearted cover of the

Doors' "Break On Through," then hit five more songs, including crowd faves such as "Call Me"

and "Heart of Glass" as well as the band's first single "X Offender," "Atomic," and what may

have been a new, nostalgic number called "Studio 54."

But while their set list was interesting, Blondie's actual performance was more than a little

hesitant. Deborah Harry, (looking a bit like M.A.S.H.'s Loretta Switt with her shoulder length

blonde hair, billowy green pants, sandals, and shades) projected little presence at the microphone

and attempted only slight dance steps nervously. Harry's voice, however, was in fine form,

especially on "X Offender."

The rest of her hand seemed to find it difficult...