The reunited British pop group Bananarama will be playing a four city North American tour next month, featuring all three founding members Siobhan Fahey, Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward. They will be playing live dates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Toronto. These shows will mark the first time all three original members will perform together in North America. [Read more…]
K-EARTH 101’s “Totally 80’s Live” and FKOA and Bobby Dee Presents “Your Real Life Playlist” will be happening at Honda Center on Friday, January 26th in Anaheim. The show will feature live performances from Boy George, Adam Ant, The Bangles, Violent Femmes, Salt-N-Pepa, The Romantics, Tone Loc, A Flock of Seagulls, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Dramarama, Sugarhill Gang, and Nick Heyward of Haircut One Hundred, and it will all be hosted by Richard Blade. [Read more…]
As with my 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Year in Review features, this article looks back on a year of music with a summary of the highlights. This is my attempt to (subjectively) share my favorites of the year, from live shows to new songs and albums. You can also check out my Top 100 Concert Photos of 2017 in that separate article.
I think I was too “in the moment” to make note of any particular quote from the band during Oingo Boingo Dance Party’s performance in Pano Hall at Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Friday night. Oingo Boingo Dance Party what? Yes, exactly. What the heck is Oingo Boingo Dance Party? In short, it is more or less Oingo Boingo minus original front man Danny Elfman, with a very impressive Brendan McKian (formerly Brendan McCreary) on vocals. It was really a spectacular show and experience for me personally (Oingo Boingo is one of my all-time favorite bands). I never thought I would get such a live experience with all of that brilliant music ever again. So I really can’t recommend enough turning out for one of these shows if Oingo Boingo Dance Party is ever in a town near you. Highest recommendation. [Read more…]
“It’s lovely to be here celebrating beautiful memories”… Boy George in one of his asides during his headlining performance at the inaugural “iHeart80s Birthday Bash” live concert event at SAP Center in San Jose. The special show on Saturday night featured Boy George, Tiffany, The Romantics, A Flock Of Seagulls, Farrington & Mann of the Original When In Rome UK, Tommy Tutone, Animotion and Nu Shooz, with former original MTV VJ Martha Quinn hosting along with radio personalities Christie James and Morris Knight. It was really a stellar show with end to end 80s-era hits and hitmakers putting on non-stop entertainment for four hours.
“We want to let you know that we really appreciate you… You have supported us – you have shown lots of love and dedication – for the last 58 years… That’s real special. And now it has come time, to show our appreciation. We’ve talked about it, and we agree that this song is the song that says the way we feel. So you sit back and we’re going to tell you a little story, so it’s something like this…” The original remaining two principal members of The O’Jays at a sold out show at Thunder Valley Outdoor Amphitheater on Saturday night before singing an incredible rendition of their song “Forever Mine”. Off of their 1979 album, Identify Yourself, the pioneering R&B group had the crowd on their feet throughout much of their headlining performance at World One Presents’ “Soul Fest ’17” concert, which also featured sets by Morris Day and The Time, The S.O.S. Band, and GQ. [Read more…]
WorldOne Presents is bringing another fantastic line-up of 80s R&B icons to the Greater Sacramento Region at Thunder Valley Amphitheater on Saturday, August 5th. Soulfest ’17 will feature The O’Jays, Morris Day & The Time, S.O.S. Band and GQ. [Read more…]
The Psychedelic Furs aren’t too chatty on stage – they just get to work and seem to have an awesome time performing in front of their fans. This was definitely one of my top shows of the year, and it really just made me want to see them again… it was that amazing. The pairing with Robyn Hitchcock was brilliant as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed both sets. An awesome night of music in Grass Valley by The Center for the Arts.
“That was a beautiful and circular moment…” Lindsey Buckingham talking about Christine McVie coming back to the world of Fleetwood Mac in 2014 – after a 15 break from the band – and then the two of them working on a new album together. That album, Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie, was released to much acclaim last month. Now touring together as a duo and playing a fairly even mix of old and new, the pair put on an amazing performance at Ironstone Amphitheatre at Ironstone Vineyards on Friday night. Of all of the dozens of shows I’ve personally seen at the venue, this one might be my all-time favorite.
iHeartMedia San Francisco’s iHeart80s @ 103.7 is hosting a massive ‘80s Music event in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, August 26th at SAP Center in San Jose. The special concert event and the inaugural “iHeart80s Birthday Bash” live concert event will feature Boy George as the headlining artists as well as special guests A Flock Of Seagulls, The Romantics, Farrington & Mann of the Original When In Rome UK, Tiffany, Animotion, Tommy Tutone, and Nu Shooz. Hosting the show will be iHeart80s morning personality and former original MTV VJ Martha Quinn as well as appearances by station personalities Christie James and Morris Knight. [Read more…]