Jason DeBord's Rock Subculture Journal

The Go-Go’s and The Psychedelic Furs at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 9/30/2012 (Concert Review)

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The Go-Go’s and the Psychedelic Furs closed out my own personally selected Summer concert series at the always awesome Mountain Winery last night and I can’t imagine a better send off, with two classic and important 80s bands in top form playing their many hits, back to back.  A bit of a contrast in styles (though both bands, in their own ways, were a result of and reaction to the 70s punk movement), it was very much a celebration of the wide ranging and innovation music born during my favorite decade.  The Furs opened with what I would characterize as the best live performance I’ve seen from them, and the Go-Go’s closed it out with a fun and energetic set that felt very warm and personalized for the audience.  A great night hosted by two stellar bands, and I feel fortunate to have had a chance to be part of it.

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Huey Lewis and The News at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 9/28/2012 (Concert Review)

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“I am not perfect.  But I’m perfect for you.”  This was a sentiment expressed by Huey Lewis early on in his performance with Huey Lewis and the News at Mountain Winery last night, which was a reference to the fact that this was a make-up show for one that was canceled about a month ago.  A Bay Area native, the band certainly put in a lot of “heart and soul” into producing a very special concert last night, playing through many of their hits and going the extra mile to bring their special brand of rock and roll to the stage.  It was a great show put on by this classic band that helped to define the 80s while mostly defying the sound of their peers with a musical identity all their own.  As one might expect, they put on a classy, positive, high energy show in Saratoga last night.

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Daryl Hall and John Oates at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 9/18/2012 (Concert Review)

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An ongoing personal tradition of mine, I have made a commitment to try to see Daryl Hall and John Oates perform live every year, preferably at my favorite venue – Mountain Winery in Saratoga – and am happy to have been a part of that event again last night.  As readers of the Rock Subculture Journal would likely surmise, music from the 80s is the foundation for my love of popular music, and among all those wonderful artists that were highly prolific in those times, I would personally rate Hall and Oates among the very top.  Billboard Magazine rates them as the number one duo of all time for very good reason – they are simply brilliant songwriters, and have published seemingly endless hits, and their live shows are some of the best I’ve experienced.  Last night I had a great vantage point from which to take it all in.

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Blondie with Debbie Harry & Devo (Double Headliner) at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 9/11/2012 (Concert Review)

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Last night, Mountain Winery in Saratoga played host to a true co-headlining concert, with the two artists – Blondie and Devo – alternating opening and closing duties, date-to-date, as this joint tour gets underway, having kicked off just this week.  The show was mixed overall, with Blondie putting on a stellar performance in her opening slot and Devo powering through some technical glitches that diminished their quite obvious intent to provide some serious fan service.  Overall, it was a great night of 80s nostalgia for those in attendance.  Both artists brought their very unique styles and presence to the stage, and overall it was a great opportunity to experience two very different performances.

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Duran Duran at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 8/9/2012 (Concert Review)

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Duran Duran kicked off their North American tour this week with two back-to-back dates at my favorite venue, Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California.  I was fortunate enough to attend the second date on August 9th.  Duran Duran is one of my all-time favorite bands, and it was just an amazing night, with an incredible set that stretched two hours and kept the audience on their feet and singing and chanting along to favorites, old and new alike, as soon as they came out onto the stage. [Read more…]

Billy Idol at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, CA | 10/12/11 (Concert Review)

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On October 12th, I had an opportunity to see Billy Idol perform at Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA for the second consecutive year.  My favorite (relatively) local venue, I was fortunate enough to have front row center seats, literally standing right in front of Idol’s front center position for the entire show (as you will see from the photos below).  [Read more…]