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The '80s Aren't Dead Yet

Marcus Amphitheater
Milwaukee
July 12, 2000

Story and Photos by Phil Bonyata

Oh, Belinda you've changed so little in all these years! Still the cute sex kitten. Still the bouncy pop princess.
Headlining a retro '80's triple bill of the Go-Go's, the B-52's and the Psychedelic Furs, the Go-Go's reminded many in the one third full Marcus Amphitheater, last Wednesday night, why a lot of the music from the 1980s is still so much fun.
Pop classics "This Town" and "Vacation" churned with fast choppy beats and bouncy rhythms that made the songs sound fresh and relevant even today.
The five original band members of the Go-Gos also played some new material like "Apology" with California cool and a winking smirk that made these new songs sound as good as their best 80s hits. This was refreshing, as many bands that are well past there commercial and artistic prime try to change their sound to the flavor of the day with usually embarrassing results. Let's hope the Go-Gos can find a receptive ear with today's youth.
The "summer's never over" sound of the B-52s was quirky and colorful, a kind of Pee Wee Herman dorky cool. But somehow there is still something different about this band. Fred Schneider dressed in garish tangerine pants and pink button down shirt danced and gestured like a clown that suddenly realized that he's got his costume on but forgot to put on the face paint.
Original members, Schneider, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson got the crowd bopping, laughing and feeling real good with songs "Plane Claire," the space shriek "Rock Lobster" and their monster hit "Love Shack."
The B-52s don't take themselves too seriously and they don't expect us to either.
There weren't more than 200 people in the audience when one of the most original and influential '80's bands, the Psychedelic Furs hit the stage. Clad only in black, lead singer Richard Butler, who looked and acted like David Bowie's older and less attractive brother, waved to the people to come in closer. Butler exuded an atmospheric pre-goth, lounge lizard appeal. He is a seductive singer whose moves came right out of the Thin White Duke's play book.
The Furs hit pay dirt with the ethereal "Heaven" and one of the quintessential '80s songs "Pretty in Pink"
The Psychedelic Furs performance was certainly the highlight of the evening performances. This show was a colorful, fun and bright reminder that the 1980s produced a unique pop sound that greatly influenced many of todays rock talents.

Go-Gos
Go-Gos
Go-Gos
Go-Gos
Pschedelic Furs
Psychedelic Furs
B-52s
B-52s
B-52s
B-52s
Pschedelic Furs
Psychedelic Furs

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