17 July 2024 (gig)
20 July 2024
Package tours are a huge staple of the summer concert scene. While consumers are usually only offered a maximum of three groups on a bill, the Totally Tubular Festival puts them all to shame.
An ensemble tour made up of eight groups, most of whom flourished in the early to mid-1980s, has ended up being one of the most enjoyable events of this scorcher of a summer.
The Totally Tubular Festival stopped at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Massachusetts on July 17, 2024.
The five-and-a-half-hour concert kicked off with The Plimsouls (featuring Eddie Munoz). Mostly known for their appearance in the cult 1983 film, "Valley Girl", the band features original guitarist Munoz. The quartet played some slick power-pop riffs during their short set, ending with their most recognizable song, "A Million Miles Away".
Next up was Tommy Tutone, who also played an abbreviated set which featured a cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" and their sole hit, "Jenny (867-5309)".
Bow Wow Wow, featuring original vocalist Annabelle Lwin (and officially called Annabella's Bow Wow Wow) noticeably raised the energy in the crowd. Lwin's charasmatic aura shined through on early 80's charmers as "Do You Wanna Hold Me" and the group's cover of The Strangeloves "I Want Candy". It's often forgotten, but Bow Wow Wow was the brainchild of the late Sex Pistols manager, Malcolm McLaren.
One of the most definitive bands of the 80s is Wang Chung. Not only did they churn out some phenomenal pop hits, they also scored the moody and atmospheric soundtrack to the gritty 1985 crime drama, "To Live and Die in LA" (one of the most underrated cop films ever). Wang Chung opened with "Wait" and "To Live and Die in LA", both of which were featured in the movie, before bringing out the fantastic "Dance Hall Days". An unexpected and altered cover of The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" led into "Everybody Have Fun Tonight", ending a tremendous set.
Men Without Hats is currently led by singer Ivan Doroschuk and his brother/guitarist, Colin Doroschuk and the band opened with their biggest hit, "The Safety Dance". A seven-song set was highlighted with the moody "Antarctica" and the bouncy "Pop Goes the World". The group ended with a second take of "The Safety Dance", albeit with a more extended club mix feeling.
Save for Wang Chung and Men Without Hats (who both still have two of their core members), Modern English was the most intact group and features four gentlemen from their initial lineup. Beginning with 1981's "Gathering Dust" and the haunting "Someone's Calling", from the band's 1983 breakthrough disc, "After the Fire" the group was on fire from the get-go.
A pair of new tunes from the band's new album, "1,2,3,4", "Long in the Tooth" and "Crazy Lovers" were both greatly received by the crowd. This was undoubtedly the best Modern English show this journalist seen since they played at the Middle East Club in Massachusetts in 2016. Modern English ended quite strongly with possibly the most iconic new wave love song ever, "I Melt With You".
Tom Bailey's current version of the Thompson Twins (called Tom Bailey's Thompson Twins) nearly stole the show. Backed by an amazing trio of female musicians, Bailey extruded 80's style mixed with modern day slickness. Opening with "Love on Your Side" and "Lay Your Hands on Me", Bailey then said he was going to play a song that is highly requested in the USA; "If You Were Here", which was prominently featured in the John Hughes classic 1984 film, "Sixteen Candles".
Amazing versions of "Lies" and "Doctor! Doctor!" smoothly made way for the Thompson Twins' grandest moment, "Hold Me Now".
Thomas Dolby ended the night with the most eclectic act all evening. Armed with a pair of laptops and a synthesizer, it looked as if Dolby was going to do a DJ set, but it was far more than that.
A vocally electronic cover of New Order's "Blue Monday" was followed by "Europa and the Pirate Twins" and "One of Our Submarines", a touching song about Dolby's uncle (whom he never met) and World War II.
Dolby did a wonderful tribute to David Bowie and played some audio and visual snippets of Bowie singing "Hero's" during the Live Aid UK concert (evoking nostalgic emotions, as the 40th anniversary of the Live Aid concerts was days before on July 13th).
Dolby wrapped things up with 1984's fantastic 'Hyperactive" and his monster smash, "She Blinded Me With Science".
A sole encore saw Dolby pull out a funk song that George Clinton penned for him in 1988, "Hot Sauce", ending a night of 80s music heaven.
