Track #3 (of 5): “Totally ‘80s” @The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower
Dale Bozzio demands an answer to her question: “What are words for?” (Image: David Plastik)
There’s a lot of focus in our culture these days on the ‘80s—an era that’s often remembered for MTV optimism, dayglo fashion, and big, big hair. No wonder many folks want to immerse themselves in a time before homelessness and other grim realities—not to mention online divisiveness—spoiled the party.
And what better place to dive into this nostalgia than at a poolside, desert breeze-enhanced “Totally ‘80s” show with Missing Persons, Prescott Niles’ The Knack, and Bow Wow Wow—all legacy bands from the era with original and new members in their lineups. Local punk/hard rock favorites The Bones set the mood, opening the sunset-into-nighttime event on the “Swim & Social” pool deck of the STRAT with their jacked-up, snarling versions of ‘80s tunes (along with some originals).
Bow Wow Wow brought the candy—and then some. (Image: Sally Steele)
Bow Wow Wow—led by original killer British bassist Leigh Gorman and featuring the spirited Madelyn Feller on vocals—still sound fresh with their signature propulsive tribal rhythms that powered hits like “I Want Candy” and “Do You Wanna Hold Me?” (This lineup is different than the one with original singer Annabella Lwin whom I saw and dug recently at the Tuscany’s Copa Room.) These days, the Knack is billed as Prescott Niles’ The Knack to spotlight the band’s original bassist. They rousingly delivered their smashes “My Sharona” and “Good Girls Don’t”—both examples of crisp, punchy songs that highlighted the New Wave movement, which was the next, more well-behaved step after punk. Missing Persons were also New Wave-aligned with strikingly melodic synth-rocking classics like “Words” and “Walking In L.A.” Original lead singer Dale Bozzio’s high-pitched vocals were still engagingly quirky tonight, upholding the band’s place in ‘80s music and providing everyone with an escape hatch to a seemingly simpler time.
