Best 80's Concert. Ever.

Cafe Society
1

So I’m at Cisco Live in San Francisco.

Last night they had their customer appreciation event. So they bussed us to Treasure Island (just off the Bay Bridge).

It was the 20th anniversary of the event so I knew it would be good, but damn it was awsome!

First of all it was hosted by Martha Quin and the theme was “Party Like It’s 1989!”.

Here was who played with the awesome house band:

  • lead singer from Flock of Seagulls (1 song)
  • Sugar Hill (2 songs)
  • Tone Loc (2 songs)
  • Howard Jones (3 songs)
  • The Bangles (3 songs)
  • One of the singers from Tears for Fears (3 songs)

Then Devo came on stage and played for about 45 minutes! I really only knew “Whip-It” by them. They really ripped it up on stage. Very high energy, way more guitar than I would have thought (no keytars but at least 1 Moog!).

Then the B-52’s came on stage! I was only able to stay for 5 songs, so I’m not sure how long they played for.

Musically everybody was still awesome. The lead singer for the Bangles (brunette) voice wasn’t the best and she forgot the words to “Walk Like an Egyption”.

Totally radical!

MtM

2

The B-52s are hitting the corporate circuit hard atm. I’ve done 4 shows in the last year that they played, most recently for Lowe’s back in April. And yeah, they still do a good show.

Although it kinda makes me cringe that DEVO would play a corporate event. Their first 3 albums were all about NOT being controlled by corporate interests, after all.

What I’m waiting for is the day that thrash/death metal is old enough that Slayer will play a corporate gig. THAT will be one of the best gigs I ever have.

3

Devo played MacWorld San Francisco a couple of years ago for a corporate event.

4

I’m not so sure they’ve ever really been adverse to selling themselves–laserdisk shilling, scooters, and, of course, Disney’s Devo 2.0

I got to go to Networkers a couple years ago, Kiss being the feature concert that year. I like your lineup better.