Cindy and Kate jamming out with their bass player
I think I last saw them perform at a corporate event Somara’s employer held, the Go Gos were there too. However, I really hadn’t seen them perform since their pinnacle in 1989. Quite a concert then because Milwaukee preferred dinosaur rock over anything after 1980.
Not sure what the tour was for other than cashing in on their past work. There’s no sign of a new record on its way (checking allmusic.com)…nope and yeesh, Funplex was nine years ago. Well, it was still worth seeing them. Sadly, Keith Strickland wasn’t present on the guitars. (Checking their site). OK, Keith still belongs, he just doesn’t tour, sort of like how Bun E Carlos ducked out with Cheap Trick for a while. And they’re touring because it’s the band’s 40th anniversary.
Fred was funny and he was wearing Wonder Woman Chucks!
Enough speculating. How was the show? Great. Someone got the set list done here. The trio was in great spirits as they played the hits everyone loves. I was surprised they still open with “Cosmic Thing” due to its rather jarring, sudden beginning. I don’t really have a big favorite other than “Channel Z,” since I’ve never known them to play anything from the album I got introduced on, Whammy!. I do recommend seeing them live. You’ll know most of the stuff and the B-52s are best appreciated live; they see themselves as a party band, not a studio creation.
Opening for them was a Florida-based act called The Sh-Booms. A very funky, energetic band which made me think of what would happen if you fused Sharon Jones (RIP) & the Dap-Kings with Fishbone. Definitely going to hunt down their only CD. They’re coming back to Austin in June. Might try to catch them at Stubb’s.