This is not my class of '85 reunion photo
No, it's Rubix Cubed, a popular 80s cover band here in Tampa Bay. (Though I'm pretty sure I hit on the Madonna-lookalike at my reunion a couple years ago -- please don't tell the Don Johnson guy) They're popping up and playing gigs all around our area, including outside the St. Pete Times Forum a couple nights ago before The Cure concert.
But the big news is this: Rubix Cubed is playing Tropicana Field on Saturday, June 21, for the Tampa Bay Rays' "80s Night." Click here to listen to some of their music from their official website. (Oh yeah, and Kool & The Gang will play too after the game between the Rays and Astros.)
But if you want to hang with the hardcore 80s fans, you'll have to go to the TBT Lounge above left field. There you'll find Rubix Cubed as well as your buddies Sean Daly and myself. We'll be serving as hosts up there, holding a couple trivia contests, maybe judging a dance competition or two. (I've also entered Sean in a Pudding Pop eating contest.)
Here's the REALLY good news: We have a handful of game tickets to give away free to our local Stuck in the 80s fans. That's right, you can come party with Sean and I (and find how he's really the ladies' man and I'm doomed to spend my life as his wingman.) Just e-mail me at stuckinthe80s@tampabay.com for the tickets. Please, only e-mail if you're really able to use them ... and if you're not ashamed to hang out with me and Sean.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
I agree that this might not be our year for the title game -- need to shore up some areas. Although it will be interesting to watch what our opponents throw at Tebow this year, because you know that's how they'll be coaching to play us.
Posted by: jane | June 15, 2008 at 12:44 PM
UF class of 91! will that help me win the tickets???
its a long summer till football season!
Posted by: sp | June 15, 2008 at 11:49 AM
There's no way UF makes it to the title game this year. Still too many missing pieces. Plus, too tough of a schedule.
I'd say 2009 is our next chance.
Posted by: Spears | June 15, 2008 at 09:11 AM
uh, and that's LIVE not leave. grrr tired. I'm very tired.
Posted by: Marissa | June 15, 2008 at 03:54 AM
I'm so jealous that I don't leave within reasonable driving distance. I'd be all over the dancing, trivia-ing, drinking, Spearsy-ing... damn the Midwest.
Posted by: Marissa | June 15, 2008 at 03:54 AM
Steve,
You're really killing me this time!
The 80's Nation, SD, and American League baseball all in one evening?
I'm tempted to grab an innertube and start paddling!
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | June 15, 2008 at 12:54 AM
BTW, UF class of 2003 (grad school)
Posted by: John Hays | June 14, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Ironically enough, some expert has actually picked UF and OSU as the teams to meet this coming year for the championship, although I highly doubt that particular match up will happen again anytime soon.
Posted by: John Hays | June 14, 2008 at 10:01 PM
So Steve, if I load my wife and daughters in a car and drive to Tampa by next Saturday morning, will you give me four of those ten tickets?
(It won't happen because I have to DJ a graduation party on Sunday)
Posted by: Bassnote | June 14, 2008 at 09:15 PM
And that joy was undoubtedly enhanced three months later when they met on the basketball court...
Posted by: jane | June 14, 2008 at 08:21 PM
I'm the only member of my family who didn't graduate from Ohio State. So imagine my joy when UF and OSU finally met for THE FIRST TIME on the field for a national championship.
Posted by: Spears | June 14, 2008 at 07:46 PM
Third generation UF grad here -- Class of '86.
Posted by: jane | June 14, 2008 at 05:32 PM
UF class of '89 here.
Posted by: Spears | June 14, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Not to stray too far off topic, but it's worth mentioning - shout out to the SIT80's Gator alumni!
Posted by: John Hays | June 14, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Sherrie, you are a woman after my own heart.
I once threw a Florida/FSU watching party -- the day of the game was a lovely November afternoon and the windows of my apartment were wide open. My friends said they knew exactly which apt. was mine because they could hear me yelling all the way down the street. Apparently a good part NE St. Pete was alive with my melodious tones. (PS: Gators won that day. Booyah.)
Posted by: jane | June 14, 2008 at 02:45 PM
My 80's outfit was Levi's 501 button fly jeans with the knees ripped out, brightly colored Reebok hightops, a Coca Cola or Venezia rugby shirt, lots of rubber bracelets and woven bracelets and seriously high hair. Yikes.
Posted by: Sherrie | June 14, 2008 at 02:27 PM
Jane, I'm all into actually watching the game as well. I'm a major baseball fan back to my preteen years as a rabid follower of Dale Murphy and the Atlanta Braves, back when they were even more horrid than they are today. I get a bit, let's say, "overinvolved" in baseball and college football- when my son was little and we went to games my hubby would have to say "calm down, you're scaring the baby!" alarmingly often. Oh well, we all need our wee obsessions I guess.
Posted by: Sherrie | June 14, 2008 at 02:23 PM
That sounds very complete, Miss Riss.
And great question, John.
My '80s look:
Hair not unlike the chica in Rubix Cubed -- except a little curlier. Big bow in hair (satin, natch.) A demin mini with black cropped leggings, a white men's crew neck tshirt, a skinny tie and my prized oversized vintage tuxedo jacket. Shoes were black pumps. An armfull of rubber bracelets and huge hoop earrings. Lots of eyeliner and grey eyeshadow. Very pale skin. Deep red lipstick.
Posted by: jane | June 14, 2008 at 01:41 PM
My 80s Look:
Foofed up hair adorned with the BIG scarf tied in a bow, pencil skirt, lace, footless leggings, granny boots and neon anklets, oversized tuxedo jacket with shoulder pads a line backer would envy, black bustier, plenty of necklaces. One stud earring in the right ear while 3 dangling earrings fill the left ear holes.
Heavy eyeliner, lip liner, irredescent eye shadow.
Have I forgotten anything?
Posted by: Marissa | June 14, 2008 at 12:40 PM
The guy on the right looks more like "TV's Frank" from Mystery Science Theatre 3000 than Don Johnson. Or maybe Matt Foley who lives in a van down by the river.
Posted by: Tom | June 14, 2008 at 12:17 PM
So Steve (and everyone else), if you were called upon to bring your A game with your ultimate 80's look, what would you look like? (Clothes, hair, etc...let's limit to what you actually own/would buy/could pull of w/your hair now hehe)
I'm rather at a loss myself. I'm a late 80's type, and don't really have much in the way of 80's clothing. I probably used to but not anymore.
Posted by: John Hays | June 14, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Okay I'm impressed. Their "Melt With You" is actually really good!
Posted by: John Hays | June 14, 2008 at 12:06 PM
I had to look up Schvitzing ... Hey, I like it!
Posted by: chase | June 14, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Ah, so that's what shvitzing means lol
I'm considering sending you a lifesize Riss cardboard cut-out like that one in "Major League"
That way it'll seem like I'm there in all my glory.
Posted by: Marissa | June 14, 2008 at 12:01 PM
The second guy from the left needs a new tie - that one is WAY too wide. I have a skinny tie with the piano keyboard on it if he wants to upgrade.
Wish I could join you Spearsy - I'm a big baseball fan - but I'm teaching summer school here in the Piney Woods of East Texas.
Posted by: Big Tex | June 14, 2008 at 11:50 AM
The second guy from the right needs a new tie - that one is WAY too wide. I have a skinny tie with the piano keyboard on it if he wants to upgrade.
Wish I could join you Spearsy - I'm a big baseball fan - but I'm teaching summer school here in the Piney Woods of East Texas.
Posted by: Big Tex | June 14, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Sweltering Siblings
Perspiring Pair
Posted by: Bassnote | June 14, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Frankly, I'd prefer "Schvitzing Sisters". More melodic.
Posted by: jane | June 14, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Dudes, you know I'd be there if I could (but someone else would have to drive :-) ...
Alas, stuck out here in God's Country, can't make it down to Tampa/St. Pete ... say, you know how they call Minneapolis/St. Paul the "Twin Cities?" ... I was thinking, maybe we could call Tampa/St. Pete the "Sweaty Sisters?" ... thoughts?
Posted by: chase | June 14, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Sherrie, I've got all my money on you in the trivia contest. Whooo!
And I would dance and sing and actually watch the game too. Just for the record.
Posted by: jane | June 14, 2008 at 11:29 AM
and I totally agree with Rick on the band's look. Stylists at the ready!
Posted by: Marissa | June 14, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Oh, I'd be dancing. I'd give up all my Molly dance moves for the sake of the party.
Posted by: Marissa | June 14, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Dang! I wish I lived in the Tampa area. A combination of two of my passions; 80s and baseball. I hope everyone else has a great time (he says through clenched teeth).
Posted by: Bassnote | June 14, 2008 at 11:18 AM
What, no Jane OR Marissa will be there? Drat! (C'mon Marissa, it's clearly worth a 20 plus hour road trip. :) I'll be there, with big plans to tear up the trivia contest and a solid promise not to subject anyone to my dancing. I am most assuredly not ashamed to hang out with the SIT80's team!
Posted by: Sherrie | June 14, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Come on, Marissa, with a name like Aroma -- er, right.
I gotta say, I mistook the Don Johnson guy for a Chris Farley impersonator. And the other two guys? Huh? They need to work on their "look." Goatee guy looks like a NASCAR fan out to collect a debt, and sleeveless hair & tie guy, well, what era's that getup from?
Anyway, sounds like a whole lotsa hot, steamy Florida fun.
Well, wingman, tell Sean to watch out for the ice cream headache!
Posted by: Rick | June 14, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Alas, right about the time the trivia contest is wrapping up (which I SO would win, she says modestly), I should be floating in a pool, cocktail in hand, enjoying the first day of my week's vacation at the beach.
I'll be there with y'all in spirit (especially if that spirit comes in cold draft form...)
Posted by: jane | June 14, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Hi Steve, I'm entering the contest. I want to hang out with you guys at 80s Nite at The Trop. I NEED to see The Commodores! I'll take the Pudding Pops challenge too!
Posted by: Surfdog | June 14, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Wow! Sounds like another fun time I'll miss out on because I live in the armpit of America.
Posted by: Marissa | June 14, 2008 at 09:05 AM