True Colors is a can't-miss party
The True Colors Tour rolled through Tampa Bay on Wednesday night. Sadly, the Stuck in the 80s staff was preoccupied working on this week's podcast. But chief correspondent and uber-fan Jane had great seats and sends in her review:
The hair was a little different. The voices were a smidge lower. The audience was bit more seasoned. But last night at Ruth Eckerd Hall, if you were listening, you might swear you had been rhythmically zipped back to the '80s, dancing all the way.
The True Colors tour came. It saw. It conquered. Fabulously. Here are some highlights:
BEST INTRODUCTION: Show emcee Carson Kressley called The B-52s to stage, dubbing them "the world's greatest party band." Damn straight! (And hopefully that settles the true winner of yesterday's "Cyndi vs. B-52s blog battle.)
LOVE THOSE CLASSICS: Shunning traditional tour economics, the B-52s' set list focused heavily on their classics - including the must-hears "Love Shack," "Mesopotamia," "Rock Lobster" and "Private Idaho." Still, new tunes "Love in the Year 3000" and "Funplex" were fun too.
TAKE AN ADVIL TODAY: Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson,
Cindy Wilson,
and Keith Strickland conveyed the sense of fun
and abandon that have been their hallmark since their early days in
Athens, Ga. And as the crowd gamely tried to go "down, down, down" with "Rock Lobster," save for the creaking of our collective knees, we might
have been dancing the night away at an true '80s shindig.
HERE COMES CYNDI: Charming, warm and funny, Lauper commanded the stage and the audience with her energy and zest. A whirling dervish in platform shoes (which she removed halfway through her set, saying they just weren't working for her) she showed her skill both as a performer and musician.
THE DREADED NEW STUFF: The songs from her new album "Bring Ya to the Brink," played much better live than on the disc, freed from the overproduction and studio bells and whistles. Tour host Rosie O'Donnell even joined the act as a backup singer for "Into the Nightlife" and "Rocking Chair."
BUT WE JUST WANNA HAVE FUN: No surprise, it was Cyndi's established hits, many with some new twists, that supercharged the crowd. A rocking, slightly stripped-down version of "She Bop" and a lovely, melodic "Time After Time" on which Cyndi played the dulcimer, were delightful and fresh. With Rosie on drums (not half bad, either) and the crowd breaking into impromptu conga lines, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" provided the energetic apex to a rocking good time.
ALL TOGETHER NOW: A group sing of Cyndi's "True Colors" brought home the evening's message of equality and empowerment for all. As the crowd played pass-back with giant multicolored balloons and sang along with the stars on stage, we all became, for just a moment, one really big, really happy family. And it was great.
[AP photos from New York City concert]
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off the topic a bit, just got back from seeing boston/styx. if you get the chance to see this show, go, it was outstanding.
Posted by: CHAD | June 20, 2008 at 01:24 AM
Joan Armatrading! Jeff, I understand. Totally.
Posted by: Marissa | June 19, 2008 at 09:30 PM
And how was Cyndi Lauper introduced, Steve??? Hmm??? ;-)
Posted by: Rick | June 19, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Harriot has made it clear that if last night's show was one of the ones with Joan Armatrading in the line up, we would have been there.
No such luck.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | June 19, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Big Tex: It looks like you have a great line up. I prefer Wanda over Rosie. It'd be a Riss-snortfest if I was attending.
Posted by: Marissa | June 19, 2008 at 04:10 PM
The group sing also included a cover of Sly & the Family Stone's "Everyday People" which I totally loved. It was a great moment.
Posted by: jane | June 19, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Kate is still crazy hot for a 60 year old.
I'm sure Rosie enjoyed the backstage buffet. Fortunately, she's not scheduled to appear in Houston this weekend:
6:05 p.m. — Lili Haydn
6:35 p.m. — Wanda Sykes
7 p.m. — Andy Bell
7:35 p.m. — Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
8:30 p.m. — the B-52s
9:35 p.m. — Cyndi Lauper
Posted by: Big Tex | June 19, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Jeff, sadly, no reference to Ricky. Although I have to say that Keith did/does a great job with those early number. And I also must mention that Kate just turned...60. Which is crazy but true.
Posted by: jane | June 19, 2008 at 02:20 PM
I actually like Time After Time more than True Colors
"then you say go slow...I fall behind..."
Posted by: John Hays | June 19, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Jane, very well done, sistah! I, once again, envy you in the deepest of emerald greens. ::sniff::
The "True Colors" group sing would have sent me over the edge into a sobbing frenzy. I love it.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Posted by: Marissa | June 19, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Jane,celebratimg the Celts championship with some Cyndi and B-52s!
I`m going probably against type here when i say the B-52s is one of my most hated bands! I hate them!
Posted by: Miguel | June 19, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Jane,
I wish I could have been there (last night was our anniversary and Harriot and I toyed with the idea of flying up for the show to celebrate), but your nifty write-up is the next best thing.
Did Fred or Cindy make any reference to Ricky Wilson? His unique guitar sound was such a huge part of the B-52's sound, especially early on. I think it would be weird to hear anyone else bang out the opening riffs of "Private Idaho".
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | June 19, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Ugh, anything with Rosie is definitely not worth it. The only time I agree with "The Donald."
Posted by: Al | June 19, 2008 at 01:54 PM