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Don’t miss Bon Jovi Oct. 9 at the Honda Center in Anaheim

Get ready for Bon Jovi’s “Because We Can: The Tour” on Oct. 9 at Honda Center in Anaheim. The tour is named after the lead single from the studio album “What About Now.”

It’s been almost 30 years since they released their studio album “Slippery When Wet” and went straight to commercial success. This glam metal rock band from New Jersey has come a long way from Poodle perms and Spandex in the mid-80s to surviving Grunge, Britpop, Alt/modern rock and other genres. Bon Jovi has been cranking out hits and headlining stadiums for all these years because of their timeless songs and memorable melodies that are still exciting to hear today. The band has produced several number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100: “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Bad Medicine,” and “I’ll Be There for You.” According to Wikipedia, Bon Jovi sold more than 130 million records worldwide.

In the 80s, the Jersey rockers launched a thousand teen magazine covers and have driven their fans to tears and cheers. I remember during my teen years, I used to buy a lot of youth oriented publications from fashion magazines like Teen, Seventeen, YM, Young Miss to Tiger Beat, Star Hits and Bop. After school, my childhood friends and I would walk to Thrifty or Woolworth in Montebello and just hang out at the magazine rack. We browsed through fan magazines and got all giddy looking at shiny full page pin-ups of our idols like Bon Jovi while having a double scoop of thrifty ice cream.

Concert enthusiast, Cameron Scheuplein said, “One of my favorite concerts this season, Bon Jovi never ceases to amaze me. When they play their older albums, they bring new life to those old songs.” Bon Jovi will once again seduce their audience with both recent and nostalgic mega hits and will continue to set the bar with an innovative high tech production and state of the art concert.

Wang Chung play at the Coach House August 17

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Even if you’re not an ’80s baby, you must have heard of Wang Chung (it means “yellow bell” in Mandarin language). “C’mmon Everybody,” Wang Chung on Saturday, August 17 at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

Wang Chung songs have been in the sound tracks of movies like “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” and tv series like “Sex and the City” and “Glee” and even a Progressive Insurance commercial.

I was 15 the first time I heard about Wang Chung when they released their second album “Points on the Curve” which consist of the hit song “Dance Hall Days.” The English New Wave band composed of Nick Feldman and Jack Hues found their success with the song “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” which reached number two in 1986 and “Let’s Go” which reached number nine in 1987. These are classic 80s songs which still sound as great today as they did 27 years ago.

I remember the catch phrase at that time was “Everybody Wang Chung tonight.” Although these songs were hits, my most favorite song of Wang Chung was “Hypnotize Me” which was the soundtrack of the film “Innerspace” starring the “It” couple of the late 80s Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid. “Hypnotize Me” has a blend of danceable track, pop rock and new wave.

I remember when I used to listen faithfully to Casey Kasem’s top 40, I was so disappointed when the song “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” didn’t reach number 1 which is an equivalent feeling when you’re rooting for your sports team and they lost. Listening to WC’s songs reminds me of my happy times with my friends where we talked about boys, clothes, music and our fave actors.

This is your time to revisit your youthful memories.

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Long before R&B crooners like John Legend, Brian McKnight and Babyface, was the iconic singer/songwriter/producer James Ingram. The well-respected artist known for his easy listening hits “One Hundred Ways,” and number one hits – duet with Patti Austin, 1983’s “Baby, Come to Me” and his 1990 solo “I Don’t Have the Heart” will perform a benefit concert at Laguna Beach’s Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Master on August 24.

The soulful singer started his career performing with the short-lived band Revelation Funk in the early 70s. During the early 80s Ingram earned triple Grammy nominations and won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his work on “One Hundred Ways.” In 1985, he won Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for “Yah Mo B There”, a duet with Michael McDonald.

Being an 80s kid, I remember my mom loved listening to ballads. She enjoyed especially going to bed at night and leaving her favorite FM station on until she fell asleep. When I stayed in her room, I recall how the station would play a lot of Ingram songs during those days with dedication from listeners. These are the memories that influence me to love James Ingram’s music today.

Some of his notable hits that are my favorites are “Just Once,” “How Do you Keep the Music Playing,” “One Hundred Ways,” and of course “Somewhere Out There,” the theme song from Steven Spielberg’s movie, “ An American Tail.” He also co-wrote with Quincy Jones, the top 10 hit P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), performed by the late Michael Jackson from his “Thriller” album. The Ohio native also played piano for the legendary Ray Charles recording studio sessions.

Described as one of the most passionate soul crooners, his music never gets old, never goes out of style and gives a lasting impression to your heart. Whether you’re visiting a piano bar/lounge or chillin’ out on your bed or having a romantic dinner with your significant other, his songs always set the mood. His voice is so rich and breathtaking, that sometimes while listening to his songs you can’t help get emotional and teary-eyed.

If you like inspirational, ballad, R&B, soul or just simply soothing feel good music, see him at The Pageant of the Master Benefit Concert, Laguna Beach on August 24.

Hall and Oates rock the Pacific Amphitheater August 8

America’s favorite duo, Hall and Oates will be performing at the Pacific Amphitheatre on August 8. Get ready to rock, thump and enjoy the classics you know and love.

How can you not love the music of Daryl Hall and John Oates? Their music resonates soulful harmony and catchy tunes that are perfect to dance to with a group or with your significant other. Their music permeated the ‘70s and ‘80s airwaves with rock and soul hits like “Rich Girl,” “Kiss on My List,” “Maneater,” “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” “Possession Obsession,” to name a few. In fact, there are two generations that embrace their music: Baby Boomers and Generation X.

From the early to mid-‘80s, I listened to every Hall and Oates hits on my Walkman and my humongous boombox while roller skating. Dancing and singing to their tunes with my childhood friends were such memorable years. The first Hall and Oates vinyl record I bought was Big Bam Boom in 1984. It included a string of hits, “Possession Obsession,” “Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid,” “Method of Modern Love,” “Dance on Your Knees,” and the number one song “Out of Touch.”

They have produced so many hits with genres of ballad, new wave, pop rock, R&B and just mainly happy good mood music that never gets old.

According to Wikipedia, Hall & Oates scored six U.S. number one singles, including “Rich Girl,” “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” “Maneater” and “Out of Touch.” Because of their success, Billboard Magazine named them the most successful duo of the rock era, surpassing the Everly Brothers.

In 1984, Hall and Oates won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group beating Def Leppard, Men at Work and The Police. In 2011, Hall and Oates received a Music Icon Award from TV Land.

Up to this day, their musical legacy continues. Their music was featured in television series such as “Glee,” “Chuck,” “The Office” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” and films like “The Wedding Singer” and “Anchorman.”

PopBuff

Joan Jett Live at the OC Fair July 25

My most vivid memory of Joan Jett in the early 80s was watching Americas’ Top 10 with Casey Kasem when Casey announced the number one song of that week was “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” and I was glad.

Yes, I do love Rock ‘N’ Roll. I wish I was at Joan Jett’s concert at that time but I was too young. Although, I was physically young, my mind was mature enough to appreciate Joan Jett’s music. According to Billboard, the song reached number one for seven weeks in the spring of 1982.

Although best known as Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, she had formed her first band at the age of 15 which was called “The Runaways”, an all-girl punk rock band. Cherry Bomb was the Runaways’ signature song, which Joan and then-manager Kim Fowley composed together.

The Runaways never had commercial success in the US but were a sensation in Japan. In 2010, a movie was made about the Runaways that starred Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

VH1 ranked Jett as one of the 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll and Rolling Stones magazine named “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Aside from “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll”, my next favorites are “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and “Crimson and Clover”. These two songs are truly rocking tunes. The guitar sounds just vibrant and the lyrics are memorably written.

If you want to go down solid rock memory lane and experience Joan Jett in all her glory, see her live at The Pacific Amphitheatre on Thursday, July 25. It’s going to be a rockin’ red hot summer.

PopBuff

B52s at the Pacific Amphitheater July 18

If you want to experience a memorable and high-octane energy party, see the B-52s at The Pacific Amphitheatre on Thursday, July 18.

Let’s admit it, when we hear the song “Rock Lobster” we instantly groove to this dance rock tune. It was one of the first videos I watched growing up in the 80s. I loved mimicking the lobster hand dance which lots of hopping and falling to the ground when you hear the part of the song “down down down.” I was 11 when this breakout blockbuster song hit the airwaves. What a fun song it was for a tween like me.

The band’s 60s retro look – dueling beehive hairdos, bright colors and eclectic outfits are quite appealing, if you want to have a theme party. No wonder, the band has been dubbed the world’s greatest party band. Thirty years and counting, they still have their mojos and rockin’ fans all over the world.

Although they produced a number of albums, my favorite is “The Cosmic Thing.” I bought the tape in the early 90s because of the infectious tunes of “Roam,” “Love Shack” and “Deadbeat Club.” It’s been said that Cosmic Thing was their comeback album after the death of former guitarist Ricky Wilson in 1985.

The Athens, GA group was one of the cornerstone bands of the New Wave period. Their genre is so unique that it can’t be duplicated-electronic, New Wave, partly 60s, and jangle pop, at least in my opinion. The group multi-instrumentalist members, coupled with the amazing voices of Kate and Cindy, are the main reasons why they are still touring and grooving stages across the country.

ABC’s original frontman Martin Fry will headline a night at the Coach House

If you grew up in the ’80s and don’t know ABC you must have been New Wave deprived. ABC was one of the most popular New Wave bands of the early ’80s and was also part of the MTV British invasion with the likes Of Duran Duran, Culture Club, Thompson Twins, OMD, etc. Martin Fry is the quintessential frontman of the band known for his pop slick trademark gold suit and robust, urbanesque vocal performance.

“Lexicon of Love,” is the debut album, was also their most successful album which reached number one in the UK Albums Chart, it includes the hit “Poison Arrow” and “The Look of Love,” which is my personal favorite. ABC’s genre has been described as new romantic, new wave, synth-driven dance pop that populated the MTV airwaves in the 80s.The group scored their first US Top 10 hit in 1985 with the song “Be Near Me.” Other hits that dominated the dance floors at the time were “The Night You Murdered Love,” “When Smokey Sings” and “How to be a Millionaire.”

If you’ve been following my column and my blog popbuff.com, you have noticed that I love to dance. ABC evokes fond memories of my generation when FM radio ruled and I would dance to their tracks when DJs played their songs.

Wailing saxophone, romantic lyrics, keyboard driven, lushly produced and finely crafted rhymes define the 80s sound of ABC. When they were on the circuit promoting their music, you often saw them on variety shows like Solid Gold, American Band Stand and the British music chart television show Top of the Pops.

Now they are in my neck of the woods and will be playing at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on June 16, Sunday, Father’s Day. What a perfect day to celebrate Father’s Day with your husband or your dad who grew up in the 80s. Will he be clad in gold dinner suit? There’s one way to find out. Purchase your tickets now and go down 80s memory lane.