Concert review: iHeart80s Radio Party: Los Angeles

photo from July 2015 by Armando Brown

On Saturday night, Boy George was introducing Culture Club’s first major hit “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” when he perfectly summarized what it meant to be a performer and music fan.

“We all have that song that starts the journey…I always feel vulnerable and raw singing this. It’s my favorite state of being and continues to resonate.”

Music purists often consider the Eighties to be a shallow decade. Key example: the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee, which has yet to acknowledge the importance of Depeche Mode, The Cure and The Smiths. Yet many artists most identified with that era are still going strong and influencing newcomers today.  

Sponsored by iHeart Radio, in honor of its most popular app, the inaugural iHeart ‘80s Party assembled six pop, rock and alternative hitmakers for a high energy sold out concert and live simulcast at The Forum.

With 25-minute sets, everyone basically played wall-to-wall radio smashes. They kept the momentum going and easily prompted concertgoers to dance and sing along. Old music videos projected in the background allowed for interesting then-and-now viewer comparisons.

Between brief changeovers, ‘80s pop culture montages played on the venue screens. A shrewdly edited one featured memorable film dancing scenes set to Michael Sembello’s “Maniac” from “Flashdance.”

Eighties-minded presenters like original MTV VJ Martha Quinn, Paula Abdul, Mario Lopez, actors Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna drew loud cheers. Kris Jenner? Not so much. The jeers were almost deafening.

De facto headliner Culture Club provided soul aplenty, thanks to a large backing band consisting of female backing singers, a horn section and George’s own burnished vocals. “Church of the Poisoned Mind” was vibrant as ever. Afterward, George (currently filming American TV’s “Celebrity Apprentice” and “The Voice” UK) enthused, “what a beautiful atmosphere.”

An infectious “Miss Me Blind” was heightened by Roy Hay’s enthusiastic guitar solo and “Time (Clock of the Heart)” still sounded luxurious. After a gracious George thanked fans for continuing together on their long journey and feeling “palpable love,” the band did a spirited “Karma Chameleon.”

Rick Springfield has kept a high profile lately, with regular TV, film, literary and music work (excellent studio album “Rocket Science” came out last Friday). 

In Inglewood, his engaging performance started with rousing new tune “Light This Party Up.” From there, Springfield displayed impressive guitar (and flower smashing) prowess amid “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers” (including a foray into the crowd) and a ragged, but energetic “Love Somebody.” Some pyro was involved and Aussie teen sensation Cody Simpson played guitar on a fun “Jessie’s Girl.”

Black leather-clad Billy Idol lived up to the lyric of his opener “Dancing with Myself” and worked up quite a fist-pumping sweat. Side by side with longtime musical foil Steve Stevens (who played guitar behind his back), the fit and trim Idol prowled the stage and got close to the audience during “White Wedding,” the long version of “Flesh for Fantasy” and always menacing “Rebel Yell.”   

Tears for Fears were professionalism personified and a clear standout among the lineup. An ebullient “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” immediately had people on their feet. “Sowing the Seeds of Love” was totally enthralling as Roland Orzabal pointedly stressed the final “politics of greed” lyric. Curt Smith’s dramatic gestures on “Mad World” added to the intensity. The high-flying harmonies of “Head Over Heels” and clanking synth-driven chants during “Shout” also went down a storm.

Both Loverboy and Missing Persons’ sets were bogged down by a muddy sound mix. Still, the former rocked hard and propelled the party vibe, thanks to the anthemic “Working for the Weekend,” racing “The Kid is Hot Tonight” and haunting “Turn Me Loose.”

Despite a lineup featuring The Knack’s Prescott Niles on bass, Missing Persons was shaky at best. Dale Bozzio – the bill's only female lead singer – seemed lost during “Mental Hopscotch” and “Words.” She later babbled incoherently before the spacey “Destination Unknown” and “Walking in L.A.”  

Overall, the concert ran smoothly and was definitely a success. 

My review originally appeared at ocregister.com