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Greek Theatre

2700 N. Vermont Ave., 90027, Los Angeles (LA), CA, US

www.lagreektheatre.com

Capacity: 5,800

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Doors open: 17:00

Men Without Hats biography

Men Without Hats (formed in 1977) is a Canadian new wave and synthpop group, best known for their singles “The Safety Dance” and “Pop Goes the World”, hailing from Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Founded by brothers Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk in 1977, Ivan soon took responsibility for the songwriting and vocal aspects, and Stefan became the guitarist. Over Men Without Hats' history the band has seen over 25 members pass through its door since 1977, with Stefan, Ivan, brother and synth player Colin Doroschuk and Jeremie Arrobas remaining a unit for the longest period. In 1980, Men Without Hats released their debut EP “Folk of the 80’s”, however the personnel changed drastically for the 1982 full-length release of “Rhythm of Youth”. Led by the track “I Like” it was the subsequent single “The Safety Dance” which catapulted the band to international recognition. The single spent three weeks at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and also proved popular in the UK, New Zealand, and South Africa. The studio album earned a string of positive reviews, spawning the subsequent singles “I Got the Message” and “Living in China”.

Following the arrival of Ivan and Stefan's brother Colin Doroschuk, Men Without Hats issued their sophomore album “Folk of the 80’s” in 1984. The record proved popular in Canada but failed to achieve the success of its predecessor. The EP “Freeways” arrived in 1985 featuring remixes of earlier songs, and was supported by a small tour, which was documented on the DVD “Live Hats”. With a fresh lineup behind Ivan and Stefan including Lenny Pinkas, the band released “Pop Goes the World” in 1987, the title single of which reached No. 2 on the Canadian Single Chart and was later used in the 1987 film “Date with an Angel”.

The full-length “The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century”, featuring the ABBA cover “SOS”, was released in 1989 with little stir made. “Sideways” followed in 1991 and marked the group’s move away from new wave synth sounds towards the guitar dominated ‘90s. Following the release Men Without Hats disbanded in which time Ivan crafted the solo album “The Spell” issued in 1997. The band reformed in 2003 to release “No Hats Beyond This Point”, followed by a pair of compilation albums “My Hats Collection” in 2006 and “The Silver Collection” in 2008. Men Without Hats’ released their seventh studio album “Love in the Age of War” in 2012, 30 years after their debut record.

Big Country biography

Big Country is a Scottish alternative rock band that hails from Dunfermline, Fife, and formed in 1981. They are widely recognized for their patriotic sound, incorporating traditional Scottish and Celtic styles of music into their own.

Big Country’s first commercial success came in the form of “Harvest Home” which was released in 1982 and made the UK Singles chart, sitting at 91. They later released “Field of Fire (400 Miles)” in February 1983, which made it to number 10, and even 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. Despite not matching the number 10 spot of the previous single, “In a Big Country” which was released in May 1983, became one of the trademark songs of the band for years to come. The album that these songs featured on, “The Crossing”, released on July 15th 1983, shot up the chart to number 3 in the UK Albums Chart. It also made the Top 20 of 5 other countries. The album was later certified Platinum.

“Steeltown” was the band’s next release, on October 1st 1984. It made it to number 1 in the UK and was later certified Gold. It featured the singles “East of Eden” and “Where the Rose is Sown”. In 1984, the band featured on the Band Aid charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The leading single from the band’s next album “Look Away” made it to number 7 in the UK Singles chart, and the album “The Seer” released in July 1986 made it to number 2 in the UK, and charted internationally. Kate Bush even added backing vocals to the title track.

In the 1990s the band unfortunately lost a lot of their commercial success with the release of the album “No Place Like Home” reaching 28, being released in September 1991. They still managed to maintain support slots on tours with the Rolling Stones and The Who. Around this time, there was a lot of concern for singer, Stuart Adamson’s mental and emotional health who struggled with alcoholism for many years, which ultimately led to his death in December 2001.

In 2007, to commemorate 25 years of Big Country the remaining founding members, toured the UK, on the back of releasing an album called “Twenty Five Live”. They made a comeback on April 8th 2013 with an album called “The Journey” which reached number 68 in the UK Albums Chart.

China Crisis biography

China Crisis are a band that formed in 1979, Liverpool that achieved chart success throughout the 1980s, having had two albums certified Gold in the UK.

After signing a record deal with Virgin Records, China Crisis released their debut album “Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It’s Fun to Entertain” in December 1982. The album shot up the UK Albums charts to number 21 and was later certified Silver. Their career thereafter would go on to grow exponentially, with their sophomore efforts “Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs” going to number 20 in the UK Charts and being certified Gold. “Wishful Thinking” was the biggest song from the album, managing to secure a place at number 9 in the UK charts.

It was “Flaunt the Imperfection” that was released in 1985 that catapulted the band to new levels of success making it to number 9 in the UK Albums charts. The album featured singles such as “Black Man Ray” which went to number 14 in the UK Chart and “King in a Catholic Style” which went to number 19 in the UK.

China Crisis followed their previous success by working with producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, on their album “What Price Paradise” which was later released in 1986. The album featured the song “Arizona Sky” which was the first single release from the band. It was the song “Best Kept Secret” that went to number 36 in the UK Singles Chart. Their following album “Diary of a Hollow Horse” released in 1989 was the fifth studio album by the band, unfortunately, it didn’t match the commercial success of previous records, but it still managed to achieve number 58 in the UK Albums Chart.

The band made a comeback in the 2000s with many national tours of the UK, including one in 2013.

Dramarama biography

Dramarama (formed in 1982) is an cult American indie and alternative rock band who rose to prominence in the late 1980s following the release of the single “Anything Anything”, hailing from Wayne, New Jersey, U.S.

Originally formed by frontman John Easdale, rhythm guitarist Peter Wood and lead guitarist Mark Englert, the Dramarama lineup has hosted a revolving cast of live and session musicians over its years. Dramarama made their debut in 1982 with the song “You Drive Me”, followed by the five-track EP “Comedy” in 1984, which earned a surprise cult status in France. After signing with the French label New Rose Records, the band issued their debut full-length “Cinéma Vérité” in 1985. The record received widespread critical acclaim, subsequently earned a U.S. release on Question Mark Records, and spawned the radio-friendly single “Anything Anything”.

Following the album Dramarama moved to California to record and release their sophomore LP “Box Office Bomb”. The 1987 album was greeted by a string of rave reviews however acclaim for the album didn’t equate to sales and the record was considered a commercial disappointment. Having produced enough material for three albums, the full-length “Stuck in Wonderamaland” appeared in 1989, followed by the European CD “Looking Through…”. With their label Chameleon on the verge of bankruptcy, Dramarama signed with Elektra Records who issued the group’s major-label debut in 1991. Once again earning rave reviews, the record was led by the single “Haven’t Got a Clue” and received significant airplay on national radio.

Marking their final album on Elektra Records, Dramarama issued the full-length “Hi-fi Sci-fi” in 1993, an album that would come to epitomise the group’s cult status. Following the band’s worldwide supporting tours, Dramarama disbanded and John Easdale started performing as The John Easdale Group. Dramarama returned however in 2005 to release the full-length album “Everybody Dies”. Issued by 33rd Street Records, the album earned strong reviews and spawned the single “Physical Poetry (A-B-C-D-1-2-3)”.

Live reviews

The 80s was a weird time, especially for music. There was a lot of new wave, electronic synth-rock stuff coming out of that era. Men Without Hats is the epitome of this type of music; and despite their being from the 80s, they can still pull off the great music. A majority of the crowd at their live set was beyond my age, but since I had grown up with a father who loved 80s music, I didn’t care that I was the youngest person around. In fact, since the band has faded back since their heyday, everyone in the crowd was an actual fan, and not some bandwaggoner. They opened their show with “Pop Goes The World,” and I felt like I was transported to the 80s. Despite not being at their prime Ivan Doroschuk, Lou Dawson, James Love and Rachel Ashmore can still rock and roll. They produced a lot of energy, which the crowd made sure to match. A lot of dancing was done around me, and by the time they started to play “Safety Dance” I found myself dancing along as well. The band was also extremely personable, taking the time in between songs to talk a bit with the audience and share a bit of banter as well. They are clearly a band that loves doing what they do.

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Ellinoinsta

The closest you can get to the original band. NOT a tribute band! OBDP is essentially Oingo Boingo without the original lead singer Danny Elfman. Though the lineup can fluctuate depending on band members schedules I have seen the band perform several times with as many as five original members of Oingo Boingo including lead guitarist Steve Bartek and drummer Johnny Vatos. But no Danny Elfman you may say? It's a sad fact that Danny will most likely never perform with OB again. But you will not be disappointed with OBDP singer Brendan McCreary who does an excellent job filling in some enormous shoes. The songs sound just the same as you remember with but with Brenden bringing his own style of stage performance without trying to imitate the looks and moves of Danny. I've recommended OBDP to several old school OB fans and not a single one was disappointed and has returned to see multiple shows.

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Grimm

I saw the great Scottish rock band Big Country on their tour in 2011. They had many of the original members and I have been a big fans since my dad played me their album The Crossing. That was their big break out album in the United States and included the brilliantly produce smash hit “In a Big Country” which has been a radio standard since.

The band showed their age a little bit but they still had a ton of energy. The crowd was also pretty old butt they were all thrilled to see the band play. They did not play a very long set, but it was packed full of all their hits and actually some new songs. They did tell everyone they were working on a new album that might come out in several years. Those songs were really pretty good.

They closed with “In a Big Country” and the crowd sang along every time the chorus came on. They also were able to mimic the bagpipe sounds of the original recording on their guitars they had. It really did sound like the album and record. They did an encore of a cover song. Everyone left in a good mood, probably thinking about the 1980’s.

Anonymous

"We were the first band to make mullets cool" proclaims David Fenton, lead singer (and fully-trained lawyer) of unashamedly 80s band, The Vapors. Given the deluge of Surrey-based bands, you’d be forgiven (if you were born after 1980) for thinking that Guildford wasn’t the most Rock-n-Roll of provincial, quintessentially English towns. And you’d be right. But as is very much in vogue at the moment, another reunion tour arrives, and this time it’s the band known perhaps most for their politically incorrect and rather dated single - "Turning Japanese." This is the highlight from the set, which features all the hits across their two studio albums ‘New Clear Days’ and ‘Magnets’ mainly targeted at those nostalgic baby boomers who pogo’d and danced flamboyantly in a more innocent time – when mullets WERE cool and TV Presenters were not just sexual predators. I’d like to say I enjoyed myself, but it all seemed a bit like a desperate tribute band of The Jam who had forgotten their set list. Some minor politically motivated speeches aside, I’m not sure it should be carte blanche for any 80s act to reunite uncontested – unfortunately The Vapors seemed to have fallen through the cracks.

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rumke

Loved them. Small venue, old and new songs. All dressed in black, good sound. I have been listening all day to "Volume 2 - Radio Days", by far their best album. They played at the gig "All fall down", "Disturbed", I think "Polar Opposites", and of course Remembrance Day and Nowhere Girl. Thanks B-Movie.

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gongon

I had the most beautiful concert experience I can remember while watching China Crisis live for the first time. The beauty in what China Crisis does in their simple precision. They simply write beautiful lyrics and have a knack for coming up with catchy elegant pop music to back it up.

The stage setup was sparse, intentionally, so we as the crowd would focus on the individuals playing the music on stage. The focus at the concert was on the music, not on the theatrics of the actual performers. It was very entrancing, the effect in the darkened theater was akin to having a private performance for each member of the audience.

The music itself was so uplifting and poppy that I instantly fell in love with it. It was pure ear candy. "Wishful Thinking" was a particularly engrossing, you could tell that the band had a real affection for that particular song the way to put their hearts and soul into the performance.

After the initial performance these guys came out for not one but two encores - that's home much they appreciate their fans! Great show, highly recommended that you check them out if they come to an area near you!

Anonymous

Missing Persons play a unique blend of hard rock and New Wave that could only have been a product of the 80s. The band however have no intentions of keeping their sound trapped in a decade of the past and are doing their best to spread their sound into the 21st century.

The first thing you’ll notice about the band is undoubtedly their on-point musicianship which is no surprise given that this band over the years has had members that have played with the likes of Frank Zappa and Duran Duran. There’s tumbling drum fills and roaring guitar tones that do a fantastic job of bringing some of that wild 80s excess into the modern age. It’s all topped off by singer Dale Bozzio who has been at the forefront of the band’s iconic image since the 80s. It’s easy to see why as even today, she’s lost none of her poise or skills and can absolutely dominate a stage especially with guitarist Warren Cuccurullo alongside her. You might think this band would just be another 80s relic but they have proven to be a stunning live act that is well worth your time even in 2014.

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