Robbie Grey fronts Modern English at the State Theatre on Aug. 25, 2019. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
At some point during the past several years, Modern English entered the upper echelon of bands that I must see every time they visit the DC area.
Modern English
Music Park: Retro Futura Tour (Part 1 of 2) w/ Limahl, Tony Lewis, Modern English @ Bergen Performing Arts Center — 7/14/18
Modern English performs during the Retro Futura Tour on July 14, 2018. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
The Retro Futura Tour regularly brings together popular artists from the ‘80s for a circuit through the United States, although it has skipped the DC area in recent years. Nevertheless, the tour got off to a great start last week and then visited Englewood, New Jersey, for a performance at the Bergen Performing Arts Center on Saturday with a terrific roster of talented folks — Limahl, Tony Lewis of The Outfield, Modern English, Belinda Carlisle, and ABC starring Martin Fry.
Parklife DC was there for the concert, and below we share our reflections on Limahl, Tony Lewis, and Modern English. Check back tomorrow for our review of Belinda Carlisle and ABC.
Don’t Miss: Retro Futura Feat. Belinda Carlisle and ABC @ Bergen Performing Arts Center, 7/14/18
Belinda Carlisle (Photo courtesy Paradise Artists)
If like me, you miss the days of sitting in front of MTV and soaking up all of the good music that came your way, then Retro Futura has a deal for you.
Retro Futura, the long-running traveling ‘80s music festival, comes around for another summer with the beautiful Belinda Carlisle, ABC (featuring the ever-dashing Martin Fry), post-punk masters Modern English, Tony Lewis of The Outfield, Limahl (of chart-toppers Kajagoogoo), and Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow. Check out tickets for their performance at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Bergen, New Jersey, on July 14!
Music Park: Parklife DC Top 10 Concerts of 2017 by Mickey
Martin Gore performs with Depeche Mode at Capital One Arena on Sept. 7, 2017. (Photo by Ben Eisendrath /Instagram+Twitter: ConspiracyCaptures/GrillworksBen)
The year 2017 was a good year for revisiting old friends as they returned to remind us that they truly still “got it.” In the past year, Parklife DC reviewed a great deal of musicians and bands, and the performances that really distinguished themselves often came as something of a pleasant surprise.
Music Park: Modern English @ Rock and Roll Hotel — 11/21/17
Modern English perform at Rock and Roll Hotel on Nov. 21, 2017.
School was in session, and Modern English arrived to show us how it’s done. The post-punk masters returned in very good form indeed with Take Me to the Trees, their self-released new album published in February, for an engrossing show at Rock and Roll Hotel on Tuesday.
Don’t Miss: Modern English @ Rock and Roll Hotel, 11/21/17
Modern English (Photo courtesy Kartel Music Group)
In February, legendary post-punk rockers Modern English released Take Me to the Trees, their first album by original members of the band in 30 years. The band successfully funded the album via PledgeMusic. Now, they will perform at Rock and Roll Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
Ticket Giveaway: Retro Futura Tour @ Pier Six Pavilion (Baltimore, Md.), 7/30/17
Howard Jones is headlining the Retro Futura Tour 2017. (Photo by Simon Fowler)
In recent months, Parklife DC has talked to the legendary Howard Jones and English Beat frontman Dave Wakeling, both of whom are excited about embarking on the summer Retro Futura Tour, now underway. (Read our interview with Howard here and our interview with Dave here.) The ’80s icons are heading to Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday, July 30, along with Modern English, Men Without Hats, Katrina (formerly of The Waves), and Annabella Lwin (formerly of Bow Wow Wow.) You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!
Don’t Miss: Careless Memories @ Dodge City, 6/8/17
Howard Jones performs at The Hamilton on Sept. 3, 2016.
Tonight — don’t crack up, bend your brain, see both sides, and throw off your mental chains with Careless Memories! And dance the evening away as if we were at a summer music festival. Starting at 8pm at Dodge City, I’ll play artists like Howard Jones, The English Beat, Modern English, Men Without Hats, Bow Wow Wow, Katrina and The Waves, Thompson Twins, Midge Ure, and others, inspired by the summer Retro Futura Tour.
To get ready for all of it, I chatted with Howard Jones himself last week! Revisit our Parklife DC interview with Howard, and then join our listening party at Careless Memories tonight.
Interview: Howard Jones (on Retro Futura Tour @ Pier Six Pavilion [Baltimore, Md.], 7/30/17)
Howard Jones (Photo by David Conn)
“Do you feel scared? I do, but I won’t stop and falter.”
So, sang Howard Jones in his smashing 1985 hit “Things Can Only Get Better,” which in my opinion perfectly framed Howard’s ethos. The Englishman is unflappably upbeat and optimistic, and he makes fantastically irresistible music still today.
Around Town: Careless Memories @ Dodge City, 6/8/17
Howard Jones at Rewind Festival in 2013. (Photo courtesy Universal News and Sport)
Editors Note: This event was originally scheduled for May 25, but we have moved it to June 8. On May 25, we will present an evening of music dedicated to bands from Manchester in solidarity with the city after this week’s tragedy.
For the last several years, an ’80s festival called Retro Futura has presented some of our favorite artists, including Howard Jones, The English Beat, Modern English, Men Without Hats, Katrina (of The Waves), Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins, Midge Ure, and many others.
We’ll celebrate the ’80s festival circuit with these artists and others, alongside your requests, at the next edition of Careless Memories: A New Wave Party, this Thursday, May 25.
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