Photos by Colin Jones
Those who know me know I really like three things: live music, writing, and free stuff. I seem to have a knack for the latter.
But I’m also a cheapskate, so I was on the fence about ponying up $50 to check out ’80s night at the Mid-State Fair that featured four rock/pop nostalgia acts along with veteran New Wave DJ Richard Blade.
Just returning from vacation, I was too late to get a media pass, so it was pay or stay.
Then some good fortune kicked in: my friend Jerry texted me at 2:30 day of show (July 21) saying his wife injured her knee so they had four tickets available. BINGO, off to the fair we go.
As I get older, my tolerance for crowds and delays keeps waning, so we got lucky that night: minimal traffic on the 101, a $5 Lyft ride from my friend Steve’s house on Creston Road, and a sparse but lively audience of about 5,000 in the Chumash Grandstand Arena.
One thing I’ve learned attending fair concerts for 25 years: unless it’s Aerosmith or Justin Bieber, rock bands NEVER sell out: it’s all about the country shows in Paso Robles.
So once you get inside, the old school venue is yours to freely roam. I think our tickets were mid-arena somewhere but my other friends Diane and Vern found a completely empty eighth row so that’s where we settled in.
The “Things Can Only Get Better Tour” included synth pop musician Howard Jones as headliner with Wang Chung, English Beat/General Public and Modern English support. In between sets, Blade donned his DJ hat, playing videos of the biggest hit songs of the ’80s.
A diverse mix of concertgoers—dressed in flashy ’80s gear with big hair and even bigger drinks in hand—happily grooved throughout the grandstand. Chairs seemed to be irrelevant.
. . . What a fun show it was: the perfect vibe and sound for a balmy summer night at the fair.”
Although most of the bands had just a few hit songs (Modern English became a one-hit wonder with “I Melt With You”), it was obvious these were talented and accomplished musicians, performers and songwriters.
For me the highlight of the evening was Wang Chung, whose five-song set overflowed with energy and musicality. “Everybody Wang Chung tonight” has become a global battle cry from Hollywood and beyond.
Three and a half hours later, the concert finally wrapped, but what a fun show it was: the perfect vibe and sound for a balmy summer night at the fair.
An Evening of Music and Wine with Three Dog Night on Friday remains your last shot to enjoy more rock music, then Queensryche performs on the free stage Saturday night.
You know where I’ll be.
Nostalgia and summer clearly go hand in hand and for an old retired guy like me, you don’t care about getting home well past the midnight hour.