The ‘80s were totally tubular again last night as four legendary acts took the Hollywood Bowl stage to remind us why shoulder pads, synthesizers, and screaming guitars once ruled the world. So break out your Madonna gear, put on your Devo hats, and keep longing for Jessie’s Girl because this nostalgia trip was wicked awesome from start to finish.
First up on the “I Want My ’80s” night was British crooner Paul Young, who may be 69 now, but his smooth voice hasn’t aged a day. He opened the night with three of his hits, including his chart-topper “Every Time You Go Away.” It was a short but sweet set that warmed up the crowd and set the tone for what was to come.
Wang Chung followed, and yes, we all Wang Chunged last night. Original members Nick Feldman and Jack Hues were in great spirits as they tore through four of their signature tracks, with vintage footage of their heyday flashing on the big screen behind them. They gave a shout-out to director William Friedkin, who used their moody anthem “To Live and Die in L.A.” in his 1985 film, before launching into that very track. The band kept the energy up with crowd favorites “Dance Hall Days” and the infectious “Everybody Have Fun Tonight,” which had us doing just that.
Then came John Waite, proving that age is just a number. At 73, he looked sharp, sounded even sharper, and reminded everyone that he’s still got the chops. With powerhouse vocals, he powered through “Change,” “Midnight Rendezvous,” and the soaring ballad “When I See You Smile.” The man is a true rock star; no nostalgia filter needed.
And special mention has to go to the amazing Grammy-winning saxophonist Ernie Watts, who stitched together that signature ‘80s brass magic across multiple sets.
But the night belonged to Rick Springfield. Headlining the evening with a one-hour set, the 76-year-old icon looked more like 46 and moved like he was 26. His stamina, stage presence, and sense of humor were all intact—not to mention a rock star potty mouth that only made the whole thing more fun.
He delivered hit after hit, from “Affair of the Heart” to “Human Touch” and a full-audience sing-along of “Don’t Talk to Strangers.” He even poked fun at his infamous movie Hard to Hold (“It was terrible,” he laughed), but redeemed it with a killer version of the film’s one hit, “Love Somebody.” And of course, the night wasn’t complete without his epic, extended encore of “Jessie’s Girl,” which had all 17,000 fans on their feet and screaming the lyrics like it was 1981.
Springfield reminded us that he’s not just a former teen idol, he’s a bona fide rock star. And on a warm summer night at the Bowl, with big hair (kind of), big hooks, and even bigger nostalgia, the ‘80s came roaring back to life.
Upcoming Concerts at the Bowl:
Cynthia Erivo & Adam Lambert in Jesus Christ Superstar, Aug 1-3rd
Herbie Hancock, Aug 20th
Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” Aug 29 & 30th
For more information and tickets, visit hollywoodbowl.com
