Back to the 80s

We're going to have a great show this Sunday, November 17, 2013. The band is tight with a new drummer and loads of enthusiasm. The singers are harmonizing beautifully and a few of them are even stepping up to dance a bit. The arrangements and song selections are beautiful -- surprisingly beautiful for anyone who remembers the 1980s as synth drums and droning keyboards (only one keyboard part in our set).

More information about the concert and a link to tickets are here.

Meanwhile, here's a look back at a hot Boston band from 1980.

Shane Champagne was the shizzle back in the early 80s.

Their big single was "Shadow World":

Nice video.

I love that reggae beat anchoring power pop. Makes me think of Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives" or The Police's "Walking on the Moon." Or "Watching the Moon/Walking on the Detectives" (from Elvis Costello's Spectacle):

Anyway, back in the summer of 1980, Shane Champagne was a guest on local Boston television station WCVB (channel 5) . The station was one of the first to broadcast 24 hours, and "5 All Night" showed old movies through the pre-dawn hours.

They also had band promotions! Shane Champagne was releasing a 10" EP and appeared on 5 All Night on November 1, 1980. They were interviewed by Matty Siegel a DJ from WCOZ (which used to occupy 94 1/2 on the FM dial, now JAM'N 94.5).

Here's the intro with a performance of "Dying to Stay Alive":

love the multiple vocals on the songs, although overall, the tempos seem slower than would be expected in the hyper sped up world of today. Why am I spending so much time on Shane Champagne on this website? Well aside from local Boston rock history, they have a direct connection to the Newton Family Singers. I'll give you a hint: the bass player looks like he could rock a guitar.

One more Shane Champagne performance video from Channel 68's "Boston Live" from summer 1980. This is, as of this moment, my favorite of their songs, "Rockaway":