80’s Band Strikes Chord With Diverse Crowd

Concert Review
A Flock Of Seagulls
Bear’s Den Inside
Seneca Niagara Casino & Resort
Niagara Falls, NY
Saturday April 30, 2016
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

The synth sounds of new wave band A Flock Of Seagulls transformed the Bear’s Den into a time machine Saturday evening. One step inside and you were transformed into the 1980s. While to an average music fan AFOS may seem like a one hit wonder, their performance proved otherwise (the band actually had four songs crack the top 40 on various charts). While keyboardist and lead vocalist Mike Score may be the sole original member remaining, his band was solid and delivered the songs as they were recorded and remembered.

Joining Score were bassist Pando, drummer Michael Brahm and guitarist Joe Rodriguez. These guys helped bring the songs to life. Although the keyboard seemed to be the bands dominating instrument, it was the guitar work of Rodriguez who seemed to steal the spotlight at times.

“Modern Love Is Automatic” from the bands debut started the evening. It turned out to be the first of six songs the band would go on to play from the self titled release. “Telecommunication” was very well received as it had many on their feet dancing to the pulsating beat. How that album never reached platinum status remains a mystery.

The band saved the best for last as “Space Age Love Song”, “Wishing” and the bands top 10 smash “I Ran” brought down the house.

The band returned with a quick encore of “The Traveller” to conclude their 80-minute set.

Anyone who loves good synthesizer driven 80s music should check this band out if they play in your neck of the woods. You will not be disappointed and may even come away with a deeper appreciation of this pioneering band.

SetList
Modern Love Is Automatic
Magic
Hearts On Fire
Rainfall
Nightmares
Naked
She Won’t Let You Down
Man Made
The More You Live, The More You Love
Messages
Telecommunication
Space Age Love Song
Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)
I Ran
Encore
The Traveller