SCUGOG: Local Favourites, The Bomb Retro '80s Live Experience, are back at the Port Perry Town Hall 1873 Theatre on December 1st. This time, they have invited musical colleagues Four One Six to join them and warm up the stage with some music, anecdotes and humour! More on Four One Six shortly.
In case you missed them, heard about them or want to catch them again, The Bomb Retro '80s Live Experience is a professional Canadian tribute act which embraces the decade of the '80s, playing all of your favourite new wave and atmospheric radio hits from that wonderful musical era, rather than paying tribute to just one band.
The Bomb performed at The Port Perry Town Hall Theatre in June of this year, and it was the first time in recent history a band had the grand old theatre's orchestra pit full of dancers and got a standing ovation at the end of the night! In fact, at several points during the night, the lads told The Standard they felt like they had their "Maple Leaf Gardens moment" with all the cellphone camera lights illuminated and swaying to the music.
For those unfamiliar with The Bomb Retro '80s Live Experience, a visit to their webpage at www.thebombive.comis a totally fun, worthwhile rabbit hole to go down, complete with videos, photos and interesting bios of all the members. That said, in short, if you are a fan of Bowie, Tears for Fears, Duran, Simple Minds, A-ha and INXS, The Cars and The Cure, even Prince and Depeche Mode and much more, The Bomb truly do perform "The soundtrack of your youth...Live!"
The lads in the band are very active, especially in southern Ontario, performing at music hall concerts, headlining Rib festivals, private and corporate events and theme nights at live music venues. If you saw them in June, you know The Bomb Retro '80s Live Experience takes huge pride in their sound, their performance, their image and their professionalism, always dressing the part & putting on a show full of energy and exuberance, never just going through the motions or just 'playing the gig.' Theatres are the lad's specialty, and it shows!
What this writer noticed in June was the happiness and energy exchanged with crowds hearing their favourite '80s songs being played by four guys who love the music as much (or more) than the audience does; sets a night with The Bomb apart from other touring tribute acts.
The band covers the beloved '80s material with such authority, including all of the atmosphere, the synth sounds, the sequencers, as well as the nuances and effects you'd expect and hope for wonderfully and, in the end - it's a show not to be missed.
Together for close to a decade, The Bomb – Retro '80s Experience have also been honoured to perform as the opening act, warming up the crowd for such great acts as The Spoons, Men Without Hats, Big Wreck, Images in Vogue as well as Carol Pope & Rough Trade.
The opening act, the amazing Four One Six, is a duo created by singer-songwriter Brent Lunney; 416 is a hybrid of influences, a musical recipe: a dash of singer-songwriter, a pinch of folk, a sliver of the psychedelic, a sprinkle of new wave, all blended with generous portions of well-crafted pop. With three well-received EPs and a new album coming in early 2024, Brent, along with drummer Dan Todd (Platinum Blonde, Honeymoon Suite) have been very busy over the last few months during the summer of 2023 as an acoustic duo opening sold-out shows with Saga, Modern English, Glass Tiger, Strange Advance and ExTC to name a few.
All in all, December 1st will be a full-on, "one-night time machine" (without the hot tub) that brings the Town Hall Theatre's audience back to their youth with many hits they love.