Summer Jam 80’s Party Delivered an Intimate Night Of Music
Summer Jam 80’s Party took place at the Abacoa Town Center in Jupiter, Florida, last night. The 45-and-up audience came ready to party, and that’s exactly what they did.
The day started with a constant downpour that appeared to have damped not only the grounds but also kept many of those away who had otherwise planned to attend. The past three weekends had been washed out, so many feared this would happen again. However, the rain didn’t last; in fact, the concert start time was delayed by a mere 45 minutes. Now with the rain gone, it was time to set up the beach chairs and blankets, grab a beer and settle in for a day of music.
This concert was billed as an intimate gathering of being just about the music. It certainly lived up to that promise, as the setting was more of a community festival rather a full-blown concert. What was missing were the people, many of whom stayed away because of the early rains, but sadly they missed out on a opportunity to see and connect with the music they listened on their Walkmans in the ’80s.
When you consider the lineup — The Filmores, Tommy Tutone, The Romantics, Patty Smyth and Scandal and John Waite — these are the very same bands which used to fill arenas at the peak of their popularity — it was disappointing to see that music from the ’80s appears to be loved on radio and not live. For those who love the concert experience and attended this show, it gave them a chance to reconnect with the music they loved, a chance to sing along to hits they grew up listening to, and a chance to see that like the artists on stage the years have aged gracefully.
The venue was perfect in terms of size for this concert. There was no VIP section, no frills. It was simple in terms of parking and entering the event. From the stage to the back was all grass. The ample lawn section had enough room to allow people to sit wherever they chose; whether you wanted to sit close to the stage or find a little shade underneath a tree, it was all about finding a place to stay cool on a hot steamy South Florida day.
One of the most important parts of any concert is the lighting and sound production. With the idea that this is a smaller show, one can certainly understand that you’re not going to get a Pink Floyd light show, However, the lighting was subpar at best, and the lack of a spotlight didn’t help, either. As the evening set in, the constant purple hue on artists made for poor Youtube videos and Instagram photos which are now a part of attending every concert and music festival.
The sound system was superb; it was clear from the minute The Filmores took the stage that it was going to be a day of loud, yet comfortable music coming from a well-controlled sound board. It can sometimes become frustrating to wait for mic, drum and guitar checks before each band performs, but this group of sound technicians certainly deserve the accolades for putting on an amazing show.
The eats and drinks are a big part of any concert. While the choices were somewhat limited with one food truck on the grounds, there were plenty of snack items like pretzels and arepas to keep you satisfied. The food truck prices were about average for a concert/sporting event with a burger running $8.00 and chicken tenders and fries at $10.00. There were two beer tents serving beer, wine and mixed drinks. The drink prices were surprisingly reasonable. A domestic 16-oz. draft was $5.00. A single cocktail was $8.00, and a bottle of water was $2.00.
Now we should discuss in detail what these dedicated music lovers came to see and hear: the music. The Filmores were a bit of a disappointment, perhaps because they had a shortened set due to the rain. They appeared flat and somewhat uninspired. Considering the talent is local, it could have been a better performance. Their music videos gave the impression that they might be an awesome band to see live. That was just an impression.
Tommy Tutone had several hits in the ’80s and was well received by the audience. However, much like the previous act, they didn’t seem to motivate the audience. Perhaps it was the small crowd that didn’t ignite the band, but Tommy Tutone didn’t leave it all on the stage that night. The highlight of the set was hearing the song that made this band one that will be remembered for decades: “867-5309/Jenny.”
From this point forward things really kicked off at Summer Jam. The Romantics had always been known for producing high-energy shows. This band has been performing since 1977, and after touring for so many years and performing to both large and small crowds, you might think they would just mail it in; this was certainly not the case. The Romantics jammed from the first guitar riff to the last note. They brought the party that got everyone out of their chairs and movin’ and groovin’ to their hits including “What I Like About You” and “Talking In Your Sleep.” If you’re a fan of the ’80s and you missed this show, don’t miss The Romantics next time they hit your town.
When one of the most underrated voices in rock performs at a concert, and you’re lucky enough to be there, you can check it off your bucket list. Patty Smyth should clearly be considered in the top 20 all-time best female voices in rock. Sadly, she never received the recognition she deserves. When Patty Smyth and Scandal performed a tight set at Summer Jam, it brought everyone to their feet. She looked and sounded great. It seems like life on the tennis courts has been good to Smyth. While Scandal has had many talented musicians as part of its past, Keith Mack is the sole original member of Scandal since its inception in 1981. An interesting side note is that Jon Bon Jovi was once a member of Scandal. The current band seems to bring plenty of flare that keeps Patty Smyth rocking like she did in the early Eighties. To the delight of those in attendance, Smyth and Scandal played those most coveted hits including “Sometimes Love Ain’t Enough,” “The Warrior,” and “Goodbye to You.”
At the conclusion of the Patty Smyth set, it was disappointing to see that people began to pack up. Wait, there is one more act! It appeared that at least 20 percent of the concertgoers decided to leave even with a nearly picture perfect night where the skies were clear and the temperatures cooled to a comfortable level. As a someone pointed out as the lawn chair and blankets were being put away, “It’s past their bed time.” What they missed was an epic performance by John Waite. He is well known for singing ballads; perhaps that’s why some left. However, Waite’s on-stage presence is that of a rock star. There was not a single thing out of place with his performance. For those who stayed, they got what they came for: a chance to hear the radio hits that were on vinyl and ones we recorded onto cassettes. Waite played a full set of hits including “Missing You” and finished with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”
Overall, Summer Jam 80’s Party was a musical success considering the small crowd that attended. For those who came, it gave them a chance to squeeze into their parachute pants, fluff up their big hair and wear the bright colors they wore in the ’80s. Will this concert return next year? Perhaps. As the memories and music from the ’80s continue to fade away, so does the audience who once saw these fine bands perform during their youth. Perhaps it was during their time when life was much simpler, but this core demographic is now entering retirement age, and thus attending rock shows is retiring as well.
