Party like it’s 1980

I fully expected to write one or two sentences about my concert experience last Saturday, and then I was going to tell you all about my new bidet. But the bidet will have to wait. You can’t have more fun with your clothes on than I did Saturday night. 

My hometown Avon Theatre was prepared for me and my offspring. We had mezzanine seating that was perfect, putting us above the floor crowd. Counting the balcony, the seating capacity is 280. On my way in, I heard a group of four politely shown the door because the concert was sold out. Avon Theatre is a really lovely venue that has all the bells and whistles an ’80s band would need. 

First, though, the age discrimination. Some in my entourage made some cracks about the concert can’t last too long, the band members would have to go to bed soon. I ignored the snide remarks because I fully expected the band to put on a good show. Boy, was I wrong! It was a great show! 

While The Producers don’t have a catalog to rival the Fab Four or The Stones, they started on time, to the minute, actually, they played all their hits, including my fave, “I Love Lucy,” and the show was an entertaining, lively performance with plenty of volume so no one needed their hearing aids. 

After the band completed their setlist, the assembled crowd demanded more, so the band came back out and, true to their roots as a Beatles cover band, played some of the Mop Tops’ early hits and Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May,” before concluding with The Fabs’ “A Hard Day’s Night.” 

As the crowd was dispersing, I was talking to Bryan Holmes, the drummer, when a pretty lady stopped to thank me for putting on a great show and reminding her that the 80s were a lot of fun. Her praise was effusive! I was doing my normal, “Glad you liked it,” but I was really confused, and the drummer was laughing as she left. He asked me if I knew her, and I said nope, which really got him laughing. It was only when Wayne, the keyboardist, came out, sitting in his post-concert wheelchair, that we realized the mistaken identity. Fun times. 

Each band member signed my first pressing album, which now resumes its rightful place in my man cave. The band had read my column, too! Kyle Henderson, the bassist and vocalist, had actually commented on my Facebook post before the concert. Bryan had read it when local attorney Rob Fricks sent it to him. Turns out that Bryan has friends in low places, so he knows Rob! But then former Clayton County DA and Parole Board Member Bob Keller said in a Facebook comment that he was friends with Bryan, so that redeemed him instantly. 

The kids admitted they had a good time and enjoyed the tunes. It didn’t last so long as to keep the youngsters up past their bedtime either. Kelsy said she kept thinking this would be her years from now taking her daughters to a Backstreet Boys concert. 

And I’m giving my friend Rob Fricks a hard time because Bryan (the drummer) asked me if I was going to Rob’s birthday party. Before I could say I hadn’t been invited, Kelsy told us both that she was invited! I guess my invitation was lost in the mail. 

Kelly Burke was born in Knoxville where he spent his younger years, followed by high school years in Atlanta where he graduated from Georgia Tech, and then graduated from Mercer Law School. He has been in private practice, a magistrate judge, and an elected district attorney. He writes about the law, politics, music, and Ireland. He and his wife enjoy gardening, playing with their Lagotto Ramanolo named George Harrison, and spending time with their grandchildren.