Bananarama, Dave Wakeling, Howard Jones – 4th and B, San Diego, California - December 17, 1995

This was the first of many shows we would see at the 4^th and B club in San Diego, a medium-sized club downtown that opened and started catering to the twenty- and thirty-something crowd in town with a plethora of 80s and 90s bands. It was a great place to see shows, large enough that you could usually get tickets, but small enough that you could get as close as you want to the bands.

This was another Flash X-mas concert with a bunch of 80s bands that you often wonder about. I think there may have been more than three, but these are the ones I remember.

At the time Dave Wakeling was always the opening act at such venues. From what I remember at this show, his band went on way earlier than advertised and I think we missed most of it. I always liked the English Beat and General Public, and I think I appreciate Dave Wakeling more than I think I do, although I never bought any of his music. According to his website, he is also a very nice guy.

Howard Jones was also really good, just him and his piano. He is very talented in general so I am never disappointed when I hear him play.

The lowlight, well joke really, of the night was Bananarama. P was so geeked to see them live, I didn’t care really but liked them in high school. They were so lip synched it wasn’t even funny. There were only two of the original members (horse head was there I think, I don’t really keep track, but I think the cute one was missing) and they basically just did a staged dance with some hot scantily-clad men dancing around them. I think they maybe only did 5 songs in total, but even with that short set we were glad to be done with them. I cannot believe they were actually paid for their performance. Considering these were usually charity events, I hope it wasn’t much.