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| Thomas Dolby @ the Fox Theater (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
The Fox Theater transformed into a neon-drenched time machine this past Sunday, as the Totally Tubular Festival crashed into Oakland like a tidal wave of '80s nostalgia. With a surprisingly early 5:30 pm kickoff, the festival crammed eight iconic acts into one glorious night of '80's (synth) pop ecstasy. The lineup read like a "Who's Who" of MTV's golden era, featuring the likes of Modern English (still promising to melt with you), Men Without Hats (safety dance, anyone?), and Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey (holding out for a hero in his own right).
But for us, the cherry on top of this retro sundae was none other than the mad scientist of synthpop himself, Thomas Dolby. It's been hot minute since Dolby graced his old Bay Area stomping grounds, and boy, did we miss him! We were lucky enough to catch up with the maestro before he donned his lab coat for the tour - a chat that left us more hyped than a DeLorean hitting 88 mph. (Curious minds can dive into that delightful convo right here!)
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| Thomas Dolby @ the Fox Theater (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
As the clock struck 10:20 pm, the Fox Theater's atmosphere shifted from electric to positively radioactive. Dolby's mad scientist lab materialized on stage, his keyboard and computer rig commanding the front-right like a captain's console on a retro-futuristic spaceship. Behind him, a colossal video screen loomed, ready to blast our retinas with a kaleidoscope of updated iconic imagery that would make even Max Headroom's head spin.
The Doc of Synthpop wasted no time, kicking off his 40-minute sonic rollercoaster with a cover that had eyebrows raised and bodies moving. New Order's "Blue Monday" got the Dolby treatment, transformed from Manchester gloom to Silicon Valley gleam. It was like watching a musical alchemist at work, turning '80s gold into 21st-century platinum. The crowd - mostly nostalgic Gen-Xers - erupted into a frenzy that would make any aerobics instructor proud.
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| Thomas Dolby @ the Fox Theater (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
From there, Dolby took us on a greatest hits journey with more twists and turns than a John Hughes plot. "Europa and the Pirate Twins" had us all feeling like we'd just stepped out of a DeLorean, while "One of Our Submarines" proved that Dolby could still spin a yarn while making his synthesizers sing like sirens. And just when we thought we had him figured out, he'd throw in another cover (more on that later, folks!) that left us wondering if there was anything this musical mastermind couldn't do.
Just when we thought the energy couldn't get any higher, the opening riff of "Hyperactive" hit us like a double shot of espresso. The crowd went from nostalgic swaying to full-on '80s aerobics mode faster than you can say "leg warmers." But folks, hold onto your parachute pants, because the real showstopper was yet to come.
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| Thomas Dolby @ the Fox Theater (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
Dolby, the master of musical surprises, pulled out his ace in the hole: a cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" that was less a performance and more a religious experience. Before diving in, Thomas treated us to a little time travel, regaling us with a tale of him and the Thin White Duke himself, choppered into Wembley Stadium for Live Aid '85 like rock 'n' roll James Bonds.
As Dolby's fingers danced across the keys, the giant screen behind him flickered to life with footage from that legendary day. Bowie's ethereal vocals haunted the theater, a ghostly duet with Dolby's live performance that had every hair standing on end. Let me tell you, if goosebumps could vote, this moment would've won by a landslide. It wasn't just the highlight of Dolby's set; it was the kind of musical magic that makes you believe in time travel. Even now, as I'm typing this, I can feel those same chills running down my spine. It was the kind of performance that reminds you why you fell in love with music in the first place.
For the grand finale, Dolby unleashed the ultimate '80s earworm, "She Blinded Me with Science." But wait, plot twist! Just as we were ready to get our mad scientist groove on, the digital gods decided to play a little prank. Dolby's laptop threw a tantrum worthy of a toddler denied their favorite synth-pop playlist. Our maestro, cool as a cucumber in a liquid nitrogen bath, rebooted once, twice, and on the third try, with some frantic sound remapping that looked like defusing a musical bomb, finally coaxed his silicon sidekick back to life. The song burst forth, and suddenly it was 1982 all over again, proving that even in the age of AI, sometimes you just need to turn it off and on again.
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| Thomas Dolby @ the Fox Theater (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
Throughout this electronic odyssey, Dolby didn't just play his synthesizers; he conducted them like a wizard wielding musical lightning. His fingers danced across the keys, conjuring soundscapes that would make Philip K. Dick's electric sheep jealous. But don't think for a second that Thomas was glued to his keyboard like some kind of synthpop statue. Oh no! He worked that stage like a New Wave aerobics instructor, engaging with fans and belting out vocals with the energy of a man half his age.
At one point, Dolby whipped out what looked like an iPad but turned out to be some sort of portable keyboard. It was like watching Q from James Bond, if Q were really into making bangers instead of gadgets. And just when you thought you had him pegged, BAM! Out comes a harmonica solo that would make Blues Traveler do a double-take.
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| Thomas Dolby @ the Fox Theater (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
The Fox Theater's sound system, bless its soul, captured every beep, boop, and breathtaking note with crystal clarity. It was like having your ears cleaned by audio angels, allowing us to bask in the full glory of Dolby's sonic sorcery.
In the end, Dolby didn't just perform; he took us on a journey through time, space, and the occasionally glitchy realm of live electronic music. It was a reminder that true musical genius isn't about perfection – it's about turning even the unexpected into something magical.
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| Thomas Dolby @ the Fox Theater (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
Dolby's set might have been shorter than a Miami Vice episode, but boy, did it pack a punch! It was like watching a mad scientist cram the entire evolution of electronic music into a musical TARDIS. This wasn't just a trip down memory lane; it was a high-speed Ferrari Testarosa ride through the past, present, and future of synth-pop.
Watching Dolby breathe new life into his classics was like seeing a musical Frankenstein, but instead of lumbering monsters, he was creating sleek, modernized pop masterpieces. And those covers? They weren't just played; they were Dolby-fied, seamlessly woven into his electronic tapestry like they'd been there all along. It was clear that Father Time hasn't laid a finger on Dolby's creative mojo - if anything, he's only getting more powerful, like some kind of ageless synth vampire.
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| Thomas Dolby @ the Fox Theater (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
So, listen up, folks outside the Bay Area! When the Totally Tubular Festival rolls into your town, don't you dare miss it. It's not just a concert; it's a time-traveling, genre-bending, nostalgia-inducing extravaganza that'll leave you wondering if you've accidentally stepped into the coolest '80s movie never made. Trust me, your inner MTV-era teenager will thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go dig out my keytar and practice my robot dance moves.
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