Greeting 2009 with the Bangles
By Nadine Kam
Nadine Kam photos
Oh Susanna! Before we headed to the concert, we had dinner at Sergio’s at the Hilton, where the bartender professed his love for the Bangle and wished he were going to the concert too. Twenty years after their biggest hits, she still looks great and is a 16-year-old kind of thin. Debbi Peterson is in command on drums.
As we go bravely into 2009, those of us at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa could forget our worries while enjoying a return to ’80s party spirit with The Bangles.
I missed them the first time they were here, so wanted to catch up on what I missed. I always did like their harmonies, even though I was never much into the idea of the all-girl band. I’m from the post-feminist school that questions the idea of the girl ghetto. My music role models were the Wilson sisters of Heart and Chrissie Hynde, women who could play as hard as the boys and kick their behinds — with stiletto boots — if need be.
As a result, I’ve played in bands pop, rock, grunge, and most recently, a punk power trio, always with guys but missing out on the beauty of feminine voices in harmony. Definitely a different energy, but no less fun than boy rage and perky, bubbly girl music might be just what we need to buoy spirits now.
For some, the new year began with a meet-and-greet with the band. From left, Dan Yashima, Cora Spearman, Vicki Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson, Sean Morris and Lena Strong pose for photographers. When it was my turn, I said I was standing next to Susanna coz she’s the shortest, and Debbi said, “Yeah, she’s your size without her heels. Sorry I’m so tall.”
As a result, I’ve played in bands pop, rock, grunge, and most recently, a punk power trio, always with guys but missing out on the beauty of feminine voices in harmony. Definitely a different energy, but no less fun than boy rage, and perky, bubbly girl music might be just what we need to buoy spirits now.
The Bangles ran through songs from 1984 to ‘88, like “In Your Room,” “Manic Monday,” “Hazy Shade of Winter” and “Hero Takes a Fall.” Susanna Hoffs still has one of the most distinctive voices around. Others may be similarly recognizable, but I can’t think of anyone with her tweetybird lilt. Her voice got more raspy as the evening wore on.
Sorry the sound is so tinny on my videos. It was actually really great live, but I brought in the smallest video camera possible. All I can say is, crank up the volume to 11. Louder has always worked for me.
Nadine Kam video
The Bangles perform “Walk Like an Egyptian,” a medley with The Who’s “Magic Bus.” Hope you have a high-speed connection.
I’d guess some would probably want to see the Susanna videos for “Manic Monday” and “Eternal Flame,” but the fans kind of ruined it for me, crazy dancing and all. I don’t want to embarrass them. Not to mention the person I dubbed “Pom Pom Girl” because she kept waving her noisemakers in front of the camera in a most irritating, unrhythmic way. Please, before you go out, remind your friends that there are no longer any private moments. Every moment is a click away from eternal life online.
When the clock struck midnight, there was time for toasts and their rendition of “Auld Lang Syne,” before the song everyone was waiting to hear, “Walk Like an Egyptian.” As they were getting ready to perform one more song, I asked a friend what was left, and he said he didn’t know. We couldn’t think of anything we hadn’t heard. Of course it was one of the biggies, “Eternal Flame.” Duh.
Nadine Kam video
You can see by the dearth of crazy dancing that “Watching the Sky” isn’t one of the most popular Bangles tune, but it was one of my favorites off “Everything.” I like a touch of dissonance. My other favorite song off that disc is the lush and beautiful “Something to Believe In.”
