The House of Blues transformed into a vibrant time capsule on Saturday night, as ’80s new wave icons Howard Jones and ABC were set to take the stage for a sold-out show brimming with excitement and neon-lit nostalgia. Fans from every generation, from lifelong devotees to curious newcomers, filled the iconic venue, ready to celebrate the timeless energy of an incredible era in music. After a brilliant set by ABC, the night took an unexpected turn when a significant gas leak at the Anaheim GardenWalk forced the evening to unravel in ways no one in attendance could have anticipated. What began as a celebration of music and memories quickly became a surreal and chaotic experience that left many wishing they could rewind the night in its entirety.
Opening for Howard Jones and ABC was the true Godfather of ’80s music, Richard Blade. He has been involved with New Wave music since its inception and is known for promoting bands like Billy Idol, Duran Duran, and Depeche Mode during tenures on the World Famous KROQ and Video One. Blade’s 45-minute set included a history of 1st Wave music, highlighting the importance of bands like Kraftwerk, OMD, and U2. He shared stories about each band and showed original videos, which engaged the audience and encouraged crowd participation. Like many, I had actual goosebumps throughout his New Wave history lesson and couldn’t help smiling and dancing the whole way through.
After a brief intermission, Blade one again took center stage and introduced a band that really needed no introduction, the legendary ABC. The 13-song masterclass opened with a bang as the unmistakable synth intro to “When Smokey Sings” filled the air. Fry, clad in a slick gold suit that shimmered under the lights, walked out to deafening cheers. His commanding presence and smooth baritone instantly captivated the now packed room. Though four decades removed from the release of their iconic album The Lexicon of Love, Fry proved he still commands an undeniable aura of charm and sophistication.
ABC’s performance on Saturday night was tight, polished, and every bit as lush as one would hope. Supported by a talented ensemble of amazing musicians, the sound was clean, layered, and provided a perfect balance between the nostalgic warmth of the ’80s production style and a crisp modern edge. Songs like “(How to Be a) Millionaire” and “Tears Are Not Enough” had the crowd swaying and singing along, their infectious melodies rekindling memories for long-time fans and introducing newcomers to the magic of ABC. “Poison Arrow” was one of my favorites from the set and was absolute perfection.
The real showstopper, however, was ABC’s closing number, “The Look of Love.” There’s something magical about hearing such an iconic track performed live; the room transformed into one massive singalong as Fry encouraged everyone to join in. The crowd was united as one, singing and dancing to a song that has been on repeat since I was 12. End to end, this one was sheer genius. As ABC took their final bow, all I could think about was how incredible their set was and how blessed I was to have been part of it.
Now here is the point in the show where things go a bit sideways. After a brief pause in the action prior to Howard Jones taking the stage, fans were interrupted by blinding house lights and an order by security personnel to immediately evacuate the building. What is going on? Was this a fire drill or possibly something worse? No one knew, but the HOB team quickly and professionally cleared the building, ensuring all were out and safe. Hats off to their management and staff! As we finally made it outside, we were greeted by the pungent smell of natural gas along with 50 of the Anaheim Fire Department’s finest responding to a major gas leak at the GardenWalk. As a direct result, Howard’s set was cancelled and all were asked to immediately leave the area. The unexpected cancellation was quite a gut punch to fans for what was turning into an incredibly memorable evening.
So, what does one do when you are stuck in a parking garage with a thousand of your closest friends waiting to vacate the premises during a potentially dangerous natural gas leak? Well, I figured I would put Howard Jones on rotation in my car and write a simple review of Howard Jones set as if it actually happened on Saturday night. The following is a fictional interpretation of Howard’s performance that took place in my head as I waited patiently to exit the GardenWalk parking structure. While I can’t guarantee that any of this would or would not have happened, I would venture to say it would be pretty darn close.Enjoy.
After a brief intermission and stage change, Richard Blade once again arrived to introduce the headliner of the evening, the incomparable, Mr. Howard Jones. Kicking off the evening with “Pearl in the Shell,” it was clear from the moment he took the stage that this was going to be a show for the ages. With a smile from ear-to-ear, Howard strutted around the stage with his trademark keytar, engaging with old friends and newcomers alike with reckless abandon. You could tell this was what he was born to do, as his musicianship and stage presence were truly flawless in front of a now capacity crowd in Anaheim.
Throughout the evening, Howard Jones took us all on a fantastic voyage of newer songs coupled with classics spanning his legendary 40+ year career. Standout crowd favorites included hits like “New Song,” “Everlasting Love,” and the mega-classic, “No One Is to Blame.” It was so cool listening to the crowd sing along with Howard to one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s. One of my favorite moments of the evening was Howard’s cover of Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy” alongside bassist Nick Beggs (of, well, Kajagoogoo fame). It was clear to all in attendance the special bond these two have, and it came out in spades throughout this amazing cover.
The 13-song set finally had to come to an end with two of my all-time favorite tracks, “What Is Love?” and “Things Can Only Get Better.” Both songs received full participation from all fans in attendance, highlighting how special and loved his music still is after all these years. And prior to the end of the show, Howard’s stage manager tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to jump on stage and capture his final bow with the band here in Anaheim. As a lifelong fan and professional photographer, this was a dream come true for me and a special moment I would never forget.
As I finally left the GardenWalk parking garage, I reflected on both Saturday night’s amazing performance by ABC and the missed opportunities we had not seeing Howard Jones actually perform live. His immediate Facebook response showed his heartfelt regret but also promised a quick return and special show for his fans. Given Howard’s character, I believe he’ll keep that promise sooner than later with a performance that will surely be out of this world.
ABC
RICHARD BLADE
