{"id":189,"date":"2014-08-30T22:55:12","date_gmt":"2014-08-30T22:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maxkochuncorked.com\/?p=189"},"modified":"2014-08-30T23:05:21","modified_gmt":"2014-08-30T23:05:21","slug":"retro-futura-show-at-the-greek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maxkochuncorked.com\/?p=189","title":{"rendered":"Retro Futura Show at the Greek"},"content":{"rendered":"

So some how, some way, my wife managed to rope me AGAIN into attending a night of 80’s acts at the Greek Theatre<\/a>. \u00a0A lotta my friends crack my nuts because they think I don’t feel burdened at ALL to patronize these bands and that I love ALL 80’s music because, of course, I came of age in the 80’s. \u00a0It’s. Not. \u00a0True!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I mainly listened to The Smiths, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and the Violent Femmes in the 80’s. \u00a0Primarily DARK shit. I was NOT a Howard Jones fan (although “What is Love”<\/a> is okay), and now,\u00a0thanks to my 80’s-obsessed wife, I have seen the damn dude perform live TWO years in a row now (at the 2013 Regeneration Tour<\/a>, which was also held at the Greek). I mean, love him, mean it, I GET IT.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, this year, my wife couldn’t help herself. It appeared that Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins (WITHOUT the blond chick and the black dude) had signed up for the 2014 Retro Futura<\/a>\u00a0tour. \u00a0My wife was a MAJOR Thompson Twins fan and she’d never seen Tom or any of ’em live before.<\/strong><\/p>\n

God help me.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Thompson+Twins+ThompsonTwins\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Look, how can I really complain? I mean, I love going to concerts and I live to people watch. \u00a0Especially 45-year-old women who show up channeling their outer Go-Go. \u00a0Plus I know what makes my wife happy and so I agreed to the evening. \u00a0But I was excited about NONE of the acts…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"26dd09_e63543f1c2544fd1a34a8c11a0021314.jpg_srz_960_552_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srz\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Katrina and the Waves??? \u00a0KILL ME NOW!!! \u00a0I HATED that stupid “Walking on Sunshine”<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love my wife with all my entrails but she has to be two hours early at every event. \u00a0Especially concerts. It doesn’t matter that we already have tickets with assigned seats. \u00a0Two hours early.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So we get up to the Greek and upgrade our seats to aisle seats (thank cripes) and the next thing you know, we learn that the Greek’s credit card machines are ALL down. \u00a0Now 90% of the reason I agreed to show up was because I like to sit with a giant beer in my lap and survey the crowd as they filter into the amphitheater. \u00a0So if I don’t have enough cash to keep the night flowing (including frequent trips to the men’s room), I’m SUNK!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I tried not to panic. \u00a0Nic had enough cash for supper so we decided to picnic prior to showtime. \u00a0If worse came to worse, I could always hit the Greek’s ATM machine and get cash. \u00a0See, THIS is why I worry I might have a slight touch of the alcoholism going on inside me. \u00a0I mean, there I was, PLOTTING how I was going to be able to drink for the rest of the night!! \u00a0SCHEMING, even!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s my biggest problem with the Greek. \u00a0The wine they serve at concessions is Woodbridge<\/a>. \u00a0Now I have nothing but respect for the Mondavis. \u00a0Why. they’re the Trumps of California wine. \u00a0But Woodbridge Chardonnay you may as well serve to your hefty Aunt Barb visiting in town from Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland. \u00a0Like SHE’D know the difference. \u00a0Plus I’m not a real fan of HEADACHES when I’m at a concert, even though I always make sure to wrap a few Advil in a sheet of Kleenex to keep in my pocket.<\/strong><\/p>\n

My wife, however, sucks it up and hits the Woodbridge every time. \u00a0I pass no judgment upon her for that.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Franny<\/a><\/p>\n

When I<\/em> go to the Greek, however, it’s usually beer for me. \u00a0And, sorry, fellas, this may come as a shock to you…but ol’ Max Koch is NOT a suds slurper! \u00a0Hardly.\u00a0I don’t mind the Tecate so much, I have to say. \u00a0But usually I start out with a Heineken. \u00a0They serve Pabst there, too, but I’m just not that brave.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"No<\/a><\/p>\n

Dinner was fine. \u00a0But we were constantly being attacked by wasps which made my wife rise up and flail her arms like crazy and scream a lot.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Greek<\/a><\/p>\n

They set up a band outside the venue proper to warm up the crowd. \u00a0Never seen that before.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Outside<\/a><\/p>\n

Now I have to tell you about something MAJOR that happened before the show. \u00a0At the Regeneration show last year, there was a dude who stood in front of us and danced the ENTIRE time. \u00a0Now normally that would be really, really annoying. \u00a0But this wasn’t just any dancer. \u00a0This was, I have since come to consider…my All-Time FAVORITE dancer!!<\/strong><\/p>\n