The Psychedelic Furs

+ THE ROMANTICS / ROONEY

New wave icons the Psychedelic Furs built a career on mysterious pop songs guided by the world-weary and unmistakable vocals of Richard Butler plus an always-evolving sound that started off as stark post-punk then took detours into synth pop, dance rock, and mainstream alternative. Along the way, they released a classic album that fused the energy of punk with the brightness of new wave (1981’s Talk Talk Talk) and a string of singles highlighted by “Love My Way,” “Heaven,” and “Heartbreak Beat” that proved popular and influential. Their classic song “Pretty in Pink” became the inspiration for the film of the same name and others showed up regularly in movies and TV shows. Though the band ran aground in the early ’90s, they returned a decade later to launch a successful career as a live act, and with their 2020 album Made of Rain, proved they could still deliver epic and meaningful records.

The Romantics are one of power pop’s success stories. The Detroit combo took their danceable, British Invasion-influenced sound from tiny clubs in their home town to airwaves and arenas all over the world. “What I Like About You,” from their self-titled 1980 debut album, became a hit single and a perennial favorite that helped define their spunky attack, and 1983’s In Heat spawned “Talking In Your Sleep,” a lean, atmospheric number that would rise to the upper reaches of the singles charts. Legal matters kept the band out of the studio through much of the 1990s, but they remained a hard-working live act and made a rousing return to form with 2003’s 61/49.

Rooney is the primary musical project of singer-songwriter Robert Schwartzman, evolving from its origin as an American rock band formed by high school friends in Los Angeles. Before Schwartzman decided to continue the project in a different direction, the band’s most enduring line-up consisted of Schwartzman (lead vocals, guitar), Louie Stephens (keyboards, piano), Taylor Locke (lead guitar, backing vocals), Matthew Winter (bass guitar) and Ned Brower (drums, backing vocals). The band is named after Ed Rooney, the principal in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Their music is reminiscent of British Invasion rock and 1980s pop, and has been compared to The Beatles, The Cars, Jellyfish, Sloan and Queen. They have toured the nation with acts such as Weezer, The Strokes, Jane’s Addiction, Travis, Keane, Audioslave, OK Go, and Queens of the Stone Age.

On the very rare occasion that a support act cancels, the show will go on as scheduled. No refunds or exchanges.

Event details:

🔹 Doors open: approximately 5:00 p.m.

🔹 Fair admission: same day admission.

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