Tin Roof!  The B-52s Are Coming!

It was announced today that this year’s Rockin’ at the Knox bill will include headliners The B-52s!  The beehives will land on September 27 outside the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.  This is one of the city’s best outdoor events, and it’s only been getting bigger since it debuted a few years ago.  In the past, the event has involved such acts as Feist, Wilco and Elvis Costello.

This year’s headliner is sure to raise some eyebrows, since they’re mostly known for their big Top 40 hit, “Love Shack” (and maybe “Roam,” if you’re casual enough of a fan), but I would insist that the allure of The B-52s stretches far beyond their radio hits.  Think about “Rock Lobster,” “Planet Claire,” and “Private Idaho.” Think about the clothes.  The hair.  The insanely outrageous lead singer, Fred Schneider.  Think about the tin roof.  These guys and gals are far more retro (authentically so) and hip than what most people would think.

Take a look:

And let’s not forget the most exciting part of this news.  We here at Block Club happen to have “on staff” the very actual stylist for the “Love Shack” video.  Yes, that’s right—the famous video where the band and their crazy friends rock it out in a little shanty in the Catskills (Woodstock, I’ve been told).  Our girl Joan worked on that video and helped to make it the legend that it is today.  Sweet work Joan!

On another side note, The B-52s were my very first concert, if you don’t include the three or four times my parents took me to see Neil Diamond at The Aud.  I bought my first concert ticket, with my own money, for The B-52s and the Violent Femmes at the old Darien Lake amphitheater, which was about as big as my apartment.  It was for their “Good Stuff” tour in the ‘90s, and it was a lot of fun.  So my personal experience with the ‘52s will come first circle this fall.

Photo courtesy this guy.

Posted by on 07/30 at 11:08 AM