There’s a good possibility there will be thousands at the Vinyl Revival’s Bands on the Beach concert from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 8. That’s how many folks attended the band’s performance at last year’s Band on the Beach concert series performance. You won’t have a hard time making out the ’80s-era cover band before the show amid all the sweaty, shorts-wearing spectators, because they’ll stand out in leather, bright-colors, jagged designs and all the 1980s spangles and glitter we love.
“When they join this band, I tell them their days of playing with board shorts and flip flops are over,” said Leonard Norris, a longtime Pensacola who plays guitar and co-lead vocals to the band. “You’re expected to look like you belong on stage. When they see you before they show, they should say ‘That guy, he’s in the band.’ “
Vinyl Revival features Norris, Marlyn Campbell/lead vocals, Adrian Langlois/lead guitar, Jason Cunningham/bass, Nicki Skipper/keyboard, Jim George/drums.
Expect the band, which is making its third trip to Bands on the Beach, to play various hits from some of the biggest acts of the decade, including Duran Duran, the Eurythmics, Pat Benatar, B-52s, Billy Idol and so many more.
It’s a long way from Norris’ old band from back in the late 1980s/early 1990s, Lunar Blue.
“It’s funny, because we were such purists,” said Norris, 60. “We only did original music, no covers.”
What changed?
“You really want to entertain,” he said. “People can only stand so many original songs, they want to hear something they know.” (True, many celebrated acts from Radiohead to Neil Young have faced criticism, even from fans, after playing “too much new music” in their live shows.)
Bands on the Beach is the long-running concert series hosted by the Santa Rosa Island Authority. The series, which began in spring and runs through October, features a different performer each Tuesday and takes place at the Gulfside Pavilion.
Here is the schedule for the remaining 2025 Bands on the Beach season:
Bands on the Beach July concerts
Bands on the Beach August concerts
Bands on the Beach September concerts
Bands on the Beach October concerts
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Vinyl Revival’s Bands on the Beach show will bring 1980s best to beach
Reporting by Troy Moon, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
