Special Edition: The Lynn Family Stadium Gets the Biggest ’80s Weekend Since…The ’80s! By Jesse Striewski

Typically Rewind It Magazine have stayed a fairly regional Florida-based publication, covering events everywhere from Daytona Beach to Tampa/St. Pete since the get-go. However, the upcoming Stadium Rock ’80s Festival in Louisville, KY on August 3rd and 4th is an exception we couldn’t pass up! This event features a killer lineup of ’80s acts (many of which we’ve covered over the years) including Florida rockers and our friends Nova Rex. So this unique occasion called for a special write-up (no matter what the distance might be!)!

Hosted by comedian and beloved metalhead Don Jamieson (formerly of That Metal Show), the event was first announce in May, and will coincide in what the major of Louisville has officially declared as “80s Week” from August 1st to 7th. In addition to live music, the festival will also feature everything from ’80s merchandise, fan zones, trivia, classic arcade games, and even a DeLorean straight out of Back to the Future! Below we provide a detailed break down of each act to play over the course of the festival in consecutive order.

Don Jameison (seen here at The Lynn Family Stadium on May 8) of That Metal Show fame will host the upcoming event this August in Louisville, KY.

Nova Rex:

Going strong since 1985, Nova Rex have been bringing the party with them wherever they go for nearly four decades. Anthems like “Bring the House Down Tonight” and “Turn It Up Loud” will no doubt be heard blaring throughout the stadium to kick things off at the massive festival. Check them out on stage, and in their new documentary, Nova Rex: Ain’t Easy Staying Cheesy.

Kenny Wilkerson, Nova Rex bassist/co-founder and star of the film Nova Rex: Ain’t Easy Stayin’ Cheesy, at The Lynn Family Stadium on Wednesday, May 8.

Pretty Boy Floyd:

Good old Pretty Boy Floyd are one of those bands who emerged from the late ’80s that never lets down. And speaking of Nova Rex, I actually saw both bands live for the first time together on the same bill in Daytona Beach back in 2018. Their hits “Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire)” and the power ballad “I Wanna Be With You” are enough to get any crowd moving no matter the location.

Enuff Z’Nuff:

One of the many bands playing I have still yet to cross off the old bucket list (though I did manage to catch and even meet former guitarist Tony Fennell – who has served two terms with the band since 2016 – at a When In Rome II show in Orlando back in 2020). Yet, hearing such classics as “New Thing” and “Fly High Michelle” live has still alluded me all of these years (but hopefully not for much longer!).

Trixter:

Hailing from my home state of New Jersey at the tail end of the wave of ’80s metal, Trixter were notable for such infectious hits as “One In A Million” and “Give It To Me Good,” which no doubt the band will soon unleash on Louisville for sure. Just last year I was able to catch bassist P.J. Farely on stage with Fozzy, and if the rest of the band’s energy is anything like his, they surely will not disappoint!

Ron Keel Band:

In my book, Ron Keel and his band Keel were a criminally underrated act at the height of the ’80s heyday, and I’d still love to catch him live in concert some day. I actually revisited the first couple of Keel albums recently, and there’s a lot of great material still to be found within. Audiences can be sure to hear such classics as “Don’t Say You Love Me” and Keel’s version of “Because the Night” over the course of this rocking weekend!

Vixen:

Without a doubt this is one of the most talked-about acts on the bill right now; after recently announcing via their social media platforms that they had parted ways with singer Lorraine Lewis, Vixen are keeping things extremely “hush hush” about who their new “mystery” vocalist might be. But one thing’s for sure, these ladies will have nothing to worry about as long as they maintain the same dedicated level of high energy they did when Rewind It covered them back in 2019!

Vixen performing in Orlando, FL on 10/30/19 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

John Corabi:

When Motley Crue released their one and only album with John Corabi on vocals in place of Vince Neil in 1994, many fans didn’t quite grasp it at the time…but I was fully there for every minute of it! To this day it remains one of the heaviest albums the Crue have ever put out, and I would love to hear Corabi’s raspy voice singing tracks from both it, and his solo catalog as well. (Side note: if you’ve never actually listened to the self-titled Crue album, start with the track “Hammered;” not only does it feature some of Corabi’s best vocal work ever, but it remains my favorite track from the album to this very day). Aside from his previously-mentioned work with the Crue and solo work, Corabi has also done time with The Scream and Ratt over the years as well (among many others).

L.A. Guns:

What more can be said about L.A. Guns that hasn’t already been said before? Without them, there’d simply be no Guns N’ Roses, and the entire ’80s Sunset Strip scene as a whole might have looked much differently. Earlier this year I was finally able to catch the band live for the first time after many previous missed opportunities, and I can confirm they were definitely worth the wait. Tracks like “Never Enough,” “Rip and Tear,” and “The Ballad of Jayne” are just a few staples of theirs worth noting, and any true fan of ’80s hard rock and heavy metal should try to see the band at least once in their lifetime.

L.A. Guns performing in Mt. Dora, FL on 3/8/24 (Photo by Jacob Striewski).

Aldo Nova:

Here’s one of those unique acts on the bill that often gets overlooked, Aldo Nova. This Canadian guitar virtuoso has been knocking out hits like “Foolin’ Yourself” and “Fantasy” since the early ’80s, and is a must-see for any serious fan of rock guitar. Nova is also an award-winning producer and songwriter who has collaborated with the likes of Blue Oyster Cult to Celine Dion over the years.

Slaughter:

Who wasn’t rocking along to some Slaughter in the late ’80s/early ’90s? It was nearly impossible to escape such anthems as “Up All Night” and “Fly to the Angels,” as well as their track from the 1991 Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey soundtrack, “Shout It Out Loud” (a completely infectious number!). Mark Slaughter and company have been going strong for a long time now, and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Great White:

Another sorely underrated act, Great White have earned second-billing on the festival bill at The Lynn Family Stadium. Largely remembered for their 1989 cover of Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” the band also has a host of other notable hits in the form of “Save Your Love,” “Rock Me,” and “House of Broken Love” that will surely get fans moving from their seats. I’ve been lucky enough to both see the band live, and even interview former frontman Jack Russell over the years. Definitely make some time for these guys if you haven’t yet by now!

Queensryche:

There’s simply no mistaking the distinctive sound of Queensryche (no matter what era of theirs it might be), nor is there any overlooking the band’s achievements over the years. I’ve been fortunate enough to see the band twice (three times if counting a solo performance by former lead vocalist Geoff Tate just earlier this year) since 2013, even covering the band’s Orlando show for Rewind It back in 2019. From “Queen of the Reich,” “Jet City Woman,” and “I Don’t Believe in Love,” to the timeless power ballad “Silent Lucidity,” there is no shortage of epic music to be heard at any given Queensryche show; don’t pass this one up if you haven’t already seen them before!

Queensryche performing in Orlando, FL on 3/2/19 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

To wrap things up, The Lynn Family Stadium is a state-of-the-art venue primarily used for sporting events. Opened in 2020, it serves as the home for the Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC. The stadium boasts a seating capacity of over 15,000 and features modern amenities, including premium seating options, hospitality suites, and a fan-friendly design. Its central location and advanced facilities make it a prime destination for sports events and concerts, and is located at 350 Adams St., Louisville, Ky. USA.

Napoleon Dynamite 20th Anniversary Live at The Plaza Live in Orlando, FL on 2/21/24 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Jacob Striewski

I can recall the first time I ever watched 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite some two decades ago, with its subtle, off-the-wall humor striking a nerve with me instantly. I’ve since shown the now-cult classic to both my wife Brooke and son Jacob, who equally appreciate it for the unique moment in time that it was. So catching a twentieth anniversary showing of the film, with the presence of such core cast members as Efren Ramirez (Pedro Sanchez), John Gries (Uncle Rico), and Napoleon Dynamite himself, Jon Heder, at The Plaze Live in Orlando last Wednesday, February 21, was a no-brainer for all of us.

The evening started off promising enough; plenty of fans in attendance had on their best attire, with fanny packs, side pony-tails, and “Vote for Pedro” shirts in abundance. It was near-impossible to not feel the excitement flowing throughout the venue prior to the film, and the applause was infectious by the time the opening credits rolled.

For those who have never seen it before, Napoleon Dynamite follows the day-to-day life of a geeky high school student (Heder as the titular character, as previously noted), who navigates through everything from dating, to assisting his new classmate and friend Pedro (Ramirez) run for class president against the popular school cheerleader, Summer Wheatly (Haylie Duff).

Whether or not the film is “flawless” is no doubt debatable, but nonetheless it certainly draws its viewers into its story, making for sheer escapist entertainment. The ending shot alone of Napoleon and Deb (Tina Majorino) “riding off into the sunset” of sorts while playing tetherball together with the 1989 When in Rome hit “The Promise” closing the scene out is one of pure movie perfection (it should also be noted, the song itself has since become significant to my wife and I, having both heard it live and interviewed When In Rome Keyboardist Michael Floreal on our anniversary in January of 2020).

Jon Heder (a.k.a. Napoleon Dynamite) in the midst of the crowd last Wednesday evening, 2/21/24 at The Plaza Live in Orlando, FL.

Immediately following the showing, Gries and Ramriez appeared on stage with a guitar and harmonica, respectively, in hand for a musical number, before Heder barreled down a ramp towards the stage on a bike, igniting a roar from the crowd. It was right then and there that you knew you were in the right place if you were in attendance.

Heder was no doubt the leader of the pack, while Ramierz took more of a laid back, backseat approach, and Gries played the more goofy old man role (having grown up watching many of his films back in the day such as ’80s gems like 1985’s Real Genius and 1986’s TerrorVision, I may have been in awe of him more so than any others).

Aside from the occasional awkward question from a fan or two (the fairly obnoxious mom-out-way-past-her-bedtime heckler had obviously not been out in public in awhile), the Q&A with the crowd went fairly smooth, with many an enlightened answer regarding the films production. And bringing those dressed in their very best Napoleon Dynamite-inspired gear on to the stage at the end for a best-dressed contest (and even giving everyone a tater tot on their way out!) was the perfect cherry on top to the evening.

The cast of Napoleon Dynamite (from left to right, Efren Ramirez, Jon Heder, and John Gries) performing at the start of the night at The Plaza Live in Orlando, FL on 2/21/24.

The Motels/ Bow Wow Wow/ When In Rome II at the House of Blues Orlando on 1/25/20 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Brooke Striewski

When In Rome

The 1980’s might be long gone, but there’s no doubt that the spirit of that decade lives on via the music it gave us, as well as both the bands – and fans – who continue to keep it alive. This was evident last Saturday night, January 25, when the House of Blues in Orlando hosted the Totally ’80s Live Tour, which featured a trio of acts who each made their own respective marks on the era at the time.

When In Rome II originally spawned from England in the late ’80s, and are best remembered for their 1988 synth pop hit “The Promise.” This version of the band (another version still occasionally performs, hence the “II” in this one’s name) is led by original keyboardist Michael Floreale, and has been going strong for over a decade now. The band recently added former Ultravox singer (and ex-Enuff Z’Nuff guitarist) Tony Fennall to their lineup. Rather than focus only on their older material, the group actually included a heavy mix of recent and semi-recent numbers in their set, including “Metropolis,” “Kings and Queens,” “Don’t Tell Me,” “All Stood Still,” and “Haunted” before of course closing things out with “The Promise.”

Shortly after their set, I briefly interviewed Floreale in the band’s backstage area, where he told me how “surprised” he was regarding the crowd reaction the band has been receiving when performing said newer tracks so far on this tour. Be on the lookout for the full interview to post shortly on all of Rewind It Magazine’s social media accounts, as well as YouTube.

Another underrated band from the ’80s time frame, Bow Wow Wow, were next on the bill. Much like When In Rome II, the band is held together by one sole original member, bassist Leigh Gorman, yet are still as tight as ever. Energetic newcomer Kristen Dinsmore does a more than admirable job filing the shoes of beloved former front woman Annabella Lwin, and current guitarist Erik Ferentinos keeps the post-punk spark that influenced the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers back in the day alive and well. Fan favorites such as “Aphrodisiac,” “Do You Wanna Hold Me,” “Baby, Oh No,” and “Louis Quatorze” all made their way in the band’s set list before closing out strong with their rendition of “I Want Candy.”

And finally, The Motels took the stage to great applause. At 68, it’s no small feat for band leader Martha Davis to still perform as well as she does. Slightly reserved at first, things picked up quickly once she took off her hat and truly let her hair down (or in this case, up!). Classics both old and new graced their set, with “Suddenly Last Summer,” “Total Control,” “Careful,” “Cry Baby,” “Punchline,” and “Only the Lonely” being among the highlights.

Without a doubt everyone who was at the House of Blues in Orlando was taken on a trip down memory lane they won’t soon forget. Be sure to catch the tour when it comes to your town, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for our exclusive interview with When In Rome II keyboardist Michael Floreale!