Song of the Day: 'That Thing You Do!' by the Wonders

UPDATE: Very sad to learn that Adam died today at 52. :-(

Read that Adam Schlesinger -- best known for his work with Fountains and Wayne and (my favorite) Ivy -- was in dire condition thanks to the coronavirus. Turns out it's not quite as grim as first reported -- he's NOT in a medically induced coma -- but he is on a ventilator fighting for his life. Thinking of how much great music he's given us, such as this classic he wrote for the 1996 film of the same name starring Tom Hanks, who was the first celebrity to be diagnosed with the dangerous virus.

I had the chance to meet Adam at a gig for Fever High -- the Bananarama-esque group he plays with now -- a few years ago and he's what you'd call a mensch, happy to chat with a fan and even share a little gossip. When I asked if there would be another Ivy album, he said that Dominique Durand had discovered that Andy Chase -- his married-with-children bandmates -- was sleeping with their nanny so ... probably not! Here's wishing him a full and speedy recovery. 

Update from his Fountains of Wayne bandmate Chris Collingwood.

Song of the Day: 'Just a Ghost' by Fever High

New single from the upcoming "Avec You" LP, out Feb. 22

Song of the Day: 'Avec You' by Fever High

The latest from the love children of Bananarama and Nu Shooz. The accompanying EP is out Feb. 22. Fun write-up about the duo HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Good Advice' by Fever High

Seems fitting that the debut album by the love children of Bananarama would come out the same week that Siobhan Fahey reunited with Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin for the original lineup's first-ever tour! Fever High's newest single features none other than Karen Walker enemy Jeff Goldblum! Download HERE.

Can you imagine?

Feeling the (Book of) Love

Buying tickets for Book of Love's 30th anniversary gig Thursday at Highline Ballroom turned out to be the best last-minute decision I've made since I dyed my hair like Limahl before the Pretenders concert at the ASU Activity Center in 1984. With my favorite local band -- Fever High -- opening and all four original Book of Love members reunited for the first time in forever, the concert left me smiling from ear to ear, feeling like I was 17 all over again. Fever High quickly got the skeptical crowd dancing and begging for more with a compact opening set that included all the songs from the band's new EP -- available now HERE -- as well as a couple new ones. 

Then Susan and Ted Ottaviano (no relation), Lauren Roselli and Jade Lee emerged, looking overjoyed by the warm response before overjoying the crowd with an album-perfect rendition of "Modigliani (Lost in Your Eyes)" from their classic debut. From there they did two album tracks from the same release -- "Still Angry" and "Happy Day" followed by two from "Candy Carol" (my sometimes favorite LP of theirs) -- "Alice Everyday" and "Counting the Rosaries" (with Lauren on lead). "Lost Souls" came next, followed by the fab new single, "All Girl Band," off their just-released remastered "30th Anniversary Collection" (available HERE). "You Make Me Feel So Good" was next -- and was kind of the theme song of the evening, getting the crowd even more riled up. 

Then Ted took center stage to thank his many fans for supporting the group after all these years, noting how his whole life he dreamed of being in an all-girl band and his dreams came true. He then launched into "With a Little Love," asking the audience for "a little help." 

After a quick costume change, Susan -- now pretty in red -- returned for Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells," then the classic one-two-three punch of "Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls." "Boy" (uh-huh!) and "Book of Love," which had the crowd all but singing lead. 

For the encore, the entire band whipped out bouquets of roses for "I Touch Roses" -- most of them were tossed to the crowd, but Ted made a point of handing one to my Damian -- then they all donned witches hats for "Witchcraft," which ended things craftily enough. Susan noted at the beginning of the show that the four of them hadn't played together in New York since the band's earliest days as wayward art students -- then half-joked as they left the stage, "See you again in 30 years!" Let's hope she was indeed joking. But in case she's not, don't miss them this time around in case it really is the Book end.

All work for Fever High.

Tantalized by Reni Lane and Anna Nordeen ...

Song of the Day: 'Tantalized' by Fever High

Excited to see that Fever High -- whom I was raving about last fall as the second coming of Bananarama -- is about to release an expanded version of their "All Work" EP, with a video for new single "Spit It Out" on the way. I caught the gals (Reni Lane and Anna Nordeen) -- who are the proteges of Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne, Ivy) -- in concert at Berlin in Alphabet City and the Living Room in Brooklyn in October and became the president of their fan club within minutes. Check out the video for "Tantalized" and tell me you don't agree.

After the show chatting up Adam Schlesinger, who said an Ivy reunion was unlikely given the messy breakup of his bandmates, one of whom pulled a Jude Law with the nanny. As my friend Brian asked, is that what "Tess Don't Tell" was about? :-)

Keep up with Fever High on Facebook HERE.

The teaser for the "All Work" reboot ...

In addition, Fever High will be opening for Book of Love on the band's 30th anniversary concert at Highline Ballroom on Thursday, June 23!

Song of the Day: 'Tantalized' by Fever High

This Brooklyn synth-pop duo reminds me quite a bit of Bananarama -- sometimes of old, sometimes of new -- which anyone who knows me is aware isn't exactly the lowest of praise. "All Work" and "Looks Good on Paper" both sound like they're right off "Deep Sea Skiving" and the single "Tantilized" could be the Ramas' latest. Nice interview with singer-instrumentalists Anna Nordeen and Reni Lane HERE, in which they reveal their biggest influences are -- you guessed it -- Bananarama plus Scritti Politti, Blondie and Book of Love!

The "All Work" EP is available now ...

Download HERE.

Live: 

10/19 
BERLIN  at 2A
25 Ave A, 
NYC 9:30 pm 

10/21 
THE LIVING ROOM 
Tunecore Live BK 
134 Metropolitan Ave, 
Brooklyn 8:30 pm