Break out your fanny packs, because an ’80s tribute band is returning to Starkville sure to rock your leg warmers off.
The five-man band known as the Molly Ringwalds is coming to Rick’s Cafe tonight. Hailing from Sheffield, England, the quintet does not consider itself just another ’80s cover band.
“It’s simple. We’re the ’80s experience,” Sir Devon Nooner said. “If you like ’80s music, ’80s clothing and the feeling of the ’80s, then we’re the band for you. We’ll bring a lot of energy and we’re ready to party in Starkville.”
The band consists of five unique personalities, each iconic to the ’80s era. Each member participates in singing but Nooner typically leads the vocals, while also playing guitar and synthesizer. Lord Phillip Wang takes the bass guitar and Sir Liam Thunders is on drums. Dickie English mans the synthesizers as Platinum Randi Wilde rounds out the group on the lead guitar.
What the Ringwalds’ plan to bring to the stage is more than a sound; they intend to bring a whole production consisting of light shows, makeup, costumes, dancing and video screens of their own ’80s parodies.
“We feel like we have something to prove every time we get on stage,” Nooner said. “It’s from the costumes that we wear, from the songs we perform, it’s from the banter between the songs. It’s more of a full-fledged rock opera than just a band playing a cover of ‘Brown-Eyed Girl.'”
The Ringwalds are no strangers to Starkville. November 2007 first brought them to town and they have put on five shows since then at downtown’s State Theatre.
Kayla James, senior physical education major, said she has caught a few of those concerts and was thoroughly impressed.
“It was a fun night,” James said. “I really liked how it was set up with the music videos playing on each side; it was very visual. My favorite part was that they were dressed in ’80s characters such as the Karate Kid, Twisted Sister and that guy with the red energy dome hat.”
Set lists are comprised of ’80s hits such as “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Thriller” and “Don’t Stop Believin;'” artists include Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Journey, Poison and Van Halen.
But it’s not necessary to be a fan of ’80s music to enjoy the show, James said.
“You don’t even have to love ’80s music,” James said. “They get everyone involved. With all the side things like costumes and their stage performance, they really get the crowd into it.”
This marks their first appearance at Rick’s.
“I’ve been trying to get The Molly Ringwalds here for probably four years now,” Rick Welch, owner of Rick’s Cafe, said.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about them, that they’re very entertaining,” he said. “So we’re real proud we finally got them to be playing at Rick’s.”
Rick’s Cafe will open the doors at 8 p.m. with a $10 cover charge. The Molly Ringwalds take the stage at 10:30 p.m.