LIVE REVIEW: Totally Tubular Festival in Mashantucket, CT (12.28.25)
On a cold and breezy Sunday night in Ledyard, Connecticut, a packed crowd of fans, both young and old, gathered at the Foxwoods Casino to attend the Totally Tubular Festival—an all-’80s bash, celebrating the decade’s most iconic artists. The night featured performances from A Flock of Seagulls, Men Without Hats, Thomas Dolby, The Motels, The Romantics, Annabella’s Bow Wow Wow, and Tommy Tutone.
To kick off the evening, one of the show’s managers walked onto the stage to welcome the crowd to the show. Standing with pride, he greeted the audience, saying, “Hello Foxwoods, welcome to the Totally Tubular Festival,” while adding some humor with lines like “These artists have traveled through the sleet and snow to bring you a rockin’ show.”
Moments after, the first power-pop band of the night, Tommy Tutone, stormed the stage under bright neon lighting, which flooded the entire theater. One of the first things that immediately shocked me was the way the act was introduced—not just as a single performer, but as a full band. I had always assumed “Tommy Tutone” referred mainly to the lead singer, but instead learned that the iconic frontman was Tommy Heath, backed by a tight and powerful backing band.
From the moment Heath kicked into the opening riff of the song “Trust My Memory,” he reminded the audience that he’s far more than what some might label as a “one-hit wonder.” With a commanding voice and simple attire, he’s simply just a great rock-and-roll artist—one whose performance deserves attention so many decades later.
Of course, the song “Angel Say No,” which peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, was another standout moment of the 5-song set. Even though a short set, Heath couldn’t help but introduce the band. Led by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Tommy Heath, the band is held up by lead guitarist Jimmy James, drummer Steve Fister, and female bassist Kerry Movassagh.
Before ending the show, the band performed the iconic song “867-5309/Jenny,” telling the audience that people had always believed “Jenny” was a girl, but it is actually his iconic Fender Telecaster. The set ended on a high note, proving that Tommy Tutone’s legacy remains intact.
Next up was Bow Wow Wow, led by original vocalist Annabella Lwin, now performing under Annabella’s Bow Wow Wow. Before she stormed the stage to the band’s 1981 track “W.O.R.K.,” the show manager from earlier in the evening returned, humorously sharing how he once held a crush for Lwin and even still does due to her beautiful presence. He also noted how Annabella was one of the early female punk singers of the 1980s, representing and inspiring a large number of women during a male-dominant era of music.
Annabella, sporting a cat-eared headband and a teal blue dress, danced across every inch of the stage, frequently leaning on the crowd for backing vocals during songs such as “Do You Wanna Hold Me” and “C30 C60 C90 Go!” Though the set was still on the shorter side, the band couldn’t help but end on a high note by performing the energetic cover of The Strangeloves song “I Want Candy.” Even though the song wasn’t originally their own, Bow Wow Wow has always been known for THEIR cover.
Soon after, The Romantics took the stage, opening up with the 1983 single “One In A Million,” which charted at No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. Led by original vocalist and rhythm guitarist Wally Palmar, the band rocked through a four-song set with energy and that iconic sound they’re known for. Supporting Palmar was lead guitarist Coz Canler, a member since 1981, along with newer additions—bassist Bruce Witkin, backing guitarist Joey Malone, and drummer Mike Rizzi—all members who contributed to the rock-driven performance.
Closing out the evening, the band delivered back-to-back performances of “Talking In Your Sleep” and “What I Like About You,” two iconic hits that have made a soaring resurgence, through movies and television, reaffirming their lasting appeal. Even after almost 50 years, the band still kicks ass!
Next up was the iconic band The Motels, who brought in a wave of moody and atmospheric new wave to the stage. Fronted by the legendary Martha Davis, her unmistakable voice captivated the crowd throughout their short yet powerful set. From the moment the first notes rang out, it was clear why The Motels became one of the defining sounds of the early ’80s.
Immediately launching into the hits, keyboardist Marty Jourard—who has been with the group since 1978—sent the audience into a frenzy by playing the opening notes of the 1982 hit single “Only the Lonely.” Lead singer Martha Davis stood front and center with bright pink hair, her striking look amplifying the emotion during each song of their four-track set.
One of the highlights of the set was right around the end when the band performed the 1983 hit single “Suddenly Last Summer,” a defining staple from their career, which drew a huge response from fans in the crowd. Just when the audience had thought the performance had reached its conclusion, the band continued and ended the set by performing a brand-new song titled “Strange Ways” from their upcoming EP in 2026. Bringing the set to a memorable and satisfying close, the band walked off stage, reminding the audience they still hold power, with next year being their 55th anniversary.
Following a brief intermission, experimental and atmospheric artist Thomas Dolby came back to the stage. His 1982 hit “She Blinded Me With Science” is what he is best known for, but Dolby made it clear that he was a sharp musician with a touch of humor and a strong passion for electronic innovation, not merely a one-off novelty. Using keyboards, synthesizers, and his iconic, powerful machine, he led the audience through a brief set of three songs that were a mix of his biggest hits and deeper cuts, and at the same time, he delivered charming comments and anecdotes that showed how he was one of the pioneers of the synth, driven pop. The crowd went wild when the recognizable beginning of “She Blinded Me With Science” was played, thus turning the venue into a massive sing-along, and it was one of the most joyous moments of the evening.
After Dolby’s engaging performance, Men Without Hats took the stage and immediately changed the night to full party mode. Frontman Ivan Doroschuk captivated the crowd with his infectious energy, and throughout the set, he kept the audience involved. Nearly all the crowd was up dancing and singing along to hits like “The Safety Dance” and “Pop Goes the World.” The band’s introduction into the new single “I Love The 80’s,” and inviting the crowd to clap and sing along, turning the performance was a huge highlight of the set and a great way of demonstrating that Men Without Hats still have the capability of connecting with audiences even after decades of career.
The Totally Tubular Festival was closed by A Flock of Seagulls, who delivered a fitting and atmospheric finale. Original frontman Mike Score was leading the band as they leaned into the rich, synth-heavy sound that was the early 1980s new wave movement.
The crowd was enveloped with the songs “Space Age Love Song” and “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)” before the night ended with their iconic hit single from the spring of ’82. Before introducing the final song, “I Ran (So Far Away),” the band’s bassist invited the audience to come from off the stage, creating a wave of happiness that brought the nostalgic fans of all ages out of their seats. The brilliant keyboards and the soaring vocals were a powerful ending and left the audience satisfied as the last notes reverberated into the night and officially ended 2025.
Foxwoods was a party on December 28th, and I cannot wait to go see the Totally Tubular Festival sometime soon! As actor Matthew Broderick once said in the film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”…
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
