New-wave nostalgia hits Respectable Street hard when lauded '80s act Modern English drops by West Palm Beach. Although the band did technically get back together in the late '90s and record new material, albeit with a slightly different lineup, it's the group's mid-'80s heyday for which it's most beloved.
Back in the day, Modern English scored critical laurels from heavyweights like John Peel for taking synth-driven postpunk and pushing it to pop audiences. Of course, the biggest of these hits is the immortal "I Melt With You," a staple of retro dance parties worldwide. But other singles, like the earlier "Smiles and Laughter" and the later "Chapter 12," were equally melodic takes on keyboard-boosted dance-punk.
These days, Modern English is touring again with an old-school lineup and is gratefully playing all the hits with some upcoming material for a new album sprinkled in. Support for the West Palm Beach show comes courtesy of Miami act Astari Nite, a foursome further updating a similar style of angular new wave, though with a little more jangly rock heft.
