Get ready for a night of atmospheric rock and New Wave nostalgia as The Psychedelic Furs takes the stage at House of Blues, with special guests The Mission UK. This double bill promises an evening of moody anthems and cinematic soundscapes that defined a generation.
Fronted by Richard Butler’s distinctive raspy vocals and driven by his brother Tim’s hypnotic bass work, The Psychedelic Furs emerged from London’s post-punk scene in 1977. Named after The Velvet Underground track “Venus in Furs” and drawing inspiration from David Bowie and Roxy Music, the band created a unique sound that laced punk’s grit with art-rock grandeur and swooning melancholy. It hit that elusive sweet spot: poetic but tough, theatrical yet raw. If, in your youth, you wandered through a rainy city night with “Love My Way” playing on your Walkman with a vague sense of longing you couldn’t name, this show is for you.
The band became MTV darlings with its visually striking videos and unforgettable hooks. Songs like “Heaven” and “The Ghost in You” became staples of college radio and the soundtrack to countless coming-of-age moments. You probably still remember the first time you heard those opening chords of “Pretty in Pink,” that instantly recognizable guitar line that seemed to capture something indefinable about longing and possibility, becoming the anthem that launched a million teenage dreams and mixtapes. As the title track for the John Hughes-written film, it cemented the band’s place in the cultural zeitgeist of the 1980s teen movie era.
What makes the Furs special isn’t just the catalog of hits. Decades on, the band has remained vibrant and vital, and its 2020 album, Made of Rain, proved it’s not just coasting on nostalgia. The album charted internationally and earned critical acclaim as one of the Furs’ strongest works ever.
Live, The Psychedelic Furs is simply electric. The band has headlined Glastonbury, commanded the Hollywood Bowl and owned stages from London’s Royal Albert Hall to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. What you’ll witness at House of Blues is a master class in timeless rock ’n’ roll artistry.
The current lineup—featuring Rich Good on guitar, Amanda Kramer on keys and Zachary Alford on drums—delivers the hits with both precision and passion. Butler’s voice has only grown more compelling with time, carrying the weight of experience while retaining that distinctive edge that made him an icon. The band treats its classic material with deep respect while injecting fresh energy into every performance, proving that great songs never truly age—they just get better with time.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering The Psychedelic Furs’ music for the first time, this show offers something special: the chance to experience songs that helped define alternative rock and usher in New Wave, performed by the artists who shaped the genre. This is your chance to be in a room where every lyric is sung back by everyone around you, where every song unlocks a version of you from long ago.
Ah, to be young again.
Mandalay Bay, 7 p.m. July 19, starting at $43 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
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