The Jamestown Jams concert series continues its celebration of music from decades past with 1980s cover band the Deloreans at Jamestown Beach Friday night.
“It’s a very happy era,” said Melanie Waters, the band’s bassist and one of its lead vocalists. “It’s full of energy.”
She helped launch the band a decade ago, when ’70s tunes were back in fashion, anticipating the same would soon be true for music from the decade synonymous with “Back to the Future,” Pac-Man and actual music videos on MTV.
“It’s a very defined era,” said Waters, who goes by Melanie Delorean onstage. “I think it’s one of the last defined eras.”
The band doesn’t discriminate, covering everything from new wave to hip hop, Tears for Fears to Cyndi Lauper and Chaka Khan.
“It’s such a vast range of artists,” Waters said. “We try to touch on it all.”
The band pulls from a repertoire of 125 songs, but the bandmates don’t explicitly plan setlists in advance. Instead, they read the audience, then decide based on that.
“Sometimes you get the crowds driven by dance,” Waters said. “Some are driven by pop. Some are driven by rock.”
She said the band’s shows often consist of 40 or 50 songs in a night, depending on what the venue allows They have previously played at local sites like the Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre and Oceans and Ale within Williamsburg Premium Outlets. But it’s been a while, and a return is overdue.
“We don’t get into Williamsburg often,” Waters said. “I’m looking forward to being there. I think it’s going to be a great time.”
Birkenmeyer can be reached by phone at 757-790-3029.
Want to go?
The Deloreans perform Friday at Jamestown Beach Event Park, 2205 Jamestown Road. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The band plays 6:30-8 p.m. Foodatude and Prost food trucks will offer grub; the Williamsburg Winery will serve wine. Free admission.
