Concert Review – March 27, 2026: A Flock of Seagulls with Gene Loves Jezebel (Jay Aston)
I’d seen A Flock of Seagulls before, at last year at Lost 80’s Live, which due to the format, they only performed five songs. This show felt like a chance to see them in their proper element — a full headlining set from a band that might be the most 80s of all 80s bands. Mike Score’s synthesizer, those bright, catchy guitars, the dreamlike vocals, and of course that hairdo… they’re practically 80s MTV royalty at this point. So, when I saw this A Flock of Seagulls Dallas 2026 show go up for sale, I knew I needed to be there.
And while A Flock of Seagulls was the main draw, finally getting to see Gene Loves Jezebel was like the bonus track that made the album. I had Discover and The House of Dolls on cassette back in the day. Somehow, I’d never managed to catch them live, so having Jay Aston’s version of the band on the bill made the night feel even more complete.
My First Time at Echo Lounge and Music Hall
This was my first time seeing a show at the Echo Lounge and Music Hall. Right away the place made a strong impression. Clean lines, a modern layout, and a sound system that delivers clarity instead of volume for volume’s sake — plus an unexpectedly sophisticated lighting setup, with fixtures built into the sides of the balcony that add depth and movement to the stage.
The whole experience was easy from the start. Parking was simple and right next to the venue. Getting inside was quick and painless — no long lines, no confusion, just a smooth entry. They also have a nice patio off the bar with plenty of seating. That turned out to be the perfect spot to rest our legs and backs during intermission.
The crowd was a mix of longtime fans and younger listeners, some clearly brought by parents, others discovering the band on their own. It created a multigenerational energy that felt right for a group whose influence quietly echoes through modern synthpop and indie.
By the time the night was over, I was so impressed with the Echo Lounge that I was genuinely excited knowing I already have tickets to come back next year for Public Image Ltd. It’s the kind of venue that makes you want to see more shows there.
Gene Loves Jezebel (Jay Aston) — Rediscovering a Band You Forgot You Loved
Jay Aston’s version of Gene Loves Jezebel opened the night with Break the Chain, a perfect set starter with its driving pulse and moody guitars over a steady, energetic groove. It immediately set the tone for a set that felt far more alive than a typical nostalgia warm‑up.
From there, they moved through a run of late‑80s highlights — the kind of songs you might not have heard in years but recognize instantly once the first guitar line hits. Motion of Love arrived about halfway through, still as sweeping and romantic as ever, followed by Jealous, which brought that bright, dramatic energy that always set them apart from their goth‑leaning peers.
The closing stretch was the strongest. Gorgeous — somehow both moody and uplifting — landed beautifully in the Echo Lounge’s clean mix, and they wrapped with Desire (Come and Get It), which still hits like a burst of adrenaline. It was the kind of finish that reminds you why this band mattered and why their catalog holds up.
Jay also brought humor and a bit of edge. After complimenting the crowd’s singing, he tossed off a sly line about having “shared the stage for years with someone who couldn’t sing.”Anyone familiar with the Aston‑versus‑Aston twin‑brother saga caught the reference immediately. It landed with a wink, not bitterness, and gave the set a personal touch.
A Flock of Seagulls — A Full, Joyful Flight
The A Flock of Seagulls Dallas 2026 show finally gave me the opportunity to see them in the the full headlining spotlight they deserve. I’d seen them last summer at Lost 80s Live, but that was a festival sampler — fun, but compressed. A band with a catalog as deep as theirs can’t be summed up in five songs, so getting a full headlining set this time around made all the difference.
The opened with Modern Love is Automatic which was fitting since it’s the opener on their debut album. But, one of the highlights of the night was Nightmares. I was expecting them to play it, but hearing it live in a full set gave it a darker, more dramatic weight than you get from the studio version. After they finished, bassist Pando — who basically serves as Mike Score’s hype‑man and the band’s main storyteller — stepped up to the mic and explained that Mike wrote the song after watching Mommie Dearest. It was one of those wonderfully odd bits of 80s inspiration that somehow makes perfect sense once you hear it.
Pando: The Hype‑Man We All Deserve
Pando talked to the crowd throughout the night, keeping the energy up and filling the spaces between songs with humor and warmth. He encouraged and cajoled the crowd to clap along or sing along at different moments.
Meanwhile, Mike Score stayed focused on singing and wringing those unmistakable 80s tones out of his synth. He’s very much a let‑the‑music‑do‑the‑talking kind of guy, which makes Pando’s role even more essential. Watching the two of them work the stage in such different ways made me think: I really need someone like Pando in my life. Being an introvert, I’m not comfortable with the spotlight or tooting my own horn (or playing my own synthesizer in this case) so it would be totally awesome to have someone in my corner like Pando.
Once the band hit their stride, they moved into a track that captures everything great about their 80s sound. The More You Live, The More You Love shimmered in a way that really benefits from a full‑room sound system. It’s one of their most melodic and beautiful songs.
But the moment I was most excited for — and finally got to experience — was Telecommunication. Fast, bright, and futuristic, it felt like a reminder of just how ahead of their time A Flock of Seagulls really were. Seeing it live for the first time was a genuine thrill. This is the song where the state-of-the-art lighting system at The Echo Lounge and Music Hall really shined.
The MTV‑Era Crowd‑Pleasers
And of course, the classics landed exactly the way you want them to:
- Space Age Love Song washed over the room like a memory you didn’t know you still carried.
- Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You) hit that perfect bittersweet note.
- I Ran turned the entire venue into a communal sing‑along.
Hearing these songs in a proper headlining context was awesome. They are all stone cold 80s classics and favorites at the World Famous KROQ back in the day.
Kevin Rankin: The Joy Engine
Kevin Rankin, A Flock of Seagulls drummer, was impossible not to watch. He played with this big, contagious smile, twirling drumsticks, tossing them back and forth with someone offstage, and radiating pure joy behind the kit. Before the show, I told my wife how incredible he was at Lost 80s Live last summer. I told her to make sure she watched for him. At one point my wife leaned over and said, “He’s been smiling the whole time,” and she was right — his energy made every song feel bigger and more alive. Going through the night with that kind of presence behind the drums left the whole room buzzing.
Final Thoughts
What stuck with me wasn’t the setlist or the staging — it was the sense that these songs still have weight when they’re played in front of people who care. That’s not nostalgia; that’s longevity. Mike Score’s brilliance is still earning new fans all these years later. These songs still sound fresh over forty years later.
A Flock of Seagulls even played three songs off their 2024 Some Dreams album and they all fit into the rest of the set so well. They all had that vintage A Flock of Seagulls magic without sound tired or rehashed.
Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel was also a reminder of how deep the late‑80s bench really was — melodic, dramatic, and still compelling. It proved that these songs aren’t just memories; they still have real presence on a stage.
Why I Write These Reviews
I love attending and documenting these shows because this music shaped me. It’s still shaping new generations like my teenage son, who is my frequent concert companion. This is also a way of giving my kids an insight into my past when I was around their ages.
Related Articles
- Lost 80s Live — Dallas Review (Part 1)
- Lost 80s Live — Dallas Review (Part 2)
- Lost 80s Live Tour 2025 – Playlist
