As a crowd of concert-goers lined en masse outside the State Theatre, the 200-block of Washington Street in Falls Church began its transition back in time. Waiting in line for tickets, a collection of Members Only jackets, knee-high stockings and wig-adorned fans filtered in and out of the veritable neon-sea of costumes. It’s “80’s Night” at the State Theatre, and as the members of The Legwarmers finished eating their pre-show meal in the upstairs dressing room, ticket-holders Kim Kerr and Nina Biggs waited in anticipation with the growing crowd outside.
Kerr and Biggs are new to the show, one that has gained a reputation for selling out — sometimes a week in advance — to capacity each month. The two stood in line, dressed in their finest 80’s fashion.
“We have a couple of friends who come and they say it’s the best thing ever,” said Kerr, who made the trek from Loudoun County. “We’re expecting the best night ever.”
“And we are in love with the 80s,” added Biggs.
A few groups ahead in line, Johnny Stringle and his friend Shelly Wooldridge, both from Falls Church, eyed the crowd, attempting to spot a large 40th birthday party they had planned to attend at the show. Stringle, dressed in a braided wig and red pleather ensemble, had no trouble finding clothes for the themed concert and was enthused about recycling a previous costume idea for the evening’s festivities.
“It was a Halloween party and the theme was 80’s bands,” said Stringle. “I did it with a buddy of mine. It was Milli Vanilli and I was Vanilli.”
UPSTAIRS IN THE dressing room, The Legwarmers were also undergoing a transition, now in high-gear, as the members traded turns in front of the mirror, whether it be to place a false mustache, touch up eye-liner or straighten out a Bon Jovi-esque wig. Jorge Pezzimenti stood in front of a rack of ties and T-shirts. Dressed all in black wearing a thin piano necktie, Pezzimenti wasn’t convinced with this evening’s outfit.
“I look like My Chemical Romance with this tie,” he said, unknotting it. “You know what would remedy this?” Having thrown out the rhetorical question, he reaches for the neon-pink tie.
Despite the last minute rush to get in costume, The Legwarmers seem fairly calm for a band about to perform a decade’s greatest hits in front of a crowd that, evident from the costumes and level of excitement on the curb, have already been convinced of the show’s success. But with five years experience of performing a range of classics from Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself” to the Bangles’ “Walk Like An Egyptian” on stage at the State Theatre, the band keeps a light atmosphere before the show, listening to a number of records on a portable turntable while sipping beer and Red Bull.
Dressed in casual street clothes just a few minutes before, Matt Kelley emerges from the bathroom donning a feathered brown wig, red pants and a matching bandanna tied around his head.
“It’s awesome when your expectations exceed what happens and then it sucks,” joked the Arlington band member. “But that’s not going to happen tonight.”
According to Todd Harris, who doubles as both band manager and performer, The Legwarmers have sold out almost every show they’ve played at the State Theatre since becoming a monthly attraction, pointing out that he “can only think of a few shows that didn’t sell out.”
The band got its start playing house parties in Arlington and surrounding areas prior to its regular gig at the State Theatre, performing music that most party-goers remembered from their formative years.
“Our first show was a house party,” said Kelley. “We were rocking so hard — we were doing ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and the cops showed up. There was a guy ripping his shirt off and the cops rolled in.”
“Every punk band that couldn’t get a show at the Galaxy Hut played at that house,” added Pezzimenti. “But it was all over — they just didn’t like Survivor.”
“When we were first playing the 80s it was poison,” he continued. “I don’t mean the band Poison — I mean before the commercials started doing the 80s.”
Harris agrees.
“Now, if you go to the CVS and shop, Duran Duran will be playing on the speakers,” he said.
ON ANY GIVEN night the Legwarmers are playing, one is likely to see a range of costumed adults, from generic 80’s fashion to characters such as Maverick from “Top Gun,” or groups dressed as the Cobra Kahn from “Karate Kid.”
“One night a guy was holding up a huge car phone with the big cord all night,” said Kelley.
And having to work security for a packed house isn’t always easy, but Brian Hamilton doesn’t seem to mind, understanding the attraction of the show.
“It always sells out and lots of the time I work the doors and see the same people come every night,” said the Falls Church resident while surveying the packed venue. “I think people are naturally into role-playing.”
But while the band is enjoying its niche for now, Kelley can’t help but entertain the changing tides of pop-culture, imagining tongue-in-cheek, how the death of the 80’s revival will play out on television.
“The Nirvana cover band is going to come and kill the 80s,” said Kelley. “One day there’s going to be a picture of me in a Bret Michaels wig and then it will cut to a guy in a Kurt Cobain wig. It will be that hair metal cover bands just weren’t cool anymore.”