New Wave Nation

New Wave Nation
Fans rock out to music from over-the-top '80s
October 14, 2005
DAVE RICHARDS

With his spiky hair and body piercings, Joe Pearo looks like a prototypical punk rocker.
Truth is, he's an '80s guy at heart, a huge fan of Modern English, Cheap Trick and other bands that came of age when he did.
That's why he's parked at Sherlock's. On stage, New Wave Nation -- with band members squeezed into air-tight, red-vinyl pants -- pumps out one vintage '80s hit after another: "Relax,""867-5309,""What I Like About You,""Sunglasses at Night,""Funkytown."
Who sang those? Who cares when the dance floor groans under the collective weight of scores of '80s fans, soaking up bouncy favorites from 20-plus years ago.
Pearo, 36, watches it all, grinning.
"I like '80s music," he says. "My parents told me, 'You have to watch MTV'when I was a kid, so I had to. And this is what happened. But I like new wave. And the hair bands, too. It brings back youth, it brings back good times in high school and my past life."
The '80s are back and booming, says Ken Harding, the rhythm guitarist for Ohio's New Wave Nation.
"We're kind of peaking right now," Harding says. "When we first started in 1998, people were looking at us like, 'You do 'Video Killed the Radio Star?'Who wants to hear that?" And, at first, not a lot of people did. But now it's one of our biggest hits. It took a while, but, yeah, it's probably at its biggest peak ever."
Makes sense. Nostalgia runs in 20-year cycles, says Bev Walker of Sherlock's, which features '80s music every Friday with such bands as Hammerd, Money Shot, Nerds, Inc., 1988, and New Wave Nation.
Just as "Happy Days" and "Grease" celebrated the 1950s in the 1970s, the '80s rule the retro roost in the double 0s via cover bands, VH1's popular "I Love the 80s," and endless use of '80s tunes in TV commercials.
Even some of today's more popular bands -- Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, Darkness --mimic '80s heroes. Meanwhile, '80s artists keep touring, including Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper and even "Ice Ice Baby" hitmaker Vanilla Ice, who's scheduled to play the Cellblock on Saturday.
"It's a cycle," says Walker. "The same thing happened with the '70s. I had a seven-year run with that. Now, everything has come around to the 1980s. It's fun, party music, the retro stuff, the MTV bands. It's a fun crowd and fun music."
For fan after fan, fun is the operative word. The '80s signify a stable, secure, relatively peaceful time. Ronald Reagan was a fixture in the White House; "The Cosby Show" ruled TV; the economy hummed fairly smoothly.
Looks good next to now, with war in Iraq, high gas prices, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and terrorism. Retreating to the '80s and its bubbly, disposable dance-pop and hair metal -- be it by Madonna, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran or Bon Jovi -- makes sense.
New Wave Nation sees plenty of younger fans, such as Mike and Jen Frawley, who rarely miss a show.
"I didn't listen to a lot of music until I got into high school, so early '90s is when I started," says Mike Frawley, 27, who especially likes "Walk Like an Egyptian,""Jessie's Girl" and anything by Prince.
"I knew these songs, but I didn't grow up with them, so they're new to me. They're fun to listen to. You just get sick of hearing all the same teeny-bop stuff and rap and everything else from today. This is different. It's fun to listen to."
"I never was big on '80s music, but we started coming to New Wave Nation performances, and I got used to it and started listening to it," adds Jen Frawley, 26. "We actually got their CD a couple of weeks ago. The songs are just catchy."
The '80s -- unlike earlier generations -- also conjure up specific images for many fans, courtesy of MTV, which signed on in 1981. By then, radio had splintered -- rock here, country there, alternative on college stations. But MTV functioned as a national station of sorts, unifying a generation.
"MTV and videos came along, and that was a whole new thing," says Bob Myers, New Wave Nation's drummer. "Up until then, it was radio and tapes. Then, MTV kicked off, and that's why image became so important. You not only heard the bands, you saw them. It wasn't just about T-shirts anymore, it was leather and big hair and bandanas."
And fun, don't forget fun. Rock by the end of the '70s had become ponderous, self-important. The earliest videos, especially new-wave ones, tended to be cheeky, funny and zany -- anything to grab attention, whether it was David Byrne in a big suit, Boy George in girls' clothes, or Devo with flowerpots on their heads.
"Everything from the '80s is about excess and being over the top," says New Wave Nation's Randy Horn. "Big lights, big hair, strange clothes, just crazy stuff."
New Wave Nation flashes '80s videos on a TV screen during its show, while David Magoon puts on actual '80s video DJ dance parties under the company name Sonic Eclipse. On big screens, he plays videos he's collected since t - Erie Times

New Wave Nation
Fans rock out to music from over-the-top '80s
October 14, 2005
DAVE RICHARDS

With his spiky hair and body piercings, Joe Pearo looks like a prototypical punk rocker.
Truth is, he's an '80s guy at heart, a huge fan of Modern English, Cheap Trick and other bands that came of age when he did.
That's why he's parked at Sherlock's. On stage, New Wave Nation -- with band members squeezed into air-tight, red-vinyl pants -- pumps out one vintage '80s hit after another: "Relax,""867-5309,""What I Like About You,""Sunglasses at Night,""Funkytown."
Who sang those? Who cares when the dance floor groans under the collective weight of scores of '80s fans, soaking up bouncy favorites from 20-plus years ago.
Pearo, 36, watches it all, grinning.
"I like '80s music," he says. "My parents told me, 'You have to watch MTV'when I was a kid, so I had to. And this is what happened. But I like new wave. And the hair bands, too. It brings back youth, it brings back good times in high school and my past life."
The '80s are back and booming, says Ken Harding, the rhythm guitarist for Ohio's New Wave Nation.
"We're kind of peaking right now," Harding says. "When we first started in 1998, people were looking at us like, 'You do 'Video Killed the Radio Star?'Who wants to hear that?" And, at first, not a lot of people did. But now it's one of our biggest hits. It took a while, but, yeah, it's probably at its biggest peak ever."
Makes sense. Nostalgia runs in 20-year cycles, says Bev Walker of Sherlock's, which features '80s music every Friday with such bands as Hammerd, Money Shot, Nerds, Inc., 1988, and New Wave Nation.
Just as "Happy Days" and "Grease" celebrated the 1950s in the 1970s, the '80s rule the retro roost in the double 0s via cover bands, VH1's popular "I Love the 80s," and endless use of '80s tunes in TV commercials.
Even some of today's more popular bands -- Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, Darkness --mimic '80s heroes. Meanwhile, '80s artists keep touring, including Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper and even "Ice Ice Baby" hitmaker Vanilla Ice, who's scheduled to play the Cellblock on Saturday.
"It's a cycle," says Walker. "The same thing happened with the '70s. I had a seven-year run with that. Now, everything has come around to the 1980s. It's fun, party music, the retro stuff, the MTV bands. It's a fun crowd and fun music."
For fan after fan, fun is the operative word. The '80s signify a stable, secure, relatively peaceful time. Ronald Reagan was a fixture in the White House; "The Cosby Show" ruled TV; the economy hummed fairly smoothly.
Looks good next to now, with war in Iraq, high gas prices, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and terrorism. Retreating to the '80s and its bubbly, disposable dance-pop and hair metal -- be it by Madonna, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran or Bon Jovi -- makes sense.
New Wave Nation sees plenty of younger fans, such as Mike and Jen Frawley, who rarely miss a show.
"I didn't listen to a lot of music until I got into high school, so early '90s is when I started," says Mike Frawley, 27, who especially likes "Walk Like an Egyptian,""Jessie's Girl" and anything by Prince.
"I knew these songs, but I didn't grow up with them, so they're new to me. They're fun to listen to. You just get sick of hearing all the same teeny-bop stuff and rap and everything else from today. This is different. It's fun to listen to."
"I never was big on '80s music, but we started coming to New Wave Nation performances, and I got used to it and started listening to it," adds Jen Frawley, 26. "We actually got their CD a couple of weeks ago. The songs are just catchy."
The '80s -- unlike earlier generations -- also conjure up specific images for many fans, courtesy of MTV, which signed on in 1981. By then, radio had splintered -- rock here, country there, alternative on college stations. But MTV functioned as a national station of sorts, unifying a generation.
"MTV and videos came along, and that was a whole new thing," says Bob Myers, New Wave Nation's drummer. "Up until then, it was radio and tapes. Then, MTV kicked off, and that's why image became so important. You not only heard the bands, you saw them. It wasn't just about T-shirts anymore, it was leather and big hair and bandanas."
And fun, don't forget fun. Rock by the end of the '70s had become ponderous, self-important. The earliest videos, especially new-wave ones, tended to be cheeky, funny and zany -- anything to grab attention, whether it was David Byrne in a big suit, Boy George in girls' clothes, or Devo with flowerpots on their heads.
"Everything from the '80s is about excess and being over the top," says New Wave Nation's Randy Horn. "Big lights, big hair, strange clothes, just crazy stuff."
New Wave Nation flashes '80s videos on a TV screen during its show, while David Magoon puts on actual '80s video DJ dance parties under the company name Sonic Eclipse. On big screens, he plays videos he's collected since t - Erie Times

Celebrations
Fans of *80s bands find harmony
By Jeffrey Ciotti
Contributing writer


I met my fiance, Jennifer Jones, on Nov. 3rd, 1998 at Sherlock*s.
We were both there with friends to see 1980*s cover band from Akron, OH called Retro-Active.
After talking, we found out that both of us had been going there to see this band. We had been in the same building, once a month for a year before meeting that night in November.
In December, we saw each other again when the band came back.
After that, we had talked a few times. I had told her about another '80s group that would be playing Sherlock*s in early January 1999. They*re from Canton.
She told me she had never heard of New Wave Nation, so we agreed to go hear the band together. That was our first date.
Unfortunately, I accepted a position near Cuyahoga Falls (Near Akron) before we had an opportunity to see one another again and to get to know each other. I had to move the day after that first January date at Sherlock*s.
Even though I had left Erie, Jennifer made an effort to start s long distance relationship with me.
Throughout our dating, we continued to go see the band we saw on our first date. After being away for four months, I decided to move back to Erie. Our once long-distance relation had developed into something very special. We wanted to be together. And it didn*t take long before we both realized that we wanted to be each others life partner in marriage.
Our relationship had developed around timing, so I knew I had to wait for the perfect time to propose.
I always wanted to propose in a unique fashion.
Since we met at Sherlock*s and our first date was there, I came up with a plan.
I had sung onstage with this band before, so I arranged to join the band members onstage on august 24, 2000. Only the band and I knew about my plan.
The night came, and I surprised everyone first by singing *Don*t Change* by INXS, which is a song that means a lot to us. When I finished singing, I dedicate the song to Jennifer.
Then came my second surprise. I called her up onstage to introduce her to everyone and to tell the audience about our story. I then turned to her and told her I loved her, got down on one knee and asked her, *Will you marry me?*
As I knelt there on stage anxiously awaiting an answer to my question, I could see tears running down her cheeks, and she responded with a definite, YES! I placed the ring on her finger and the audience cheered in celebration of our engagement.
Jennifer Marie Jones, 29, is the daughter of Robert and Barbara Jones of Erie. She works in the food and nutrition department of St Vincent Health Center. Jeffery Lawrence Ciotti, 28, is the son of Linda and Timothy Ciotti. He is in training in Minnesota, Minn, for a position as the media supervisor for Best Buy which is to open in the fall.
The couple will be married September 8th, 2001 at St Patrick Catholic Church.
- Erie Times

Celebrations
Fans of *80s bands find harmony
By Jeffrey Ciotti
Contributing writer


I met my fiance, Jennifer Jones, on Nov. 3rd, 1998 at Sherlock*s.
We were both there with friends to see 1980*s cover band from Akron, OH called Retro-Active.
After talking, we found out that both of us had been going there to see this band. We had been in the same building, once a month for a year before meeting that night in November.
In December, we saw each other again when the band came back.
After that, we had talked a few times. I had told her about another '80s group that would be playing Sherlock*s in early January 1999. They*re from Canton.
She told me she had never heard of New Wave Nation, so we agreed to go hear the band together. That was our first date.
Unfortunately, I accepted a position near Cuyahoga Falls (Near Akron) before we had an opportunity to see one another again and to get to know each other. I had to move the day after that first January date at Sherlock*s.
Even though I had left Erie, Jennifer made an effort to start s long distance relationship with me.
Throughout our dating, we continued to go see the band we saw on our first date. After being away for four months, I decided to move back to Erie. Our once long-distance relation had developed into something very special. We wanted to be together. And it didn*t take long before we both realized that we wanted to be each others life partner in marriage.
Our relationship had developed around timing, so I knew I had to wait for the perfect time to propose.
I always wanted to propose in a unique fashion.
Since we met at Sherlock*s and our first date was there, I came up with a plan.
I had sung onstage with this band before, so I arranged to join the band members onstage on august 24, 2000. Only the band and I knew about my plan.
The night came, and I surprised everyone first by singing *Don*t Change* by INXS, which is a song that means a lot to us. When I finished singing, I dedicate the song to Jennifer.
Then came my second surprise. I called her up onstage to introduce her to everyone and to tell the audience about our story. I then turned to her and told her I loved her, got down on one knee and asked her, *Will you marry me?*
As I knelt there on stage anxiously awaiting an answer to my question, I could see tears running down her cheeks, and she responded with a definite, YES! I placed the ring on her finger and the audience cheered in celebration of our engagement.
Jennifer Marie Jones, 29, is the daughter of Robert and Barbara Jones of Erie. She works in the food and nutrition department of St Vincent Health Center. Jeffery Lawrence Ciotti, 28, is the son of Linda and Timothy Ciotti. He is in training in Minnesota, Minn, for a position as the media supervisor for Best Buy which is to open in the fall.
The couple will be married September 8th, 2001 at St Patrick Catholic Church.
- Erie Times

Rockin' back to the '80s with New Wave Nation at Valentines
The Observer, Dunkirk NY.
September 2004
By Justin Kern & Nick Dean

Sure, usually local bands have what it takes to rock Fredonia...but this weekend the Ohio-based band New Wave Nation will bring thier retro sound and massive stage show to Valentine's Bar in Fredonia with a set of all '80s cover songs.
"This has taken on a complete life of it's own and I think it's largely due to the stage show we have," said guitarist Ken Harding. "We're not just about dressing up like Michael Jackson and Prince...We have big monitors showing the videos of the songs we're playing, we have our own Intelligent Lighting, special effects, lasers and all this in conjuction with the music. Rather than just being a band who stands up there and covers '80s songs, we're more about the overall show and I think that's what sets us apart."
Dedicated to the retro '80s music from the early days of MTV. New Wave Nation formed in late 1997 and decieded to pay tribute to the deserving era. For thier performences, Harding said the band has several costume changes and an array of different effects that make each show relatively different from the next. Some nights you might see Devo, other nights you'll see something else.
"We do what people generally want to hear the most." Harding said. "There's always going to be that guy outthere who wants to hear some obscure Cure song, and while that's great and we may even know it, the general group is going to want to hear "Come on Eileen."
According to thier website, www.newwavenation.com, they offer a growing stage show complete with costumes, multimedia and lighting effects that are presented with flare and a feeling of excess...just like the '80s.
Additionally, a catalogue of 90's covers in thier rotation is included on the site.
"We all grew up in that ear, so it's very close to our hearts in that sense," Harding said. "It's great music and the timing was just right. There was a great '80s nostaligia going on when we started and it has continued for a while now. It certainly has lasted longer tha we expected. With a lot of these trends, people will get into the vibe and then move on. We've outlasted things like the disco bands that were popular in the '90s."
While they have played mulitple times at such close by places as Erie, Pa. and Jamestown, Ny., this will be the first time New Wave Nation has played in Fredonia. Coming from the Northeastern Ohio, Harding said the band does have some die-hard fans that follow them aroound to different shows.
'I would just tell everybody to get there early, the place is going to fill up," Harding said. "We get people from Erie who drive down to Jamestown and people from jamestown who have come down to Canton,Ohio...So we definatly have some die-hard fans and it justr depends if they can make it out to see us. I think for them, going somewhere else to see us gives them a road trip kind of experience. It's nice for them and it's nice for us to see somebody we know in a different enviornment."
- The Observer

Rockin' back to the '80s with New Wave Nation at Valentines
The Observer, Dunkirk NY.
September 2004
By Justin Kern & Nick Dean

Sure, usually local bands have what it takes to rock Fredonia...but this weekend the Ohio-based band New Wave Nation will bring thier retro sound and massive stage show to Valentine's Bar in Fredonia with a set of all '80s cover songs.
"This has taken on a complete life of it's own and I think it's largely due to the stage show we have," said guitarist Ken Harding. "We're not just about dressing up like Michael Jackson and Prince...We have big monitors showing the videos of the songs we're playing, we have our own Intelligent Lighting, special effects, lasers and all this in conjuction with the music. Rather than just being a band who stands up there and covers '80s songs, we're more about the overall show and I think that's what sets us apart."
Dedicated to the retro '80s music from the early days of MTV. New Wave Nation formed in late 1997 and decieded to pay tribute to the deserving era. For thier performences, Harding said the band has several costume changes and an array of different effects that make each show relatively different from the next. Some nights you might see Devo, other nights you'll see something else.
"We do what people generally want to hear the most." Harding said. "There's always going to be that guy outthere who wants to hear some obscure Cure song, and while that's great and we may even know it, the general group is going to want to hear "Come on Eileen."
According to thier website, www.newwavenation.com, they offer a growing stage show complete with costumes, multimedia and lighting effects that are presented with flare and a feeling of excess...just like the '80s.
Additionally, a catalogue of 90's covers in thier rotation is included on the site.
"We all grew up in that ear, so it's very close to our hearts in that sense," Harding said. "It's great music and the timing was just right. There was a great '80s nostaligia going on when we started and it has continued for a while now. It certainly has lasted longer tha we expected. With a lot of these trends, people will get into the vibe and then move on. We've outlasted things like the disco bands that were popular in the '90s."
While they have played mulitple times at such close by places as Erie, Pa. and Jamestown, Ny., this will be the first time New Wave Nation has played in Fredonia. Coming from the Northeastern Ohio, Harding said the band does have some die-hard fans that follow them aroound to different shows.
'I would just tell everybody to get there early, the place is going to fill up," Harding said. "We get people from Erie who drive down to Jamestown and people from jamestown who have come down to Canton,Ohio...So we definatly have some die-hard fans and it justr depends if they can make it out to see us. I think for them, going somewhere else to see us gives them a road trip kind of experience. It's nice for them and it's nice for us to see somebody we know in a different enviornment."
- The Observer

New Wave Nation
Adding life to 80's Classics
By Ryan Carp
Buzz Staff writer

Four identically dressed men in black leather pants put a new twist to classic 1980's songs, "Come on Eileen," "Jessie's Girl," and "Hey Mickey."
They add lasers, smoke and televisions that intersperse videos of the songs they sing.
The 80's classics-they perform as is. The other 80s song-they add their own spin to. This band wants the audience to dance.
When it's time for "Hey Mickey," they toss out pom poms to the audience. They'll throw on cowboy hats and Michael Jackson hats if appropriate.
Lead vocalist Jay Secrest has also been known to crowd surf.
"Really, that's what the 80's were." said Ken Harding, the band's rhythm guitar player and vocalist. "Very excessive. Everything over the top. The bigger is better kind of thing. That's what we do."
While 80s songs are nothing new, the Canton-based band, New Wave Nation has been giving them new life since they've been performing for more than seven years.
The band has developed a following in Tuscarawas county, playing at Dooley's Nightclub in Dover and Don Pancho's restaurant in new Philadelphia, where an estimated 400 people packed the basement for their performance last month.
New Wave Nation began when Harding and Secrest, who also plays bass guitar, were performing in a classic rock band and took notice of the 70s disco tribute bands.
"We decided to step it up a notch and thought-why don't we do this with the '80's? Nobody's doing it," said Secrest. The two now play with drummer Bob Myers and bass guitar and vocalist Randy Horn as New wave Nation.
"The idea behind New Wave Nation is us being one," said Harding. "We have about a dozen different outfits that we wear and they're all the same-very Devo-eque,' 'Very Miliatary-esque.' That's where we took our que from. we are the same as the audience. We are all part of a bigger thing which is the 1980's." But how do you cram an entire decade of songs into a show of 45 songs a night?
"We try to get all the biggest hits," said Secrest. "We try to keep it very commercial. You have the people that were actually growing up in the 80s and then you've got the younger crowd that may be remember some of the songs. There's not just one range of people that come and see us." What people do see is a band that tries to provide more than just an 80s flashback. New Wave Nation puts on a show.
"Very early on we discovered that our niche was going to be in the popular, please the majority crowd, not one or two people," said Harding. "If we do any ballads or slow songs, it's usually one and it's usually at the end of the night because we don't want to slow the party down, People go out and they want to have a good time."
Then there are songs they will always play like "Come on Eileen," "Jessie's Girl, " and "Tainted Love."
"We cannot NOT play those songs" said Harding "If we don't play them people ask why."
Another big draw of the new Wave Nation is the songs are dance-able even if they weren't originally supposed to be. The band will put a new spin on it or change a songs arrangement to keep the dance floor crowded.
"If it works-Like 'Jessie's Girl,' you don't necessarily mess with something like that," said Harding. "You play it as is. What ever the case may be, the idea is to keep it high energy all the time which is why we run three or four songs together at a time. You don't see a lot of talking in between. Most bands can't hang with 45 songs a night. We try to get every last one in there."
New Wave Nation whose members are all around the age of 30 have done nearly 1000 shows in more than 40 cities in 12 states. No matter where the band plays, it's the audience that makes to show happen."Every big market has some kind of 80s band," said Harding. "Whether it's what we do or it's the hair metal band. We've seen a lot come and go. We approach this as a serious band who is doing this as part of the show. The show is as important as the music we're playing."
- Times Reporter

New Wave Nation rides retro into the 1980s
Band to play here in July!
By Dan Kane
Repository entertainment writer
Canton-1998

The lights grow dim as the electronic music emits from the speakers and MTV images flicker on the television monitors. Onstage flies a quartet of robotic, expressionless men wearing industrial jumpsuits and dark sunglasses.
And then these stoic stranglings launch into a deliriously cheesy 1985 techno-pop hit *(You*re my) Obsession* by Animotion. The retro steamroller has moved forward from disco boogie-oogie to MTV*s infancy.
Welcome to New Wave Nation.
*We all grew up with this music and it*s a blast to play*. Says Paul Czech, 29, the band*s drummer. *It*s not cerebral or intellectual.*
*You can dance around and be goofy to this music and not worry about it*. Says Jay Secrest, 24, the bands lead singer.
*The band*s songlist reads like an 80s MTV hit parade: Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Modern English, Men without hats, DEVO, Gary Numan, The J Giels Band, The Vapors, The Buggles, Nena and dozens more artist. *Nothing is sacred to us*. Confesses Ken Harding, 24, with a grin (Guitarist and vocalist Tim Morgan rounds out the band).
The way these guys see it, New Wave Nation is on the crest of the next nostalgia wave, already reflected in movies, music special on VH1 and TNT and *80s music hour on rock radio stations.
*The novelty factor of the band has brought them quick success. Since its first gig at the Carriage House in Nimishillen, the band has played Buffalo, NY, Virginia Beach, Cincinnati, Columbus, Sandusky and Akron.
*We did a six week stand in Buffalo and we had people waiting by the dressing room doors to see what we*d be wearing that night*. Harding says. *We played some shows at the University of Virginia and the music was nostalgic to them, even though they were toddlers when this music was first popular.*
New Wave Nation makes showmanship a priority. *It*s always developing. We don*t want to be just another band*. Czech says.
- The Canton Repository

New Wave Nation
Adding life to 80's Classics
By Ryan Carp
Buzz Staff writer

Four identically dressed men in black leather pants put a new twist to classic 1980's songs, "Come on Eileen," "Jessie's Girl," and "Hey Mickey."
They add lasers, smoke and televisions that intersperse videos of the songs they sing.
The 80's classics-they perform as is. The other 80s song-they add their own spin to. This band wants the audience to dance.
When it's time for "Hey Mickey," they toss out pom poms to the audience. They'll throw on cowboy hats and Michael Jackson hats if appropriate.
Lead vocalist Jay Secrest has also been known to crowd surf.
"Really, that's what the 80's were." said Ken Harding, the band's rhythm guitar player and vocalist. "Very excessive. Everything over the top. The bigger is better kind of thing. That's what we do."
While 80s songs are nothing new, the Canton-based band, New Wave Nation has been giving them new life since they've been performing for more than seven years.
The band has developed a following in Tuscarawas county, playing at Dooley's Nightclub in Dover and Don Pancho's restaurant in new Philadelphia, where an estimated 400 people packed the basement for their performance last month.
New Wave Nation began when Harding and Secrest, who also plays bass guitar, were performing in a classic rock band and took notice of the 70s disco tribute bands.
"We decided to step it up a notch and thought-why don't we do this with the '80's? Nobody's doing it," said Secrest. The two now play with drummer Bob Myers and bass guitar and vocalist Randy Horn as New wave Nation.
"The idea behind New Wave Nation is us being one," said Harding. "We have about a dozen different outfits that we wear and they're all the same-very Devo-eque,' 'Very Miliatary-esque.' That's where we took our que from. we are the same as the audience. We are all part of a bigger thing which is the 1980's." But how do you cram an entire decade of songs into a show of 45 songs a night?
"We try to get all the biggest hits," said Secrest. "We try to keep it very commercial. You have the people that were actually growing up in the 80s and then you've got the younger crowd that may be remember some of the songs. There's not just one range of people that come and see us." What people do see is a band that tries to provide more than just an 80s flashback. New Wave Nation puts on a show.
"Very early on we discovered that our niche was going to be in the popular, please the majority crowd, not one or two people," said Harding. "If we do any ballads or slow songs, it's usually one and it's usually at the end of the night because we don't want to slow the party down, People go out and they want to have a good time."
Then there are songs they will always play like "Come on Eileen," "Jessie's Girl, " and "Tainted Love."
"We cannot NOT play those songs" said Harding "If we don't play them people ask why."
Another big draw of the new Wave Nation is the songs are dance-able even if they weren't originally supposed to be. The band will put a new spin on it or change a songs arrangement to keep the dance floor crowded.
"If it works-Like 'Jessie's Girl,' you don't necessarily mess with something like that," said Harding. "You play it as is. What ever the case may be, the idea is to keep it high energy all the time which is why we run three or four songs together at a time. You don't see a lot of talking in between. Most bands can't hang with 45 songs a night. We try to get every last one in there."
New Wave Nation whose members are all around the age of 30 have done nearly 1000 shows in more than 40 cities in 12 states. No matter where the band plays, it's the audience that makes to show happen."Every big market has some kind of 80s band," said Harding. "Whether it's what we do or it's the hair metal band. We've seen a lot come and go. We approach this as a serious band who is doing this as part of the show. The show is as important as the music we're playing."
- Times Reporter

Eighties tribute band plays Friday
Charles Fischer
Voice Staff Writer

The New Wave era disappeared into the annals of pop culture history years ago, but its appeal has continued to endure. Yet, despite its popularity among 80s music fans new and old, many of the music groups that symbolized New Wave have long since disbanded.
Fortunately, New Wave Nation, a Canton based 80s tribute band, has brought the style and music of artists such as Blondie, Duran Duran and Devo back to life.
"We noticed a real void in groups that were playing 80s music, especially from the New Wave era," said New Wave Nation guitarist Ken Harding.
Harding and lead vocalist Jay Secrest created New Wave Nation back in 1998. While there have been occasional personnel changes over the years, the group has continued to thrive, playing over 1000 shows to date and showing no signs of slowing down.
Harding pointed out that 80s themed radio programs such as "Time Warp Weekends" and "80s Lunch Hours," in addition to "I Love The 80s" on VH-1, are just a few examples of the listening public's renewed interest in music from that period.
"Everything in music seems to go in 20 year cycles and so here we are again in the 1980s ... twenty years later," said Harding. "Now there's an 80s band in every major city across the U.S., but back then [when New Wave Nation formed]*c it was a bit more novel."
Harding has difficulty naming only a few innovative groups from the New Wave era.
"There were so many," said Harding. "Duran Duran changed the landscape of music television *c Prince was (and still is) a musical genius [and] Blondie merged disco with new wave and punk rock *c the list goes on and on!"
However, he does cite Akron's own Devo as being particularly influential in inspiring the group's sense of style.
"You can't mention what we do without mentioning Devo," said Harding. "In fact, we took our cues from them in the sense that we all dress alike in a very uniformed look that has a 'futuristic' feel."
New Wave Nation was brought to campus thanks to Late Night Activities.
"Late Night Activities has been interested in sponsoring an 80s event of some kind all year," said program coordinator Kate Leishman.
She noted that Late Night Activities originally considered sponsoring an 80s prom, but "decided that an 80s band would be just as fun."
They discovered New Wave Nation through Neon Entertainment, an agency that the student activities groups on campus occasionally use. Although Leishman has yet to see the group perform in person, she was impressed with the live performance video and music tracks available on their official website.
Leishman is confident that students will enjoy the concert, which is at 9 p.m. on Friday at the Underground.
"This event will be a blast and should not be missed" said Leishman, adding that "everyone is encouraged to let their true 80s spirit shine!"
- Wooster Voice

Eighties tribute band plays Friday
Charles Fischer
Voice Staff Writer

The New Wave era disappeared into the annals of pop culture history years ago, but its appeal has continued to endure. Yet, despite its popularity among 80s music fans new and old, many of the music groups that symbolized New Wave have long since disbanded.
Fortunately, New Wave Nation, a Canton based 80s tribute band, has brought the style and music of artists such as Blondie, Duran Duran and Devo back to life.
"We noticed a real void in groups that were playing 80s music, especially from the New Wave era," said New Wave Nation guitarist Ken Harding.
Harding and lead vocalist Jay Secrest created New Wave Nation back in 1998. While there have been occasional personnel changes over the years, the group has continued to thrive, playing over 1000 shows to date and showing no signs of slowing down.
Harding pointed out that 80s themed radio programs such as "Time Warp Weekends" and "80s Lunch Hours," in addition to "I Love The 80s" on VH-1, are just a few examples of the listening public's renewed interest in music from that period.
"Everything in music seems to go in 20 year cycles and so here we are again in the 1980s ... twenty years later," said Harding. "Now there's an 80s band in every major city across the U.S., but back then [when New Wave Nation formed]*c it was a bit more novel."
Harding has difficulty naming only a few innovative groups from the New Wave era.
"There were so many," said Harding. "Duran Duran changed the landscape of music television *c Prince was (and still is) a musical genius [and] Blondie merged disco with new wave and punk rock *c the list goes on and on!"
However, he does cite Akron's own Devo as being particularly influential in inspiring the group's sense of style.
"You can't mention what we do without mentioning Devo," said Harding. "In fact, we took our cues from them in the sense that we all dress alike in a very uniformed look that has a 'futuristic' feel."
New Wave Nation was brought to campus thanks to Late Night Activities.
"Late Night Activities has been interested in sponsoring an 80s event of some kind all year," said program coordinator Kate Leishman.
She noted that Late Night Activities originally considered sponsoring an 80s prom, but "decided that an 80s band would be just as fun."
They discovered New Wave Nation through Neon Entertainment, an agency that the student activities groups on campus occasionally use. Although Leishman has yet to see the group perform in person, she was impressed with the live performance video and music tracks available on their official website.
Leishman is confident that students will enjoy the concert, which is at 9 p.m. on Friday at the Underground.
"This event will be a blast and should not be missed" said Leishman, adding that "everyone is encouraged to let their true 80s spirit shine!"
- Wooster Voice

Thursday, January 23, 2003
Bringing back the '80's
Night & Day
By Lewiston;


Remember '80's one hit wonder Soft Cell?
How about Dexy's Midnight Runners?
Better yet, do you remember where you were the first time you saw The Buggles, now famous for its claim as the band that opened a little channel we call MTV?
For Ken Harding, guitarist for the New Wave Nation, Stolling down memory lane with a bunch of songs that have been stuck decades behind has been a fun, familiar ride. Harding and his Ohio based bandmates-Jay, Paul & Randy-started New Wave Nation in 1998, after getting tired of hearing disco at clubs.
"We were doing classic rock at the time and the retro disco thing was big, but we got tired of playing the same songs as everyone else." he said. "We figured the next big thing we would hit was the "80s, so we learned every one hit wonder and started playing. The people just loved it."
Although the band will be playing a number of collegians whose birth certificates are dated in the 1980s, New Wave Nation is certain to be a smash Friday as the opening of Niagara University's "Rockin on the Rat" Spring line-up.
Even though many of the students weren't born when some of the songs debuted, Harding insists that constant airplay makes the band's songlist a hit with students and it's elders.
"It's really suprising, but our fan base reaches from anyone 18 years old, to people in thier 50's and 60's," he said "even the small kids seem to know most of the songs. Most of the radio stations are playing it now, so it's familiar."
But Harding said New Wave Nation's eye-catching show also brings in those who don't recognize every song.
"It's a spectacle," he said. "We have choreography and there*s that whole show aspect to it. I think a lot of people are really shocked by the show. It's a lot of fun."
While Harding knows that other musical avenues may have offered more freedom, his time with NWN has created distinct memories and close relationships.
"With other bands, you show up at the gig and just play." he said. "With this, you feel like brothers. We've been doing this for a long time now and we really do have a chemistry."
The show opens what is a more conservative schedule of dates at Niagara after an aggressive fall semester.
Rockin' the Ratt
Where: Lower Level
Gallagher Center, Niagara University
Who: New Wave Nation
When: 8pm, Friday
How Much: $5.00 general admission and free for NU Students.

- Falls Reporter

Thursday, January 23, 2003
Bringing back the '80's
Night & Day
By Lewiston;


Remember '80's one hit wonder Soft Cell?
How about Dexy's Midnight Runners?
Better yet, do you remember where you were the first time you saw The Buggles, now famous for its claim as the band that opened a little channel we call MTV?
For Ken Harding, guitarist for the New Wave Nation, Stolling down memory lane with a bunch of songs that have been stuck decades behind has been a fun, familiar ride. Harding and his Ohio based bandmates-Jay, Paul & Randy-started New Wave Nation in 1998, after getting tired of hearing disco at clubs.
"We were doing classic rock at the time and the retro disco thing was big, but we got tired of playing the same songs as everyone else." he said. "We figured the next big thing we would hit was the "80s, so we learned every one hit wonder and started playing. The people just loved it."
Although the band will be playing a number of collegians whose birth certificates are dated in the 1980s, New Wave Nation is certain to be a smash Friday as the opening of Niagara University's "Rockin on the Rat" Spring line-up.
Even though many of the students weren't born when some of the songs debuted, Harding insists that constant airplay makes the band's songlist a hit with students and it's elders.
"It's really suprising, but our fan base reaches from anyone 18 years old, to people in thier 50's and 60's," he said "even the small kids seem to know most of the songs. Most of the radio stations are playing it now, so it's familiar."
But Harding said New Wave Nation's eye-catching show also brings in those who don't recognize every song.
"It's a spectacle," he said. "We have choreography and there*s that whole show aspect to it. I think a lot of people are really shocked by the show. It's a lot of fun."
While Harding knows that other musical avenues may have offered more freedom, his time with NWN has created distinct memories and close relationships.
"With other bands, you show up at the gig and just play." he said. "With this, you feel like brothers. We've been doing this for a long time now and we really do have a chemistry."
The show opens what is a more conservative schedule of dates at Niagara after an aggressive fall semester.
Rockin' the Ratt
Where: Lower Level
Gallagher Center, Niagara University
Who: New Wave Nation
When: 8pm, Friday
How Much: $5.00 general admission and free for NU Students.

- Falls Reporter