Cruel World by the Bay: Classic ’80s acts head our way

Music lovers just can’t get enough of the ’80s.

That much was abundantly clear over this past weekend, as thousands of fans — including many who made the pilgrimage down from Bay Area — turned out to the Cruel World festival in Pasadena.

The lineup read like a who’s who of punk, new wave, post-punk and modern rock artists, most of whom experienced their pinnacles of success in the ’80s, and included Morrissey, Blondie, Bauhaus, the Psychedelic Furs, Devo, Berlin, Missing Persons, the English Beat and more than a dozen other acts.

I was among the Bay Area folks who made their way down to the festival over the weekend, but if you weren’t — well, that’s OK, because a heaping helping of Cruel World-style music is on its way to you.

Here’s a look at some of the many old-school punk/new wave/post-punk shows scheduled in the Bay Area over the days, weeks and months to come. Some of them feature acts who actually performed at the 2022 festival and are migrating up to the Bay Area for a show or two, while the other highlighted artists would certainly fit on a future Cruel World bill.

Blondie, The Damned

If this were a “Jeopardy!” question, it’d read something like: These two Cruel World acts actually produced the majority of their best work in the ’70s, rather than the ’80s. The answer would be (in the form of a question, of course): Who are Blondie and The Damned? Of course, Blondie — with all those awesome hits like “Heart of Glass” and “One Way or Another” — will draw the lion’s share of the crowd. Yet, those fans would be wise to show in plenty of time to catch the opening set by the Damned, aka one of the finest punk acts in history.

Details: 8 p.m. May 17; Masonic, San Francisco; $55 and up, livenation.com.

Bauhaus

Who’s thinking about wearing a bright sunny Hawaiian shirt to this one? No one? Just me? OK, I guess I will be easy to spot then while Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash and company roll out those epic goth tunes.

Details: 8 p.m. May 21-22; The Masonic, San Francisco; $59 and up; livenation.com.

OMD

I might weep when this dreamy synth-pop act — aka Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark — gets around to playing “If You Leave.” Of course, I probably won’t be alone — so I’ll bring plenty of Kleenex.

Details: 8 p.m. May 24; Fox Theater, Oakland, $39.50-$59.50; apeconcerts.com.

Tears for Fears

The English pop band best known for the classic ’80s hits “Shout” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” actually has new songs to showcase. The band is out on the road in support of its recently released seventh studio album, “The Tipping Point,” and performs two nights in the Bay Area.

Details: 7:30 p.m. June 1 at Concord Pavilion; $12 and up; livenation.com; 7:30 p.m. June 2 at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View; $22 and up; livenation.com.

Joe Jackson

Here’s hoping that the great singer-songwriter draws heavily from his first two albums — the pair of equally brilliant 1979 offerings, “Look Sharp!” and “I’m the Man.”

Details: 8 p.m. June 4; The Masonic, San Francisco; $65 and up; livenation.com.

Midnight Oil

The rabbel-rousing Australian rock band, whose best-known number is the 1987 smash “Beds Are Burning,” is making the rounds on its farewell tour.

Details: 8 p.m. June 4: Fox Theater, Oakland; $55-$75; apeconcerts.com.

Violent Femmes

The classic college-radio act, best known for its ’80s hit “Blister in the Sun,”  celebrates the 30th anniversary of “Why Do Birds Sing?” with two shows in the Bay Area.

Details: 8 p.m. June 6 at the Fillmore, San Francisco; $59.50; livenation.com; 8 p.m. June 7 UC Theatre, Berkeley; $59.50; etix.com.