Honolulu Weekly

What is it with American pop culture’s obsession with ’80s music? Somehow, it’s unimaginable that the same type of nostalgia will happen for the music of the ’90s and the ’00s. Perhaps it’s due to the era in which the tunes in question were born–a more decadent, Reagan-omic time with less self-aware concerns regarding appearance, behavior and politics. It was a time when one might as wellÖjump.

That brings us to Hot for Teacher, a San Francisco Van Halen tribute band. The group toured most of the West Coast and makes their way to Hawai’i via Pipeline Cafe. Covering the David Lee Roth era, vocalist Randy Moore does indeed sound a helluva lot like the lunatic ‘Yankee Rose’ singer himself and the fretwork of guitarist Teddy Lauderdale is just as nimble as Eddie’s lightning quick fingers. (No word on Valerie Bertinelli look alikes though.) In addition to hits like the single for which the band named itself, expect ‘Dance the Night Away,’ ‘Women in Love’ and ‘Panama.’

Opening for Hot for Teacher is local band Buddhist Priest. Its specialty is performing covers of such classic metal acts as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Dio, the Scorpions and more. Expect some Spinal Tap lunacy for good measure. Perhaps most intriguing though is its 9-foot inflatable demon mascot named Fangula. That in itself is worth showing up for.

Squeeze back into the spandex and practice your devil hand signs now.

Pipeline Cafe, 805 Pohukaina St., Sat 7/22, doors 6pm, show 7pm, all ages, $20 advance, $25 at the door, tickets at Jelly’s Music in Aiea, Hungry Ear Music in Kailua, Hawaii’s Natural High in Waikiki, Pipeline Cafe, online at [www.presaleticketsonline.com] or charge by phone at 926-3000

Also at Pipeline…

The club hosts a fundraiser Sunday (5-10pm, $10) to benefit the family of Manh Nguyen, the taxi driver who was fatally shot in the recent shooting on Round Top Drive.

All ticket sales and the money colleted from raffles will be donated to Nguyen’s wife and children.

There will be live entertainment (the line-up is to be announced), plenty of food and prize drawings. To buy tickets call 479-6004.