While the majority of artists I interview are friendly, Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow is beyond them all. An amazingly caring person, our interviews feel like a chat between old friends; she makes you feel valued and important when you talk with her. She asks about my family, my health, and we could go on so long, it would be easy to forget what we were supposed to talk about.
Thankfully, we did get to the exciting concert news, and I have to say I am geeked out over this tour! The Totally Tubular Festival will hit quite a few cities across the US and features a lineup of beloved ‘80s names: Thomas Dolby, Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins, Modern English, Men Without Hats, Tommy Tutone, Eddie Munoz of The Plimsouls, The Tubes, Wang Chung, and of course, Annabella’s Bow Wow Wow. The tour kicked off in Seattle, stops in LA this Saturday at YouTube Theater, then ventures around the US through the end of July.
Any fan of ‘80s music of course knows Lwin and Bow Wow Wow for “I Want Candy,” “Baby Oh No,” “Aphrodisiac,” and “Do You Wanna Hold Me?”
Lwin and her talented band are putting on incredible live performances worthy of their iconic status and I know Totally Tubular will be no exception. Plus, you get to see this amazing human in person…
Traci: Annabella! How are you?
Annabella: I’m wonderful. It is so good to talk to you again.
Traci: You too! I always have to tell people how kind you are because when I made a random comment about my son having his wisdom teeth out, the next time we spoke, your first question was asking how he did. Often people in our day-to-day life are very self-involved – not in a bad way, just focused on life – and don’t think to ask about such things. So you asking about him after I made a random comment touched me. In the years since, I have continued to see you speaking up for others and showing kindness to all.
Annabella: I wish I were a billionaire because I would do so much! But I’m just chanting about it all and praying. And hopefully, one of these days, I will make a solid difference in people’s lives, whether I’m here on this earth plane or not. But thank you for saying that. I appreciate it. And yes, I do try to… I’m probably pretty boring in that respect because I am what you see. You get what you get with me. And I don’t mince my words, which is thanks to my formidable mother.
She continued: I’m not doing anything that no one else can’t do, because it’s very simple, really. Animals don’t have a voice, and we are their voice, as I’m sure you’ve seen a few times over the years. But it’s really important to stand up for what you believe in, regardless of what other people think, because at the end of the day, we’re all a soul in the body, whether it’s a human being, a cow, a pig, a dog, a mouse, whatever. We’re all a soul. And again, whether you believe it or not, I believe in this.
She paused and continued: I’m sure everyone in the world has come across very difficult and frustrating periods in their lives where they feel that they’re being kept under the thumb or they can no longer go on because of this, that, and the other. But I will always espouse to the fact that whatever you’re doing in your life at this present moment can also lead you to the next phase of your life. But it’s always about lessons that are needing to be learned as well in one’s own life, as in the soul in the body of. Does that make sense?
Traci: Yes it does. You post your yummy vegan food finds and wonderful quotes too. I had to screenshot and save one of your posts last week: “There is always, always, always something to be grateful for.”
Annabella: I certainly do with my plant vegan diet! I’m so thankful and grateful when I go into a store and I see something new that someone has come up with, like these non-dairy ice cream coconut cones, which I recently I’ve discovered in Trader Joe’s. A lovely, lovely group of people. I love Trader Joe’s.
Traci: Yes, love Trader Joe’s! I must confess I am super excited about this Totally Tubular tour too.
Annabella: Yes! Totally Tubular tour dates that start in Seattle on the 25th. Then we are going to Portland, Oregon. We’re doing a one-off date with Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins on the 26th of June. Then we go to Sacramento, and that’s on the 27th. And then we go to Santa Barbara.
Traci: On one of your posts, you said you had not done this extensive of a tour for a while. Are you looking forward to being out there on the road?
Annabella: It’s been many moons since I did a tour in the US, actually. I just did a tour last year in the UK, supporting a wonderful man, Dave Wakeling from The English Beat. It was such a thrill to be able to finally, because we were talking about it 12 years ago when we met at a show, and then again, somewhere else. So when we actually do what we say we do, it’s such a thrill. It really is. But he’s such a lovely person and a group of musicians to have worked with on those dates.
She added: But yes, it is a thrill to be part of a bigger package tour. So the opening act, which is usually me at this time, we’ll probably be on the early part of the portion of the show when the doors open. And The Plimsouls, of course, and Tommy Tutone, who’s got some great songs. And the other acts will be on a little later, the wonderful Thomas Dolby and Tom Bailey and all the other and Modern English. I’m looking forward to seeing those I’ve got to say, because they’re really nice people. I crossed paths with them a few years back as well. But yes, in answer to your question, we’re looking forward to playing these dates, and I hope people enjoy what they hear and see.
Traci: It seems like many ‘80s shows do not venture outside of the West Coast, but this one is really hitting all corners of the US.
Annabella: We’re going to quite a few places. I’m looking forward to going to Detroit, Michigan, because Detroit, Michigan is like Native American Indian territory, isn’t it? Or around that area. And also Bushkill, PA, we’re going to the Park. We’re going on the 20th of July. And Atlantic City. I don’t think I remember going to Atlantic City as a teenager back in the day with my former band of musicians, the original guitar player. Obviously, he passed away in 1995. God rest his soul. But there are some wonderful places. The rooftop at Pier 17 in New York.
She continued: I haven’t been to New York for quite some time and look forward to meeting up with some old friends there. I hope they come to the show. Boston, Massachusetts, MGM Music Hall at Fenway. That’s another place on July 17th. And Bridgeport, Connecticut, of course, is outside of there, the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater. Denver, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater on July 6th, and Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas, I hope they appreciate the real Bow Wow, and I just hope that they realize that they’re getting the real deal when they see and hear me and my group of guys.
Traci: What do you do as you’re traveling? Are you a podcast listener? Do you read books?
Annabella: I like to read, and I like to read books. I’m the old-fashioned, old-school type of gal. I like to read, but I have a tablet now, which is unbelievable for me because I’m the good old fashioned type; I get on top of a laptop and start typing like you’re writing. And the long story short of that is when I’m on the road, I have to be honest, there is very little time. It’s a lot of traveling. People think that being on the road is like this glamorous affair. And it can be if you come across some interesting people. And I’m not just talking celebrity type, but just talking with fans, I love to meet people that say, “Hey, I saw you back in 1982,” or wherever. It’s always nice because we’re doing some meet and greets.’
Traci: I imagine it is tough to pack up your life and wardrobe for that long on a tour bus.
Annabella: For the Wakeling dates last year, I wore one outfit, and it was a Bob Marley T-shirt, which said “One Love” on it, which I thought was thrilling for me to keep advertising that. And just a white skirt. So all the fans got the same picture of me. And I have to apologize to the fans. (laughs) I simply didn’t have the time to get all the other things that are necessary to get clothes together!
Traci: I am sure no one minded! In the fall, you have some shows with Oingo Boingo Former Members too, right?
Annabella: Yes. There’s two shows towards the end of the year. San Diego Humphrey’s by the Bay, October 26th. And there’s one on the 20th that we’re also doing, at Saratoga, Mountain Winery. (Both shows also feature Oingo Boingo Former Members, General Public, and The Untouchables.)
Traci: Anything else in your world we need to know about?
Annabella: Other than just checking in with my website, you’ll see my drummer, Mr. John, on social media, he’s very sociable. Also my guitar player, Lightnin’ Woodcock, and my bass player, Mr. Menno Verbaten. I’m just very happy to be going out and doing some touring after many moons, and I’m hoping that when people hear and see us, they will realize what they missed in the last however many years it’s been since we did a tour in the US. I think it’s about 2013, 2012? Yeah, it was 2012. I think… Well, it’s been a long time, and that’s why I’m hoping people would take the opportunity to come see us!
I am thinking there will be quite a few folks lined up for these shows! Totally Tubular also has special meet and greet packages that look pretty amazing, so snag those while you can.
